Phylum Anthophyta

• Terrestrial Life adaptations are found
• Vascular tissues are present
• Sporophytes are dominant and photosynthetic  Gametophytes depend on Sporophytes
• Heterosporous
• For fertilization external water is not essential
• Seed bearing plants
• Seeds in fruits
• Bear flowers as sexual reproducing unit
• e.g; flowering plant

Differences between Dicot and Monocot plants  

Class – Monocotyledoneae	Class – Dicotyledoneae
The embryos have only one cotyledone	Embryos have two cotyledons
Fibrous root  system	Tap root  system
Parallel  veins  in leaves	Reticulate veins  in leaves
Flower parts are trimerous	Flowers are pentamerous or tetramerous
Perianth  present in flowers (No distinct calyx & corolla)	Distinct calyx and corolla present in flowers
Vascular bundles  in the stem do not have cambia and are scattered E.g.: grasses, coconut, paddy	Vascular bundles in the stem have cambia and arranged in a ring  E.g.: Rose, shoe flower

Beneficial characters obtained by Anthophyta due to evolution

• Fully developed vascular system/ tissues
• Seed formation
• Flower formation
• Cuticle present
• Fertilization does not depend on internal or external water
• Seed dispersion mechanism
• Fully developed root, stem and leaves
• Highly developed supporting tissues
• Fruit formation and seeds are protected into the fruit

Characters which promote anthophyta to become dominant over any of the other phyla included in kingdom Plantae

• Sporophyte

1. Dominant sporophyte
2. Highly specialized as true roots, leaves and stem

• Roots

3. Highly developed
4. Effectively absorb water and mineral ions from soil solution

• Vascular tissues

5. Highly developed
6. Take part in the effective conduction of water and minerals – xylem
7. Effective conduction of food, chemicals – phloem
8. Xylem consist xylem vessels
9. Phloem consist of sieve tube and companion cells
10. Sclerenchyma fibres, vessels, collenchyma act as supporting tissues

• Leaves

11. Highly developed structures
12. Stomata surrounded by guard cells, veins and leaf mesophyll cells for effective photosynthesis
13. Cuticle development in leaves and other aerial structures
14. Stomata movement (opening and closing of stomata) promote and controls gaseous exchange

• Reproductive structure

15. Flower is developed as the sexual reproductive structure
16. Flower protects androecium and gynoecium (male and female sexual reproductive structures found in flower)
17. Sexual reproductive structures are protected both from desiccation and mechanical injury by the parts of sporophyte
18. Effective pollination mechanisms
19. Cross pollination is promoted heavily by various adaptations and allow the shuffling of characters thus make the offspring more suitable for the environment and ensures the survival of species continuously.
20. Provide adaptations for terrestrial environment
21. Pollen tubes are developed to carry male gamete / nucleus towards the embryo sac (female gametophyte)
22. Fertilization does not depend on internal / external water

• Seed

23. Found inside the fruit
24. This is an effective adaptation of perennial plants
25. Effective seed / fruit dispersion mechanisms. Thus ensure the spread and survival of species.