Many plants have bisexual flowers where there are both stamens & the pistil. To avoid self pollination many flowers only are receptive to pollen at a certain time. A perfect flower is not always a complete flower, as anything missing will disqualify it. These flowers have both male & female sex organs.
A complete flower has both male & female reproductive organs, petals, sepals, & all other flower structures present in one flower. All complete flowers are also perfect flowers. Complete flowers are bisexual with all flower parts present.
The first plants to colonize the earth were primitive plants that have remained much unchanged until this day. Botanically they are referred to as the Bryophytes.
Members of the Bryophytes include:
Hornworts
Liverworts
The mosses are a large group of Brophytes. All members of the Bryophhytes lack vascular tissue to transport water. Instead they rely on osmosis & capillary action. This greatly limits their size.
Vascular Plants Tracheophytes
Tracheophytes are plants that have evolved active transport mechanisms using special structures to move water & nutrients around their tissues. Xylem moves water up the plant while Phloem move nutrients down from the foliage to all parts of the plant bellow. These plants have a more advanced plumbing system which allows for larger more complex growth.
Spore Bearing Plants
The plants in this group all are ancient changing little from the days of the dinosaurs. Instead of seeds we have spores. These plants lack wood. Many of the plants in this group need to grow in relatively moist areas.
Plants without seeds.
Clubmosses
Horsetails
The Ferns
The ferns constitute a large portion of the plants that reproduce via spores. Spores on underside of Fern leaf
What makes a plant a plant? Plants differ from the animal kingdom in the following ways:
· Instead of semi permeable cell membranes, plants have rigid cell walls with pores.
· Plants make their own food (autotrophy) using the pigment chlorophyll, water, carbon dioxide gas, mineral elements, & energy from the sun. This process is known as photosynthesis.
Nomenclature (Scientific Names)
All organisms have an official name / epithet in Latin. This name has two parts, the first part is the Genus & the second is the Species name. Each species has its own unique name. This name is the same around the world regardless of modern regional languages. This name can change!
Common Names
Common names are dependent on the local language. Even in the same language common names for a particular plant may differ. One plant may have many common names & more than one plant may share the same common name. Using the common name can be helpful in retail nurseries for communication with the general public.
How are plants classified?
All plants are classified by the way they reproduce themselves & their ability to mate & produce viable offspring. The structure of the flower or reproductive organs is the chief diagnostic factor for identifying plants.
Plant Morphology
Plant Morphology is the study of the physical structures of the exterior of plants. This is the study of flowers, foliage, bark, branches & other structures on the outside of a plant.
Plant Anatomy
Plant Anatomy is the study of the physical structures of the interior of plants. This is the study of plant cells, metabolism, photosynthesis, hormones, structures & processes that occur inside the plant.
Plants & the Landscape
· Elevation effects on Vegetation
· Latitude
· Soil Affects on Vegetation
· Exposure & Slope Aspect
· Proximity to Large Bodies of Water
· Naturalized Plants (weeds)
Understanding How Plants Deal With Drought
· Drought Avoidance
· Drought Resistance
· Proper Irrigation Techniques
· Water efficient Landscaping
· Plant Selection
Climate of the desert areas of Southern California
· The Mojave Desert
· Climate Zones
Landscape Plants
· Trees
· Shrubs
Annuals
· Perennials
· Cacti & Succulents
Vegetables
