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Lab 7 - Brown Algae and Early Archaeplastids (Some algae and nonvascular
plants)

Learning Objectives:
1. Basic features of the Chromalveolate clade brown algae (phylum Phaeophyta).
2. Basic features of the true plants (clade Archaeplastids).
3. Basic features of the plant clades red algae (phylum (Rhodophyta), green algae (phylum
Chlorophyta), liverworts (phylum Hepaticophyta), mosses (phylum Bryophyta), and hornworts
(phylum, Anthocerophyta) in terms of complexity, pigments, levels of organization,
morphology.
4. Identify typical and/or common representatives of each of the above clades, i.e., Polysiphonuia,
Porphyra, Volvox, Spirogyra, Chlamydomonas, Ulva, Macrocystis, Fucus, Marchantia, and
Polytrichium.
4. The meaning of the terms in boldface in the sections covered.

References:
Solomon, E.P., L.R., Martin, D.W. Martin, and L.R. Berg, 2019. Brown Algae and Archaeplastids, pp.
551-552, 554-556; Chapter 27 Seedless Plants, pp.563-573. In: Biology, 11th Ed., Cengage (see
especially Figs. 27-2, 27-5, 27-7, 27-13, 27-16, and Tables 27-1, 27-2).

Before Coming to Class you should: Read sections in Solomon et al. listed above.

A Note on the Classification of plants and plant-like organisms

The classification of these organisms is currently undergoing extensive revision. Most biologists
acknowledge that the traditional Linnaean classifications are no longer adequate. Refer to the
discussion in Chapter 26 (pp.541-546) of your textbook for further clarification.
NAME: ________________________SEMESTER: ___________SECTION: _____
TABLE 7.2 SUMMARY OF PLANT-LIKE ALGAE AND PRIMITIVE PLANTS EXAMINED IN THIS LAB
GENUS CLADE(S) LINNAEAN PHYLUM OVERALL SINGLE- CELLULAR OR PREDOMINANT DISTINGUISHING
(Figs. 1.1,1.2, COLOR CELLED TISSUE HABITAT FEATURES
1.3, 1.4) (types of OR SPECIALI- (aquatic, marine, or
pigment MULTICELL ZATION terrestrial)
present) ULAR

HM: Polysiphonia Rhodophyta Dark Multicellular Contain chlorophyll Marine 1. Polysiphonous plant body.
HM: Porphyra Archaeplastida brown, a & phycobilins 2. Apical growth takes place by single
reddish or (red pigments) to dome- shaped apical cell.
bluish red trap sunlight for 3. Advanced oogamous type sexual
photosynthesis reproduction.
4. Much elaborate post-fertilization
stage.
5. Well-developed cystocarp.
SL: Chlorophyta Green Unicellular Stagnant water, Unicellular flagellates
Chlamydomonas Archaeplastida freshwater,
seawater, damp soil,
and in snow as
"snow algae"
SL: Volvox Chlorophyta Green Multicellular Volvox exhibit ponds, puddles, and They form oval or spherical hollow
Archaeplastida differentiation bodies of still fresh colonies containing 500 to 60,000 cells
between somatic water that are embedded in a gelatinous wall.
(non-sex cells) and The somatic cells in the colonies have
reproductive cells. two flagella, several contractile vacuoles,
Have an eyespot for an eyespot and a single chloroplast.
light detection. Neighbouring cells are joined together
by cytoplasm strands for cell to cell
communication.
SL: Spirogyra Chlorophyta Green Unicellular freshwater Spiral chloroplasts,
Archaeplastida Are filamentous algae with thin
unbranched chains of cylindrical cells
HM: Chara Charophyta Green Multicellular Its branches are Mostly found in They have branched, multicellular and
Archaeplastida derived from apical hard fresh water, macroscopic thallus.
cells that cut off rich in organic The thallus is normally mostly 20-30 cm
segments at the base matter, calcium and heigh thallus that may often be up to 90
to form nodal and oxygen deficient. cm to l m.
internodal cells The thallus is mainly differentiated into
alternately. Have rhizoids and main axis.
 branching They resemble Equisetum in appearance.
underground
rhizoids for anchor.
The sex organs are
a nucule or
archegonium
(female) and
multicellular and
jacketed globule or
antheridium (male).
HM: Ulva Archaeplastida Chlorophyta Green Multicellular Have no tissue Are marine alga Mature thalli have light to dark green
differentiation. All generally found on colour, irregular shapes, forming masses
cells are almost rocky shores. of perforated blades.
similar except for They occur attached Juveniles are attached with a small
the base cells that to stones, rocks, etc. discoid holdfast, that are detached into
are elongated to Some Ulva species free-living individuals.
form attachment are also found in Cross section of blades shows the
rhizoids. brackish water and distromatic blade consisting of cells
polluted estuaries. squarish, rectangular to polygonal
shaped, uninucleate, that contains a
single parietal chloroplast with one or
many pyrenoids.

LS: Polytrichium Bryophyta Dark green Multicellular Have water Found in cool and Adult plant have two parts: rhizome and
Archaeplastida conducting tissues. shady places. an upright leafy shoot.
An example is Grow on open soil
hydrome that or tree trunks. Rhizome:
compose the central Common in cool Grows horizontally underground.
cylinder of stem temperature and Bears three rows of small brown or
tissue. Its cells have tropical regions. colorless leaves.
relatively wide Also bears rhizoids.
diameter called
hydroids that Upright leafy shoot:
conduct water. Longer
Arises from rhizome.
Have a central axis.
Bear spirally arranged large leaves.

LS: Marchantia Hepatophyta Usually Multicellular Its underside is Grows in moist, External structure
SAR green. covered by many cool and shady Has a thallus-like dorsiventrally
 rootlike rhizoids regions. differentiated plant body and is branched
Older plants that attaches the Confined mainly in dichotomously.
can become plant body to the temperate regions. The thallus has a midrib and has a deep
brown or soil. It produces green color.
purplish. umbrella-like Has a cup-like structure called gemma
reproductive cup on the dorsal surface along the
structures called midrib.
gametophores. Mature thallus bears specialized sex
Female organs.
gametophores have
stalks with star-like
rays containing
archegonia, which
are the organs that
produce the ova.
Male gametophores
have flattened discs
that contain the
antheridia that
produce sperm. The
gemmae cups
produce gemmae
for asexual
reproduction.
HM: Macrocystis SAR Ochrophyta Brown Multicellular Has pneumatocysts Found in cool, Reproduce only at temperatures below
at the base of its coastal waters of the 18–20 °C and therefore limited in
blades for Pacific Ocean and distribution.
buoyancy. Has parts of the southern Have a large, rootlike holdfast that
specialized blades Atlantic and attaches them to the ocean floor, a stipe
growing near the Southern Oceans. transporting organic materials internally,
holdfast that bear and long branching stalks with blades
various sori that uses pneumatocysts to stay afloat.
containing It produces spores in specialized blades
sporangia. The near the holdfast. The spores develop
sporangia release into haploid male or female
haploid spores. The gametophytes, that produce the sexual
haploid spores grow gametes.
into male and
female
gametophytes.
HM: Fucus SAR Ochrophyta Brown Multicellular Commonly found Are perennial algae.
 on rocky seacoasts Have bladderlike pneumatocysts.
and in salt marshes Have disk-shaped holdfasts for clinging
of northern to rocks, and mucilage-covered blades
temperate regions. that resist desiccation and temperature
changes.
Mostly between 2 to 50 cm in length.
Male and female reproductive organs are
either on the same organism or separate
ones for different species.
Note: HM = herbarium mount, SL = slide, LS = live specimen, SP = dried or preserved specimen

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