Plant Phyla Features
- All plants belong to the plant kingdom
- Within the plant kingdom are several phyla (singular phylum)
- Some plant phyla are small
- E.g. the Glaucophytes contain only 70 species and the Gingkophytes contains only 1 living species
- There are four major plant phyla
- Bryophytes (20 000 species)
- Filicinophytes (10 000 species)
- Coniferophytes (600 species)
- Angiospermophytes (352 000 species)
- Each of the four main phyla can be identified by their characteristics
Bryophytes
- The bryophytes include mosses, liverworts, and hornworts
- They are small, terrestrial plants
- They have no vascular tissue
- Cambium tissue is also absent
- Cambium is a tissue containing stem cells that differentiate into xylem and phloem cells
- Reproduction takes place via spores
- Spores are produced in and dispersed from spore capsules
- Bryophytes do not produce flowers, pollen, ovules, seeds, or fruits
- No true roots are present, but hair-like structures called rhizoids anchor plants in the soil
The bryophytes include mosses and liverworts
Filicinophytes
- Filiconophytes are the ferns
- Ferns are mainly terrestrial and have vascular tissue
- Roots, stems, and leaves are present
- Fern leaves are divided structures known as fronds
- Cambium tissue is absent
- Reproduction takes place via spores
- Spores are produced in and dispersed from structures on the underside of fronds called sporangia
- Filicinophytes do not produce flowers, pollen, ovules, seeds, or fruits
The filicinophytes are the ferns
Coniferophytes
- More commonly referred to as the conifers, the coniferophytes are usually tall, straight, trees
- Roots, stems, and leaves are present
- Vascular tissue is present, as well as cambium tissue
- Reproduction is carried out via pollen and ovules
- Pollen is produced in male cones and ovules are produced in female cones
- Pollen is the male gamete and ovules are the female gamete
- No flowers are present
- Both male and female cones are present on each tree
- Pollen is carried from one cone to another by the wind in order for fertilisation to take place
- Pollen is produced in male cones and ovules are produced in female cones
- Seeds develop after fertilisation inside cones and are dispersed by falling to the ground or by animals
- Most coniferophytes are evergreen (i.e. they retain their leaves all year round)
Coniferophytes reproduce via pollen and ovules that are produced inside cones
Angiospermophytes
- Often referred to as angiosperms, these are flowering plants
- This is an incredibly diverse phylum, with examples including grasses, shrubs, and non-coniferous trees
- Roots, stems, and leaves are present
- Vascular and cambium tissues are present
- Reproduction is carried out via pollen and ovules
- Flowers produce pollen and also contain ovules within an ovary
- Fertilisation occurs when pollen is transferred from one flower to another by e.g.
- Insects
- Animals
- Wind
- Seeds form and are dispersed via fruits which develop from the ovaries of flowers
Angiospermophytes reproduce via pollen and ovules produced in flowers
Plant Phyla Features Table