Angiosperms

Overview: Angiosperms

We all love flowers. Be it gifting or welcoming someone or decorating the balconies and corners of our homes. Flowers are always on our minds. Did you know that there are approx. 369900 known species of flowering plants? This family of flowering plants is known as angiosperms. It is one of the most diverse categories belonging to the kingdom of plants. 

Formerly known as Magnoliophyta, angiosperms are vascular seed plants in which the ovule or the egg fertilizes and grows into a seed inside a hollow ovary. The angiosperms meaning says the term has come from two Greek words – angeion (vessel) and sperma (seed). 

Classification of Angiosperms

Angiosperms are classified into the following

• Monocotyledonae: Monocots are angiosperms with a single embryonic leaf or cotyledon in the seed.
  • Has fibrous root system
  • Leaves have parallel venation
  • No cambium
  • Examples: Corn, bamboo, wheat
• Dicotyledonae: Angiosperms have a pair of leaves or cotyledons present in the seed’ embryo.
  • Has tap root system
  • Leaves have reticulate venation
  • Cambium is present
  • Examples: Mustards, cotton, rose

The Structure of Angiosperms 

To understand the functioning of angiosperm plants, we must understand the structure of these plants.

• In angiosperm plants, flowers are the reproductive part, and non-sexually-reproductive parts are the stems, leaves, and roots. 
• The two main parts of their structure are root systems and shoot systems. 
  • The part of the plant found below the soil is called the root system.
  • The part of the plant above the soil is the shoot system. 

Let us understand the importance of the root system, leaves, and stems.

• Root system – Its primary function is to anchor the plant, absorb minerals and water from the soil and ensure good health of the plant.
• Leaves – Another vital part is the leaves. The leaf base, petioles, stipules, and blade are the parts of a leaf. However, it is noteworthy that many angiosperms do not have stipules, while some do not have a petiole. So, the basic structure of the leaves may vary.
• Stem: The stem is connected to the root system. It ensures an uninterrupted supply of nutrients to the flowers, leaves, and other parts of the plants. In angiosperms, there are two types of branching called axillary and dichotomous. 

Reproduction in Angiosperms

During reproduction, angiosperm plants undergo a process known as pollination. The creation of pollen happens in the anther. The angiosperms consist of the male sex organs called stamens, and another is located on the end of stamens. Then, the pollen reaches the pistil, the female part of the flower. At the end of the pistil is stigma. It is where the pollen positions itself. 

The next step is fertilization, where the pollens get transported from the stigma to the ovary through a tube called the style. 

The Wide-ranging Array of Angiosperms

Angiosperms represent about 80 percent of all known green plants present on our earth. They are widely present as vines, tiny herbs, parasitic plants, and gigantic trees. Angiosperm plants can be as small as a few millimeters or large trees that grow more than 100 meters tall.

Angiosperms examples include

1. Grains – Wheat, rice, and corn, etc. 
2. Fruits – Apple, guava, jackfruit, etc.
3. Flowers – Lilies, sunflowers, roses, orchids, etc.
4. Vegetables – Tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, etc.
5. Trees – Oak, magnolia, maple, etc.
6. Medicinal plants – Cinchona, Atropa, Rauwolfia, etc.
7. Timber yielding plants – Mahogany, teak, etc. 

These are present in virtually every habitable territory, except the environments having intense climatic conditions. These are the deepest oceans, highest mountain ranges, and the regions surrounding the poles.

Uses of Angiosperms

Angiosperms have a dominant presence in our day-to-day life as these plants produce numerous essential components essential for the survival of humans and animals.

Apart from providing us oxygen, other uses can be:

• Food – We use them extensively as vegetables, fruits, and cereals. Angiosperms examples of food include rice, wheat, carrot, cabbage, mango, apple, and more.
• Clothing – Angiosperms examples like jute and cotton are used in the textile industry to make clothing.
• Medicines – Angiosperm plants are crucial in pharmaceuticals as some herbs in this category help make medicines. Examples can be rauwolfia, cinchona, etc. Further, some angiosperm compounds have been found effective in treating certain cancers.
• Furniture and building material – Maximum hardwood and timber used for construction activities and preparing furniture, comes from trees like mahogany, teak, which are angiosperms. 
• Rubber – From rubber trees

Ecological Importance of Angiosperms 

Angiosperms have undeniable importance ecologically, such as:

• Angiosperms play a crucial role in maintaining the food chain. As a vital food source for humans and animals, they are a significant part of our environment. 
• Pollinating insects like bees need pollen, which angiosperms provide.  
• Birds and small rodents consume the seeds. They also carry the fruits and seeds, which are instrumental in propagating the plants.
• The solar energy gets stored in the plants’ tissues after converting into chemical energy. When herbivores consume them, it goes into them and then into carnivores, and the food chains continue in this manner.
• Another advantage is the production of secondary compounds like glycosides, oils, alkaloids. These compounds safeguard the plants from foreign invasion. 

Economic Importance of Angiosperms

Numerous angiosperms are sources of fiber products, pharmaceutical products, ornamentals, timber, and other commercial goods. 

Some of the most economically advantageous angiosperms examples include:

• Wheat
• Corn
• Rice
• Oats

There are many such plants, which serve more than one purpose. For example, corn is beneficial for humans as well as animals. Its derivatives like corn oil and corn-starch are considered helpful in making paints, soaps, cosmetics, and more.

Some Fascinating Facts About Angiosperms

• Angiosperm plants coexisted even during the era of dinosaurs, about 140 million years ago.
• The tiniest angiosperm is the Wolffia arrhiza, which is about the size of the rice grain.
• The Rafflesia arnoldii is the largest angiosperm that weighs about 14-15 pounds and grows as large as 2.5 to 3 feet.
• Sunflowers are the only angiosperms whose movement is as per the movement of the sun.
• The Puya raimondi plant is a marvelous angiosperm that bears about 7000-8000 white-colored flowers at a time. 
• The lotus plant can lie dormant for years in drought conditions and revive when watered again. 
• The corpse flower, also known as titan arum, gives out a foul smell like a rotten dead body. So, not all flowers are sweet-smelling.

Conclusion

Angiosperms are an integral part of our surroundings and can enliven any place. These flowering plants not just intrigue us with their captivating beauty and mesmerizing fragrance, but also have fascinating characteristics. Additionally, their ecological and economic importance is undeniable.