Philip Edssel B.

Jimenez
BS BIO 1B
Evolution of Land Plants
As a biology student, the Kingdom Plantae is a diverse kingdom consisting
vascular, non-vascular, gymnosperms and angiosperms. According to discoveries,
embryophytes started terrestrialization in the Early Devonian period. Complex elaborate
two phase life cycle and an extraordinary array of complex organs and
tissue systems started to emerge from early life forms and started to inhibit inland.
This had a major impact on weather and affected the early ecosystems. This
diversification of land plants dated from the Late Silurian to Early Devonian periods
originating for more than 100 million years. After 50 million years, during the
Eoembryophytic period, land plant spores appeared. Spore tetrads appeared all over the
globe because of the effective way of reproducing. The spores contained sporopollenin a
decay-resistant wall for spores thus reproduction is not a problem for these plants. During
the Eotracheophytic period diversity of tetrads declined and it gave dominance of
individually dispersed small spores until it evolved to gymnosperms to angiosperms.
Fossils were found and prove to be a strong evidence of their existence and their
evolution.
The evolution of plants played a major role for our planet, the dinosaurs, insects,
reptiles, mammals, fishes and birds. The evolution from spores to seeds was also a
milestone for the plants and to other species. The plants were given a more effective
reproductive part because the seed can survive on its own for a long time until it has the
right environment to start its germination and grow into a mature plant. Of course,
heterotrophs were also benefited by this because they used it for food. The appearance of
fruit and flowers was also an important stage for the plants and other species. The fruits
became the herbivores and omnivores food and the flowers were another effective
reproductive part of the plant which contains pollen grains. The bright colour of the petals
attracted insects, take the flowers nectar and in turn help in the pollination by
transferring pollen to a female flower. This species has gone through a lot and still exist
today. Even during the age of the dinosaurs, gigantic herbivores devoured these massive
plants but even so, they did not go extinct. Even though the ice age came, they still did
not go extinct.
The plants are at the base of every food chain. We use plants to be a source of
food, clothing, synthetic materials and drugs. The plants are the reason why previous and
our species existed. They produce Oxygen, which is very important for our survival and
all they need is sunlight, soil, water and carbon dioxide. Plants dont need our species to
survive; in fact theyd be better off without us. Megaplants will reappear again and thrive
for centuries without the harm of deforestation and once again, they will evolve slowly
through time.