The Diversity and Evolution of Plants

This exciting new textbook examines the concepts of evolution as the underlying cause of the rich diversity of life on earth-and our danger of losing that rich diversity. Written as a college textbook, The Diversity and Evolution of Plants introduces the great variety of life during past ages, manifested by the fossil record, using a new natural classification system. It begins in the Proterozoic Era, when bacteria and bluegreen algae first appeared, and continues through the explosions of new marine forms in the Helikian and Hadrynian Periods, land plants in the Devonian, and flowering plants in the Cretaceous. Following an introduction, the three subkingdoms of plants are discussed. Each chapter covers one of the eleven divisions of plants and begins with an interesting vignette of a plant typical of that division. A section on each of the classes within the division follows. Each section describes where the groups of plants are found and their distinguishing features. Discussions in each section include phylogeny and classification, general morphology, and physiology, ecological significance, economic uses, and potential for research. Suggested readings and student exercises are found at the end of each chapter.

PART I. INTRODUCTION -- 1. Plant Diversity and Classification -- Concepts of Classification -- Categories of Classification -- Kingdoms of Living Organisms -- Subkingdoms, Divisions, and Classes of Plants -- Botanical Research -- Botanical Nomenclature -- Suggested Reading -- Student Exercises -- Special Interest Essay 1-1 -- Special Interest Essay 1-2 -- 2. Plant Diversity in Time and Space -- The Fossil Record -- Ecology and Plant Diversity -- Life Cycles -- Botany and Human Survival -- Suggested Reading -- Student Exercises -- Special Interest Essay 2-1 -- PART II. THE RED LINE -- 3. Prokaryotes or Fission Plants -- Class 1. Schizomycopsida -- Class 2. Cyanophycopsida -- Viruses -- Suggested Reading -- Student Exercises -- 4. Red Seaweeds -- Class 1. Rhodophycopsida -- Suggested Reading -- Student Exercises -- Special Interest Essay 4-1 -- 5. Terrestrial Fungi: Molds and Mushrooms -- Microkaryophytes -- Class 1. Ascomycopsida -- Fungi Imperfecti -- Class 2. Zygomycopsida -- Class 3. Basidiomycopsida -- Suggested Reading -- Student Exercises -- Special Interest Essay 5-1 -- Special Interest Essay 5-2 -- 6. Lichens and Other Symbiotic Plants -- Lichens -- Mycorrhizae -- Other Symbioses -- Suggested Reading -- Student Exercises -- PART III. THE BROWN LINE -- 7. Fire Plants and Cryptophytes -- Class 1. Cryptophycopsida -- Class 2. Dinophycopsida -- Suggested Reading -- Student Exercises -- Special Interest Essay 7-1 -- 8. Slime Molds -- Class 1. Acrasiomycopsida -- Class 2. Labyrinthulomycopsida -- Class 3. Myxomycopsida -- Suggested Reading -- Student Exercises -- 9. The Ubiquitous Algae: Diatoms and Other Chrysophytes -- Class I. Xanthophycopsida -- Class 2. Chyrsophycopsida -- Class 3. Bacillariophycopsida -- Suggested Reading -- Student Exercises -- Special Interest Essay 9-1 -- Special Interest Essay 9-2 -- 10. Flagellated Fungi -- Class 4. Mastigomycopsida -- Suggested Reading -- Student Exercises -- Special Interest Essay 10-1 -- 11. Kelps and Other Brown Seaweeds -- Class 1. Phaeophycopsida -- Suggested Reading -- Student Exercises -- Special Interest Essay 11-1 -- PART IV. THE GREEN LINE -- 12. Euglenids -- Class 1. Euglenophycopsida -- Suggested Reading -- Student Exercises -- 13. The Pond “Mosses'’, Siphonophytes, and Stoneworts -- Class I. Chlorophycopsida -- Class 2. Siphonophycopsida -- Class 3. Charophycopsida -- Suggested Reading -- Student Exercises -- Special Interest Essay 13-1 -- Special Interest Essay 13-2 -- 14. Mosses and Liverworts -- Class 1. Hepaticopsida -- Class 2. Bryopsida -- Suggested Reading -- Student Exercises -- 15. The Fern Allies and Origin of the Vascular Plants -- General Characteristics of the Tracheophyta -- Class I. Psilopsida -- Class 2. Lycopsida -- Class 3. Sphenopsida -- Suggested Reading -- Student Exercises -- Special Interest Essay 15-1 -- 16. Ferns -- Class 4. Filicopsida -- Suggested Reading -- Student Exercises -- 17. Plants with Seeds: the Gymnosperms -- Class 5. Pinopsida -- Class 6. Gnetopsida -- Suggested Reading -- Student Exercises -- Special Interest Essay 17-1 -- 18. Plants with Seeds: the Flowering Plants -- Class 7. Anthopsida -- Suggested Reading -- Student Exercises -- Glossary -- Bibliography -- Index.

Undergraduate

Lorentz C. Pearson