Diversity of Plants ALCOS OBJECTIVE 1 Diversity of

Diversity of Plants ALCOS OBJECTIVE 1

Diversity of Plants �Kingdom plante consists of 10 divisions Anthocerophyta – Hornworts Bryophyta – Mosses Hepatophyta – Liverworts Lycophyta – Clubmosses and Spikemosses Pterophyta – Ferns and Horsetails Cycadophyta – Cycads Ginkgophyta – Ginkgo and Maidenhair Gnetophyta Coniferophyta – conifers Anthophyta – Flowering plants

Diversity of Plants �Bryophytes Nonvascular seedless plants Small, grow near water Dominant gametophyte Originated 475 mya �Division Anthocerophyta Hornworts Sporophyte typically 5 cm in height ~ 100 extant species

Diversity of Plants Phaeoceros laevis Anthoceros agrestis

Diversity of Plants �Division Bryophyta Mosses Sporophyte typically ~15 cm in height Form dense mats 15 000 extant species Found on every continent except Antarctica

Diversity of Plants Pyrrhobryum spiniforme Sphagnum sp.

Diversity of Plants �Division Hepatophyta Liverworts Sporophyte less than 5 cm in height Typically found in tropical or subtropical regions ~9000 extant species

Diversity of Plants Frullania ericoides Marchantia polymorpha

Diversity of Plants �Seedless vascular plants Evolution of vascular tissue Dominant sporophyte Originated 420 mya �Division Lycophyta Clubmosses and Spikemosses ~1200 extant species Most primitive vascular plants

Diversity of Plants Lycopodium tristachyum Selaginella apoda

Diversity of Plants �Division Pterophyta Ferns, Horsetails and Wisk ferns 12 000 extant species Thrive in temperate climates Dominated forest of carboniferous period

Diversity of Plants Osmunda cinnamomea Polystichum acrostichoides

Diversity of Plants Cheilanthes alabamensis Trichomanes petersii

Diversity of Plants Psilotum nudum Equisetum hyemale

Diversity of Plants �Vascular seed plants Evolution of seeds Dominant sporophyte Originated 360 mya �Division Cycadophyta Cycads ~100 extant species Grow exclusively in tropical habitats Only species found wild in U. S grows in Florida

Diversity of Plants Cycas circinalis Encephalartos sclavoi

Diversity of Plants �Division Ginkgophyta 1 extant species Ginkgo biloba Cultivated trees Maidenhair tree Fan-like leaves turn gold in autumn

Diversity of Plants �Division Gnetophyta Gnetophytes 75 extant species Most species found in desert regions Some species may live to be over 1000 years old

Diversity of Plants Ephedra torreyana Welwitschia Mirabilis

Diversity of Plants �Division Coniferophyta Conifers 600 extant species Most are evergreen Adaptations for conserving water

Diversity of Plants Pinus palustris Pinus taeda

Diversity of Plants Taxodium distichum Juniperus virginiana

Diversity of Plants � Division Anthophyta Flowering plants Subdivided into Monocotyledons and Dicotyledons Monocotyledons � 65 000 extant species � Grasses, orchids, lilies and palms Dicotyledons � 185 000 extant species � Shrubs, trees, cacti, wildflowers, garden flowers, vegetables and herbs

Diversity of Plants Digitaria sp. Andropogon glomeratus

Diversity of Plants Hymenocallis coronaria Platanthera ciliaris

Diversity of Plants Myrica cerifera Smilax laurifolia

Diversity of Plants Acer rubrum Liquidambar styraciflua

Diversity of Plants Quercus rubra Quercus alba

Diversity of Plants Spigelia marilandica Mitchella repens

Diversity of Plants Clitora mariana Trillium sp.

Dichotomous Keys �Dichotomous Key Made up of set of numbered statements Each set deals with a single characteristic of the organism � Leaf shape or leaf arrangement � Bark and twig structure � Flower arrangement and structure A key to the trees of Alabama � http: //www. aces. edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0509. pdf