General Botany - Plant Classification Quiz

Course Information

• Course: Bio 100/L - General Botany
• Instructor: Ann Guillen-Malazarte
• Department: Bio-Physical Science
• College: College of Sciences
• Semester: First Semester
• Academic Year: 2024-2025

Student's Prayer

• Prayer acknowledging gratitude to God for life, needs, love, protection
• Asking blessings for parents, teachers, and classmates
• Seeking wisdom and guidance for understanding lessons
• Asking for inspiration through the Holy Spirit
• Prayer offered in the name of Jesus Christ

Learning Outcomes

• Describe the binomial system of nomenclature
• Enumerate the classification levels in a logical sequence
• Summarize non-vascular and vascular plant characteristics
• Classify local plants

Classification of Plants

• A hierarchical system of plant classification based on presumed relationships
• Classification is called taxonomy
• Each level of classification is called a taxon (plural taxa)
• The broadest level is domain (Archaea, Bacteria, Eukarya)
• Other taxonomic levels include kingdom, division, class, order, family, genus, and species

Plant Examples and Classifications

• Moss (Division Bryophyta)
• Fern (Division Pterophyta)
• Dragon fruit cactus (Division Anthophyta)
• Pine tree (Division Coniferophyta)

Non-Vascular Plants

• Simple plants without a vascular system (phloem/xylem)
• Small size due to lack of mechanisms for transporting water/food long distances
• Lack true roots; instead have rhizoids (small hairs) to anchor in substrate
• Commonly found in moist environments for easy water absorption

Reproduction in Non-Vascular Plants

• Sexual reproduction through spores
• Asexual reproduction through vegetative propagation
• Water needed for sperm to reach egg in sexual reproduction
• Moisture needed for spore dispersal

Different Non-Vascular Plant Types

• Liverworts (Division Hepatophyta)
• Hornworts (Division Anthocerophyta)

Mosses (Division Bryophyta)

• Larger than other non-vascular plants
• Coarse, multicellular rhizoids
• Photosynthetic structures (tiny leaves) encircle stem-like structure

Alternation of Generation in Plants

• Life cycle with two distinct stages: diploid sporophyte and haploid gametophyte
• Sporophyte generation produces spores (haploid) through meiosis
• Gametophyte generation produces gametes (reproductive cells)
• Plants alternate between these two stages in their life cycle

Gametophyte and Sporophyte

• Gametophyte: gamete-producing, usually haploid; dominant in bryophytes
• Sporophyte: multicellular spore-producing, diploid; dominant in many vascular plants

Examples of Plant Life Cycles (e.g. moss, fern)

-Diagrams of relevant plant life cycles included in handouts

Vascular Plants

• Seedless Vascular Plants

  • Club Mosses
  • Whisk Ferns
  • Horsetails
  • Ferns

• The diploid sporophyte is the dominant phase of the lifecycle

• Gametophyte is still independent, but depends on water for fertilization

• Primarily found in damp environments

Division Lycophyta

• Includes quillworts, club mosses, and spike mosses
• Not true mosses (bryophytes)

Characteristics of Club Mosses

• Earliest seedless vascular plants
• Most primitive vascular plants

Division Pterophyta

• Includes horsetails, whisk ferns, and ferns
• Horsetails: stems with joints/nodes
• Whisk ferns: lack roots and leaves; photosynthesis occurs in stem
• Ferns: most advanced seedless vascular plants; fronds, sporangia(sori) on underside

Seed Plants

• Gymnosperms
  • Produce seeds in cones
  • Lack covered seeds
• Angiosperms
  • Produce seeds in ovaries of flowers
  • Have covered seeds

Gymnosperms

• Classified into four divisions: Cycadophyta, Coniferophyta, Ginkgophyta, Gnetophyta
  • Coniferophyta (pine trees): largest genus are conifers; leaves called needles in bundles
  • Cycadophyta (palm-like cycads): Distinguished by crowns of large compound leaves, cones at the end of trunk

Flowering Seed Plants (Angiosperms)

• Division Anthophyta (Flowering Seed Plants)
• Angiosperms have seeds encased in protective ovary
• The sporophyte is the dominant generation

Angiosperm Groups

• Basal angiosperms
• Magnoliids
• Monocots
• Eudicots

Basal Angiosperms

• Most primitive flowering plants
• Do not belong to either Monocots or Eudicots
• Have net-like vein patterns in their leaves
• Pollen with one pore

Magnoliids

• Mainly flowering plants that are aromatic
• Two cotyledons, netted-veined leaves
• Flower parts in multiples of 3
• Scattered vascular bundles in the stem
• Tap root system
• Pollen grain with one opening

Monocots

• Single cotyledon
• Parallel-veined leaves
• Flower parts in multiples of 3
• Scattered vascular bundles in the stem
• Fibrous root system
• Single pollen opening

Eudicots

• Two cotyledons
• Netted-veined leaves
• Flower parts in multiples of 4 or 5
• Vascular bundles in a ring in the stem
• Tap root system
• Three openings in pollen grain

Important Plant Examples

• Victoria boliviana (giant water lily)
• Lotus (other water lily)

Classification of plants (general)

• Discussion of the basis for classifying plants and use of standardized scientific names