Questions and Answers
Why did land plants have to adapt to absorb water and nutrients?
Because water and nutrients are only available in the soil
What was one of the challenges land plants faced in reproduction?
Releasing gametes into the water for fertilization
What is the purpose of the smooth, somewhat slippery, waxy cuticle found on plant tissues?
To prevent tissues from evaporating
Why did land plants have to develop structures to help them grow against the force of gravity?
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What did algae release into the water for fertilization?
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Study Notes
Characteristics of Plants
- A plant is a multicellular eukaryote, meaning it is made of cells with a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
- Plants have thick cell walls made of cellulose.
Origin of Plants
- Plants likely evolved from threadlike green algae that lived in ancient oceans.
- Evidence supporting this hypothesis includes the presence of cellulose in both modern algae and plants.
- Plants first appeared in the fossil record over 440 million years ago, with simple, leafless forms.
Adaptations of Plants
- Plants have a waxy waterproof carbohydrate called cellulose in their leaves and stems.
- The cuticle, a coating on the stem, helps reduce water loss.
- Plants are autotrophic, producing their own food through photosynthesis.
- Both plants and green algae use the same type of chlorophyll for photosynthesis and store food as starch.
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Description
Learn about the origins of plants and the characteristics of the plant kingdom, including being multicellular eukaryotes with true nuclei and membrane-bound organelles. Explore how plants evolved from green algae to the diverse plant groups we see today.
