Angiosperms


 * Angiosperms**

Angiosperms are also known as flowering plants. It means "enclosed seed." They are the most widespread group of plants. They are a very distinguished group with many characteristics that are different from all the other plant groups.

In general, flowers are an evolutionary advantage to plants because they attract animals such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, which then transport pollen from flower to flower. With bees, pollination is much more efficient than the wind pollination of most gymnosperms.

Flowers contain ovaries, which mature to form a barrier that surrounds and protects the seeds. The matured ovary is commonly known as a fruit. This group is successful compared to the other groups of plants because the seeds are enclosed in a thick wall of tissue surrounding the seed, which makes it a fruit. When animals eat the fruit, along with the seeds, it is most likely to be in a new region when the seed leaves the digestive tract. Therefore, flowering plants are able to increase the ranges they inhabit, thanks to some assistance.

There are many ways to categorize angiosperms since it is one of the biggest groups of plants. This includes-
 * 1) monocots v. dicots
 * 2) woody v. herbaceous
 * 3) annuals v. biennials v. perennials

Monocots (Monocotyledonae) and Dicots (Dicotyledonae) are contrasted by the number of seed leaves (or cotyledons) in the plant embryo. Monocots are a single piece, like almonds, while dicots split into two, like peanuts. Other differences are shown in the table below. Differences can be seen in the distribution of vascular tissue in stems, roots, and leaves, and the number of petals on each flower.
 * 1. MONOCOTS v. DICOTS**

Some examples of monocots include corn, wheat, lilies, orchids, and palms. Some examples of dicots include roses, clover, tomatoes, oaks, and daisies.

You can also characterize angiosperms according to thier stems. Woody plants are made primarily of cells with thick cell walls. This helps strengthens the plant body. Some examples include trees, shrubs, and vines.
 * 2. WOODY v. HERBACEOUS PLANTS**

Characteristics of herbaceous plants are the smooth and non-woody plant stems. In other words, they are the plants that do not produce wood as they age. Some examples are sunflowers, dandelions, zinnias, and petunias.

This category characterizes plants by their life span. The life span of plants is determined by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
 * 3. ANNUALS v. BIENNIALS v. PERENNIALS**

There are flowering plants that complete a life cycle within one growing season. They are known as annuals. -Examples: marigolds, petunias, pansies, wheat, cucumbers

Biennials are complete their life cycle in about two years. In the first year, the plants germinate and grow roots, very short stems, and sometimes leaves. During their second year, they grow new stems and leaves and then produce flowers and seeds. Once the flowers produce seeds, they die. -Examples: evening primrose, parsley, celery, and foxglove

The flowering plants that live for more than two years are called perennials. Some perennials, which include peonies and asparagus, have stems that die each winter but are replaced in the spring. Most, however, have woody stems that are rough and tough. -Examples of woody perennials: palm trees, sagebrush, maple trees, honeysuckle