Algae, Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms and Angiosperms

Introduction

Algae, bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms all come under the plant kingdom or Plantae. Green, brown and red algae, liverworts, mosses, ferns, and seed plants with or without flowers are all members of the Plantae kingdom. The following are the general characteristics of plant kingdom:

• They are multicellular organisms with eukaryotic cells that are walled and frequently vacuolate
• In plastids, photosynthetic pigment is found. Photosynthesis is the primary mode of nourishment
• They live fixed to a substrate and are primarily non-motile

Let us further look into the details of Algae, Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms and Angiosperms study material.

Algae

They are non-vascular plants that are basic and autotrophic. They lack embryo development and have unicelled sex organs. Some of these developments take place in specific environments:

• Cryophytes – They are plants that thrive on ice or snow
• Thermophytes – They are plants that thrive in hot environments
• Epiphytes – Algae that grows on other plants are known as epiphytes (algae, angiosperms). Oedogonium, Cladophora, Vaucheria, and other plants are examples
• Endophytes – A few blue-green algae develop as endophytes into other plants, such as Anabaena, inside Azolla’s leaf (fern)
• Cephaleuros – Cephaleuros virescens emerges as a parasite on tea leaves

Features of Algae

• Algae can range in size from microscopic to 60 metres in length
• They can exist alone or in colonies, such as the Volvox. They can be unicellular, such as Chlamydomonas, or they can have a filamentous structure, such as Spirogyra and Ulothrix
• Algae’s capacity to perform photosynthesis is their distinguishing attribute 
• The natural mechanism of nutrition is autotrophic
• Algae reproduce in one of three ways: vegetative reproduction, asexual reproduction, or sexual reproduction

Bryophytes

Bryophytes is a proposed taxonomic class that includes the liverworts, hornworts, and mosses, which are non-vascular terrestrial plants (embryophytes). They are usually small and prefer damp surroundings, however, they can thrive in drier places as well. About 20,000 species of plants make up the bryophytes. Flowers and seeds are not produced by bryophytes, which develop closed reproductive structures (gametangia and sporangia). They reproduce sexually by spore and asexually through fragmentation or gemma formation.

Features of Bryophytes

• A multicellular gametophyte phase is dominant in their life cycles
• They lack real lignin-containing vascular tissue (although some have specialised tissues for the transport of water)
• True roots, stems, and leaves are absent from the plant body
• The plants are chloroplast-rich and green

Pteridophytes

Plants with absolutely no seeds or blooms are known as pteridophytes. As a result, it’s also termed as Cryptogams. Ferns and horsetails are two of the many other examples. They can even be regarded as the first terrestrial vascular plants because they have vascular tissue, xylem, and phloem. We typically find such plants in moist, shady areas. In addition, the majority of ferns are planted as aesthetic plants.

Features of Pteridophytes

• Differentiation can be shown in pteridophytes. True roots, stems, and leaves make up the plant’s body
• The major plant body here is a saprophyte. The microphylls are little leaves found on some of the plants in this division. Selaginella, for example. Some pteridophytes feature megaphylls, which are huge leaves
• The sporangia are carried by the main plant. These have sporophylls, which are leaf-like appendages
• A few species develop cones or strobili, which are compact structures

Gymnosperm

Gymnosperms, which get their name from the Greek words gymnos, which means “naked,” and sperma, which means “seed,” grow their seeds on the exterior of scales and leaves, which mostly grow into cone or stalk shapes, in contrast to angiosperms, flowering plants that enclose their seeds inside an ovary.

Features of Gymnosperm

• The lack of blossoms and the existence of bare, open seeds distinguishes them. As they can not have flowers, resultantly, fruits also are absent in these kinds of plants
• The source of both pollination and dispersal is wind. These are mostly medium to large trees, with a few shrub species thrown in for good measure. Sequoia is indeed a gymnosperm and one of the world’s tallest trees
• As with conifers, the leaves look like needles having a thick cuticle and depressed stomata. This feature aids in the decrease of transpiration-related water loss

Angiosperm

Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms, are plants that produce flowers and fruits. They belong to the clade Angiospermae. “Angiosperm” comes from the Greek terms angeion (‘container, vessel,’) and sperma (‘seed,’) and refers to plants that generate seeds within a fruit. With 64 divisions, 416 families, nearly 13,000 genera, and 300,000 species, they are the most varied group of land plants. Magnoliophyta was the previous name for angiosperms.

Features of Angiosperm

• For the transport of water, minerals, and nutrients, every angiosperm plant has a vascular bundle comprising xylem and phloem tissues
• With a very well root system, shoot system, and leaves, the plant body is very well differentiated
• Both male and female gametes grow within these blossoms. After fertilisation, these blooms mature, fruits are generated, which contain the seeds
• Angiosperms can be located in a range of locations and a variety of sizes
• Based on the habitat in which they thrive, these plants have several adaptations in their roots, stems, and leaves

Conclusion

The Plantae Kingdom is extremely valuable to humanity as a resource. Mankind would be unable to thrive on the earth without vegetation. It’s because plants give us several essential life-sustaining elements like oxygen and water. Not only does the Plant kingdom give us oxygen, but it also offers us with numerous species that are grown for food. These resources are all vital to humanity since they enable us to operate and live our everyday lives.