Angiosperm Report Outline

OVERVIEW (SUPNET)
FLOWER POWER:
Angiosperms are vascular plants. They have stems, roots, and leaves. Unlike gymnosperms such as conifers and cycads,
angiosperm’s seeds are found in a flower. Angiosperm eggs are fertilized and develop into a seed in an ovary that is
usually in a flower. The flowers of angiosperms have male or female reproductive organs.

POLLINATION:
Angiosperms have to undergo a process called pollination before they can reproduce. Angiosperms have male sex
organs called stamens. On the end of the stamen is the anther. This is where pollen is made. The pollen has to be taken
to the pistil or the female part of the flower. The pollen is left on the stigma at the end of the pistil. The stigma carries
the pollen down a tube called the style to the ovary.

THE BIRDS AND BEES:

Animals like birds and insects can be pollinators. When insects and birds get nectar out of a flower, they pick up some
pollen as they move from flower to flower, and also can leave some pollen behind. Wind can also help move pollen from
one flower to another.

DICOTS:
Angiosperms in this group grow two seed-leaves. Their leaves usually have a single main vein that starts at the base of
the leaf blade, or three or more main veins that spread out from the base of the leaf. Most plants are dicots,
including most trees, shrubs, vines, fruit and vegetable plants and flowers. There are about 200,000 species of dicots.

MONOCOTS:
These angiosperms start with one seed-leaf. The main veins of their leaves are usually unbranched. There are about
30,000 species of monocots. Monocots include orchids, lilies, irises, palms, grasses, and grains like wheat, corn and oats.
Fruits like dates and bananas also belong to this group.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS (RONGAVILLA)

Angiosperms are able to grow in a variety of habitats. They can grow as trees, shrubs, bushes, herbs, and small flowering
plants. Some of the characteristics of angiosperms include:

• All angiosperms have flowers at some stage in their life. The flowers serve as the reproductive organs for the
plant, providing them a means of exchanging genetic information.
• Angiosperms have small pollen grains that spread genetic information from flower to flower. These grains are
much smaller than the gametophytes, or reproductive cells, used by non-flowering plants. This small size allows
the process of fertilization to occur quicker in the flowers of angiosperms and makes them more efficient at
reproducing.
• All angiosperms have stamens. Stamens are the reproductive structures found in flowers that produce the
pollen grains that carry the male genetic information.
• Angiosperms have much smaller female reproductive parts than non-flowering plants, allowing them to produce
seeds more quickly.
• Angiosperms have carpels that enclose developing seeds that may turn into a fruit.
• A great advantage for angiosperms is the production of endosperm. Endosperm is a material that forms after
fertilization and serves as a highly nutritional food source for the developing seed and seedling.
 GENERAL MORPHOLOGY (BOTH)
MODE OF LIVING:
Majority of the angiospermic plants are
autotrophic but there are also many
heterotrophic plants. Some of the
heterotrophic angiosperms depend
completely on host plants, but some other
plants are partially dependent on the host
plant or collect a portion of their nutrients
from other types: of organisms or from
decaying organic substances.

Autotrophic Angiosperms:
These plants have definite structures for
collecting raw materials (e.g. O2, H2O, CO2,
Minerals, light etc.) for the synthesis of
food-substances. These plants have well-
developed organs for growth and
reproduction. Some autotrophic plants
grow on stems and branches of other
larger plants but are not dependent on
the hosts for their nutrition.

These green plants often have two types of roots, one type for holding (clinging root) and the other for absorbing
moisture from the atmosphere (aerial root). Aerial roots are sometimes provided with velamen.
e.g. Vanda tessellate, Begonia gemmipara, Hymenopogon parasiticus, Pothos scandens, etc.

Heterotrophic Angiosperms:
These plants are completely or partially dependent on
other plants (host) or decaying organic substances for
their nutrition. The former are called parasites and the
latter saprophytes.

Saprophytic angiosperms:
These non-green plants draw their nutrition from
decaying plant bodies, roots slender and leaves scaly,
e.g. Monotropa uniflora

The plants which we commonly see in the gardens and

road-side belong to the largest group of plants
called flowering plants or Angiosperms. (angio=box
sperm=seed). The word derives its origin from the fact
that the ovules are enclosed in a box like organ called
ovary.
 REPRODUCTION (SUPNET)

The vast array of angiosperm floral structures is for sexual reproduction. The angiosperm life cycle consists of
a sporophyte phase and a gametophyte phase. The cells of a sporophyte body have a full complement of
chromosomes (i.e., the cells are diploid, or 2n); the sporophyte is the typical plant body that we see when we
look at an angiosperm. The gametophyte arises when cells of the sporophyte, in preparation for reproduction,
undergo meiotic division and produce reproductive cells that have only half the number of chromosomes (i.e.,
haploid, or n). A two-celled microgametophyte called a pollen grain germinates into a pollen tube and through
division produces the haploid sperm. (The prefix micro- denotes gametophytes emanating from a male
reproductive organ.) An eight-celled megagametophyte called the embryo sac produces the egg. (The
prefix mega- denotes gametophytes emanating from female reproductive organs.)

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE (RONGAVILLA)

As a result, angiosperms are the most important ultimate source of food for birds and mammals, including
humans. In addition, the flowering plants are the most economically important group of green plants, serving
as a source of pharmaceuticals, fibre products, timber, ornamentals, and other commercial products.

Angiosperms are important to humans in many ways, but the most significant role of angiosperms is as food.
Wheat, rye, corn, and other grains are all harvested from flowering plants. Starchy foods, such as potatoes,
and legumes, such as beans, are also angiosperms.
As a result, angiosperms are the most important ultimate source of food for birds and mammals, including
humans. In addition, the flowering plants are the most economically important group of green plants, serving
as a source of pharmaceuticals, fibre products, timber, ornamentals, and other commercial products.