Chapter 16, Problem 1SQ

Which of the following structures is common to all four major plant groups? vascular tissue, flowers, seeds, cuticle, pollen

Summary Introduction

To determine:

Which of the given structures (vascular tissue, flowers, seeds, cuticle, and pollen) are common to all four major plant groups.

Introduction:

The four major modern plant groups are bryophytes (non-vascular plants, for example, mosses), pteridophytes (seedless vascular plants, for example, ferns), gymnosperms (naked-seed plants, for example, conifers), and angiosperms (flowering plants, for example, pea plant).

Explanation of Solution

A vascular tissue is a conducting tissue, which helps in transporting nutrients and fluids internally. Bryophytes lack vascular tissues, and pteridophytes cannot produce flowers and seeds. Among the four major plant groups, only angiosperms and gymnosperms produce pollen.

Among the given structures, only cuticle is common to all land plants belonging to the four groups of modern plants. The cuticle is a layer of protection on young shoots, leaves, and other aerial plant parts. The terrestrial plants are highly exposed to the sunlight and this may increase the transpiration process in plants. The cuticle is a waxy layer that coats the aerial parts (for example, leaves) of a majority of plants. It prevents the water transpiration and therefore helps the plant body to retain water. The transpiration process is controlled by the cuticle during high temperature.

Conclusion

Out of all five structures provided, only cuticle is present in all four plant groups, namely bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms, and angiosperms.