Plant Kingdom - NEET Notes
Classification of Plant Kingdom
Plants are divided into five major groups based on structural complexity and
reproduction.
1. Thallophyta (Algae)
Habitat: Aquatic (freshwater/marine), some terrestrial.
Body Structure: Thalloid body, no true roots, stem, or leaves.
Reproduction:
o Asexual: Fragmentation, spores.
o Sexual: Isogamy, anisogamy, oogamy.
Examples: Spirogyra, Chlamydomonas, Volvox, Fucus, Polysiphonia.
Economic Importance: Source of food, biofertilizers, agar production,
iodine extraction.
2. Bryophyta (Mosses and Liverworts)
Habitat: Moist and shady places (amphibians of the plant kingdom).
Body Structure: Thalloid or leafy, lacks vascular tissue.
Reproduction:
o Dominant Gametophyte (haploid), sporophyte (diploid)
dependent.
o Water is necessary for fertilization.
Examples: Riccia, Marchantia, Funaria, Sphagnum.
Economic Importance: Prevent soil erosion, peat formation.
3. Pteridophyta (Ferns and Horsetails)
Habitat: Moist, shady places; first vascular plants.
Body Structure: True roots, stems, leaves present.
Reproduction:
o Dominant Sporophyte (diploid), independent gametophyte
(prothallus).
o Spore-producing plants.
Examples: Selaginella, Equisetum, Pteris, Dryopteris, Adiantum.
Economic Importance: Soil binders, medicinal use, ornamental
plants.
4. Gymnosperms (Naked Seed Plants)
Habitat: Mostly terrestrial, cold regions.
Body Structure: Vascular tissue present, true roots, stem, leaves.
Classification of Plant Kingdom
Plants are divided into five major groups based on structural complexity and
reproduction.
1. Thallophyta (Algae)
Habitat: Aquatic (freshwater/marine), some terrestrial.
Body Structure: Thalloid body, no true roots, stem, or leaves.
Reproduction:
o Asexual: Fragmentation, spores.
o Sexual: Isogamy, anisogamy, oogamy.
Examples: Spirogyra, Chlamydomonas, Volvox, Fucus, Polysiphonia.
Economic Importance: Source of food, biofertilizers, agar production,
iodine extraction.
2. Bryophyta (Mosses and Liverworts)
Habitat: Moist and shady places (amphibians of the plant kingdom).
Body Structure: Thalloid or leafy, lacks vascular tissue.
Reproduction:
o Dominant Gametophyte (haploid), sporophyte (diploid)
dependent.
o Water is necessary for fertilization.
Examples: Riccia, Marchantia, Funaria, Sphagnum.
Economic Importance: Prevent soil erosion, peat formation.
3. Pteridophyta (Ferns and Horsetails)
Habitat: Moist, shady places; first vascular plants.
Body Structure: True roots, stems, leaves present.
Reproduction:
o Dominant Sporophyte (diploid), independent gametophyte
(prothallus).
o Spore-producing plants.
Examples: Selaginella, Equisetum, Pteris, Dryopteris, Adiantum.
Economic Importance: Soil binders, medicinal use, ornamental
plants.
4. Gymnosperms (Naked Seed Plants)
Habitat: Mostly terrestrial, cold regions.
Body Structure: Vascular tissue present, true roots, stem, leaves.
