Survey of Plants Fungi and Algae Medically important

Survey of Plants, Fungi, and Algae Medically important organisms traditionally called “plants”

Five Kingdom System

Kingdom Monera Cyanobacteria (Blue Green Algae) Nostoc Oscillatoria Spirulina

Kingdom Protista z. Six divisions of algae: y. Division Pyrrophyta - dinoflagellates Chrysophyta - diatoms Euglenophyta - euglenoids Chlorophyta - green algae Rhodophyta - red algae Phaeophyta - brown algae z. Two divisions of fungi

Dinoflagellates

Diatoms & Golden Brown Algae

Rhodophyta – Red Algae

Div. Phaeophyta KELP - common name for several brown seaweeds

Algal Bloom

Kingdom Planta z 10 divisions of plants z. Organize into 4 groups ymosses and liverworts (Division Bryophyta) yferns and fern-allies (four divisions) ygymnosperms (four divisions) yangiosperms (Division Magnoliophyta)

Bryophyta: mosses, liverworts, and hornworts Moss Liverwort

Lower Vascular Plants: Ferns and fern-allies z. Reproduce by spores formed in a sporangium z. Long fossil history z. Divisions ywhisk ferns – Psilophyta yclub mosses – Lycophyta yhorsetails – Sphenophyta yferns – Pterophyta

Division Lycophyta Club Moss

Division Sphenophyta Horsetails (Equisetum)

Division Pterophyta Ferns - About 10, 000 species exist from tropics to arctic. Braken fern known to be toxic

Gymnosperms z. Division Cycadophyta - Cycads Ginkgophyta - Ginkgo Gnetophyta - Ephedra and allies Coniferophyta - Conifers

Cycads

Cycad Female Cones

Leaves of a Ginkgo tree

Division Gnetophyta – Ephedra is one of three genera in the division

Division Coniferophyta: Yew (Taxus spp)

Division Coniferophyta Cupressaceae - Cedar Family Pollen release from a male Juniperus tree

Division Magnoliophyta Angiosperms

Important Angiosperm Families with Health Effects z. Solanaceae - nightshade family z. Papaveraceae - poppy family z. Brassicaceae - mustard family z. Euphorbiaceae - euphorb family z. Rubiaceae - coffee tree family z. Fabaceae - legume family z. Liliaceae - lily family

Fungal-like organisms in Kingdom Protista z. Slime molds - Division Myxomycota y. Slimy (animal-like) feeding stage y. Reproduce by spores z. Water molds - Division Oomycota y. Many in fresh water others on land y. Important plant pathogens in this group

Kingdom Fungi z Division Chytridiomycota (chytrids) – very primitive fungi – cause of amphibian extinctions z Divison Zygomycota (zygomycetes) - simple mycelial fungi – “sugar fungi” z Division Ascomycota (ascomycetes) - yeasts, mycelial fungi, morels, cup fungi, truffles z Division Basidiomycota (basidiomycetes) mushrooms, bracket fungi, puffballs z Asexual Fungi (imperfect fungi) - artificial group of mycelial fungi with no sexual stage - molds

Fungi include molds and mushrooms

Fungi and Human Health