What is a seed plant

Chapter 22.3
Seed Plants

vascular plant - produces seeds with a sporophyte zygote inside a protective coat. SeedsSeeds-surrounded by fruit or on the scales of a cone.

Seed plants produce spores

Spores develop into male and female gametophytes Male gametophyte is inside pollen grain Female gametophyte is inside an ovule

Fertilization and reproduction

Fertilization w/out water Embryos contain one or more cotyledons Cotyledons are leafleaf-like structures that store or absorb food for the embryo

Advantages of seeds Food supply sustains the plant until new leaves can photosynthesize Dispersal to reduce competition

Diversity of seed plants

Gymnosperms naked seed seed Seeds not protected by fruit Develop on scales of woody strobili called cones Includes Cycadophyta, Ginkgophyta, Gnetophyta and Coniferophyta

Cycadophyta
Only wild species is found in Florida Male and female plants are separate Males produce motile sperm Female cones produce ovules Resembles but is not related to palm trees

Ginkgophyta
One living species Does not exist in the wild Male and female plants are separate Males produce motile sperm Females produce seeds with a fleshy seed coat not a fruit

Gnetophyta
Deserts or mountains 3 genera each adapted to their environment Gnetum tropical climbing plants Ephedra shrublike plants Welwitschia found only in South Africa

Coniferophyta
Trees and shrubs with needlelike or scalelike leaves Most reproductive structures are in cones Most have male and female cones on different branches of the same tree

Coniferophyta
Evergreens can keep leaves year round to photosynthesize year round, or when conditions are right Needle shape reduces H2O loss Some are deciduous and lose their leave to retain H2O

Anthophyta - Angiosperms
Produce flowers and form seeds enclosed in fruit Fruit protects the embryo inside the seed and aids in seed dispersal Fruit develops from a flowers female reproductive structure

Anthophyta
2 classes monocots (one seed leaf) and dicots (2 seed leaves) Life spans annuals (live for one year or less) biennials (lives for 2 years, and perennials (can live for several years).

Origins of Seed Plants

Appeared during Paleozoic Ginkophyta is the oldest living division Conifers appeared 250 mya and dominated during the Jurassic Flowering plants appeared during the Jurassic and into the Mesozoic era.