Kingdom Plantae
Questions:
1. What were the green structures you saw in each Elodea cell? What is the function of these structures? Would you find these in animal cells? Why or why not?
The green structures seen in each Elodea cell were chloroplasts. The function of chloroplasts is to capture sunlight; then through photosynthesis, they produce glucose. You would not be able to find chloroplast in animal cells because only plant cells have chloroplasts. This is because animal cells are heterotrophs, and they do not photosynthesize.
2. Compare nonvascular, seedless vascular, seed plants (gymnosperms) and seed plants (angiosperms).
Although nonvascular, seedless vascular, gymnosperms, and angiosperms are all plants, they are different in many ways.
Starting with nonvascular and seedless vascular. Nonvascular plant, such as liverworts, mosses, and hornworts, lack specialized vascular tissues. Vascular tissues act as a transportation system and consist of xylem and phloem. Without the vascular tissues, nonvascular plants depend of diffusion and osmosis for transporting water and minerals. This also causes nonvascular plants to tend to live in moist environments. These plants also tend to be smaller due to the lack of true roots, stems, and/ or leaves.
On the other hand, there are seedless vascular plants, which consist of plants like ferns and fern allies. Seedless vascular plants possess several adaptations that nonvascular plants don't have. Seedless Vascular plants have xylem and phloem to
transport water and other minerals throughout the plant. The vascular tissues also provide strength and support, allowing the plants to grow tall and upright. These vascular tissues, also allow these plants to have true stems and most having true roots and leaves.
Then there are gymnosperms and angiosperms. Despite both types of plants being seed plants, they are different. Gymnosperms, such as ginkgo, cycads, and, conifers, are vascular plants that produce seeds lacking an outer fruit. Normally these seeds are contained in cones.
Angiosperms are flowering plants that reproduce through seeds that are contained in fruit.
3. Using the kit in the classroom, identify leaves from angiosperms using the dichotomous key.
1) Honey Locust
2) Eastern Redbud
3) Siberian Elm
4) Northern Red Oak
5) Osage Orange
6) American Sycamore
7) Scotch Pine
8) Ginko
9) Norway Maple
10) Honey Lot
11) Eastern Hemlock
12) Little Leaf Linden
13) Silver Maple
The green structures seen in each Elodea cell were chloroplasts. The function of chloroplasts is to capture sunlight; then through photosynthesis, they produce glucose. You would not be able to find chloroplast in animal cells because only plant cells have chloroplasts. This is because animal cells are heterotrophs, and they do not photosynthesize.
2. Compare nonvascular, seedless vascular, seed plants (gymnosperms) and seed plants (angiosperms).
Although nonvascular, seedless vascular, gymnosperms, and angiosperms are all plants, they are different in many ways.
Starting with nonvascular and seedless vascular. Nonvascular plant, such as liverworts, mosses, and hornworts, lack specialized vascular tissues. Vascular tissues act as a transportation system and consist of xylem and phloem. Without the vascular tissues, nonvascular plants depend of diffusion and osmosis for transporting water and minerals. This also causes nonvascular plants to tend to live in moist environments. These plants also tend to be smaller due to the lack of true roots, stems, and/ or leaves.
On the other hand, there are seedless vascular plants, which consist of plants like ferns and fern allies. Seedless vascular plants possess several adaptations that nonvascular plants don't have. Seedless Vascular plants have xylem and phloem to
transport water and other minerals throughout the plant. The vascular tissues also provide strength and support, allowing the plants to grow tall and upright. These vascular tissues, also allow these plants to have true stems and most having true roots and leaves.
Then there are gymnosperms and angiosperms. Despite both types of plants being seed plants, they are different. Gymnosperms, such as ginkgo, cycads, and, conifers, are vascular plants that produce seeds lacking an outer fruit. Normally these seeds are contained in cones.
Angiosperms are flowering plants that reproduce through seeds that are contained in fruit.
3. Using the kit in the classroom, identify leaves from angiosperms using the dichotomous key.
1) Honey Locust
2) Eastern Redbud
3) Siberian Elm
4) Northern Red Oak
5) Osage Orange
6) American Sycamore
7) Scotch Pine
8) Ginko
9) Norway Maple
10) Honey Lot
11) Eastern Hemlock
12) Little Leaf Linden
13) Silver Maple
Macroscopic Specimens
This is the Mnium sp. It is also known as Leafy Moss. This plant is a Nonvascular plant.
This is the Lycopodium sp. It is also known as Ground Pine. It is a Seedless Vascular plant.
This is a Ginkgo. This plant is a Gymnosperm (Seed Plant).
This is the Lilium sp. It is also known as a Lily. This plant is a Angiosperm (Seed Plant).
Microscopic Specimens
This is Elodea Canadensis.
This is Mixed Pollen.
This is a Syringa Leaf
These are Zea Mays (Mature Stem).