Polarity: The word Polar implies things
which are at the opposite ends of an axis. The North Pole and the South Pole are at
the opposite ends of an Axis drawn through the center of the Earth. We could have East and
West Poles if we wanted them. However, these would be harder to define. Most plants are polar. The root and shoot are typically the "poles"
we visualize when we think about plants. We can also visualize the Shoot tip and the Shoot
base as opposite ends of the shoot axis. The same applies to
roots, and other organs which are polar.
We can even see polarity with Marchantia and other
"Bryophytes". However, the gametophytes of Anthoceros
have orbicular growth and it is harder to see their polarity. Coleochaete
(Chlorophyta) have a similar growth form and produce discus-like organisms.
Macroalgae typically have polar growth. However, Volvox which is spherical is
apolar.