EXERCISE NO.

INVESTIGATION OF FLOWERING PLANTS

A. Basal Angiosperms
Nymphaeales, Magnolids (Annonaceae and Lauraceae)

INTRODUCTION

Angiosperms are one of the most highly evolved group of spermatophytes and the most diverse
group of modern plants. They are also commonly known as flowering plants, Angiospermae,
Magnoliophyta or Anthophyta and came from two Greek words (angeion = vessel, sperma = seeds).
They are vascular plants due to the presence of more efficient vascular tissues and seed-bearing in which
ovules are enclosed in the ovary wall. After successful fertilization, the ovary ripens, it become a fruit
that encloses the seeds. In fact, the ovary or fruit is the feature to which the name "angiosperm" which
means that seeds are kept in a container or enclosed by an ovary wall. Fruits are often brightly colored,
so animals are likely to see and eat them and disperse their seeds

The angiosperm shows great diversity in their size, occurrence, habit and habitat, life forms and
span of life. Angiosperms are of special interest to humans because they offer economic uses from food,
beverages, medicines, source of oil, fats, wood, clothing, and other products.

Today the angiosperms are dominant group of plants on the earth surface. The described and
accepted number of plant species is ca 374,000, of which approximately 308,312 are vascular plants,
with 295,383 flowering plants (angiosperms; monocots: 74,273; eudicots: 210,008) (Christenhusz and
Byng, 2016). It has been estimated that there are about 12500 different genera and more than 300,000
species of angiosperms worldwide. In the Philippines, it is represented by 241 families, 1,760 genera
and 8,916 species. The total number of endemic species is 4,533 which is 54.1% and 19 endemic genera
(Pelser et al., 2011 onwards). They are cosmopolitan in distribution. They are mostly autotrophic, but
they are also parasitic, saprophytic, carnivores, epiphytes etc.

Angiosperms are monophyletic group currently thought to be the sister group to the
gymnosperms. Recent advances involving molecular research with respect to DNA was used in
angiosperm classification. Systematic botanists from Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and
Missouri Botanical Garden proposed the first classification under the umbrella of Angiosperm
Phylogeny Group in 1998. With the addition of 29 botanical systematists around the world, Angiosperm
Phylogeny Group (APG) was proposed. This classification used a number of taxonomic evidence such
as morphology, anatomy, embryology, phytochemistry and molecular studies. APG I was proposed in
1998 recognizing 462 families under 40 monophyletic orders with 81 unplaced families. In 2003, APG
II was again updated recognizing 457 families under 45 orders and 40 unplaced families. In 2009, a
team of 8 scientists revised the APG II classification recognizing 413 families in 11 clades and 59 orders
with 10 unplaced families. The latest classification which is APG IV was again revised in 2016
recognizing 64 orders, 416 families and 7 unplaced genera. This latest classification (Figure 1) will be
used in our laboratory.

Figure 1. Angiosperm classification based on APG 4 (after Simpson, 2010)

Objectives:
1. To examine the gross morphological features of a representative plant.
2. To describe the features of the plant.
3. To observe the differences and similarities in character among the species of the angiosperm.
4. To identify the plant using the key and the observed characteristics.

Materials:
Microscope
Dissecting sets
Ruler
Petri dish
Procedure:

1. Collect any representative of Nympheaeles, Annonaceae and Lauraceae from the

surroundings. Make sure that the plant that you are studying is fertile (plant with
flowers/fruits and with complete parts).
2. Using the reference in phytography (morphology), and exercise 1 describe the plant. Follow
the correct format.
3. Examine the plant gross morphologically and anatomically (roots to reproductive parts.
4. Illustrate the habit, phyllotaxy, cross section of the stem, leaves, flowers, and fruits.
5. Describe the plant based on the illustrations provided to you and follow the format in
describing a species of the plant.

FORMAT:

I. Scientific name of the plant.

II. Classification of the plant.

III. Description of the family (diagnostic characteristics only)

IV. Description of the genus

V. Description of the species (used the format below).

Habit, annual/perennial, height, texture/presence of hairs, latex. Roots type, modified structure,
length. Stem herbaceous/woody, position, branching, shape in cross section, diameter, hairs
present/absent; surface texture. Leaves phyllotaxis, type; petiole shape in cross-section,
presence of grooves, dimension; hairs present/absent; blade shape, dimensions; margin type;
base shape; tip shape; surface texture; venation type, sunken/raised, nerves number, marginal
veins absent/present. Inflorescence position, type; pedicel shape in cross section, dimensions,
texture. Flower bisexual/unisexual/asexual, geometrical shape, gyny. Sepals number
free/fused, form, shape, dimensions; margin type; base shape; tip shape; surface texture;
venation type, sunken/raised, nerves number, marginal veins absent/present. Corolla shape,
dimensions; surface texture; petals number, shape, dimensions; base shape; tip shape; surface
texture; venation type, sunken/raised, nerves number, marginal veins absent/present. Stamens
number, position/insertion; filament shape, dimensions; anthers position, shape, dimension;
locules shape, slit. Ovary position, number, _ - locular, shape, dimensions; surface texture;
placenta rows. Stigma number, shape; tip shape; surface texture. Ovules number, position.
Fruit position, type, dimensions; seeds number, shape, dimension, texture.

VI. Provide the floral diagram and floral formula of your specimen.
VII. Illustration (Photographs are not allowed to avoid copying).

A. Draw the habit of the plant (complete organs) and label the parts.

B. Draw the cross section of the stem and leaves.

C. Draw the close-up view of the flower and the cross section of the flower.

D. Draw the close-up view of the fruit and its attachment.

VIII. Conclusion

IX. References
Name:___________________________________________ Year and Section: ____________
Date Performed: __________________________________ Score: _____________________

EXERCISE 5A
Basal Angiosperms

I. Scientific name of the plant ___________________________________________

II. Classification of the plant

III. Description of the family (diagnostic characteristics only)

IV. Description of the genus

V. Description of the species
VI. Floral diagram

Floral formula:

VII. Illustration

A. Draw the habit of the plant (complete organs if herb, for shrub and trees - twigs will do)
and label the parts
B. Stem and leaf

Cross section of stem (___ x) Cross section of leaf ( _____x)

C. Flower

Close-up view of the flower Cross section of the flower/

Details of stamen and pistil

 D. Fruit and attachment/placentation

close-up view of the fruit and its attachment and placentation

Conclusion:
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References:

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