Chapter 3

Vertebrates

CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS

1. Plants are classified into two (2) main groups:a) Non flowering plantsb) Flowering plants

i. Produce flowers for reproductionii. Have true roots, stems and leaves

iii. Reproduce through seeds2. Flowering plants have three parts plumule, the radical and one or two seed leaves called

cotyledons.

a) The plumule will develop into a shoot.b) The radical will develop into a root.

3.

4. Non flowering plants are further divided into mosses, ferns and conifers.5. All non flowering plants have chlorophyll to carry out photosynthesis.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

1. Human activities destroy the natural habitats of living organisms. Some of the activities are:a) Illegal logging and hunting of wild animalsb) Widespread clearing of forests for housing and urbanisationc) Overfishing, mining and agricultural activities.

2. Importance of biodiversitya) Sources of medicines and herbsb) Source of raw materials – timber, textile and paper.c) Source of clean water – through repeated filtrationsd) Source of fresh aire) Source of foodf) Source of genetic diversity