Many times it is possible to get lost within the different Plants types that exist on our planet. For this reason, in this EcologíaVerde article, we want to show you the basic divisions that you can find within this vast kingdom. Divided into large blocks we will explain the most important differences between the different kinds of plants so you can recognize and classify them without any difficulty.
What types or classes of plants exist – basic classification
Recent studies have managed to catalog more than eight and a half million plant species. Still, there are many Plants types that have not yet been fully discovered, with marine plants being the most unknown.
There are a wide variety of types of plants. Trees, palms, conifers, herbaceous, shrubs, mosses, ferns, algae and cacti among others. Each of them with their own characteristics that make them unique species. And although they have in common their system of obtaining energy through photosynthesis, we can classify them into large blocks that differentiate them.
You can follow different plant classification criteria What:
- Size
- Reproduction
- time or duration
Others may be their food source, their location, and so on.
Classes of plants according to their size
One of the ways classification of plants most common is the one that orders them by kinds of plants according to their size:
herbaceous
In this group are the plants whose stems do not come to conform as a solid or woody structure. So its consistency is usually much softer. These can be branched or unbranched. Generally their duration is short, but thanks to this they are plants with a superior adaptation to the climate. Hence, they are the most widespread on the surface of the planet.
In this other EcologíaVerde article we talk more about herbaceous plants, their characteristics and examples.
Bushes or subshrubs
Plants with a woody stem whose height does not exceed one meter. They are usually low-stemmed and usually live for several seasons.
Shrubbery
They are woody plants, generally of the perennial type, which have multiple roots and a height greater than that of the bushes, reaching nearly three meters in height. Unlike trees, shrubs branch directly from the base.
Trees
Finally, there are the trees that are the largest plants. These have a woody trunk that begins to branch at a certain height from the ground. Its average height is around five meters high. They are much more long-lived than other plants, living for several centuries.
Classes of plants according to their reproduction or if they have flowers
Flowers are the reproductive organs of plants. Depending on whether or not they have them, the classification of plants It occurs in two large groups:
Plants with reproduction by spores
Here are the bryophyte plants and the pteridophyte plants. More primitive plants such as mosses and ferns.
These primitive plants depend on water for their growth and reproduction since they do not have true stems or roots. For this reason, they are attached to the ground using filaments called rhizoids, which are responsible for absorbing water and mineral substances. They usually live in humid environments.
The spores are found in a capsule called a sporangium. When these are ripe, the capsules open to disperse them and thus create new plants. located on a filament. When this capsule opens, the spores come out, and give rise to new plants.
Learn more about Seedless Plants, their characteristics and examples here.
Plants with reproduction by seeds
Gymnosperms and Angiospermswhich are also known as higher plants.
Angiosperms are plants that do have true roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruit. These reproduce by seeds that are inside the fruit.
Gymnosperms also have true roots, stems, leaves, and flowers, but no fruit. Its flowers produce seeds, but these are not enclosed. They are usually found naked inside a cone or pineapple.
Classes of plants according to their duration
To finish, this is the classification of plants according to time that last:
perennial plants
They are those plants that live for several seasons since they have the resources to live more easily and for longer periods of time than the rest.
biennial plants
These plants have a growth period that occupies two full seasons. During the first, the plant reaches its maximum development so that, during the second, they give flowers and fruits with which the next generation is born.
annual plants
Finally, there are annual plants that have a life span that only occupies one season. These plants are very fast growing and usually germinate and flower during the spring in general. They finish their cycle between the period of autumn to winter.
If you want to read more articles similar to plant classeswe recommend that you enter our category .
