Final answer:
The life cycle of a flowering plant and a conifer non-flowering plant involves alternation of generations, where both plants go through a sporophyte and a gametophyte phase. However, there are differences in the timing and characteristics of these phases.
Step-by-step explanation:
The life cycle of a flowering plant, also known as an angiosperm, and a conifer, which is a non-flowering plant, have some similarities and differences.
In both cases, there is alternation of generations, where the plant goes through both a sporophyte and a gametophyte phase. However, the timing and characteristics of these phases differ.
In a flowering plant, the sporophyte phase is dominant and longer compared to the gametophyte phase. The plant produces flowers, which contain male and female reproductive organs. The male reproductive organ, called the stamen, produces pollen grains, while the female reproductive organ, called the pistil, contains the ovary where the female gametophyte and eggs are located. Pollination occurs when pollen is transferred from the stamen to the pistil. Fertilization happens when a pollen grain reaches the ovary and combines with an egg, resulting in the formation of a seed. The seed develops into a new sporophyte plant.
In a conifer, the sporophyte phase is also dominant, but the gametophyte phase is reduced in size. Conifers produce cones, which contain the male and female reproductive structures. The male cones produce pollen grains, while the female cones contain ovules where the female gametophyte and eggs are found. Pollination occurs when pollen is dispersed by the wind and lands on a female cone. The pollen tube grows towards the female gametophyte inside the cone, and fertilization occurs when a pollen grain reaches the egg. This results in the production of a seed, which eventually develops into a new sporophyte plant.