Chapter 29

An Overview of Land Plant Evolution

1. Describe four shared derived homologies that link charophyceans and land plants.

The complexes that produce cellulose are rose shaped in both charophyceans and land plants. Next both have
peroxisome enzymes that help minimize the loss of organic products from photorespiration. The structure of their
flagellated sperm is very similar. Finally, both form a phragmoplast during cell division.

2. Distinguish among the kingdoms Plantae, Streptophyta, and Viridiplantae. Note which of these is used in
the textbook.

Plantae is used in the textbook and refers to plants that form embryos. Streptophyta would include charophyceans,
green algae, and related groups. Viridiplantae would include noncharophyceans.

3. Describe five characteristics that distinguish land plants from charophycean algae. Explain how these
features are adaptive for life on land.

• Apical meristem
○ embryonic plant tissue in the tips of roots and buds of shoots that supplies cells for
plant to grow in length
○ elongation and branching of the shoots and roots maximize their exposure to
environmental resources
• Alternation of generations
○ life cycle in which there is both a multicellular diploid form, sporophyte, and a
multicellular haploid form, gametophyte; characteristics of plants and some algae
• Sporangia
○ capsule in fungi and plants in which meiosis occurs and haploid spores develop
○ creation of sporopollenin makes the walls of spores very tough and resistant to harsh
environments
• Multicellular gametangia
○ gametes are formed
○ the production of eggs and sperm, spores, allowed for cross reproduction
• Multicellular embryos
○ parental tissues provide the developing embryo with nutrients

4. Define and distinguish among the stages of the alternation of generations life cycle.

There is the haploid and diploid stage. The haploid stage starts as a single spore, which undergoes mitosis to form
a gametophyte. The gametophyte produces gametes, which fuse during fertilization to form a diploid zygote. This
starts the diploid stage. The diploid zygote undergoes mitosis to form a multicellular sporophyte – which releases
spores.

5. Describe evidence that suggests that plants arose roughly 475 million years ago.

Spores were extracted from a rock dated 475 million years old. Unlike other spores discovered, these spores were
surrounded by the plant cuticle material common in modern plants. Molecular data also supports this age.

Bryophytes

6. List and distinguish among the three phyla of bryophytes. Briefly describe the characteristics of each
group.

Hepatophyla: liverworts (gametophores look like little trees)

Anthocerophyta: hornworts (sporophyte resembles a blade of grass)
Bryophyta: moss (mostly gametophyte dominated)
7. Distinguish between the phylum Bryophyta and the bryophytes.

The phylum bryophyta includes the mosses, while the bryophyte includes all seedless non-vascular plants.

8. Explain why bryophyte rhizoids are not considered roots.

The rhizoids of bryophytes are not considered roots because, unlike roots, rhizoids are not composed of
tissues, lack specialized conducting cells, and do not play a primary role in water and
mineral absorption. They merely act as an anchor.

9. Explain why most bryophytes grow close to the ground.

Bryophytes must grow close to the ground because they lack conducting tissues to distribute water and
organic compounds. As a result, every cell must be near water and nutrients to survive.

10. Diagram the life cycle of a bryophyte. Label the gametophyte and sporophyte stages and the locations of
gamete production, fertilization, and spore production.

11. Describe the ecological and economic significance of bryophytes.

Bryophytes are a major component of peat, a decayed organic matter used in a number of products and processes.
It also forms coal which is used for power production.

The Origin and Diversity of Vascular Plants

12. Describe the five traits that characterize modern vascular plants. Explain how these characteristics have
contributed to their success on land.

Dominant sporophytes – As a result, the gametophyte became practically invisible to the human eye.

Transport in xylem and phloem – These allowed plants to transport minerals, water, and other organic compounds,
eallowing plants to grow taller and thicker.
Evolution of roots – Roots are organs that provide better anchor for vascular plants for growing
taller and enable them to absorb water and nutrients from the soil.

Evolution of leaves – Leaves increased surface area for plants on land to collect more solar energy for
photosynthesis.

Sporophylls and Spore Variations – Led to flowers in angiosperms, which increased genetic variation in plants.

13. Distinguish between microphylls and megaphylls.

Microphylls are small, single veined leaves. Megaphylls are larger leaves with a highly branched vascular system.
The vascular system allows the leave to grow wider because it does not have to be close to veins and obtain more
solar energy.

14. Distinguish between the homosporous and heterosporous condition.

Homosporous plants have one type of sporophyll that produces a bisexual gametophyte. Heterosporous plants
have two types of spores: a megaspore producing a female gametophyte, and a microspore producing a male
gametophyte.

15. Explain why seedless vascular plants are most commonly found in damp habitats.

Gametophores in seedless vascular plants are fragile and can easily be destroyed in arid environments. They also
have flagellated sperm which must swim to the female gametangia.

16. Name the two clades of living seedless vascular plants.

The two clades of living seedless vascular plants are pterophyta and lycophyta.

17. Explain how vascular plants differ from bryophytes.

Vascular plants have vascular tissue which allows nutrients, water, and organic materials to be conducted to other
cells. Bryophytes, on the other hand, must live near the ground to obtain their nutrients.

18. Distinguish between giant and small lycophytes.

Giant lycophytes were woody and reached great heights of over 40 m. Small lycophytes were herbaceous plants.
The two were evolving differently and would have led to the formation of a new clade, but the giant lycophytes
became extinct.

19. Explain why whisk ferns are no longer considered to be “living fossils.”

Genetic evidence reveals a close relationship between whisk ferns and ferns suggesting that their true roots and
leaves were lost during evolution.

20. Describe the production and dispersal of fern spores.

Ferns produce their spores in sporangium located in clusters on the leaves and are by the wind.