Adaptations of Native Angiosperms
Adaptations of Native Angiosperms
Angiosperms are a group of plants that have flowers and produce seeds that are enclosed within a carpel. Species within this category include herbaceous plants, shrubs, grasses and most trees. Angiosperms have adapted over the years to their environment. The particular adaptions in which angiosperms pollinate, asexually reproduce and disperse their seeds have allowed them to survive on the continent of Australia. Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma. Asexual reproduction is another adaption when flowers can pollinate themselves o r are pollinated through the pollen of a plant their own species.
Wind Pollination
Wind pollination occurs when the large quantities of pollen are blown away during wind and are transported to the stigma of another flower and garminates as it travels within a tube for pollen to the ovary’s ovules. Due to the inefficiency of wind pollination, a plant has to produce large amounts of pollin. Often, wind pollinators are not bright in colour because they do not have to attract animals. They are also not scented and do not produce nectar. Often, flowers are also grouped together in inflorenscences and have long stamens and pistils.
A native Australian plant, Themeda australis (also known as kangaroo grass), uses the adaptation of wind pollination to distribute itself around Australia. It is wide in distribution and usually grows in open woodland and grassland areas. It’s colours range from green/grey when it is dying and is orange brown in the summer. The prigmentation and brightness of the colours are not necessary in attracting any animals and so therefore are not apart of the characteristics of the plant as seen in figure 2.
Another example in which a native Australian plant uses the adaptation of wind pollination is the Atriplex nummularia. It is the largest of Australia’s saltbushes and could potentially grow as much as 3 metres high and 2 to 4 metres
Angiosperms are a group of plants that have flowers and produce seeds that are enclosed within a carpel. Species within this category include herbaceous plants, shrubs, grasses and most trees. Angiosperms have adapted over the years to their environment. The particular adaptions in which angiosperms pollinate, asexually reproduce and disperse their seeds have allowed them to survive on the continent of Australia. Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma. Asexual reproduction is another adaption when flowers can pollinate themselves o r are pollinated through the pollen of a plant their own species.
Wind Pollination
Wind pollination occurs when the large quantities of pollen are blown away during wind and are transported to the stigma of another flower and garminates as it travels within a tube for pollen to the ovary’s ovules. Due to the inefficiency of wind pollination, a plant has to produce large amounts of pollin. Often, wind pollinators are not bright in colour because they do not have to attract animals. They are also not scented and do not produce nectar. Often, flowers are also grouped together in inflorenscences and have long stamens and pistils.
A native Australian plant, Themeda australis (also known as kangaroo grass), uses the adaptation of wind pollination to distribute itself around Australia. It is wide in distribution and usually grows in open woodland and grassland areas. It’s colours range from green/grey when it is dying and is orange brown in the summer. The prigmentation and brightness of the colours are not necessary in attracting any animals and so therefore are not apart of the characteristics of the plant as seen in figure 2.
Another example in which a native Australian plant uses the adaptation of wind pollination is the Atriplex nummularia. It is the largest of Australia’s saltbushes and could potentially grow as much as 3 metres high and 2 to 4 metres