Fast Facts #3 Describing Plants Name _______________________________ Block____
Plants are classified into groups based on specific structures or characteristics.
Characteristic
Broken into these groups
how they absorb and circulate fluids
vascular or nonvascular
how they reproduce
spores or seeds
method of seed production
cones or flowers
type of seed leaf
monocot or dicot
Nonvascular
Plants
Plants that absorb water. (They do not circulate water and nutrients through stems and leaves.
Water and nutrients move from cell to cell.) Do not have true roots, stems, or leaves. Usually
small plants that carpet the forest floor. Examples are mosses, liverworts and hornworts. They
reproduce by spores.
Vascular
Plants
The largest group in the plant kingdom. Have true roots, stems, and leaves. Stems can be
woody like trees and shrubs. Stems can be herbaceous like grass, dandelion and tomato plants.
Have tube-like structures that provide support and help circulate water and food throughout the
plant. Xylem transports water and minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant. Phloem
transports food from the leaves to the rest of the plant.
Spore-
producing
Produce spores for reproduction instead of seeds. Almost all flowerless plants produce spores.
Spores are much smaller than seeds. An example is a fern.
Seed-
producing
Produce seeds for reproduction. Seed plants make their own seeds. Seeds contain the plant
embryo (the beginnings of roots, stems, and leaves), stored food (cotyledons) and are
surrounded by a seed coat. New plants grow from their own seeds. There are two groups of
seed producers: cone-bearing plants and flowering plants. They are vascular plants.
Cone-
bearing
Plants
Seeds are found in cones. Conifers never have flowers but produce seeds in cones. These
shrubs and trees never produce flowers. Most have needle-like leaves. Most are evergreen and
stay green all year. Some of them are very large. Examples are pine, spruce, juniper, redwood,
and cedar trees. They are vascular, seed producing plants.
Flower-
bearing
Plants
Most plants produce flowers and the seeds are produced inside the ovary which is embedded in a
flower. The flower becomes a fruit containing the seeds. The seed’s food (source of energy to
grow) is stored in one or two “seed leaves” called cotyledons. Examples are most trees, shrubs,
vines, flowers, fruits, vegetables, and legumes. They are vascular, seed producing plants.
Monocot
Seed leaves have one food storage area and are called monocotyledon or monocot. Flowers
have either three petals or multiples of threes. Leaves are long and slender with veins that
parallel each other. Vascular tubes are scattered randomly throughout the stem. Examples are
grass, corn, rice, lilies and tulips. They are vascular, seed producing, flowering plants.
Dicot
Seed leaves have two food storage areas and are called dicotyledon or dicot. Flowers have
four or five petals, or multiples of these numbers. The leaves are usually wide with veins that
branch off from each other. Vascular tube structures are arranged in circular bundles within the
stem. Examples are roses, dandelions, maple and oak trees. They are vascular, seed producing,
flowering plants.
All Plants
Nonvascular Plants
Vascular Plants
Spore-producing
Seed-producing
Flowering Plants
Cone-bearing Plants
Monocot
Dicot
