This course explores the 500-million-year saga of plant life, tracing the journey from simple aquatic ancestors to the complex terrestrial ecosystems of today. Students will examine the pivotal evolutionary innovations that allowed plants to conquer land, including the development of vascular tissues, the transition to seed-based reproduction, and the rise of flowering plants.

• The Transition to Land (Bryophytes): Examining how early ancestors like mosses developed waxy cuticles and specialized reproductive structures to survive outside of water.
• Vascularity and Size (Pteridophytes): The evolution of xylem and phloem, allowing plants like ferns, tree ferns, and spike mosses (Selaginella) to transport water and grow vertically.
  
• The Seed Habit (Gymnosperms): The breakthrough of pollen and seeds, which eliminated the need for liquid water during fertilization and allowed plants like cycads and conifers to colonize drier inland environments.