Suppose an efficient conducting system evolved in a moss that could transport water and other materials as high as a tall tree. Which of the following statements about “trees” of such a species would be true?


a. Spore dispersal distances would probably decrease.
b. Females could produce only one archegonium.
c. Unless its body parts were strengthened, such a “tree” would probably flop over.
d. Individuals would probably compete less effectively for access to light.

Draw a phylogenetic tree that represents our current understanding of evolutionary relationships between a moss, a gymnosperm, a lycophyte, and a fern. Use a charophyte alga as the outgroup. (See Figure 26.5 to review phylogenetic trees.) Label each branch point of the phylogeny with at least one derived character unique to the clade descended from the common ancestor represented by the branch point.

Which of the following characteristics of plants is absent in their closest relatives, the charophyte algae?

a. Chlorophyll b

b. Cellulose in cell walls

c. Sexual reproduction

d. Alternation of multicellular generations

Microphylls are found in which plant group?

a. Lycophytes

b. Liverworts

c. Ferns

d. Hornworts

Identify each of the following structures as haploid or diploid.

a. Sporophyte

b. Spore

c. Gametophyte

d. Zygote

In angiosperms, which of the following is correctly paired with its chromosome count?

a. Microspore—n

b. Zygote—n

c. Egg—2n

d. Megaspore—2n