Magnoliophyte (Flowering Plant) Species in the Christopher B. Smith Preserve

Magnoliophyte Characteristics: Another name for a magnoliophyte is an angiosperm. This plant division includes plants that have leaves, stems, roots, and seeds enclosed in a shell-like coating. There are two classes: monocots and dicots.

Monocot seedlings have only one seed leaf and include grasses, lilies, sedges, bulb plants, orchids, cattails, greenbriers, some epiphytes, and palms. Click on "grasses" and "epiphytes" to see more information about those groups of plants in the Smith Preserve.

Diocot seedlings have two seed leaves and include legumes, oaks, maples, and composite flowers.Click on "legumes" and "composite flowers" to see more information about those groups of plants in the Smith Preserve.

Interactions in the Smith Preserve: Magnoliophytes convert energy of sunlight to energy other organisms can use. The conversion process is photosynthesis. Herbivores consume nectar, flowers, seeds, wood, leaves, and roots and the energy produced by the magnoliophytes is distributed to animals through the food web. Also during photosynthesis, magnoliophytes produce oxygen. In addition, magnoliophytes provide habitat. Flowering plant roots hold the soil in place, preventing erosion. Some magnoliophytes, like peas (Family Fabaceae), improve soil quality because the roots contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Fallen vegetation keeps soil cool and moist, and nutrients are recycled to become humus. Click on the species names below to see the photographs and learn about each of these species.

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