Seed plants have three main characteristics: 1) they have vascular tissue that transports nutrients and water throughout the plant, 2) they reproduce using seeds, and 3) they have a complex life cycle involving sporophytes and gametophytes. Seeds contain an embryo, stored food, and a protective seed coat. The embryo develops into a new plant, the stored food nourishes the embryo's growth, and the seed coat protects these parts. Leaves capture sunlight for photosynthesis, stems transport nutrients and provide structure/support, and roots anchor the plant and absorb water and nutrients.

1. Seed Plants

2. Characteristics of seed plants
1. Vascular tissue – leaves, stems and
roots
2. Use seeds to reproduce
3. Have complex life cycle that include
sporophytes and gametophytes
a. Plants that you see are sporophytes

3. Vascular Tissue - Two types of vascular
tissue:
1. Phloem – vascular tissue through which
food moves
a. Travels down to roots and stems
1. Xylem – vascular tissue through which
water and nutrients move
a. Travels upward from roots to stems and
leaves

5. Seeds
1. Seeds – structures that contain a young
plant inside a protective covering
a. Do not need water to reproduce – sperm
deposited right near egg
b. Seeds develop after sperm fertilize egg
2. Seeds have three important parts:
embryo, stored food and a seed coat

6. Scanned picture of seeds

7. Parts of seeds
1. Embryo – zygote that develops into a
young plant
2. Cotyledons - Seed leaves – where the
food is stored
3. Either one or two cotyledons
4. Seed coat – outer covering of seed
a. Also called “skins”
b. Protecting embryo and food

8. Seed Dispersal - Plants use many different ways
to get their seeds dispersed
Use
animals
Water
transports
seeds
Use the
wind
Seeds shoot out
of exploding
pods

9. Germination
1. Germination – the early growth stage of
the embryo
a. Begins when seed absorbs water from the
environment
b. Roots grow downward first, then its leaves
and stems grow upward

10. Leaves
1. Leaves – parts of plant that capture the
sun’s energy and carry out photosynthesis
2. Transpiration – water evaporating in the
leaves that will exit through the stomata

11. Cuticle
Upper leaf
cells
Lower leaf
cells
Surface cells
Chloroplasts
Vein
Xylem
Phloem
Stomata

12. Parts of Leaves
1. Upper leaf cells – traps sunight
2. Lower leaf cells – store carbon dioxide
and oxygen
3. Cuticle – waxy waterproof layer on leaf
4. Stomata – tiny pores that let CO2 in and
O2 out
5. Xylem – carries water to leaf
6. Phloem – carries food (photosynthesis)
throughout plant

13. Stems
1. Stems have two functions:
a. Carries substances through out plant
b. Provides support for plant and holds up
leaves
1. Vary in size and shape
a. Herbaceous – soft, dandylions, peppers
b. Woody – hard and rigid, tree

14. Structure of woody stems
xylem
Cambium – layer of cells inside phloem, these cells
divide to make new phloem and xylem

15. Roots
1. Roots - anchor a
plant in the ground
and absorb water
and nutrients from
the soil.
2. Root cap – structure
that contains dead
cells
a. Protects root from
injury

17. QUESTIONS:
1.What three characteristics do all seed
plants share?
2. List the three main parts of a seed.
Describe the function of each part in
producing a new plant.
3. What are the main functions of a plant’s
leaves, stems, and roots?