Classification Of Plants | Characteristics & Examples

Discover in this hall, the classification of plants based on key characteristics, including examples of each type. Learn about the major plant groups and their unique features in this comprehensive guide.

Table Of Contents

At the end of this blog, students should be able to know the followings:

1. Classification of plants
2. Classifying plants using botanical classification
3. Classifying plants using Agricultural techniques.
4. Classifying plants using Thier life cycle

Classification of Plants

Plants are generally classified based on three major criteria. These are:

1. Botanical classification
2. Agricultural classification
3. Classification based on their life cycle.

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BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS

Botanical classification of plants: Plants are generally classified through the botanical method and the use of binomial system. The botanical classification can be discussed below where the plant kingdom is divided into: SCHIZOPHYTA, THALLOPHYTA, BRYOPHYTA, PTERIDOPHYTA, AND SPERMATPHYTA. Below are the characteristics and examples of these groups on sub-topic. Kingdom plantae;

KINGDOM PLANTAE: The plant kingdom consist of three main divisions (Phyla), these are:

• Thallophyta, (e.g. Green, Brown, red, algae)
• bryophyta (liverworts and mosses)
• Tracheophyta (Vascular plants)

THALLOPHYTA: This group can further be subdivided into three groupings, which are:

1. Rhodophyta (Red algae)
2. Chlorophyta (Green algae).
3. Phaecophyta (Brown algae)

CHARACTERISTICS OF THALLOPHYTA

• These are simple microscopic plants.
• some are unicellular. e.g chlamydomonas while others are multicellular e.g spirogyra.
• They are simple aquatic plants.
• They have no true roots, stems and leaves.
• They have cellular cell walls.
• Algae are mainly autotrophic plants i.e they can synthesise their own food.
• There are no specialised reproductive organs or cells but can exhibit sexual and asexual means of reproduction
• Examples are the single free-living algae like chlamydomonas or in form of filaments e.g spirogyra or in colonies e.g Volvox.

BRYOPHYTA CHARACTERISTICS

• They are complex multicellular green plants.
• Their cells are differentiated into tissues.
• They lack true roots, stems and leaves but have structures resembling roots, stems and leaves.
• They are non vascular plants.
• Some bryophytes are terrestrial while others are aquatic.
• They are usually found growing in moist places.
• They exhibit asexual reproduction by spores in which there is alteration of generation and sexual by garments.
• Examples are mosses and liverworts.

TRACHEOPHYTA: This division is made up of vascular plants. And it’s grouped into two subdivisions. This includes.

1. Pteridophyta
2. Spermatophyta

PTERIDOPHYTA CHARACTERISTICS

• They are multicellular and vascular green plants.
• They are non flowering plants.
• They have true roots, stem and leaves.
• They are mainly terrestrial plants while few are aquatic.
• They reproduce sexually by spores.
• They are non seed-producing plants.
• Example is the ferns and it includes dryopteris, felimas and water ferns.

SPERMATOPHYTA CHARACTERISTICS

1. They are multicellular, seed producing flowering plants.
2. They have true Roots, stem and leaves.
3. They are vascular plants and have well-developed vascular tissues.
4. They are mainly terrestrial green plants.
5. They reproduce sexually and do not need water for reproduction.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SPERMATOPHYTES AND BRYOPHYTES

Feature	Spermatophytes	Bryophytes
Vascular Bundles	Well-developed vascular bundles	Vascular bundles are absent
Stem	Present	Absent
Leaves	True leaves are present	Leaf-like structures or no true leaves
Reproduction	By flowers and seeds	By spores
Roots	Well-developed roots	Rhizoids present (no true roots)

Spermatophyta can be divided into two main classics these are Gymnosperms and Angiosperm.

1. GYMNOSPERMS CHARACTERISTICS

• These are plant with naked seeds.
• They have true roots, stems and leaves.
• They do not bear flowers.
• The seeds are borne on special structures called cones.
• They have vascular green plants.
• Examples are pine and cycads, gingkos and conifers.

2. ANGIOSPERM CHARACTERISTICS

• They have well-developed and complete flowers.
• They are vascular plants.
• They are the most complex green flowering plants.
• They are seed plant with seeds enclosed in the fruit.
• They show more specialised reproductive mechanism involving pollination and fertilization.
• They are mainly terrestrial plants.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GYMNOSPERM AND ANGIOSPERM

Feature	Gymnosperms	Angiosperms
Flowers	Do not bear flowers	Bear flowers
Seed Covering	Seeds are naked	Seeds are enclosed
Seed Development	Seeds are borne on cones	Seeds develop from ovules enclosed in the ovary

DIVISIONS OF ANGIOSPERM: Angiosperm can be subdivided into two classes according to the numbers of seed leaves , (cotyledons). These are; Dicotyledonous plants and monocotyledonous plants.

DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS CHARACTERISTICS

• They bear seeds which have two seed leaves or cotyledons.
• The vascular bundles of each stem are arranged in a regular pattern.
• They are Floral parts exist in groups of four or five.
• They have tap root system.
• They usually undergo secondary growth.
• The leafs have veins arranged in Branched Network.
• Examples are mango, Orange, cowpea, groundnut, balsam plants.

MONOCOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS

• They bear seeds which have only one seed leaf (cotyledon).
• Thier Floral plant exist in groups of three or multiple of three
• The vascular bundles of the stem are scattered.
• Their leaves have veins running parallel to one another.
• They have fibrous root system.
• They do not undergo secondary growth.
• Examples are Maize plants, rice, oil palm trees and Guinea grass.

READ ALSO – Differences Between Monocotyledonous and Dicotyledonous Plants

AGRICULTURAL CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS

Agricultural classification of plant is the types of classification based on the uses of plants. In this classification crops or plants are grouped into the following categories based on their uses. Some of these crops are:

CEREAL PLANTS: These plants belongs to the grass family and they provide carbohydrates. example are: Maize, Rice, millent and Guinea corn, wheat, barley and oats.

PULSES (GRAIN LEGUMES): Pulses are crops which provide proteins for man and animals when eating, example are; cowpea, soya beans, groundnut, lima beans and pigeon pea.

ROOTS AND TUBER CROPS: These crops produced tubers under the ground and they provide carbohydrate to human and animals when eating examples are; cassava cocoyam, sweet potato, Irish potato, beets and carrots.

VEGETABLE CROPS: Vegetable crops provide vitamins and minerals to human and animals when consumed. examples are; Tomatoes, amaranthus, onion, okra, cauliflower, spinach, bitter leaf and water leaves.

FRUIT PLANTS: Fruit plants also provide vitamins and minerals to human and animals when consumed. examples are: Orange, banana, pineapple, mango, pawpaw and cashew.

BEVERAGE PLANTS; These crops plants provide food drinks when processed into finished products like bournvita Ovaltine, pronto, etc. examples of beverages crops are Cocoa, coffee, tea and kola.

SPICES: These crops plant provide vitamins and minerals to man and animals when consumed. examples are: Ginger, pepper and onion.

OIL PLANTS: Oil plants can provide oil when processed food for domestic and industrial uses. example, Oil palm groundnut, melon, coconut, soyabean, and cotton.

FIBRE CROPS: These are crop plants used for making clothing materials and bags e.g. cotton, sisal, hemp, Kenaf, and hibiscus.

LACTEST CROPS: These are crops which provide some white sticky, liquid (latex) used in plastic Industries e.g. rubber.

CLASSIFICATIONS OF PLANTS BASED ON LIFE CYCLE

In the classification based on life cycle, plant are grouped into three categories based on their life cycle or the lifespan of the crop plants or the number of years a plant is able to grow, mature and produce fruit. The groups are:

ANNUALS: Annuals plants which complete life cycle in one season. In other words, the plants grow, mature produce fruit and die within one year. examples of annual plants are maize, Rice, cowpea, millet, vegetable, cotton and groundnut.

BIENNIALS: These are plant which complete their life cycles within two years. These plants develop their vegetative parts during the first year and produce fruits and die during the second year. Examples of biennial plants are pepper, carrot, onion and Ginger.

PERENNIALS: Perennials plants grow, mature and produce fruit for more than 2 years. In this case, some plants can live for three, five, ten or even over 20 years. Examples of perennial plants are Cocoa, banana, orange, oil Palm, rubber and mango.

READ ALSO – Crop production cultural practices in agriculture

Revision Questions

1. What are the three major classification of plants?
2. Explain botanical classification of plants
3. Explain classification of plant in using agricultural techniques.
4. State five characteristics of Bryophyta.
5. Differences between spermatophytes and bryophytes.