Introduction to Plants

What is a Plant? Plants are multicellular eukaryotes. Plants are autotrophs Plants examples: Trees Shrubs Grasses Mosses Ferns

Plant Life Cycle Alternation of Generations: two alternating phases, a diploid (2n) phase and a haploid (N) phase. During the two phases, mitosis and meiosis alternate to produce gametes and spores Diploid (2N) phase=Sporophyte Haploid (N) phase=Gametophyte

Plant Life Cycles

Plants Needs to Survive Sunlight: Plants use energy from sunlight to carry out photosynthesis Water and Minerals Gas Exchange: Plants require Carbon Dioxide to carry out Photosynthesis Movement of Water and Nutrients: Xylem and Phloem

Early Plants Much of Earth’s history, plants did not exist. Early plants consisted of algae and photosynthetic prokaryotes in bodies of water The first plants evolved from an organism much like the multicellular green algae.

The First Plants Oldest known fossils of plants are nearly 450 million years old. First true plants were similar to today’s mosses First true plants were dependent on water to complete their life cycles.

Overview of the Plant Kingdom Plant Kingdom divided into 4 basic groups based off three important features: Water Conduction Tissues Seeds Flowers 4 Basic Groups Non-vascular Plants Seedless Vascular Plants Seeded Vascular Plants Gymnosperm Angiosperm