Plant Biodiversity

Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms & Angiosperms

 Plant
Generations
 MOST PRIMITIVE LAND PLANTS NON-VASCULAR – ABSORB WATER GROW IN MOIST CONDITIONS –
DIRECTLY FROM SOIL & AIR NEED WATER TO COMPLETE LIFE
CYCLE

Bryophytes -
Mosses

HAVE A DOMINANT WATER NEEDED TO REPRODUCE –

GAMETOPHYTE(N) GENERATION SPERM CELLS HAVE TO SWIM TO
EGGS OF FEMALE SHOOTS
Characteristics
• Gametophyte = thallus – absorb water
• No vascular tissue => short – no
support
• No true roots, stems or leaves
• Rhizoids – anchor plant
• No cuticle – quick water loss
• Asexual reproduction through
sporophyte
• Meiosis => spores
• Homosporous – 1 type of spore
• No fruit or seed
 Intermediate between mosses & seed plants

Dominant sporophyte generation

Pteridophytes -
Water-dependent sexual reproduction - swimming
Ferns
Reproduce with spores

Moisture-dependent gametophyte generation

Characteristics

• Have vascular tissue –

supported => tall
• True leaves = fronds
• Adventitious roots – absorb
water & anchor plant
• Cuticle that prevents water loss
• Underneath leave -> sori with
spores
• Homosporous
• No fruit or seeds
 Produce naked seeds

Gymnosperms Presence of cones

– Conifers Dominant sporophyte generation

Barely visible gametophyte generation

 Characteristics

• Vascular tissue present

• Needle shaped leaves
• Cuticles prevent water loss
• Large root system for
anchoring & water
absorption
• Heterosporous – 2 types
• Male = microspores => pollen
• Female = megaspores inside
cones
• No fruit
 Most dominant plant

Dominant sporophyte generation

Food for humans = cereals, fruit &

veggies

Angiosperms Divided into monocot & dicot

Presence of flowers!

Can reproduce sexually or asexually!

 Characteristics
• Vascular tissue present
• Tap roots - dicot or adventitious roots –
monocot
• Heterosporous
• No leave stalks =
•sessile
• Cuticle prevent
•water loss
• Cots provide food
• Seeds inside fruit
• Double fertilisation
Water dependence for reproduction

Bryophytes = water-dependent

Pteridophytes = water-dependent

Gymnosperms = NOT water-dependent

Angiosperms = NOT water-dependent

Asexual & Sexual
Reproduction
 No gametes formed

Asexual Reproduction Involve only one

individual

Examples:

- Sideways shoots =
runners -> touch ground
-> roots e.g. strawberries

- Lateral buds on tubers

can produce new shoots
& roots e.g. potatoes

- Stems of plants can

produce new roots =>
cuttings
ADVANTAGES
 Quick => rapid population
increase
 No limiting factors e.g.
pollination season
 Efficient => guaranteed offspring
 Every individual can reproduce
without needing to find a mate
 Desirable genetic traits not lost
DISADVANTAGES
 Offspring are genetically
identical => diseases can be
passed on
 Offspring close to parents =>
competition for resources
Sexual Reproduction • Fusion of gametes => ovum &
sperm cell from male & female
parent
• Genetic content of parents are
mixed up
• New gene combinations constantly
formed
 ADVANTAGES
 Allows genetic variation ->
important for long-term survival
 Can prevent disease to spread to
offspring
 New species can develop
*Hermaphrodite: organism that has both male & female reproductive
organs
DISADVANTAGES
 Only half of population can
produce offspring
 Two parents required => need to
find a mate => wind or animals
to pollinate
 No guarantee that desirable
traits would be in offspring
 Slower population growth
 Structure of a typical flower
• Angiosperms
• Leaves in concentric circles =
whorls
• Outer leaves => protect & attract
pollinators = sepal & petal
• Inner whorls = stamen => fertile
& produce spores -> gametes
• Central whorl = female = pistil
Methods of pollination
Pollination -> process by which pollen gets
transferred from stamens of one flower to
stigma/pistil of another flower of the same
species.
*Has to happen for plant to produce seeds
& fruit

1. Wind
2. Insect
3. Bird
Wind-pollinated
flowers
• Gymnosperms
• Angiosperm grasses
• Light & dry pollen
• Large anthers with a lot pollen
• Papery bracts to catch pollen
• Small & dull flowers
• Sticky & feathery stigma
• Heterosexual – not both
 Insect-pollinated
flowers
• Light-coloured petals
• Nectar produced as food reward
• Broad open flowers for landing
space
• Fragrant to attract pollinators
• Sticky pollen & stigmas – cling to
insects body & transfer
successfully
• HONEYBEES
Bird-pollinated
flowers
• Tubular in shape
• Ovules have extra protection
from bird’s beak
• Large amount of nectar
produced
• Plants protect themselves
against nectar robbers
Pollen grain into the ovule pathway
Seeds: Structure
• 3 parts
1. Testa = coat -> protect
from drying out
2. Cotyledon -> food source
3. Embryo -> immature plant
from zygote
 Seed Germination

• Dry & hard

• Little water -> inhibit metabolic processes
-> survive long before germination
• Favourable conditions -> seeds absorb
water = imbibe
• Water enter through micropyle -> cots
swell & split the testa -> growth start

• Seeds need favourable conditions before

they will germinate
Seed banks

• Seeds deposited for

safe-keeping
• Seeds remain inactive
until conditions are
favourable
• Prevent plant
extinction
Seeds as food source
• Monocots = grains e.g. barley, oats,
wheat, millet, rye, rice -> rich in Vit
B complex, fibres & minerals
• Legumes e.g. beans, peas, lentils,
chickpeas -> rich in proteins

*Soya plant is the most genetically

modified plant – to increase crop
yield
*Seeds contain oils e.g. canola,
sunflower
Endemic seed food
species in Africa
• Sorghum = grain -> Bread,
porridge, beer

• Samp = dried, crushed maize

kernels

• Pearl millet -> porridge and

beer
*Grow in dry, nutrient-poor soil
*Gluten substitute