Plant Structure and Reproduction
Plants can be categorized into two different categories. Angiosperms; which are most flowering plants. And Gymnosperms; which are most conifers or plants that produce cones.
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Angiosperm reproduction: Flowers are the parts of the plant used for sexual reproduction. Flowers are derived evolutionary from modified leaves and consists of four whorls: sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels.
- Sepal: The outer protective cover of flower bud.
- Petal: Showiest part of the flower.
- Stamen: The male part of the flower.
- Carpel: The female part of the flower (Bozzone, Green 192).
- Mircrospores: A small spore, as contrasted to the larger megaspore, which develops into male sex organs.
- Microspores develop in the microsporangium and form mature pollen grains (male gametophytes), which are then used to fertilize female gametophytes.
- During megasporogenesis, four megaspores are produced with one surviving; during megagametogenesism, the surviving megaspore undergoes mitosis to form an embryo sac (female gametophyte).
- The sperm, guided by the synergid cells, migrates to the ovary to complete fertilization; the diploid zygote develops into the embryo, while the fertilized ovule forms the other tissues of the seed (Boundless).
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Gymnosperm Reproduction: Cones are the parts of gymnosperms that are used for reproduction.
- In gymnosperms, the cones contain a leafy green sporophyte and male and female gameophytes in the cones; female cones are bigger than male cones and are located higher up in the tree.
- A male cone contains microsporophylls where male gametophytes (pollen) are produced and are later carried by wind to female gametophytes.
- The megaspore mother call in the female cone divides by meiosis to produce four haploid megaspores; one of the megaspores divides to form the female gametophyte.
- The male gametophyte lands on the female cone, forming a pollen tube through which the generative cell travels to meet the female gametophyte.
- One of the two sperm cells released by the generative cell fuses with the egg, forming a diploid zygote that divides to form the embryo.
- Unlike angiosperms, ovaries are absent in gymnosperms, double fertilization does not take place, male and female gametophytes are present on cones rather than flowers, and wind (not animals) drives pollination (Boundless).
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Fern: A fern is any of several nonflowering vascular plants that possess true roots, stems, and complex leaves. They belong to the lower vascular plant division Pteridophyta, having leaves usually with branching vein systems (Gifford). This specific fern is part of the class Polypodiopsida.
Reproduction: Most ferns reproduce sexually, and that involves meiosis and fertilization. When you are thinking of the typical big fern plant, what it does is, by meiosis, produces spores, and spores have half the number of chromosomes of the big parent plant. The spores are released into the wind. If the spores happen to land somewhere suitable, they will grow into what is called a gametophyte, and that is a whole separate individual plant. It will produce the sex cells, the eggs and the sperm. The sperm needs to swim through water in order to get to the eggs. The eggs are housed or maintained in the gametophyte. And that dependence on water is why ferns are so often linked to wet habitats. If the sperm do manage to get to an egg, fertilization occurs, and that is where the two, the sperm and egg come together. It doubles the number of chromosomes, and that gives rise to a whole new typical fern plant again, and the cycle repeats (Leon).
Reproduction: Most ferns reproduce sexually, and that involves meiosis and fertilization. When you are thinking of the typical big fern plant, what it does is, by meiosis, produces spores, and spores have half the number of chromosomes of the big parent plant. The spores are released into the wind. If the spores happen to land somewhere suitable, they will grow into what is called a gametophyte, and that is a whole separate individual plant. It will produce the sex cells, the eggs and the sperm. The sperm needs to swim through water in order to get to the eggs. The eggs are housed or maintained in the gametophyte. And that dependence on water is why ferns are so often linked to wet habitats. If the sperm do manage to get to an egg, fertilization occurs, and that is where the two, the sperm and egg come together. It doubles the number of chromosomes, and that gives rise to a whole new typical fern plant again, and the cycle repeats (Leon).
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Dandelion: A dandelion is a type of angiosperm part of the genus Taraxacum. When the seed lands and begins to grow, a tap root grows first with a rosette forming next. A rosette contains many green leaves that forms a circle. This is important to the dandelion's growth because if any other seeds try in this area, they will not be able to do so in the rosette's shade. The dandelion can now obtain all the nutrients and water from the surrounding soil and does not have to compete (Structure and Adaptation).
Reproduction: Angiosperm reproduction. Reflect to top.
Reproduction: Angiosperm reproduction. Reflect to top.
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Buttercup: A buttercup flower is a type of angiosperm part of the genus Ranunculus. The buttercup flower is a dicot because it flowers in parts of five or sometimes six and their veins are web like. The structure is a main plant angiosperm structure and they mainly grow in your yard or where other plants are growing.
Reproduction: Angiosperm reproduction.
Reproduction: Angiosperm reproduction.
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Vine-maple: A vine-maple is a type angiosperm part of the genus Acer. The vine maple is a dicot because of its net-like veins in the leaves. The main part the trunk is considered the diploid part of the tree while the flowering leaves are the reproductive parts. If you look closely at a branch you could see the node and the internode of the branch.
Reproduction: Angiosperm reproduction.
Reproduction: Angiosperm reproduction.
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Douglas Fir Tree: A fir tree is a type gymnosperm part of the genus Pseudotsuga. Fir is a genus of 48-55 species of evergreen coniferous tree. The fir is also a sporophyte. The trunk is considered the diploid part of the tree while the cones, both female and male are considered the haploid parts.
Reproduction: Gymnosperm reproduction.
Reproduction: Gymnosperm reproduction.
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Blackberry bush: A common black berry bush is a type of angiosperm that is part of the genus Rebus. If you have ever examined a blackberry bush you would know that they contain little "prickles" or sharp things on them. These bushes are used these "prickles" as a way to protect them from animals eating them. They are dicots because their veins are netlike. The blackberry produces flowers that then produces fruit as an end result. The fruit it the result of the flowers ovaries expanding and turning into fruit.
Reproduction: Angiosperm reproduction.
Reproduction: Angiosperm reproduction.
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Grass: Grass is a type of angiosperm, with a common angiosperm plant root structure part of the family Poaceae. Grass is a type of monocot because of its parallel veins. The part of the grass plant known as the flower is actually composed of many small flowers hidden, except at flowering time. You might only see cut grass so thats why you might not ever experience seeing blooming grass.
Reproduction: Angiosperm reproduction.
Reproduction: Angiosperm reproduction.
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Clover: A clover is a type of angiosperm, with a common angiosperm plant structure and is part of the genus Trifolium. A clover is a type of monocot because of its distinct three leaf clover. If you get lucky you might find a four leaf clover which would then make it a dicot. The clover actually produces flowers in their beginning stages then turn into the green clovers, that many of us I'm sure have tried and have thought of as very sour or bitter.
Reproduction: Angiosperm reproduction.
Reproduction: Angiosperm reproduction.
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Foxglove: A foxglove is a type of angiosperm, with the common flower like plant structure. It is part of the genus Digitalis. A foxglove a type of dicot flower because their leaves veins are web like with basic flower parts.
Reproduction: Angiosperm reproduction.
Reproduction: Angiosperm reproduction.
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Holly: Holly is a type of angiosperm, and is a genus of 400 to 600 species, part of the genus Llex. A holly plant is a dicot because their leaves veins are web like. You would most likely recognize holly plants during Christmas, as a decoration and are very prickly. They also produced small red berries as the production of their leaves.
Reproduction: Angiosperm reproduction.
Reproduction: Angiosperm reproduction.