TX: Plant Classification and Evolution Lesson
What Makes it a Plant?
Spend a few minutes studying the diagram below and make some observations.
- What is the common ancestor of plants?
- Why are the plants separated the way they are?
- Why is the organization of plants important?
See description of diagram Links to an external site.
Plant Evolution
Click through the following interactive, reading carefully and thinking about the challenges and adaptations required for plants to move from a strict aquatic environment (green algae) to a land-dwelling plant.
So, you can see that how plants reproduce is the common trait when classifying plants. Now that you have an introduction to the classification of plants, you will learn in the next microlesson what makes each of the groups of plants unique.
Plant Groups
The Kingdom Plantae is subdivided into four major groups. The groups are divided up based upon the presence of vascular tissue (tracheophytes), seeds, and flowers, among other characteristics:
- Bryophytes (Mosses, Hornworts, Liverworts)
- Pteridophytes (Ferns and Fern Allies)
- Gymnosperms (Naked Seed Plants)
- Angiosperms (Flowering Plants)
Study the information below for each of the plant groups.
Use the Plant Life Cycle Reference Diagram as you go through the following two presentations.
Click here to download the Plant Life Cycle Reference Diagram Links to an external site.
Bryophytes and Pteridophytes Presentation
Gymnosperm and Angiosperm Presentation
Plant Classification and Evolution Challenge and Before You Go
Practice Time! Use the knowledge you learned from the lesson to complete the practice activities below.
Before You Go You Need To Know
The following key points are from the explore section of the lesson. You must know the following information before moving to the next lesson. This is just a summary of the key points.
- The early ancestor of plants is believed to be ______.
- Green algae
- The life cycle of plants is called _______.
- Alternation of Generation
- What is the difference between vascular and nonvascular plants?
- Nonvascular plants lack vascular tissue, so they are small and remain close to the ground.
- Vascular plants have vascular tissue to transport water and nutrients, so these plants can grow tall.
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