Dichotomous Key Lab Activity

a. Vascular tissue is present- Veins in leaves and stems……...... Go to #3 1 b. Vascular tissue is not present ………………...... ………………..Go to #2

a. Spongy, tiny leaf like appearance…………….…………Bryophyta (moss) 2 b. Horn-like structures…….…...... ………...... Anthocerophyta (hornworts) c. Deeply grooved lobes…….………...………….…...... Hepatophyta (liverworts)

a. Spores under or attached to leaves or stems…..………..Go to #4 3 b. Flowers or fruit…………….....………………...... Anthophyta (angiosperms) c. Presence of cones……………………...……………....Go to #5

a. Grow in club-like clusters……………..…………...... Lycophyta (club mosses) b. Large fronds…………..………………………………...Pterophyta (ferns) 4 c. Stems with no leaves, whisk-like appearance…...... Psilophyta (whisk ferns) d. Reed-like appearance of leaves and stems.…...... Sphenophyta (horsetails)

a. Palm-like leaves, cone/s in the center…………….……...... Cycadophyta b. White/silver fruit-like cones that emit foul odor…..…...... Female Ginkgophyta 5 c. Needle-like leaves and cones………………………..………Coniferophyta d. Pollen tubes from one cone to another……………………….Gnetophyta

Dichotomous Key Lab Activity Form- Hypothesis: My hypothesis is that there will be more plants that are Angiosperms than bryophytes, pteridophytes, and gymnosperms. Data: Location Physical Description Phylum Plant sample 1 My backyard Green; rough; strawberries & flowers on it Anthophyta Plant sample 2 My backyard Light green; layered; big sphere in middle Plant sample 3 My backyard Plant sample 4 My backyard Anthophyta Analysis Questions: 1. What characteristics allowed you to identify each of your plant samples? A characteristic that allowed me to identify my plant samples is the way that their leaves are shaped. 2. To which division does each of your plant samples belong and why? [Nonvascular (Bryophytes), Seedless Vascular (Pteridophytes), Nonflowering Plants (Gymnosperms), or the Flowering Plants (Angiosperms)]?

3. Was your hypothesis correct? Did you have more of one type of plant over another? If so, why? Conclusion:

4. Why is it important to know the division or phylum of the various plant species growing in your backyard? It is important because you want to make sure that none of the plants are poisonous or can be harmful to you and your family.