18 Seed Plants Lab
Lab Objectives
- Define the terms (meanings of the names) angiosperm and gymnosperm
- State what type of cells create eggs and what type of cells create sperm in gymnosperms and angiosperms
- Describe the general characteristics of seed plants
- Name the phyla discussed in the lab and give an example of a plant from each
- Recognize and identify plant specimens viewed in the lab, both slides and live samples
- Understand the basic gymnosperm and angiosperm life cycles
- Recognize the difference between a male and female pine cone
- Explain the seed plant alteration of generations including sporophyte and gametophyte structures
- Identify and know the function of the microscopes and the megaspores
- Identify the flower parts and which structures are male and female
- Explain and recognize the difference between a monocot and a eudicot flower
- Distinguish between the different types of fruits and give an example of each type
Download a PDF of the lab to print.
Procedure
- Access the Seed plant lab.
- Gymnosperms
- Name the four subgroups within gymnosperms.
- We will focus on conifers. Observe the conifer leaf samples available.
- How does the needle-like leaf benefit the conifer?
- Reproduction in Pines: As indicated on the website, draw a simple pine life cycle in the space on the next page. Be sure to include the terms egg, embryo, fertilization, megaspore, microscope, gametophyte, sporophyte, meiosis, mitosis, and pollen. Use this website to get you started.
- Observe the pine cones on display. Are pine cones haploid or diploid?
- Are male or female pine cones larger?
- View the slide of the pollen (male) pine cone cross section.
- Can you find the microscopes on the slide?
- Are microscopes haploid or diploid?
- What process do microscopes undergo to form pollen grains?
- Can you find pollen grains on the slide?
- Use the space on the next page to draw what you observed under the microscope.
- View the slide of the seed (female) pine cone cross section.
- Can you find the megaspores on the slide?
- Are megaspores haploid or diploid?
- What process do megaspores undergo to form the egg or ovule?
- Can you find the egg on the slide?
- Is the tissue surrounding the egg haploid or diploid?
- Once the egg is fertilized what structure will form?
- Use the space below to draw what you observed under the microscope.
- View the pine seeds on display
- Are the seeds haploid or diploid?
- How will the seeds be dispersed through the environment?
- What cell division process will the seeds undergo to create a new pine tree?
- Angiosperms
- As indicated on the website, draw a simple angiosperm life cycle in the space below. Be sure to include the terms egg, embryo, fertilization, megaspore, microscope, gametophyte, sporophyte, meiosis, mitosis, and pollen. Use this website to get you started: http://www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/animations/content/angiosperm.html
- Use the flower model to identify the different structures.
- Collectively