PLANTS

What is a Plant?
• Multicellular
• Cell walls made of cellulose
• Have pigments chlorophyll a & b
Evolution of Plants

• 1st Plants evolved from an organism

much like multicellular green algae
• The 4 major groups of plants began
to evolve
 4 Major Groups
1. Mosses & their Relatives

*Water-Conducting (vascular) tissue developed*

2. Ferns and their Relatives

*seeds developed*
3. Cone-Bearing Plants

*flowers: seeds enclosed in fruit*

4. Flowering Plants
 TYPES OF PLANTS
http://www.social-ecology.org/images/harbinger/vol2no1/peas.jpg

ANNUALS: Plants that live for only a year or less.

•Most are Herbaceous = their stems are green and
don’t contain woody tissue
http://www.oaxaca-restaurants.com/images/corn.gif

•Examples: corn, wheat, peas, beans, squash, weeds

•Form drought-resistant seeds that survive winter

PERENNIALS: Plants that live for several years, producing

flowers and seeds periodically…usually once each year.
•Can survive harsh conditions by dropping leaves or dying
back to ground soil level
•Examples: Maple tree, Day Lilies

http://www.daylily-garden-perennials.com/
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=rockbridge.missouri.org/mapleablaze102301_a_.jpg&imgrefurl=http://rockbridge.missouri.org/fevents2001.html&h=400&w=300&sz=37&tbnid=YnDQGydiE50J:&tbnh=120&tbnw=90&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmaple%2Btree%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8
 TYPES OF PLANTS

• Characteristics
•Nonvascular Plants
•Plants that do not have vascular tissues. Tissues are
usually no more than a few cells thick, and water and
nutrients travel by osmosis and diffusion.(slow)

•Vascular Plants
•Plant that have vascular tissues. Tissues are made
up of tubelike, elongated cells through which water,
food, and other materials are transported.
 NONVASCULAR PLANTS
•Characteristics
•Need Water to reproduce
•Must live in Moist Environments
•Lack Woody Tissue and are short
•Examples: Bryophytes
*Mosses and Liverworts*

http://home.clara.net/adhale/bryos/phframe.htm http://home.clara.net/adhale/bryos/phframe.htm
 VASCULAR PLANTS
•Characteristics
•Roots and Shoots make up plant body
•Xylem carries H2O, Phloem carries Food (sugars)
•Pollen and Seeds are common

•Examples: Tracheophytes
•Primitives…”horsetail”
•Ferns
•Gymnosperms(Cone bearing) http://www.vet.purdue.edu/depts/addl/toxic/plant29.

•Angiosperms (Flowering) http://www.home.aone.net.au/byzantium/ferns/descriptions/asplenium/asptricho.html

Seedless Vascular Plants

Ferns & their

Relatives
• Club mosses, horsetails, & Ferns
• Have true:
– Roots: underground organs
– Leaves: photosynthetic organs
– Stems: supporting structures
 Vascular Seed Plants
• Divided into 2 groups:
1. Gymnosperms: bear seeds directly
on the surface of a cone
2. Angiosperms: (flowering plants)
bear seed in a layer of tissue for
protection
 Adaptations of Seed Plants
• Reproduce without needing water!
• Utilize Cones or Flowers
• Male gametophyte: Pollen
• Seed: embryo (early stage of
development)
 Gymnosperms
• Include cycads, ginkoes, conifers
• Conifers most common
• Conifers are “evergreens”
 Angiosperms
• Developed reproductive organs:
Flowers!
• Flowers contain ovaries, which
surround and protect the seeds
• After pollination the ovary develops
into the fruit
 Plant Life Cycle
• Go through alternation of
generations.
• Two phases of their life cycle:
sporophyte(2n = diploid) phase and
gametophyte(n = haploid) phase
 PLANT REPRODUCTION

•Major Events
•POLLINATION: Process of transferring ripe
pollen from the Anther to the Stigma
•Self Pollination:When pollen falls from the
anther to the stigma on the SAME PLANT
•Cross Pollination:Between TWO DIFFERENT
PLANTS! http://www.picturesof.net/_gallery/_Plants/_PAGES/picture_of_a_cornfield_00207151041.html
 PLANT REPRODUCTION
•Major Events
•Fertilization: The union (coming together) of
male and female gametes
•Gametes: Cells that carry genetic
information. Males=Sperm=Pollen
Females=Eggs=Ovule
•In simple plants like mosses, the
gametes can move themselves through
water. In more complex plants, like
angiosperms, gametes must be moved
by other processes like wind and
animals.
 PLANT REPRODUCTION
Seed Formation: Once the pollen has fertilized
the ovule; the Ovule becomes a Seed

http://www.acclaimimages.com/_gallery/_pages/0017-0308-3116-3503.html

Fruit Formation: Some plants produce

fruit. Once the pollen has fertilized the
ovule, the ovule becomes a seed and the
Ovary becomes the Fruit around it.

http://www.acclaimimages.com/_gallery/_pages/0026-0312-1510-0850.html
 Life Cycle of Gymnosperms
• Reproduction in gymnosperms takes place
in cones, (which are made by a mature
sporophyte plant)
 Life Cycle of Angiosperms
• Reproduction takes place in the
flower.
• Following reproduction the seeds
develop inside reproductive flowers
 SEEDS
•Contain the embryo and its food supply
•Formed from the fertilization of the ovule
•Plants produce FRUIT which serves to cover
(protect) the seeds and aid in the dispersal of the
seeds
•DRY FRUITS: Nuts, Burrs,
Winged Fruit of Maple Trees
•FLESHY FRUITS:
Pear, Peach, Apple http://www.ccps.org/ccps/wbl/plants/mapleseed.jpg

http://www.purrballs.com/catcare/plants/appleseeds.jpg
 SEED DISPERSAL
By Animal: Animal eats the fruit or it
sticks to fur
•Nuts, Sweet Fruits, Burrs
http://www.1costaricalink.com/eng/hotels/hotp/casagrande/monkey1.jpg

WIND By Wind:
•Maple-winged
• Dandelion Parachutes

http://darwin.futuro.usp.br/dandelions/dandelionfruto.jpg

http://www.nature.com/nsu/020722/images/seeds_160.jpg
 SEED DISPERSAL
By Water: Coconut that floats

http://www.wherescherie.com/thumbs/00000976.jpg

By Mechanical Springing Action:

•Poppy Seeds

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=www.erowid.org/plants/poppy/images/archive/papaver_somniferum_pod5.jpg&imgrefurl=h
ttp://www.erowid.org/plants/poppy/opium_poppy_cultivation/opium_poppy_cultivation2.shtml&h=582&w=349&sz=75&tbnid=lOH
4-1MB5hMJ:&tbnh=131&tbnw=79&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpoppy%2Bseeds%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-
8%26oe%3DUTF-8
 SEED PARTS
HILUM: Scar where seed was attached to
the plant

SEED COAT: Covering of the seed

EPICOTYL: Develops into the leaves and

stem
HYPOCOTYL: Develops into
http://theseedsite.co.uk/seedout.gif

roots
COTYLEDON: Where food is
stored for the embryo
•Monocotyledon: Corn
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=www.victoria-
adventure.org/victoria_images/cultivation/planting/seedli
ng_2.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.victoria-
•Dicotyledon: Beans
adventure.org/victoria_images/cultivation/planting/seedli
ng_2.html&h=378&w=500&sz=36&tbnid=554F1tnfhK
UJ:&tbnh=96&tbnw=126&prev=/images%3Fq%3Depic
otyl%26start%3D20%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3D
UTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DN http://www.tiscali.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/hutchinson/images/c02349.jpg
 http://scidiv.bcc.ctc.edu/rkr/Biology203/lectures/flowerreproduction/image015a.jpg

MONOCOTYLEDON

http://home.earthlink.net/~dayvdanls/cornkernel.gif
 FLOWER PARTS
STAMEN: Entire male sex organ
ANTHER: Tip of
stamen
•Produces pollen
http://curriculum.calstatela.edu/courses/builders/lessons/less/les8/les8gifs/polgifs8/stamen.gif

FILAMENT: Holds up the anther

PISTIL: Entire female sex organ

STIGMA: Tip of the pistil
•Receives pollen
STYLE: Holds stigma up high to receive pollen http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/images/femaleparts.gif

OVARY: Where seed(s) develop(s): At base of

pistil
PETALS:
•Attract insects and
birds
•Protect other flower
parts

SEPALS: Underneath
flower
•Protect flower bud
•Perform
photosynthesis

http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/worksheets/plantpollination/flower-big.jpg
 TREES
DECIDUOUS TREES: Lose all their
leaves at the same time
•Helps to reduce water loss when
water is not very available
•Can’t photosynthesize after dropping
http://www.oregonscenics.com/purple-leaf-maple.jpg

leaves…Dormant Examples:
Maple and Oak
EVERGREEN TREES: Retain leaves all year
•Conifers: Cone bearing
•Since don’t need to make new leaves each
year, they can grow where nutrients are
scarce
•Leaves usually have heavy coating of
http://www.treesource.co.uk/images/information/conifers.jpg

cutin…insoluable waxy material

 LEAVES
The primary function of leaves is to trap light energy for
photosynthesis
Variations: Simple Leaf- A single leaf with a blade that is
not divided

http://www.fenton100.org/departments/departments/BiologySite/leafmargin.htm

Compound Leaf- When a blade is divided into

leaflets

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/glossary/compoundleaf.html
 LEAVES

Arrangement: Alternating Pattern- One leaf at each point on

the stem
Opposite Pattern- Two leaves in pairs on stem
Whorled Pattern- Three or more leaves

http://www.bcbiodiversity.homestead.com/needlelikeleaves.html
LEAF STRUCTURE

http://ghs.gresham.k12.or.us/science/ps/sci/ibbio/plants/notes/intleaf.htm
 LEAF STRUCTURE
Epidermis: Outermost cell
layer of the leaf.
•Protects internal tissues
from water loss, injury, and
attack by fungi

Cuticle: In some plants, the

cuticle covers the epidermis.
•Waxy and protects against
water loss and infection
Stomates: Openings in the
cuticle of the leaf.
•Allow for exchange of
carbon dioxide,
oxygen, and water
vapor
 LEAF STRUCTURE
Guard Cells: Control
opening/closing of the stomata.
•Contain chlorophyll and help
to regulate water vapor flow
Mesophyll: Beneath the epidermis;
Photosynthetic tissue of a leaf
•Palisade Mesophyll layer: Tall,
tightly packed cells filled with
chloroplasts. Where most
photosynthesis occurs
•Spongy Mesophyll Layer:
Loosely arranged cells separated
by air spaces.
 LEAF STRUCTURE

Vascular tissue: Found in veins of

leaf
•Xylem: Composed of tubular
cells that transport water and
minerals from roots to rest of
plant
•Phloem: Made of series of
tubular cells that are still living
and transport sugars (food)
from leaves to all parts of
plants.
 Plants have 3 Principal Organs

1. Roots
• Absorb water and dissolved
nutrients
• Anchor plants in the ground
 Types of Roots

• Taproot – primary root

is thick, secondary
roots are small

• Fibrous roots – branch,

no single root grows
larger than others
 Root Structure
Xylem

Apical
Meristem

Phloem
Root Cap
 Root Growth
• New cells are produced in the Apical
meristem

• These cells are protected by the root cap

3. Stems
• Support system for plant body
• Transport system for nutrients
and water
• Defense against predators and
disease
 Stem Growth
1. Primary growth –
lengthwise (taller)
– Cell division in the
apical meristems
- Cell elongation also produces
primary growth
2. Secondary Growth – width, takes place in
the vascular cambrium
Structure of the Trunk
Xylem Bark

Cork
Phloem
Vascular
Cambrium
1. Capillary action –
water molecules
are attracted to
each other through
cohesion
2. Transpiration – pulls water up from
leaves
3. Root pressure – water entering
roots pushes the water in the plant
up toward the leaves
 PLANT PROCESSES
PHOTOSYNTHESIS: Plants use chlorophyll to
convert energy from the sun into food.

http://www.picturesof.net/_flowers/flowers_index.html

C6H12O6
 PLANT PROCESSES
Translocation: The transfer of food from the leaves
to the rest of the plant

http://www.picturesof.net/_flowers/flowers_index.html

Transpiration: Process by which plants lose their water

through their leaves. Water is replaced by water drawn up
to the leaves by the xylem
Heat

H2O
Evaporates because of heat from sun.
http://www.nps.gov/wica/Hydrology/Groundwater/Thirsty_Plants.htm
 INFLUECNES FROM THE ENVIRONMENT

Photoperiodism: Response plants show to

changing light and dark periods (changes in the
length of day or night).
• Long-day/short night plants
• Short-day/long night plants

http://www.agen.ufl.edu/~chyn/age2062/lect/lect_16/32_47.GIF
 HORMONES
Hormone: A chemical that is produced in one part of an
organism and transported to another part, where it
causes a change.
•Regulate growth and development
•Includes: Auxins, Cytokinins, Gibberellins

Hormone Producing Cell

Target Cell
 Auxins
Auxin: Hormones that stimulate or cause the elongation of
plant cells.
•Causes increase in length by increasing cell division and
promoting cell elongation
•Responsible for Phototropism – stems grow towards the
light, roots grow away from the light
 Cytokinins
• Stimulate growth of lateral buds
• Cause dormant seeds to sprout
• Stimulate cell division or
cytokinesis
 Auxins produce
tall, thin plants

Cytokinins produce
short bushy plants
 Gibberellins
Growth hormones that cause plant to grow taller by
stimulating cell elongation.

• Growth in stems and fruit

 Ethylene
Ethylene: Hormone that speeds up the ripening of fruits.
•Plant hormone that is a simple, gaseous compound
composed of carbon and hydrogen
•Produced primarily by fruits but also by leaves and stems
•Causes cell walls to weaken and become soft
•Ethylene gas is used by farmers to ripen immature fruit
 Plant Movement
Tropism:A plant growing in response to a stimulus
•Causes part of a plant to grow faster… making the
plant bend
•Phototropism: Response to light
•Geotropism (aka:Gravitropism):
Response to gravity http://www.ncsu.edu/project/agronauts/images/broclight.gif

•Roots show positive geotropism

•Stems and leaves show
negative geotropism
•Negative=away from the stimulus
•Positive=towards the stimulus
http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/e32/32c.htm
 Plant Movement
•Thigmotropism: Response to touch from solid
object
•Example: Vine wrapping around a pole

http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/courses/Botany_130/Physiology/thigmotropism.html

•Chemotropism: Movement of a plant in

response to a chemical stimulus
•Growth or bending due to chemical stimulus
• Dormancy – growth and activity
decreases or stops.
– Deciduous plants stop photosynthesis in
the fall, transport materials to roots,
leaves fall
 Plant Adaptations
Aquatic Environments (very little O2)
• Air pockets in tissues (water lilies)
Salt water
• Plants develop cells that pump salt out
Desert
• Xerophytes (plants that
live in the desert) are
adapted to store water
– Extensive roots
– Reduced leaves
– Thick stems
Poor soil – no nutrients
• Carnivorous plants eat animals instead!
Predators
• Many plants produce
harmful compounds
• Example: milkweed
• Tropism- a plant growing in
response to a stimulus
Causes part of the plant to grow
faster making the plant bend

• Phototropism- response to light

• Geotropism also known as gravitropism-
response to gravity.
Roots show positive geotropism
Stems and leaves show negative tropism
-negative moves away from stimulus
-positive moves toward the stimulus

• Thigmotropism- response to touch from

solid objects
• Examples: vine wrapping around a pole