Plant Diversity

Plant Diversity

Plant Characteristics

Plants are multicellular, eukaryotic organism with well-developed tissues. They make food in the form of starch through Photosynthesis.

Plant cells have chloroplasts that contain chlorophyll a and b, and other pigments like carotenoids. Chlorophyll and carotenoid harness light energy from the sun and use this for Photosynthesis. Plant cells have cell walls that make them tough and rigid and prevent them from absorbing too much water. Rigid plant cells enable plants to grow upright. All plants have a life cycle that exhibits the alternation of the sporophytic diploid and gametophytic haploid generation. Unlike animals and other organisms, plants cannot move around, they are stationary.

Classifying Plants

-the terrestrial members of the plant kingdom are generally divided into two(2) groups: the nonvascular plants and vascular plants. The nonvascular plants or bryophytes, lack specialized tissues for the transport of water and food. The vascular plants or tracheophytes, have specialized tissues for the transport of the water and nutrients.

There are two(2) systems of plant classification, the natural system and the artificial system

Artificial system of classification

1. Size

-plants may be microscopic or macroscopic.

2. Water Requirement

a. Xerophytes live in places with little amount of water. Ex.: cacti, acacia and makahiya.

b. Mesophytes require a moderate amount of water supply. Ex.: santan, rose and sampaguita.

c. Hydrophytes live in habitats with abundant water supply. Ex.: pistia (quiapo), water hyacinth and hydrilla (digman).

3. Ability to manufacture food

a. Autotrophic plants manufacture their own food through photosynthesis. Green plants are autotrophic.

b. Heterotrophic plants depend on other organism or dead organic matter for food. Carnivorous plants are heterotrophic.

4. Habitat

a. Aquatic plants live in water.

b. Terrestrial plants live on land.

c. Aerial plants live above the ground on other plants or are attached to other objects for support.

5. Life span

a. Annuals live for one growing season or within the year. Ex.: onions, garlic, mayana and patola.

b.