Kingdom Plantae

Introduction to the Early Land Plants - Gymnosperms

The Plant Kingdom is formally divided into 12 phyla, and these phyla are subdivided into four groups:

1. nonvascular plants

2. seedless vascular plants

3. nonflowering plants

4. flowering plants

These four groups are based on the evolutionary history of significant features in plants. The first significant feature to evolve in the Plant Kingdom, after the retention of the embryo, was vascular tissue. Vascular tissue allowed the transport of water and food throughout the plant. The phyla that were around before the evolution of the vascular tissue are known as the nonvascular plants (without vascular tissue to move water, nutrients and food). The next significant step in the evolutionary history of plants was the development of the seed. Plants that evolved vascular tissue but do not have seeds are the seedless vascular plants. The final major evolutionary event in the Plant Kingdom was the evolution of flowers and fruits. Plants with vascular tissue and seeds but without flowers are the gymnosperms. The plants that have all these features and also fruits and flowers are the angiosperms. These four groups are the focus of the next two lessons.

Instructions - complete the following

1. Lesson - Gymnosperms
   
   

Notes for Chapter 22

2. Watch the following
   
   

Videos

The Gymnosperms

The Gymnosperms vs. the Angiosperms

3. Complete Chapter 22 Review Questions