9.09 Seed Plants
9.09 Seed Plants
9.09 Seed Plants
9: Seed Plants
Seed Plants
Seed plants are called spermatophytes. The evolution of seeds by vascular plants was a very big deal. In fact, it was arguably as
important as the evolution of vascular tissues. Seeds solved the problem of releasing offspring into a dry world. Once seeds
evolved, vascular seed plants and their descendants diversified to fill terrestrial niches everywhere. Today, vascular seed plants
dominate Earth.
Parts of a Seed
As shown in Figure below, a seed consists of at least three basic parts: the embryo, seed coat, and stored food.
The embryo develops from a fertilized egg. While still inside the seed, the embryo forms its first leaf (cotyledon) and starts to
develop a stem (hypocotyl) and root (radicle).
The tough seed coat protects the embryo and keeps it from drying out until conditions are favorable for germination.
The stored food in a seed is called endosperm. It nourishes the embryo until it can start making food on its own.
A typical plant seed, like this avocado seed, contains an embryo, seed coat, and endosperm. How does each part contribute to the
successful development of the new plant?
Many seeds have additional structures that help them disperse. Some examples are shown in Figure below. Structures may help
them travel in the wind or stick to animals. Dispersal of seeds away from parent plants helps reduce competition with the parents
and increases the chance of offspring surviving.
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Dandelion seeds have tiny “parachutes.” Maple seeds have “wings” that act like little gliders. Burdock seeds are covered with tiny
hooks that cling to animal fur.
In gymnosperms, a seed develops on the scale of a cone. Only an angiosperm seed develops inside an ovary.
There are only about 1,000 living species of gymnosperms, whereas there are hundreds of thousands of living species of
angiosperms. Living gymnosperms are typically classified in the divisions described in the Table below. Most modern
gymnosperms are trees with woody trunks. The majority are conifers such as pine trees.
Division Description
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Division Description
The person standing at the foot of this giant sequoia shows just how enormous the tree is. Some early seed plants also grew very
large.
Eventually, some gymnosperms started to evolve angiosperm-like traits. For example, cycad ancestors were the first plants to use
insects as pollinators. They also used birds and monkeys to disperse their brightly colored seeds. Of modern gymnosperms, Gnetae
probably share the most recent common ancestor with angiosperms. Among other similarities, Gnetae produce nectar, a sweet,
sugary liquid that attracts insect pollinators. Most modern flowering plants also produce nectar.
Summary
Most vascular plants are seed plants, or spermatophytes. They reproduce with seeds and pollen.
Some modern seed plants are gymnosperms that produce seeds in cones.
Review
1. Identify the parts of a seed and the role of each part.
2. Name and describe the divisions of gymnosperms.
Resources
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