Introduction
Does a plant have to be green? Do they all photosynthesize? They are eukaryotic organisms that are not animals, fungi, or protists. And yes, they have to photosynthesize.
What Are Plants?
Plants have adapted to a variety of environments, from the deserts to oceans. In each environment, plants have become crucial to supporting animal life. Plants are the food that animals eat. Plants also provide places for animals, such as insects and birds, to live. From tiny mosses to gorgeous rose bushes to extremely large redwood trees, the organisms in this kingdom have five main features.
All plants...
...are multicellular. Plants are all multicellular, meaning they are composed of more than one cell. There are no single- celled plants. ...are photosynthetic. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants capture the energy of sunlight and use carbon dioxide from the air (or water) to make their own food: glucose. Plants have chloroplasts, the organelle of photosynthesis, and are known as producers, or autotrophs. Most plants have a green color because of the chloroplasts. ...have cell walls. A cell wall is a rigid, protective layer surrounding cells. ...reproduce using spores or sex cells. Plants can reproduce asexually or sexually. For plants, asexual reproduction happens through fragmentation (spores can be blown to different environments where the offspring then grow to maturity). Sexual reproduction happens through sex cells (pollen and eggs). Weather or other organisms help spread pollen from flower to flower. ...have a cuticle. A cuticle is a waxy layer that covers plants to help keep water in.
Why Are Plants Important?
Plants, and other photosynthetic organisms, are the base for all food chains. Without them, the herbivores that eat them will slowly die out. After that, the carnivores that eat herbivores will slowly die out because of the limited food supply. This chain reaction will, over time, kill all life on Earth.
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How Are Plants Classified?
Plants are divided into 12 different phyla (plural for phylum), and those phyla are gathered into four major groups:
1. Bryophytes These plants are non-vascular, meaning they do not have vascular tissue to transport nutrients, water, or food. Examples include mosses, liverworts, and hornworts.
2. Pteridophytes These plants have vascular tissue but do not have seeds. Examples include ferns, whisk ferns, club mosses, and horsetails.
3. Gymnosperms These are vascular plants that have seeds, but no flowers. Examples include redwood, fir, and cypress trees.
4. Angiosperms These are vascular plants that have seeds and flowers. Examples include magnolia trees, lilacs, tomatoes, and tulips.
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Review of “Plant Kingdom” Reading
1. Why are plants important to all life on Earth?
2. What are the defining characteristics of each of the four groups of plants?
182 Characteristics of the Plant Kingdom
Kingdom
of the Animal Characteristics
183 Classification of the Plant Kingdom
Seedless
Example(s):
A.K.A.
Vascular
Definition:
Gymnosperms
Definition: Example(s):
Seeded
The Plant Kingdom Plant The
Angiosperms
Definition: Example(s):
Vascular
-
Non
A.K.A. Definition: Example(s): 184 Plant Mobile
Step 1: Prep Your Notecards
Kingdom Plantae
Vascular Plants Non-Vascular Plants
Bryophytes Seedless Plants Seeded Plants
Pteridophytes Gymnosperms Angiosperms
185 Step 2: Write Your Information
Which card... What to write...
Front: “Kingdom Plantae” and your name. Kingdom Plantae Back: List the five characteristics of the plant kingdom.
Front: “Vascular Plants” Vascular Plants Back: Definition of vascular plants.
Front: “Non-Vascular Plants” Non-Vascular Plants Back: Definition of non-vascular plants.
Front: “Seedless Plants” Seedless Plants Back: Draw a picture to represent the idea.
Front: “Seeded Plants” Seeded Plants Back: Draw a picture to represent the idea.
Front: “Bryophytes” Byrophytes Back: Picture Example and Name of the Plant
Draw your own or use the ones provided. Front: “Pteridophytes” Pteridophytes Back: Picture Example and Name of the Plant
Draw your own or use the ones provided. Front: “Angiosperms” and Definition Angiosperms Back: Picture Example and Name of the Plant
Draw your own or use the ones provided. Front: “Gymnosperms” and Definition Gymnosperms Back: Picture Example and Name of the Plant
Draw your own or use the ones provided. . Color the pictures (drawn or not) THEN connect your cards together.
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