PATTERNS OF DIVERSITY WITHIN THE PLANT WORLD

plant species can be grouped together using biological similarities into different PHYLA this scheme recognises EVOLUTIONARY SIMILARITIES rather than functional similarities the diverse nature of many ECOSYSTEMS is often a reflection of the mix of fundamentally different types of plants

GROUPING PLANT DIVERSITY

1. VASCULAR vs. NON-VASCULAR PLANTS vascular indicates plants with SPECIALIZED water conducting cells

vascular
angiosperms gymnosperms ferns

non-vascular
mosses liverworts algae lichens fungi

specialized water conducting plumbing - vessels

2. SEED-PRODUCING PLANTS vs. SPOREPRODUCING PLANTS

seeds
angiosperms gymnosperms

spores
ferns mosses & liverworts algae lichens fungi fern spores

seed from the Asteraceae (daisy family)

seeds of Black Bean - Castanosperma

(Queensland)

SEED PRODUCING PLANTS seeds contain a FOOD SOURCE, an EMBRYONIC PLANT and are enclosed & protected by a SEED COAT ideal package for dispersal on land comprises 2 groups of VASCULAR PLANTS

food store seed coat root shoot

3. FLOWERING vs non-FLOWERING PLANTS

flowering
angiosperms

non-flowering plants
gymnosperms ferns mosses & liverworts algae lichens fungi

flowers

cones

1.

Angiosperms seed bearing, vascular plants

flowers
seeds in FRUITS includes most food plants, Acacia, nut trees, Eucalyptus, fruit trees, decorative plants large diversity in many different habitats

flowers of Eucalyptus

flowers of Drosera (sundew)

flowers of a grass - Wallaby Grass (Austrodanthonia)

aquatic plants many different forms of flowering plant

2.

Gymnosperms seed bearing, vascular plants

no flowers
seeds in CONES the conifers, pines, cycads, ginko (maidenhair tree) large diversity in many different habitats

Pinus cross section showing seeds

seed cone of Araucaria

Callitris near Suggan Buggan, Victoria

Callitris in NW Victoria

male and female cones of the gymnosperm Callitris

Macrozamia understorey, NSW

Macrozamia seeds

seeds

Macrozamia female cone

Cycas NT

Cycas seeds

Encephalartos ferox female cone Southern Africa

Bristle cone pine

Pinus aristata

Ginko biloba Maidenhair Tree

Phyllocladus celery-top pine

female cones with seeds

Welwitschia, Namibia, southern Africa female plant

Welwitschia, Namibia, southern Africa female plant

3.Ferns spores not seeds, vascular plants

ferns are vascular plants photosynthetic reproduction by spores; free water is needed for completion of the life cycle found in terrestrial and aquatic habitats (most moist, but not always) about 10,000 species no specialized support tissue so size is limited

typical terrestrial ferns

Marsillia (nardoo), aquatic fern