A Closer Look at Plant Reproduction, Growth, and Ecology

A Closer Look at Plant Reproduction, Growth, and Ecology — page 5
CHAPTER 1 METHODS OF PLANT REPRODUCTION lants continue to live on Earth by producing new plants This process called reproduction may be sexual or asexual Sexual reproduction involves the union of two different sex cells while asex ual reproduction occurs without a union of sex cells ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION There are various types of asexual reproduc tion Mosses and liverworts for example often contain plant fragments called gemmae in cuplike structures on their leaves or stems Gemmae break loose and can germinate or sprout to establish a new plant which is genetically identical to its parent Most vascular plants that is plants with specialized tissues for carrying water and food can reDroduce by a form of asexual reproduction known as vegetative repro duction For example under the proper conditions pieces of leaf or stem broken from a plant may produce roots and estab lish a new individual Plants that produce