Hey greenery!!! A seedling is here to say hi…. As this is my first article, I’ll introduce myself as a seedling who loves all the greenery in the world and I’ll share what I know about plants. No matter what streams you are following, you can stay connected if you love plants and nature.
Recently the world have faced to the outbreak of corona pandemic. It is reported to be spread over 200 countries in the world by now, and most places are locked down. Let’s get together by washing hands, staying inside to get back to our normalized selves as soon as possible. And use this time to read more.
OKAY greeneries! As this is my first attempt, I’ll go through one of the most basics, classification.
Every organism is classified under a one of three domaind i.e. Domain Bacteria, Domain Archaea and Domain Eukarya. Plants are classified under domain Eukaya.
The ancestor of Kingdom Plantae suppose to be green algae and further divided in to divisions/phyla. These divisions consist with non-vascular plants, seed-less vascular plants, gymnosperms and flowering plants.
Non-vascular Plants
Non-vascular plants do not have well-developed vascular system. They do not have true roots, true stems or true leaves. However, they absorb nutrients from environment and passes through cell-to-cell. As a result, they have small body size with less number of cells.
Division Hepaticophyta / Division Marcantiophyta
Division Marchantiophyta is commonly known as liverworts. The thallus is liver shaped which gives it name liverworts.
Liverworts have un-branched sporophytes that are ephemeral. A gametophytic dominant plant.
They have a single-celled rhizoid which helps in distinguish from mosses.
They can be found in almost everywhere in the world, in high humid environments.
Ex : Marchantia polymorpha
Division Anthocerophyta
Horn shaped elongated sporophytes lead to name it as hornworts. The flat green thallus is the gametophyte and this a gametophytic dominant plant.
Mostly can be found on damped or humid environments, while some are found as weeds on cultivated lands and some are found on barks of trees.
Ex : Dendroceros sp.
Division Bryophta
Mosses plants or bryum-like plants are classified under division bryophyta.
Leafy non-vascular plants and gametophytic dominant plant. Sporophytes are persistent and unbranched.
Commonly can be seen on rock surfaces and in moisturized surfaces.
Ex : Pogonatum
Seedless Vascular Plants
These division of plants have developed vascular system which allows to transport water and nutrient, yet, seedless, which means that they are unable to reproduce by seeds.
These are know to be the most prominent division of kingdom plantae due to their ability of surviving in most habitats. Consist with a sporophytic dominant life cycle.
Division Lycophyta / Division Lycopodiophyta
Clubmosses and spikemosses are classified under this division which are lycopodium-like plants.
Their sporophyte with sporophyl gives rise to a cone-like strobilli. Their gametophytes are independent from the sporophyte for nutrients. Sometimes the gametophytes develop underground to be associated with mycorrhizal fungi.
Ex : Selaginella sp.
Division Psiliophyta
Commonly known as whisk ferns and lack from roots and leaves. Therefore, photosynthesizing occur through the green stem.Yellow knob on tips contains sporangia.
Evolutionary more related to ferns.
Ex : Psilotum sp.
Division Sphenophyta
Joints and nodes in the stem represents horse tails. Hence, called horse tail.
Nodes are located more-or-less similarly distant. Leaves arise as whorls from nodes. Leaves are reduced and needle-like. Therefore, the stem is mainly involved in photosynthesis.
Can found in damps and marshes.
Get Ridmani Kularathne’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
Ex : Equisetum sp.
Division Pteridophyta
Most easily recognizable and advance seed-less vascular plants are ferns. Their leaves are known as fronds, and they are responsible for photosynthesis and carrying reproductive organs. Their younger fronds are rolled and called friddle heads which gradually develops the mature frond. Fronds are compound leaves.
The stem is either above ground supporting fronds or buried under soil as a rhizome and forms roots to absorb water and nutrients.
They can be found in almost every habitat. The major requirement is moist or shade.
Ex : Flying spider-monkey tree fern
Gymnosperms
Species belong to this division could produce seed, but the seeds are non-coated. Most commonly surface of cones that are made out of scale or leaves are the structures that bears their seeds. Their for their seeds are called naked seeds. Usually male cones are smaller than female cones.
The wood in gymnosperms are high-quality. It initially have six divisions. Four out of six are still existing on the Earth, while the Pteridospermales and Cordaitales phyla were extincted. Can found on most habitats, especially on colder and arctic vegetation.
Division Cycadophyta
Cycus-like or palm-like gymnosperms are classified under this division. A easily recognizable trunk is present, with compound leaves on its crown on a whorl.
Male and female cone can be attached near the apex of the plant, while plant can bear both female and male sporangia at a single plant (monoecious) or on separate plants (dioecious).
Ex : Cycads
Division Ginkgophyta
Only existing species in division Gingkophyta is Ginkgo biloba, while the other species are extinct.
This is native to China, and used in the preparation of traditional medicine and as a food.
Leaves of this plant is more-or-less fan shaped with a venation pattern of dichotomous (each branch divided in to two branches).
These plants are dioecious.
Ex : Ginkgo biloba
Division Gnetophyta
Woody vascular system that resembles Angiosperms.
Three families are recorded with one genus each.
Ex :
- Gnetum — Woody vines with ever-green, broad leaves with net-like venation patterns. Dioecious plants with cones that have a scent to attract insect pollinators.
- Ephedra — Heavily branched shrubs with reduced leaves. Therefore, they photosynthesize via their green colored stem. Seeds are fleshy and fruit-like and red-to-orange in color to attract pollinators.
- Welwitschia — Welwitschia mirabilis have identified as the only living species in this genus and can be found in Namibian desert. It produces two succulent leaves from the stem, and the leaves started to split once they grow older.They can tolerate extreme temperatures and temperature fluctuations in the desert, while living for over thousand years. Dioecious plant.
Division Coniferophyta / Division Pinophyta
Pinus-like trees are classified under this division.
They are perennial woody plants.
Commonly found on high elevations ad boreal forests. Also distributed on other habitats too.
Ex : Tallest tree(coastal redwood), giant tree(giant sequoia), oldest tree (bristle cone pine)
Division Anthophyta
Plants that are very common which are bearing flowers are classified under division Anthophyta. Flowers are mainly responsible in reproduction.
Their seeds are coated with a fruit and vascular systems are well developed with vessels.
So far, its about the classification of Kingdom Plantae.
Nature is incredible. Plants are charms of the mother nature.
Let’s meet soon.
Until then stay inside. Stay safe. Protect yourselves to protect all others.
See you soon Greeneries!
Yours, Seedling…
