3 - Evolution and Diversity of Green and Land Plants

Abstract

The green plants, formally called the Viridiplantae or Chlorobionta, are a monophyletic group of eukaryotic organisms that includes what have traditionally been called “green algae” plus the land plants or embryophytes. Like all eukaryotes, the Viridiplantae have cells with membrane-bound organelles, including a nucleus (containing chromosomes composed of linear chains of DNA bound to proteins, that are sorted during cell division by mitosis), microtubules, mitochondria, an endoplasmic reticulum, vesicles, and golgi bodies. Although the interrelationships of the non-land plant Viridiplantae will not be covered in detail here, it is important to realize that some of the evolutionary innovations, or apomorphies, that we normally associate with land plants actually arose before plants colonized the land.