1. California State Standards: Structure and Function of Plants All living organisms are composed of cells, from just one to many trillions, whose details usually are visible only through a microscope. As a basis for understanding this concept: Students know that mitochondria liberate energy for the work that cells do and that chloroplasts capture sunlight energy for photosynthesis. A typical cell of any organism contains genetic instructions that specify its traits. Those traits may be modified by environmental influences. As a basis for understanding this concept: Students know the differences between the life cycles and reproduction methods of sexual and asexual organisms. The anatomy and physiology of plants and animals illustrate the complementary nature of structure and function. As a basis for understanding this concept: Students know plants and animals have levels of organization for structure and function, including cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, and the whole organism. Students know the structures and processes by which flowering plants generate pollen, ovules, seeds, and fruit.

2.  Nearly all plants are autotrophs, organisms that produce their own food by photosynthesis. (page 362) All plants are Eukaryotes (organism whose cells contain a nuclei) with chloroplasts and cells walls made of cellulose. Plants are multicellular and their cells are organized into tissue. The ancestors of plants that we see today were most likely ancient algae.

3.  Plants with true vascular tissue are called Vascular Plants. Vascular are better suited to life in dry areas than nonvascular plants. Their well developed vascular tissue solves the problem of transport, moving materials more quickly and efficiently throughout the plant’s body.  Nonvascular Plants are plants that lack a well-developed system of tubes for transporting water and other materials. They are low growing Note:  Vascular plants differ from non- vascular by how they transport material.

4.  Plants have a complex life cycles that include two stages, the sporophyte stage and the gametophyte stage.  In the sporophyte stage, the plant produces spores, tiny cells that can grow into new organisms. A spore develops into the plant’s other stage called the gametophyte. Gametophyte stage, the plant produces sex cells, or gametes. The gametophyte stage produces two kinds of sex cells: sperm cells and egg cells.

5. Page 367  Seedless vascular plants reproduce by making spores.  Gymnosperm are vascular plants that reproduce by seeds. They do not form flowers or fruit.  Gymnosperms produce seeds that are not enclosed by fruits.  The reproduction structure of most gymnosperms are called cones.  Angiosperms are vascular plants that flower, and produce seeds that are surrounded by fruit.  Angiosperms produce fruits. In angiosperms a fruit forms after a zygote is formed.  Dicots are angiosperms that have seeds with two seed leaves.  Angiosperm produce nectar to attract insects and bird, who assist in the process of pollination. (This is also an example of a symbiotic relationship.)

6. Page 378  Xylem is the part of the tree that forms a woody stem that indicates the age of the tree.  In the Phloem food moves down from leaves.  Seed plants produce pollen, tiny structures that contain the cells that will later becomes sperm cells.  A seed is a structure that contains a young plant inside a protective covering. Seeds protect the young plant from drying out. Page 381  The plants roots functions are to absorb water, store food, and anchor the plant.  The hairs of the root plant help a plant absorb water and nutrients.  A land dwelling plant’s most important adaptation for obtaining water and nutrients is its root system.

7.  Sporophyte produce spores, tiny cells that can grow into new organisms. A spore develops into the plant’s other stage called the gametophyte.  Gametophyte produce egg and sperm cells during the life cycle of a plant.  Parts of a seed: stored food, embryo, and cotyledon, a seed leaf. (Page 377)  Germination will not happen unless a seed absorbs water.  The main function of a leaf is to carry out the food making process of photosynthesis.  Monocots include grasses, corn, wheat, rice, and plants such as lilies and tulips. (Page 396)  Dicots include plants such as roses and violets, as well as dandelions. Oak and maple trees are dicots. (Page 396)

8.  Cuticle of most plants cover the leaves, it is a waxy waterproof layer.  Gases pass in and out of a leaf through the stomata.  Transpiration is the process by which water evaporates from a plant’s leaves.  Flower’s female reproduction parts are called pistils.  Flowering plants provide materials for humans to use like cotton clothing and rubber tires.

9. MOSS:  Moss is a type of nonvascular plant.  The rhizoid, the part of a moss plant, that absorbs water and nutrients from the soil.  Like algae, mosses absorb water and nutrients directly from the environment through their cell walls. Mosses are mot likely found in an environment where they can absorb water and nutrients. FERNS:  Roots and stems of a fern grow under ground.  On the underside of fern fronds you will expect to find spores.

10. It is important for a plant to have an effective means of dispersal because…  Dispersal allows seeds to reach areas where conditions are good to grow.  Dispersal allows seeds to colonize new and sometimes distant areas.  Seedling s, baby plants, have a better chance of survival if they germinate far from the parent plant so that they do not have to compete for resources.  If a seed possesses hooked structures, you might infer that its main mode of dispersal is by animals.