PLANT NOTES

Level Biology

General Characteristics Multicellular

Eukaryotic Photoautotrophic Cell walls made of cellulose Vascular plants contain xylem

(takes water up plant) and phloem (takes food down the plant)

4 basic groups of plants:

1. Bryophytes Mosses and Liverworts

2. Seedless vascular plants Ferns and Horsetails

3. Gymnosperms (seed plant) Cone bearing plants (Conifers)

4. Angiosperms (seed plants) Flowering plants

Plant OrgansRootStemLeaf Flower

Bryophytes “Non- vascular” plants Live in moist areas like

swamps, marshes, and streams to help in reproduction.

They lack true roots but have rhizoids instead.

Examples- moss, liverworts, and hornworts

Sporophyte- produces spores

Gametophyte- produces gametes

Ferns- the first vascular plants

Most important adaptation: Xylem- allows

movement of water up from the roots to all parts of the plant

Phloem- transports nutrients and the products of photosynthesis throughout the plant.

Fern Structure Have underground

stems called rhizomes

Rhizome adaptation: Act as a food store when the fern is unable to photosynthesize during dry conditions.

Fern Structure Have large leaves

called fronds Contain haploid

spores under the fronds which are produced in tiny clusters called sori

Day 2

Leaves and Photosynthesis

Leaf Function

To photosynthesize or make food (glucose) for the plant

Internal Leaf Structure Cuticle (composed of cutin)-

waxy covering that prevents water loss; adaptation to land for plants

Upper & lower epidermis- first cell layer; produces cuticle for protection

Palisade layer- long, slender cells with many chloroplasts where most photosynthesis takes place

Vein- contains xylem & phloem Spongy layer- in the center of the leaf; irregularly

shaped cells that are loosely packed with lots of air space between them to resemble a sponge; some photosynthesis takes place here

Vein

Air spaces- embedded in spongy layer; allows for quick exchange of oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2)

Guard cells- hot dog shaped cells that surround and monitor stomata openings

Stomata- openings in leaves & some

stems that allow oxygen

to escape and CO2 to

enter leaf

Palisade layer- long, slender cells with many chloroplasts where most photosynthesis takes place

Vein- contains xylem & phloem Spongy layer- in the center of the leaf; irregularly

shaped cells that are loosely packed with lots of air space between them to resemble a sponge; some photosynthesis takes place here

Vein

The interaction between roots, stems, and leaves: The phloem travels throughout the entire plant transporting organic solutes (food). Depending on the plant’s needs, phloem can change its flow direction. Xylem involves the movement of water and minerals starting at the roots, running through the stems, and ends at small pores (stoma) in the leaves. Stomata can open and close, not only at a certain time of day, but also upon the osmotic condition of the plant.

The interaction between roots, stems, and leaves:

Click picture

Day 2 continued

Photosynthesis How about a song to get this light show s

tarted!

Photosynthesis FormulaIn the presence of light, plants transform carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates (glucose) and release oxygen.

6CO2 + 6 H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2

light

Photosynthesis

Reactants= carbon dioxide & water

Products= sugar (glucose) & oxygen

Structures involved in photosynthesis

Organ- leaf (occasionally in stems)

Layer- palisade layer Cell organelle- chloroplast

Molecule- chlorophyll

What special about Chlorophyll?Green pigment

Absorbs light energy from the sun & stores it in chemical bonds in glucose

Only pigment that can transform light energy into chemical energy

Photosynthesis Song!!!

Great song!!!

What about a video

Day 3

Roots and Stems

Root FunctionsAbsorbs water and nutrients from the soil

Anchors the plant into the ground

Stores extra food for later use if needed

Label your root crossection now.

Root Functions The cortex stores

photosynethesis products The xylem allows the flow of

water. The phloem allows the

movemet of nutrients.

Types of Roots Tap- large primary

root with tiny hair-like roots for more absorption Examples: carrot Fibrous- roots are

all similar in size Examples: grass

Tap Root Adaptations Adaptation of taproot in

Savanna: Umbrella thorn Acacias grow in the African savannas. One of the Umbrella Thorn's adaptions to hot and dry conditions is a deep taproot which can reach 115 feet under the ground. If it did not have taproots, then it would not get the water during the dry spells.

Fiberous Root Adaptations Adaptation of fibrous

roots in the desert: Many cacti have very long, fibrous roots which absorb moisture from the soil. Some, like ball cacti, have shorter, more compact roots that absorb dew water that falls off the cactus.

Nitrogen Cycle Our atmosphere is made up of

mostly.....? Nitrogen Since we don’t use free Nitrogen,

something has to alter it so we can. Name the cycle.

How do roots play a role in the nitrogen cycle?

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient needed to make amino acids and other important organic compounds, but most organisms cannot use free nitrogen.

Nitrogen Cycle Gaseous nitrogen is broken apart in the process of

nitrogen fixation. The bacteria in the soil convert the ammonia to nitrites and nitrates. The nitrates are easily absorbed by plant roots. In this way, nitrogen is passed into the food chain and ultimately returned to the soil, water, and atmosphere.

Roots and Symbiosis Roots often form

symbiotic associations with soil fungi. In this association, the plant benefits from phosphorus that is taken up and supplied by the fungus, and the fungus benefits from carbohydrates produced by the plant. This is an example of mutualism.

Stem Functions

Transport water and minerals up and food down through the plant

Support the leavesStore extra food for the plant

Stem Functions Most stems connect the leaves to

the roots, like a highway connects cities.

Note the difference between these two types of stems. Highlight terms that stems have in common with roots.

Do they perform the same function?Of course they do!

DAY 4: SEED PLANTS

Two categories of seed plants:

1. Gymnosperms- “naked seed”- Male cones produce pollen for

reproduction

2. Angiosperms- “flowering plants”

Reproduction takes place in the flower

Divided into two sub groups: monocots & dicots

Parts of the Flower

1. sepal- modified leaves surrounding the base of the flower for protection of the developing bud

2. calyx- all of the sepals collectively

3.  petal- colorful, often fragrant modified leaf to attract insects

4. corolla- all of the petals

Male Parts of the Flower

5. stamen- male reproductive structures collectively; look like upside down golf clubs; consists of two parts: anther and filament

6.  anther: top part of stamen (head of golf club); produces pollen (male gamete)

7. filament: long, thin structure (shaft of golf club) that supports the anther and holds it up high

Female Parts of the Flower

8.  pistil- female reproductive structures; consists of stigma, style, ovary, ovules, and ova

9. stigma- sticky tip of pistil; produces nectar and traps pollen

10. style- long, thin tube that leads to the ovary

11. ovary- enlarged, pear-shaped structure on the bottom of the pistil; contains the ovules and ova; becomes the fruit

12. ovule- individual “room” inside the ovary that produces ova

13. ova- the female gametes (eggs)

Flower Parts

Flower Parts

Fruit Function

To continue the species of a plant A ripened ovary that contains seeds

is called a fruit.

Seed Dispersal

Some people plant some seeds, but most plants don't rely on people.  Plants rely on animals and wind and water to help scatter their seeds.

We will examine 3 different types

Seed Dispersal

1. Animals- Transport of burred seeds ni animal’s fur or feathers; fleshy fruit eaten, digested, and excreted at another location; burry seeds to come back to eat later.

Bear eats berries

Bear fertlizes seed

New berries in a new location

Berries germinate

Seed Dispersal

2. Wind dispersal- smaller seeds that have wings or other hair-like or feather like structures (dandelion or sycamore seeds)

Click for video

Seed Dispersal

3. Water dispersal- Plants living along streams and rivers have seeds that float downstream, which germinate at new sites