EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Today it is widely accepted that land plants (embryophytes) evolved from streptophyte algae, also referred to as charophycean algae. The streptophyte algae are a paraphyletic group of green algae, ranging from unicellular flagellates to morphologically complex forms such as the stoneworts (Charales).

Detailed explanation-2: -These early land plants were likely similar to modern liverworts, hornworts, and mosses (Fig. 2.30). Vascular plants evolved around 430 million years ago. Their vein-like, vascular tissues distribute water and nutrients throughout the organism.

Detailed explanation-3: -This has started that the origin of land plants is likely the ancestors of Zygnematales. It appears to be the single-nucleus “multicellular” lineage of green algae (rather than the “coenocytic” lineage of the Charales) that led to the “multicellular” land plants.

Detailed explanation-4: -Green algae contain the same carotenoids and chlorophyll a and b as land plants, whereas other algae have different accessory pigments and types of chlorophyll molecules in addition to chlorophyll a. Both green algae and land plants also store carbohydrates as starch.