Below are characteristics of four never before described plant species recently identified as part of the ‘All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory’ (ATBI). You will need to tentatively classify each plant based on the information provided.

Organism 1

Field Notes: Specimen collected from rocks on bank of streams from the Adirondack Park (NY). Plant growth form is more ‘prone’ than upright (plant seems to have little support).

Laboratory Analysis:

Body : Consists of three regions: light brown anchoring tissue (base of plant); Green vegetative area (middle of plant); Brownish-green, stalk-like structure bearing capsule at end (top of plant).

Size : 8 cm in length

Chromosomal Analysis : Bottom two thirds of plant is haploid (chromosome # 10), while top third of plant is haploid (chromosome # 20).

Lignin test : Negative

Cuticle : Present

Leaves : Absent, though does possess green photosynthetic structures.

Contains chlorophyll a, b; B-carotenes; xanthophylls.

Roots : Absent, though do possess anchoring (possibly absorptive) structures.

Stem : Absent, though do possess axis—no xylem or phloem present.

Notes : Top third of plant may be separate but dependent stage of life cycle; Capsule at end of plant contains haploid spores.

Life History: Extended observations show that haploid, bottom two regions of plant is the dominant stage of life cycle and produces gametes. The diploid, top third of the plant is a temporary spore producing stage of the life cycle (sporophyte) that is dependent on gametophyte.

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Tentative Classification : Domain: _____________________________

Kingdom: _____________________________

Phylum: _____________________________

Communication: The local media features the work of your team on their nightly news. During a live interview the reporter asks you to explain the reason for the relatively small size of the plant. How would you respond?