Classifying

Plant Groups
4.1
Organization
Plants

Vascular Nonvascular

Seedless Seed

Angiosperms Gymnosperms

Ferns and Mosses and

related plants related plants
Learning Targets
I can understand plants are classified
according to similar structures
 I can explain the difference between
vascular and nonvascular plants
 I can compare and contrast seed plants
and seedless plants
 I can define angiosperm, gymnosperm,
dicot and monocot
How are plants Classified?
 Scientistshave discovered over 300,000
different kinds of plants

 About 1,000,000 plants may exist that

have not been found and named

 Scientistsbelieve these plants live in the

tropical rain forest
Classification
 Plantsare classified according to whether
they have body parts such as seeds,
tubes, roots, stems, and leaves

 There are 3 main groups of plants:

 Seed Plants
 Ferns
 Mosses
History of Classification
 The Greek philosopher Aristotle first
classified plants and animals

 Carl Linnaeus then developed a

classification system still in use today

 All
living things have a scientific name
which consists of the genus and species
Vascular Plants
 Vascular means “vessel” or “tube”

 Vascular plants have tube-like cells

 Seedplants and ferns are examples of

vascular plants
Vascular (cont.)
 Thesetube-like cells form tissue called
vascular tissue

 The
tissue forms tubes that transport food
and water through the plant

 Vascular plants have well-developed

leave, stems, and roots
Vascular Tissue
 This tissue is important in two ways:

 First, it allows food and water to be

transported over a distance
 Plants can grow where water is not always
present

 Second, vascular tissue is thick and provides

support for the plant
 This allows the plant to grow taller
Nonvascular Plants
 Nonvascular plants do not have tube-like
cells
 These plants are short and must have
constant contact with water
 They do not have tubes to transport water
or support them
 They do not have true leaves, stems, or
roots
 Mosses are nonvascular plants
Vocabulary
 Vascular
Plant
 Nonvascular Plant

 SelfCheck Questions, pg. 69

 #1-5
 COMPLETE SENTENCES
What are
Seed Plants?
4.2
What are Seed Plants?
 Seed plants use seeds to reproduce

A seed is a plant part that contains a

beginning plant and stored food

 The beginning plant part is called an embryo

 Seedshave a seed coat, which holds in

moisture
Seed Plants (cont.)
 When conditions are right, the embryo
grows into a full-sized plant

 Seed plants are the largest group of

plants

 Theyare divided into 2 sub groups:

flowering and nonflowering plants
Angiosperms (Flowering)
 Most species of plants are angiosperms
 A capsule, or fruit, protects the seeds of
angiosperms
 The fruit forms from part of the flower
 Angiosperms are divided into two groups:
 Dicots
 Monocots
Dicots
 Have 2 seed leaves (on the embryo)

 Crisscross pattern of veins on leaves

 Most flowering plants are dicots

 Examples: fruits, vegetables, rose,

sunflower
Monocots
 Have only one seed leaf

 Parallel pattern of veins on leaves

 Mostly grasses, but some flowers

 Examples: grass, corn, wheat, rice, lily,

orchid
Gymnosperms (Nonflowering)
 Do not produce flowers

 Seeds are not surrounded by a fruit

 Seeds are produced inside cones

 Example: seeds of pine trees form on the

scales of cones
Conifers
 The major group of gymnosperms

 Cone-bearing plants

 Woody shrubs or trees

 Main source of paper and wood products

 Examples: pine, spruce, fir

Conifers (cont.)
 Most have green leaves all year long
 They are called evergreens
 Leaves are shaped like needles
 Makes it easier to live in dry places and
store water
 Grow in places where other plants cannot
grow (shallow, rocky soil and along coast)
Vocabulary
 Angiosperm Gymnosperm
 Embryo Conifer
 Seed Monocot
 Dicot

 Self
Check Questions, pg. 73 #1-5
 COMPLETE SENTENCES
What are
Seedless
Plants?
4.3
Ferns (Vascular)
 Largest group of seedless plants
 Well-developed leaves, stem, and roots
 Mostly tropical plants
 Leaves are called fronds (large and flat)
 Fronds uncurl as they grow
 Sori are clusters of reproductive
cells(spores)found on the underside of
fronds
Spores
 Spores are the reproductive cells of ferns
and mosses
 After they are released, spores must land
in a moist place or they will dry out
 Spores that drop in a moist place will have
produce a tiny plant
 The plant must have constant moisture to
grow
Spores vs. Seeds
 Spores
must have moist landing and
constant water source

 Seeds have a seed coat to constantly

deliver food and water

 Seedscan survive longer than spores in

dry conditions, which is why there are
more seed plants in the world
Mosses (Non-Vascular)
 Reproduce by spores
 Simple leaf-like and stem-like parts
 No vascular tissue to transport water and
food, so they must live in moist, shady
area (wet soil)
 Have root-like threads called rhizoids
 Mosses look like little trees and often form
carpet-like mats on the forest floor
Vocabulary
 Frond
 Sori
 Spore
 Rhizoid

 Self
Check questions pg. 78
 COMPLETE SENTENCES