Flowering plant

Characteristics of Flowering Plants

• Angiosperms have flowers as unique reproductive organs.
• Male and female gametophytes are reduced compared to gymnosperms.
• Embryo sac provides food for developing embryos.
• Carpels enclose ovules that develop into fruits.
• Xylem is made of vessel elements forming continuous tubes.

Diversity of Flowering Plants

• Eucalyptus and Wolffia duckweeds represent extreme heights and sizes in angiosperms.
• Majority of flowering plants are photosynthetic autotrophs, with some being parasitic.
• They thrive in diverse environments like deserts, arctic regions, and coastal waters.
• Some specialized angiosperms can adapt to extreme habitats.
• Estimated 250,000 to 400,000 species of flowering plants exist, making them the most diverse group of land plants.

Reproduction and Development in Flowering Plants

• Flowers produce male and female gametes in stamens and ovules.
• Double fertilization in angiosperms involves two sperm cells fertilizing cells in the ovule.
• The zygote develops into an embryo, and the triploid cell into endosperm.
• Ovary develops into a fruit, and each ovule develops into a seed.
• Some angiosperms can set seed without fertilization through apomixis.

Interactions and Uses of Flowering Plants

• Angiosperms have practical uses for food, medicine, textiles, and construction materials.
• Many economically important crops are angiosperms, such as rice, wheat, and corn.
• They have cultural significance in rituals, ceremonies, and decorations.
• Bird-and-flower painting, floral emblems, and literary references celebrate flowering plants.
• Conservation efforts are crucial to protect around 40% of plant species threatened with extinction.

Evolution and Conservation of Flowering Plants

• Ancestors of flowering plants diverged from gymnosperms over 300 million years ago.
• Explosive diversification occurred in the Cretaceous period, making angiosperms dominant.
• Agriculture heavily depends on angiosperms for food and livestock feed.
• Conservation measures are essential to prevent extinction due to human activities and climate change.
• Climate change poses a significant threat to plant biodiversity, with conservation efforts crucial to mitigate impacts.

Flowering plant Data Sources