Types of plants : plant classification

Plants are the fundamental building blocks of life on earth. Plants are life forms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. The scientific study has revealed at least 500,000 species of plants. The types of plants vary in size from microscopic algae, to huge sequoia trees more than 8m (26 ft) tall.

 

Plant Kingdom is mainly classified into two . This type of plant classification is done according to how they reproduce.

 

1) Spore bearing plants ( Algae, mosses, ferns and their relatives)
2) Seed bearing plants. (Conifers and flowering plants)

 

Plant classification according to this criterion, can be pictorially represented as follows:

 

 

The plant kingdom can also be classified on the basis of the presence or absence of conductive (vascular) tissue.

Ferns (pteridophytes), gymnosperms and angiosperms have vascular tissue which transports the nutrients and water through the plant. They are collectively known as tracheophytes.

Mosses, liverworts, hornworts (bryophytes) are non-vascular i.e. they do not have conductive tissue to transport sugar, water and nutrients.

 

                        Types of plants continued... Next >> Spore Bearing plants