Plant Photo Journal: Local Plants

Mosses:

 

      Mosses are very primitive plants with limited growth and a lack of complexity. This is because they are one of the first descendants of sea-dwelling algae. As a result, the moss have evolved without the more complex vascular tissue meaning that they cannot grow any taller with such a lack of structure. Since the mosses have no xylem and phloem veins that transport water, they have to absorb it directly, mosses inhabit cool, shady areas where there is plenty of water to go around. The reproduction of mosses is dependent on the presence of water (like the areas where these moss pictures were taken) because moss has swimming sperm that need the water to get to the female egg of the moss. Rocks are able to grow on rocks because of their rhizoids, which are root-like structures that can anchor them onto the surface.

Ferns:

      Like mosses, ferns are also found in moist environments. This fern was pound not too far from the little creek that runs behind our school. The moist environment is important in fern reproduction as well because ferns also have swimming sperm on the prothallus (structure formed after a spore fully geminates) that need to swim from the ferns male reproductive parts to the female parts. Contrary to the plant structure of mosses, ferns have vascular tissues and veins called xylem and phloem that transfer water and nutrients throughout the plant. In addition, the vascular tissues support the plant allow it to grow taller. Ferns need to grow in the soil because they need somewhere for their roots to burrow down absorbing water and nutrients, and to anchor the growing fern firmly so it can grow and its height can be supported.

Gymnosperms:

Photos on the left: female

Photos on the right: male

      

      Gymnosperm traits that allow them to live in various environments include the fact that they have needles instead of leaves and the fact that they have seed and pollen cones instead of swimming sperm. Needles are great whereas they are watertight, windproof and can last throughout the winter without shedding entirely. Gymnosperms have seed cones and pollen cones which are more secure. Gymnosperms reproduce starting with a process called pollination, when a pollen cone releases its pollen grains into the environment where they soon find themselves stuck in the sticky sap withing the female seed cone. Fertilization is what happens when the pollen stuck in the sticky residue of the female cone grows pollen tubes reach the egg cell where the sperm is to be released creating a diploid conifer zygote.

Angiosperms:

Monocot: Tulips.

Dicot: That plant.

      Angiosperms are very well adapted because they have an array of strategies that they use to reproduce and disperse their seeds. For example, flowers can reproduce through pollination; their pollen travelling by wind or by insects/animals, sometimes from the flower or instead of a flower a plant produces a fruit which can be eaten by an animal and pooped (Ha.) elsewhere. The purpose of the fruit is to act as a protective layer between the elements and the seed but similarly, the fruit acts as a lure. Attractive and tempting to animals so that the seed can be dispersed.