Vascular and Non-vascular plants

Why are mosses unable to grow tall?

• They lack vascular tissue and must transport nutrients to the cell.

• They don’t gain enough nutrients from photosynthesis and get little sunlight.

• They cannot reproduce.

• They are single-celled organisms.

The table provided shows the characteristics of several different plants.

• Algae because it does not have roots stems and leaves.

• A Rose because it produces seeds.

• A Pine tree because it has roots and stems.

• A Fern because it has flowers.

A teacher showed her students a picture of a tree that does not lose all its leaves every year. How should scientists classify the tree?

• Scientists classify this tree as non-flowering because the tree creates pine cones which help it reproduce.

• Scientists classify this tree as flowering because squirrels and other living things make their homes there and use the tree for food.

• Scientists classify this tree as fruit bearing because squirrels and other living things make their homes there and use the tree for food.

• Scientists classify this tree creates pine cones which help it reproduce.

The Woodland Elementary Nature Trail includes many species of plants found in Piedmont region of Georgia. Four students went on a walk through the nature trail behind their school and collected the following data based on observations.

Which students developed an accurate model from the data about how the plants would be sorted into groups?

• Student 1: All of the plants are nonvascular plants, so they can each be sorted into the same group. Nonvascular plants must grow in areas where water is present, and vascular plants do not need water in their environments because vascular tissue can transport nutrients to great heights.

• Student 2: I know that Plants 2 and 3 are vascular plants due to their tall height. Plants taller than 5 cm must have vascular tissue to transport nutrients. Plant 1 is a nonvascular plant because it is very short. All plants need water, so they must all live in damp areas.

• Student 4: The plants can be sorted into two groups. Plants 2 and 3 are nonvascular because they reproduce using spores. Plant 1 does not reproduce using spores, so it must be a vascular plant.

• Student 3: Plants 1 and 3 are nonvascular because they do not have true leaves, stems, and roots; therefore, they only grow low to the ground. Plant 2 lives in a similar environment but is a vascular plant because it has these structures and vascular tissue to transport nutrients up the length of the plant.