MORPHOLOGY AND GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ORGANISMS IN THE

PLANT KINGDOM - ANGIOSPERMS

These are plants that bear flowers as their reproductive organ. As such, they are called
flowering plants. They are better adapted to life on land than any other land plants.
Possession of flowers by these plants enables them to utilize insects and sometimes birds or
bats as well as wind as agents of pollination which refers to the transfer of pollen grains from
the anther of the male part of the flower (or plant) to the stigma of the female part of the
flower (or plant).

Angiosperms may be herbaceous (i.e. non-woody) or woody. Woody angiosperms are the
shrubs and trees. These plants grow large amount of secondary xylem that offers support and
act as conducting tissue, transporting water and mineral nutrients absorbed by the roots to
various parts of the plant. Wood is added yearly by the xylem as a result of the activity of the
vascular cambium present in the vascular tissues as a layer of cells between the xylem and the
phloem.

Herbaceous angiosperms, mostly herbs, rely on the turgidity and small quantities of
mechanical tissues such as collenchyma, sclerenchyma and xylem for support. They are
smaller plants. It is either they lack vascular cambium or when present, its activity to form
secondary xylem is restricted. Many herbaceous plants are annual plants – plants that
complete their life cycles (sporophytic and gametophytic) from germination to seed
production within one season of growth, which may be less than or equal to one year. Some
herbaceous plants produce organs of perrenation such as bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes
which they use to survive periods of adverse condition in their environment such as drought,
during dry season. Such plants may be biennial or perennial. Biennial plants usually use the
first year of their growing season for vegetative growth while production of seeds takes place
in the second season. Perennial plants survive from one year to another and live for many
years. Shrubs and trees are perennial plants. These may be evergreen, when they produce and
shed leaves all the year round in a manner that leaves are always present on the plant or may
be deciduous, when they shed all leaves on the stem during a season – dry or cold.

Angiosperms are subdivided into two major groups which many consider to be classes. These
are: (1.) Monocotyledonae – monocotyledonous plants (monocots) and (2.) Dicotyledonae –
dicotyledonous plants (dicots).

Differences between Monocots and Dicots

STRUCTURE MONOCOT DICOT

Leaf (i)Leaves show parallel venation Leaves show reticulate or net
Morphology venation
(ii)Leaves are long and thin, usually Leaves possess broad lamina,
sessile (without leaf stalk) usually with petiole (petiolate-
possession of leaf stalk.
(iii)Dorsal and ventral surfaces of the Dorsal and ventral surfaces of the
leaf are usually identical leaf differ.
Stem Anatomy (i)Vascular bundles are scattered in Vascular bundles are arranged in

1
 the cortex or ground tissue ring form in the cortex.
(ii)Vascular cambium is usually Vascular cambium is usually
absent present
(iii)They do not usually undergo They usually undergo secondary
secondary growth (except in Palmae) growth.
Root Primary root of the radical develop Primary root persists as a tap root,
Morphology into numerous adventitious roots to with lateral roots as secondary roots
form fibrous root system to form tap root system.
Root Anatomy (i)Root possess many groups of Few groups of xylem are present, 2
xylem tissue of up to 30 – 8.
(ii)Vascular cambium usually absent Vascular cambium is often present,
and no secondary growth giving rise to secondary growth.
Seed Embryo has only one cotyledon Embryo has two or at times more
Morphology cotyledons
Flowers (i)Floral parts are usually in threes Floral parts are usually in fours or
fives
(ii)Floral parts may not bear distinct Floral parts usually possess distinct
petal and sepal, thereby forming into petals and sepals.
perianth
(iii)Flowers are often wind-pollinated Flowers are often pollinated by
insects, birds or bats.

Angiosperms occur in many families, some of which are as follows:

Poaceae – Maize, Rice, Sorghum, Wheat, Millet, Barley, Sugarcane, Pennisetum,

Andropogon.

Palmae – Oil palm, Date palm, Raphia palm, Royal palm, Coconut, Roystonea oleracia.

Sterculiaceae – Cocoa, Colanut.

Anarcadiaceae – Mango, Cashew.

Cucurbitaceae – Citrulus, Fluted pumpkin, Water mellon, Luffa, Sour mellon.

Solanaceae – Capsicum spp., Tomato, Garden egg, Tobacco, Irish potato.

Malvaceae – Okra, Hibiscus spp.

Asteraceae – Chromolaena odorata, Tithonia diversifolia, Tridax procumbens, Vernonia.

Musaceae – Bananas, Plantains.