Seed Plants Chapter 12 Section 3
Objectives:
Describe 3 ways that seed plants differ from seedless plants
Describe the structure of seeds
Compare angiosperms & gymnosperms
Explain the economic & environmental importance of gymnosperms & angiosperms
FYI: The Millennium Seed Bank Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, England ◦ Collecting seeds from 24,000 plant species around the world ◦ 50,000 species may become extinct in the next 30 years ◦ Ensures the survival of plants that stabilize soil, provide food, medicine, and building material
FYI: Sea Bean (genus Mucuna) Largest seed pod in the world Floats from river to ocean, 1000’s of miles before it is washed to shore
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/images/mucuna4b.gif
http://www.ncaquariums.com/askaquarium/ataimg/seabeans.jpg
Seed Plants:
2 groups of vascular plants that produce seeds: ◦ Gymnosperms Trees & Shrubs that do not have flowers or fruit
◦ Angiosperms Have flowers and seeds that are protected by fruit
Characteristics of Seed Plants
Similarities: seed and seedless plants both alternate between a 2 stage life cycle ◦ Sporophyte ◦ Gametophyte
Characteristics of Seed Plants:
Differences: ◦ Produce seeds; nourish and protect young sporophytes ◦ Gametophytes do not live independently of the sporophyte; tiny; form within the reproductive structures of the sporophyte ◦ The sperm of seed plants do not need water to reach an egg; form inside pollen – can be transported by wind or animals
Pollen:
The tiny granules that contain the male gametophyte of seed plants
Seed Plants:
Because of these characteristics, seed plants can live just about anywhere!
Most common plants on Earth today
The Structure of Seeds:
A seed forms after fertilization
3 Parts: ◦ Young plant: Sporophyte ◦ Stored food: Cotyledons (seed leaves) ◦ Seed coat: surrounds and protects the young plant
Seed Structure:
http://www.uen.org/utahlink/tours/admin/tour/14719/14719lr001135.gif
The Structure of Seeds:
Advantages over seedless plants: ◦ Young plant uses the stored food in the seed ◦ Can be spread by animals (more efficient)
Gymnosperms: Do not have flowers or fruit Seeds are usually protected by a cone 4 Groups:
◦ ◦ ◦ ◦
Conifers Ginkgoes Cycads Gnetophytes
Importance of Gymnosperms:
Conifers: used for building materials, paper products, anti-cancer drugs
Pine trees: produce resin (used to make soap, turpentine, paint, ink)
Gnetophytes: anti-allergy drugs
All are popular in gardens and parks
Gymnosperms:
Gymnosperm Life Cycle:
Most familiar gymnosperm: conifer (“cone-bearing”) – have male & female cones
Spores of each type of cone become tiny gametophytes
Gymnosperm Life Cycle:
Male gametophytes are found in pollen (pollen contain sperm)
Female gametophytes produce eggs
Transfer of pollen from male to female cones = pollination
Fertilized egg develops into a young sporophyte within the female cone
Released under special circumstances (ex: forest fire)
Gymnosperm Life Cycle:
http://img.sparknotes.com/figures/9/9f79f1dbce762884bf644e4ac8450061/gymnospermlifecycle.gif
Angiosperms:
Vascular plants that produce flowers and fruits
Most abundant plants today
235,000 species
In almost every land ecosystem
Angiosperm Reproduction:
Flowers help angiosperms reproduce ◦ Some depend on the wind for pollination ◦ Others have flowers that attract animals
Fruits surround and protect seeds ◦ Depend on the wind to carry them ◦ Other fruits attract animals to eat them or are carried (ex: burrs)
2 Kinds of Angiosperms:
2 Classes of Angiosperms
◦ Monocots ◦ Dicots
Monocots: One cotyledon Leaves with parallel veins Flower parts in threes Scattered bundles of vascular tissue Ex: Grasses, orchids, onions, lilies, palms
Monocots:
http://www.agen.ufl.edu/~owens/age2062/OnLineBiology/OLBB/www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/BIOBK/monocots_1.gif
Dicots: 2
cotyledons Ex: roses, cactuses, sunflowers, peanuts, peas Leaves with branching veins Bundles of vascular tissue are in a ring
Dicots:
http://www.agen.ufl.edu/~owens/age2062/OnLineBiology/OLBB/www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/BIOBK/DICOTS.gif
Importance of Angiosperms: Provide food for land animals Part of food chain Major food crops for people (corn, rice, wheat) Oak trees (building materials) Cotton or flax (clothing or rope) Medicines, rubber, perfume oils
Angiosperms:
Quick Quiz:
How are gymnosperms and angiosperms different?
How are flowering plants important?