1. Plant Reproduction
SC.4.L.16.4 – Compare and contrast the major stages in the life cycles of Florida plants and animals, such as those that undergo incomplete and complete metamorphosis, and flowering and nonflowering seed-bearing plants.
SC.4.L.16.4 – Compare and contrast the major stages in the life cycles of Florida plants and animals, such as those that undergo incomplete and complete metamorphosis, and flowering and nonflowering seed-bearing plants.
Also review of SC.3.L.15.2 – Classify flowering and non-flowering plants into major groups such as those that produce seeds, or those like ferns and mosses that produce spores, according to their physical characteristics.
Also review of SC.3.L.14.1 – Describe structures in plants and their roles in food production, support, water and nutrient transport, and reproduction. AA

2. Before we explore nonflowering plants, let’s review flowering plants.

3. Parts of a Flower
Flowering plant parts

4. Parts of a Flowering Plant
What is the function of each part of the flowering plant?
Leaf?
Flower?
Stem?
Roots?
Leaf – use water, air and sunlight to produce the food used by the plant (photosynthesis); stores food for later use
Flower – organs for reproduction; produce seeds
Stem – moves water and minerals up from the roots; moves food produced by leaves downward; provides support for the plant; stores food for later use
Roots – anchor plants; absorb water and minerals from the soil; some types of roots store food produced in the leaves

5. What are some parts of plants that we can eat?

6. Flower Leaves Roots Seeds Seeds – corn Roots – potatoes, carrots
Leaves – lettuce
Stem – celery
Flower – broccoli

7. How are flowers pollinated?
Pollen must get from a stamen (male part of flower) to a pistil (female part of flower).
Pollen can be carried by insects.
Pollen can also be carried by wind.
Pollen can fall from stamen to pistil (self-pollination). 2 1 3

8. What happens after pollination?
Pollen lands on pistil.
Sperm cells from pollen travel down tube to egg cells in ovary.
Sperm cells and egg cells combine during fertilization.
Petals and stamens dry up and fall off flower.
Fertilized egg inside ovary develops into seed.
Ovary grows into fruit which protects seed.

9. What is the life cycle of flowering plants?
3. The ovary becomes the fruit
2. Fertilized egg becomes a seed
1a. Pollen sticks to pistil. Pollen tube grows into ovule
Seed
4. Seed grows into new plant
1b. Sperm fertilizes egg cell
5. Plant produces a flower

10. Parts of a Nonflowering Cone-bearing Plant
What is the function of each part of the nonflowering cone-bearing plant?
Leaf/Needle?
Cone?
Stem/Trunk?
Roots?
Leaf/Needle – use water, air and sunlight to produce the food used by the plant (photosynthesis); stores food for later use
Cone – organs for reproduction; produce seeds
Stem/Trunk – moves water and minerals up from the roots; moves food produced by leaves downward; provides support for the plant; stores food for later use
Roots – anchor plants; absorb water and minerals from the soil; some types of roots store food produced in the leaves

11. Plants that make cones These plants are called conifers.
Most conifers are evergreens.
Evergreens grow new green leaves while they shed dead, brown leaves.
Conifers have both male and female cones on the same plant.
Male cones make pollen
Female cones make seeds
Conifers are pollinated by wind carrying pollen to the female cones.

12. Pine Trees Are the largest group of cone-bearing trees
Several pine trees are native to Florida, such as
Longleaf pine
Slash pine
Sand pine
Pond pine
Spruce pine
Why are pine trees classified as a conifer? It makes seeds in cones, not flowers.
How does the pine tree use two kinds of cones? The male cone makes pollen. The female cone receives pollen and carries the developing seeds.
Do you think all of the fertilized seeds inside a cone grow into pine trees? Explain your thinking.
No; some seeds are eaten by animals, land in water, or on rocks and will not germinate.
Longleaf Pine “needles”
Longleaf Pine cones
Longleaf Pine forest

13. Bald Cypress Trees Are also conifers Bald cypress trees grow best
in wet areas like swamps.
Photo source:
Bald cypress trees
Bald cypress cones
Bald cypress leaves

14. Fir Trees Often grow in the mountains Are used as Christmas trees
Conifer trees in the mountains
Photo sources:
and
Fraser Fir cone and leaves
Balsam Fir tree

15. Parts of a Nonflowering Spore-bearing Plant
What is the function of each part of the nonflowering spore-bearing plant?
Leaf?
Spore?
Stem?
Roots?
Leaf – use water, air and sunlight to produce the food used by the plant (photosynthesis); stores food for later use
Spore– reproductive structure
Stem – moves water and minerals up from the roots; moves food produced by leaves downward; provides support for the plant; stores food for later use
Roots – anchor plants; absorb water and minerals from the soil; some types of roots store food produced in the leaves

16. Some plants reproduce by making tiny spores.
Ferns make tiny spores that are stored in spore cases. The brown dots on the underside of the leaf are spore cases.
The fern’s spore cases are the tiny brown dots on the underside of the leaf. Each spore case holds many tiny spores. Each spore can make a new fern.
Photo source: Ruth Senftleber

17. Ferns do not have seeds. Instead, they reproduce with spores
Ferns do not have seeds. Instead, they reproduce with spores. A spore is a tiny part of a fern that can grow into a new plant. Spores do not have a supply of food for the young plant like seeds do.

18. How would you know if this spot is damp
How would you know if this spot is damp? There is a rain spout in the picture.
Mosses do not have roots or stems, so they are usually much smaller than ferns.

19. Picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spore#By_function
The spores of mosses grow inside capsules at the top of slender stalks.

20. Both spores and seeds may grow into new plants
Both spores and seeds may grow into new plants. Spores are smaller than seeds and do not have a supply of food for the young plant.
Spore cases have spores inside them.

21. What is the life cycle of nonflowering cone-bearing plants?

23. Compare the life cycles of flowering and nonflowering plants.
have flowers for reproduction
flowers produce seeds
Nonflowering plants
have cones or spores for reproduction
Both
have leaves, stems, roots
produce their own food
produce offspring like the adult plant