29 Questions
Which of the following is considered a key evolutionary advantage of seed plants over spore-bearing plants?
The ability to stop the developmental clock and survive harsh conditions
What is the role of the integument (seed coat) in seed plants?
It protects and provides food for the embryo
Which of the following is a key difference between the female gametophytes of gymnosperms and angiosperms?
Angiosperms have a more reduced female gametophyte
Which of the following is a key difference between the male gametophytes (pollen grains) of gymnosperms and angiosperms?
Gymnosperms require water for pollen dispersal
Which of the following is a key evolutionary advantage of the development of fruits in angiosperms?
Fruits enhance the dispersal of the seeds
Which of the four living groups of seed plants is most closely related to the angiosperms (flowering plants)?
Gnetophytes
What is a characteristic shared by all angiosperms according to the text?
Exposed ovule on a scale
Which plant group is known for being the tallest living vascular plant?
Coastal redwood
From where do male gametophytes (pollen grains) develop in pines?
Microspores in male cones by meiosis
What important product is NOT mentioned as a source from conifers?
Latex
In plant reproduction, what is the function of air bladders related to?
Seed dispersal
Which plant group has only one living species remaining?
Ginkgophytes
What is the main distinguishing feature of angiosperms?
Enclosure of ovules in diploid tissue during pollination
Which of the following is NOT a genus of gnetophytes?
Ginkgo
What is the estimated age range for the origins of angiosperms, according to the text?
145–208 million years ago (MYA)
Which of the following structures is a modified leaf that covers seeds and develops into fruit in angiosperms?
Carpel
What is a characteristic feature of gnetophytes, according to the text?
They have separate male and female reproductive structures on different plants (dioecious)
What distinguishes gymnosperms from angiosperms?
The presence of seeds
Which process is responsible for pollen transfer in pines?
Wind
What was a perplexing issue for Darwin regarding angiosperms?
Their rapid diversification
How does passage through an animal digestive tract promote seed germination in angiosperms?
Stimulates growth hormones in the seeds
What does the meiosis of the megaspore mother cell in angiosperms result in?
Four megaspores with one selected to develop
What is the major factor distinguishing pines from other conifers?
Climate preference
What is the function of the integuments in the ovule?
They develop into the seed coat
Which process occurs in the megasporangium of seed plants?
Meiosis
What is the primary means of pollen transfer in pines?
Wind
Which phylum includes firs, cedars, cypresses, spruces, and pines?
Coniferophyta
What distinguishes gymnosperms from pterophytes (ferns and allies)?
The presence of seeds
How does the gametophyte size in seed plants compare to their ancestors?
It has decreased
Study Notes
Seed Plants
- Evolved from spore-bearing plants (progymnosperms) 305-465 million years ago
- Success attributed to evolution of seeds, which protect and provide food for embryos
- Seeds allow plants to survive harsh periods before germinating
Types of Gametophytes
- Male gametophytes (pollen grains) dispersed by wind or pollinators
- Female gametophytes develop within an ovule, enclosed in diploid sporophyte tissue in angiosperms
Phyla of Extant Seed Plants
- Coniferophyta (conifers, e.g., pines, spruces, firs, cedars)
- Cycadophyta (cycads)
- Gnetophyta (gnetophytes, e.g., Ginkgo biloba)
- Anthophyta (flowering plants, angiosperms)
- Gymnosperms (plants with "naked seeds")
- Ferns and Allies (pterophytes)
Characteristics of Conifers
- Produce tough needle-like leaves in clusters
- Leaves have thick cuticle and recessed stomata to retard water loss
- Leaves have canals with resin to deter insect and fungal attacks
- Coastal redwood is the tallest living vascular plant
- Bristlecone pine is the oldest living tree
- Conifers are sources of important products (timber, paper, resin, and taxol)
Gnetophytes and Ginkgophytes
- Gnetophytes have vessels in their xylem
- Ginkgo biloba is the only living species of Ginkgophytes
- Flagellated sperm and dioecious male and female reproductive structures
Angiosperms (Flowering Plants)
- Ovules are enclosed in diploid tissue at the time of pollination
- Carpel, a modified leaf, develops into fruit
- Angiosperm origins are a mystery, with fossils dating back to 145-208 million years ago
Learn about the evolution of seed plants, their appearance 305-465 million years ago, and how they evolved from spore-bearing plants known as progymnosperms. Understand how the development of seeds and fruits contributed to their success and survival strategies.
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