10T2K: Types of 10T2K: Types of PlantsPlants

Thing 1: Vascular vs. Thing 1: Vascular vs. nonvascular plantsnonvascular plants

VASCULAR plants have roots, leaves, VASCULAR plants have roots, leaves, and veins for carrying food and water.and veins for carrying food and water.

NONVASCULAR plants don’t.NONVASCULAR plants don’t. Nonvascular plants are simpler and more Nonvascular plants are simpler and more

primitive than vascular plants.primitive than vascular plants.

Thing 1a: Xylem and phloem Thing 1a: Xylem and phloem are vascular tissuesare vascular tissues

Xylem is vascular tissue that transports Xylem is vascular tissue that transports water and minerals.water and minerals.

Phloem is vascular tissue that transports Phloem is vascular tissue that transports food made by photosynthesis.food made by photosynthesis.

Thing 2: Nonvascular Thing 2: Nonvascular seedless plantsseedless plants

The simplest plants are nonvascular and The simplest plants are nonvascular and don’t make seeds.don’t make seeds. No roots, leaves, flowers, fruitsNo roots, leaves, flowers, fruits

MOSS is the most common example of a MOSS is the most common example of a nonvascular seedless plant.nonvascular seedless plant.

Thing 3: Vascular Thing 3: Vascular seedless plantsseedless plants

Some plants have roots, leaves and Some plants have roots, leaves and veins, but don’t make seeds.veins, but don’t make seeds. Also no flowers or fruitsAlso no flowers or fruits

FERNS are the most common kind of FERNS are the most common kind of vascular seedless plant.vascular seedless plant.

Lycopods (“club mosses”) are another Lycopods (“club mosses”) are another group of seedless vascular plants.group of seedless vascular plants.

Sori on back of fern frond

2 common Virginia lycopods2 common Virginia lycopods

Thing 4: Gymnosperms are Thing 4: Gymnosperms are vascular plants with seeds vascular plants with seeds but no flowers or fruitsbut no flowers or fruits

Some plants are vascular and make Some plants are vascular and make seeds, but don’t make flowers or fruit.seeds, but don’t make flowers or fruit.

CONIFERS (tress with cones) are the CONIFERS (tress with cones) are the most common kind of gymnosperm.most common kind of gymnosperm. PinePine HemlockHemlock SpruceSpruce FirFir

Virginia pine male and female cones.Virginia pine male and female cones.

Thing 5: Angiosperms are Thing 5: Angiosperms are vascular plants with flowers vascular plants with flowers and fruitsand fruits

The most complex plants are vascular The most complex plants are vascular plants that make flowers and fruits.plants that make flowers and fruits.

Most plants are in this category, even Most plants are in this category, even grass and most trees.grass and most trees.

The word angiosperm means “covered The word angiosperm means “covered seed”.seed”.

The seeds of angiosperms are enclosed The seeds of angiosperms are enclosed in a fruit.in a fruit.

Thing 7: FruitThing 7: Fruit Fruits are the swollen ovaries of an Fruits are the swollen ovaries of an

angiosperm.angiosperm. Almost anything with seeds in it other Almost anything with seeds in it other

than a cone from a conifer is a fruit.than a cone from a conifer is a fruit.

Red maple flowers (left) and fruit

Thing 8: Flower Thing 8: Flower reproductive partsreproductive parts

Male structure: Male structure: stamenstamen Pollen-containing Pollen-containing antheranther at the end of a at the end of a filamentfilament..

Pollen produces the plant’s sperm.Pollen produces the plant’s sperm. Female structure: Female structure: pistilpistil

Pollen-collecting Pollen-collecting stigmastigma connected to the connected to the ovaryovary..

The ovary contains the plant’s eggs.The ovary contains the plant’s eggs.

petal: attracts pollinators

stamenpistil

sepal: protects flower bud and can attract pollinators

flower

pistil stamen

stigma

ovary

egg

anther

filament

Thing 9: PollinationThing 9: Pollination Gymnosperms are pollinated by the wind.Gymnosperms are pollinated by the wind. Some angiosperms are pollinated by the Some angiosperms are pollinated by the

wind.wind. Grasses, many flowering treesGrasses, many flowering trees Wind-pollinated flowers do not have petals Wind-pollinated flowers do not have petals

or showy sepalsor showy sepals Some angiosperms are pollinated by Some angiosperms are pollinated by

animals.animals. Animal-pollinated flowers have show petals Animal-pollinated flowers have show petals

and/or sepals to attract the pollinatorsand/or sepals to attract the pollinators

Wind-pollinated flowersWind-pollinated flowers

Thing 10: “Source to Thing 10: “Source to sink”sink”

Water moves from the soil into the xylem Water moves from the soil into the xylem of the roots, and then to the rest of the of the roots, and then to the rest of the plant.plant.

When photosynthesizing, food moves When photosynthesizing, food moves from the leaves (or other green parts) to from the leaves (or other green parts) to the phloem, and then to the rest of the the phloem, and then to the rest of the plant.plant.

When not photosynthesizing, food moves When not photosynthesizing, food moves from where it has been stored (e.g., roots from where it has been stored (e.g., roots or tubers) into the phloem, and then to or tubers) into the phloem, and then to the rest of the plant.the rest of the plant.