BOT 311        Comprehensive Questions

The Cell Wall is one of the distinctive features of Plants and Algae.

What are the basic components of  Land Plant Cell Walls.

Which Algae have Cell Walls that are very similar to land plants?

What is(are) the basic similarity(ies) of the two?

Which organisms have cell walls that are completely different than those of land plants?

Is there a logical reason for this given what we know about the phylogenetic relationship of Cyanobacteria to Algae and Plants? Of course there is you ..............

Various substances(other than the basic components)  can be secreted into the Cell Walls of Land Plants. Identify 3 of these substances and briefly state their functional significance.

Some Algae secrete large quantities of colloidal polysaccharides into their cell walls. Identify two instances of these.

What is Callose and where is it found. What is its function?

Land Plants make secondary cell walls which have spiral thickenings. What specific Vegetative & Reproductive functions can these exhibit.

There are other instances in which Secondary Cell Walls are not Spirally thickened but are Unevenly Thickened. Identify one of these and briefly state its  functional significance.

In some cases Secondary cell walls cover the entire surface area of the cell except for the presence of Pits. What is the functional significance of these. I can thick of at least two obvious cases for Xylem and another for Ground Tissue.

Cyanobacteria and Algae produce cells with thick cell walls. Provide two examples and state their functional significance.

The Chloroplast is the most distinctive Organelle of Algae and Plants.

Make a series of labeled outline sketches which show how the Thylakoids are organized. Start with the most simple case and proceed to the most complex. You will get BONUS points if you match the sketches with the correct Algal groups.

Chloroplast shape can differ, especially among algae. What is the typical shape of land plant Chloroplasts. provide 4 examples of other shapes that occur in Algae or land plants.

The distribution of Vascular Tissues (Stele) in the stems of plants varies from the simple to the complex. Make a series of labeled outline sketches which illustrate this. Start with the most simple and ending with the most complex.

Associate the name of a particular plant group with each stele type. Anthophyta Dicot (two) & Anthophyta Monocot , Pterophyta (two-3), Lycophyta, Psilophyta, Coniferophyta (two).

Which organ is correlated with the increased complexity of the Stele? Make labeled sketches which amplify this answer.

Why have I omitted the Bryophyta and Hepatophyta from the list above?

BONUS make a labeled sketch of a stem cross section from  the most complex Moss and label it completely.

What kind of Stele is typically found in Roots? Why does this remain constant for roots while stems show so much variation?

Make a series of sketches which illustrate the basic sequence of vegetative growth forms that Algae from the Chlorophyta probably made in order to become established on land as thallose organisms like Hornworts & Liverworts. Start with a single cell.

In addition to changes in growth form what other key vegetative adaptations had to occur in order for Algae to move from  the aquatic environment and survive on dry land?

What vegetative adaptations lead to the vertical growth of land plants? Start with a small herb like Mint or Coleus or Sunflower. Next consider large organisms like the Giant Sequoia tree.

In general, what kinds of Primary Meristems are found in Algae? What kinds of Primary Meristems are found in Land Plants? Primary Meristems produce Primary Tissues.

Tip Growth occurs with Plant and Algal cells. Provide four specific examples of tip growth.
Two for Algae and two for Plants.

The most ancestral type of sexual reproduction involved Isomorphic Motile Cells (Isogamy) which mated in open water (Chlorophyta). As organisms evolved this process became more specialized. This involved structural changes in the Gametes and changes in their behavior and location.

Consider the Male gamete . What is the one most fundamental change that occurred in male gamete structure. How is this related to the way sperm are delivered to the female Gametangium that contains the Egg.

What basic structural changes occurred in the Male Gametangium from the most simple Alga to plants like Bryophytes &  Ferns, to Flowering Plants. This means that you need to address this issue for Algae, "primitive land plants" and Flowering plants.

What general changes occur in the location of the male gametangia?

Consider the female gamete from Algae to Flowering Plant. What is the one most fundamental change that occurred in female gamete structure. How is this related to the way sperm and egg are united.

What general changes occur in the location of the female gametangia?

Imagine a Tropical island similar to Oahu in which a wet Tropical Rain Forrest borders a typical Coral Reef.

The Forest and Reef contain representatives of all the plant groups (Divisions) we have studied. Oh NOOOOOOO!

The Tallest Tree in the forest measures 300 ft (approx. 100 meters). This is divided into height zones of  1 cm, 1 meter, 10 meters & 100 meters

Place the letter for each Division at places along the X & Y axes where you would likely find numerous (4 or More) representative species.

Most Divisions will be represented in several environments. I am looking for major occurrences but BONUS points may be awarded for insightful inclusions like Symbioses.

You may also get Bonus points if  you come up with some special cases, however, you will need to make a comment about these & why you want to include them.

The Divisions are Cyanophyta, Rhodophyta, Phaeophyta, Chlorophyta, Hepatophyta, Bryophyta, Lycophyta, Pterophyta, Coniferophyta, Anthophyta

Various branching patterns are exhibited by Algae and Land Plants. Make outline sketches which illustrate the most important of these. I may ask you for certain types that I will specify but try to do this without my help.

Various Vegetative Leaf Shapes are exhibited by various groups of Land Plants. Make outline sketches which show these variations for (Lycophyta = one) (Pterophyta = 3) (Coniferophyta = 1) (Anthophyta = 4)

Various leaf sizes are achieved by various land plants. Place these in the correct order from smallest to largest leaf size (Pterophyta, Lycophyta, Anthophyta, Coniferophyta)