1. Vascular Plants

3. Vascular Plants
Not limited to wet places – they have adapted to efficiently live in most climates of the world
To live on land plants had to overcome the following problems:
Water and Nutrient Transport
Structural Support
Water Retention
Gas Exchange
Obtain as much light for photosynthesis as possible
Absorption of Nutrients
Fertilization

4. Five Adaptations Vascular Tissues Cuticle Leaves Roots
Reproduction without Water

5. Vascular Tissues
Tissue provide support and a transport system for water and nutrients
Vascular tissue is made of “hollow cells”
Allow for efficient transport of materials from cell to cell
Materials taken in from the soil through roots can be transported easily to the leaves and stems where needed
Products of photosynthesis (ex glucose) can be transported from the leaves to other parts of the plant where they are needed
Hollow cells are also very rigid – thick cell wall

7. Cuticle Fatty, waxy layer surrounding the outer wall of cells
Works to protect plant cells on leaves and stems from water loss
One problem with this adaptation is that it prevents water/gases from exchanging through these cells
To solve this problem plants openings call stomata
Guard cell surround the stoma
Open when water is available

9. Leaves Provide large surface area for plant cells to absorb light
Light is used to make food (glucose)
Also surrounded in a cuticle with stomata

11. Roots
Allows plants to penetrate soil for nutrient and water absorption
Substances taken into roots are transported to places where they are needed throughout the plant by vascular tissue

13. Reproduction without Water
Aquatic plants – sperm could swim through water to each egg (not possible on land)
Terrestrial plants use other methods of getting sperm to egg
Wind and insects
Alternation of generations