BIO 206

SEED PLANTS
 ANGIOSPERM (FLOWERING PLANTS)
• Angiosperms are the group after the
gymnosperms
• They are also known as flowering plants
• They are better adapted to life on land than
any other plants
• After their appearance during the cretaceous
period, many years ago, they rapidly took over
from conifers as the dominant land vegetation
• Angiosperms apart from having enclosed
seeds have flowers instead of cones
• This allows many of them to make use of
insects and occasionally birds or even bats as
agents of pollination
• Hutchinson in 1959 divided flowering plants
into: Dicotyledons (have two seed leaves) and
Monocotyledons (have one seed leaf)
 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DICOTYLEDONS
AND MONOCOTYLEDONS
 In dicot, the embryo bears two cotyledons
while in monocot it bears only one cotyledon
 In dicot, the primary root gives rise to the tap
root while in the monocot, the primary root
perishes and is replaced by adventitious
(fibrous roots).
 In dicot, venation is reticulate while it is
parallel in monocot
 Dicot flowers have pentamerous symmetry (5)
somes have tetramerous while it is trimerous
(3) in monocot
 In the dicot stem, the vascular bundles are
arranged in a ring and are collateral and open,
i.e. they contain cambium which gives rise to
secondary growth while in the monocot stem,
the vascular bundles are scattered in the
ground tissues and are collateral and closed
hence there is no secondary growth
 In the dicot root, the number of xylem
bundles varies from 2 to 6 but in the monocot
root, the xylem bundles are numerous
 NOTE: The cambium makes it appearance in
the dicot root as a secondary meristem and
gives rise to the secondary growth but in the
monocot root, cambium is absent and so
there is no secondary growth.
 FLORAL DIAGRAM
 The number of parts of a flower, their general
structure, arrangement and the relation they bear
to one another maybe represented by a diagram
known as the FLORAL DIAGRAM
 The floral diagram is the ground plan of a flower.
In the diagram, the calyx lies outermost, the
corolla is internal to the calyx, the androecium is
in the middle and the gynoecium is in the center
 Diagram
 FLORAL FORMULA
• The different parts of a flower, their number
maybe represented by a formula known as the
FLORAL FORMULA
• In the floral formula, K stands for calyx, C for
corolla, A for androecium and G for
gynoecium
 FAMILIES OF DICOTYLEDONS
FAMILY: MALVACEAE
• The family of Malvaceae have over 1000 species
• It is a herb, shrub or trees and the leaves are
simple and alternate
• It has 5 calyx and also 5 corolla which are free
and attached to the base of the staminal tube
• The stamen or androecium are numerous
• DIAGRAM
 USEFULNESS
• They are used for commercial textile cotton
• The fruits are used for sour jelly
• They are sources of strong fibers
• The seeds are used as flavoring agent and as
medicine
• The larger genera are the Hibiscus which have
over 200 species, Sida sp which are over 200
species and Malva (40 species)
• Floral formula is
• DIAGRAM
 FAMILY: LEGUMINOSAE
 These are herb, shrub, tree and climbers
 The leaves are alternate with a swollen leaf
base known as the pulvinus
 The flowers are bisexual and complete
 The calyx are usually 5
 The androecium are 10 or numerous and the
gynoecium has 1 carpel
 It has a fruit which is a legume
• This is the second biggest family among the
dicotyledons
• The family Leguminosac has been divided into
• Papilionaceae
• Caesalpinineae
• Mimoseae
• This division is based on the characters of the
corolla and the stamen
 PAPILIONACEAE
• It can be a herb, shrub, tree and a climber
• The calyx are five and are joined together
• The stamen are 10
• Examples are Crotalaria sp, Desmodium sp
Indigofera sp etc
• Floral formula is
• DIAGRAM
 USEFULNESS
• They are rich in proteins
• They are eaten as vegetables
• They are used as natural fertilizers
• Also used as timber trees
 CAESALPINIACEAE
 This is a shrub or a tree
 The leaves are unipinnate or bipinnate
 It has 5 calyx and 5 corolla which are free
 The androecium are 10
 Examples are Cassia sp (over 450 sp) and
Caesalpinia sp (over 100 sp)
 Floral formula is
 USEFULNESS
• They are medicinal
• They are used as ornamental crops
• DIAGRAM
 MIMOSEAE
• These are shrubs and trees
• They are sometimes herbs or woody climbers
• The leaves are bipinnate
• The calyx are 5 and are fused
• Also, the corolla are 4 or 5 and are usually
fused
• The androecium is uncountable ɷ
 USEFULNESS
• They are used as timber trees
• They are sources of fuel
• Examples are Acacia sp (over 780 sp), Mimosa
sp (over 400 sp) and Albizzia sp (over 100 sp
• DIAGRAM
 FLOWER STRUCTURE (1)

• Flowers are the reproductive structures produced

by plants which belong to the group known as
Angiosperms, or 'Flowering Plants'.
• A flower is basically made up of four concentric
rings of structures.
• There is an outer ring of modified leaves called
sepals. These provide protection to the flower
before it opens and are usually green. Sepals are
collectively known as the calyx.
 FLOWER STRUCTURE (2)
• Inside the sepals is another ring of modified
leaves called petals which are often brightly
coloured. Petals are collectively known as the
corolla.
• Within the corolla are one or more stamens
containing pollen grains, which are the male
reproductive structures.
• In the very centre of the flower contains the
Carpel (ovary + style + stigma) which is the
female reproductive organ.
Floral parts (1)
Floral parts (2)
 The female reproductive parts in plants (1)
• The female parts of a flower consist of an ovary,
which contains one or more ovules, a style and
the stigma. These floral parts are collectively
known as Carpel or Gynoecium.
• From the ovary, extends a tubular structure called
the style and on the top of the style is a surface
receptive to pollen grains called the stigma.
• The stigma can take many different forms, most
of them are designed to help trap pollen grains.
• The ovules (also known as the megasporangia)
are held in position in the loculus by the funicle,
all of which are enclosed within the ovary.
Floral parts (3)
Gynoecium or Carpel
 The female reproductive parts in plants (2)
• The ovary is at the base of the flower. There are 3
possible positions of the ovary – Epigynous
(Inferior ovary), perigynous and hypogynous
(Superior ovary).
• Epigynous describes a flower having its floral
parts above the ovary (i.e. Inferior ovary)
• Perigynous describes a flower having its floral
parts at the same position with the ovary.
• Hypogynous describes a flower having its floral
parts below the ovary (i.e. Superior ovary).
Ovary positions
 The male reproductive parts in plants
• The male parts of a flower consist of one or more
stamens, collectively known as the Androecium.
• Each stamen is made up of paired anthers (sacs
containing pollen grains) on a stalk known as
filament.
• The anthers are the orange/yellow structures
often seen in the centre of a flower.
• Pollen grains from the anthers of one flower is
transferred to the stigma of the same flower (self-
pollination) or another flower (cross-pollination)
usually either by wind or animals, especially
insects.
Androecium or Stamen
Floral part (4)
Fertilization in Plants
 FLOWER STRUCTURE (3)
• Flowers do not always have the two outer layers of
calyx and corolla. These two layers are most
noticeable in plants which are pollinated by
insects.
• The corolla or petals are often brightly coloured
with markings attractive to insects. The flowers
may also be scented.
• For instance, Honeysuckle has showy, attractive
flowers which attract insects by day.
• However, in the dark, their colourful show is not
much use, and their heady scent then helps to
attract night-flying moths.
Insect-pollinated Honeysuckle
 FLOWER STRUCTURE (4)
• In insect-pollinated plants, there are also usually
nectaries which secrete sugary nectar, located within
the flower.
• These provide an incentive to insects to visit the
flowers. In the search for nectar, the insects will often
have pollen grains sticking to their bodies.
• This may then brush off onto the stigma of the next
flower visited and in this way the flowers are
pollinated.
• Wind pollination is also common in flowering plants.
In this case, because there is no necessity to attract
insects, the calyx and corolla of the flowers may be
absent, and would not produce scents.
 ROOT TYPES IN PLANTS
• The primary root and its branches form the
tap root system of the plant
• The primary or tap root normally grows
vertically downwards to a shorter or longer
depth
• DIAGRAM
 REGIONS OF THE ROOT
 ROOT CAP: Each root is covered over at the
apex by a sort of cap known as the root cap
 The root cap protects the tender apex of the
root as it makes its way through the soil
 Due to the impact of the hard soil particle, the
outer part of the root cap wears away
 Newer cells formed by the underlying growing
tissue are added to it
 REGION OF CELL DIVISION
 This is the growing apex of the root lying
within and a little beyond the root cap
 It extends to a length of one to a few
millimeters
 The cells of this region are very small and thin
walled
 They undergo repeated division and so it is
called the MERISTEMATIC REGION
 REGION OF ELONGATION
 This lies above the meristematic region
 The cells of this region undergo elongation
and enlargement
 They are responsible for the growth in the
length of the root
 REGION OF MATURATION
 This region lies above the region of elongation
and extends upwards
 This region produces fine and delicate thread
like structures called the root hairs
 These hairs are meant to absorb water and
mineral salts from the soil
 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ROOT
The root is the descending portion of the axis
of the plant
The root is protected by a cap like structure
known as the root cap
The root bears unicellular hair which absorb
water and mineral salts from the soil
 TAP ROOT MODIFIED FOR STORAGE OF
FOOD
 FUSIFORM ROOT: This is when the root is
swollen in the middle and gradually tapering
towards the apex and the base, being more or
less spindle shaped in appearance
 NAPIFORM ROOT: Here, the root is swollen at
the upper part becoming almost spherical and
sharply tapering at the lower part
Diagram
 CONICAL ROOT: This is when the root is broad
at the base and gradually tapers towards the
apex like a cone
 TUBEROUS ROOT: This is when the root is
thick and fleshly but does not take a definite
shape
Diagram
 BRANCHED ROOT MODIFIED FOR
RESPIRATION
PNEUMATOPHORES
Many plants growing in marshy places and salt
lakes develop special kinds of roots called
respiratory roots or pneumatophores for the
purpose of respiration
Such roots grow from the underground roots
of the plant but rise vertically upwards and
come out of the water like so many conical
spikes
They often occur in large numbers around the
tree trunk
Each root is provided towards the upper end,
with numerous pores or respiratory spaces
through which air is taken in for respiration
Such roots are seen in Rhizophora spp
Heritiera spp
Diagram
 ADVENTITIOUS ROOTS MODIFIED FOR
STORAGE OF FOOD
• TUBEROUS ROOT: This is a swollen root
without any definite shape as in sweet potato.
Tuberous roots are produced singly and not in
clusters
Diagram
• FASCICULATED ROOT: This is when several
tuberous roots occur in a cluster at the base of
the stem
Diagram
 THE STEM
• The stem is the ascending portion of the axis of
the plant bearing the leaves, branches and flowers
• When young, it is normally green in colour
• The stem bears multicellular hairs of different
types
• It has nodes and internodes which may not be
distinct in all cases
• Leaves and branches normally develop from the
nodes
 TYPES OF STEMS
 Strong stems
 Weak stems
 STRONG STEMS
• These are unbranched, erect, cylindrical and
stout stem marked with scars of fallen leaves
• They often have nodes and internodes
 WEAK STEMS
There are 3 types of plants with weak stems
namely
• Trailer: These are plants whose thin and long
branches trail on the ground, with or without rooting
at the nodes.
When such plants lie prostrate on the ground, they
are called procumbent plants e.g Oralis sp.
When the branches of such plants after trailing for
some distance tend to rise at their apex, they are called
decumbent plant e.g Tridax sp
• CREEPERS : These are weak stem plants with
their long or short branches creeping along
the ground and rooting at the nodes.
• CLIMBERS: These are plants that attach
themselves to any neighbouring object, often
by means of some special devices and climb it
to a long or short distance e.g passion flower.
FUNCTIONS OF STEM
 THE LEAF
• THE LEAF BASE: This is the part attached to the
stem. The leaf base bears two lateral outgrowths
known as the stipules. In many plants, the leaf
base is swollen and it is known as the Pulvinus.
• PETIOLE: This is the stalk of the leaf. A long
petiole pushes out the leaf blade and thus helps
it to secure more sunlight. When the petiole is
absent in a plant, the leaf is said to be sessile
and when present, it is said to be petiolate
• Leaf blade or Lamina: This is the green
expanded portion of the leaf. A strong vein
called the mid rib runs centrally through the
leaf blade from its base to the apex. This
produces lateral veins which gives rises to
veinlets. The leaf blade is the most important
part of the leaf since this is the seat of food
manufacture for the entire plant.
 SHAPE OF THE LEAF
• Acicular: This is when the leaf is long, narrow
and cylindrical eg Pine
• Linear: Leaf is long, narrow and flat eg grasses
• Lanceolate: Leaf shape is like that of a lance eg
bamboo
• Elliptical: The leaf has the shape of an ellipse eg
Carissa spp
• Ovate: When the leaf blade is egg shaped ie
broader at the base than the apex.
DIAGRAMS OF LEAF SHAPES
• Oblong: This is when the blade is wide and
long, with the two margins running straight up
as in banana.
• Rotund: the leaf blade is circular in outline as
in lotus
• Cordate: When the leaf blade is heart shaped
as in Peperomia spp
• Reniform: When the leaf is kidney shaped as
in lndian pennywort
 FUNCTIONS OF THE LEAF
• In the manufacture of food through
photosynthesis
• For the exchange of gases ie carbon dioxide
and oxygen between the atmosphere and the
plant body.
• The leaf helps in the evaporation of water
mainly through the lower surface of the leaf