TWO PRINCIPAL GROUPS OF SEED PLANTS

There are two principal groups of seed plants:

• Gymnosperms: These produce seeds that are exposed (Naked seeds), that is, not in fruits. Usually found in temperate regions. Examples: Hemlock, pines, cedars, spruces.
• Angiosperms: These produce seeds that are enclosed (hidden seeds), that is, in fruits. These are the flower-bearing plants.

Angiosperms can further be divided into:

• Monocotyledons: The monocots have single leaf in the seed (cotyledon) and flower petals in multiples of three. These include the grass-like plants such as corn, wheat, oats, rice, and other plants like lilies, bamboo, orchids, banana, plantain, etc.
• Dicotyledons: The dicots have two-leaves in the seed (cotyledon). These include the broad leaved forest trees such as clover, beans, peas, cotton, geranium, etc.

Seed plants have:

• Roots
• Stem: This is made up of tough fibers that support the branches, flowers and leaves. It also contains the conducting elements that transport water and food to various parts of the plant. The xylem is the plant vessel that carries water from the roots to the leaves for photosynthesis, and the phloem is the vessel that carries the food from the leaves to other parts of the plant.
• Leaves
• Flowers
• Fruits
• Seeds: This consist of a partially developed young plant called the embryo and stored food called the endosperm when it is around the embryo, They are enclosed in a protective coat called the seed coat.