What is Plant Classification?
Plant classification means organising or arranging the already known plants into various groups and categories to study the evolutionary relationship between them. The entire plants on the earth come under the kingdom “Plantae”. The plant kingdom is divided into various groups based on various body characteristics.
Criteria of Plant Classification
Based on certain characteristics, the plants are classified into various subgroups. These are:
- Plant Body structure- Whether the plant body can be divided into roots, stems and leaves or not.
- Vascular system- Whether the plant body possesses a properly well-defined vascular system or not.
- Flowers and seeds- Whether the plants have flowers or not and whether the seeds are enclosed within the fruit or found naked.
Also Read: Classification of Plants
Plant Classification
Plant Classification plays a major role in understanding the different plant structures and their lifecycle. Based on various characteristics, R.H. Whittaker classified living organisms into five kingdoms which are Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.
The members of the kingdom Plantae show certain characteristics like they are eukaryotic, multicellular, and can perform photosynthesis. Plants can be classified based on their life cycle and other features. The division of the Plantae kingdom consists of two major categories- Cryptograms and Phanerogams. Students need to study the different divisions of plants to understand the importance of plant classification.
Table of Content
- What is Plant Classification?
- Characteristics of Kingdom Plantae
- Plant Classification Based on Life Cycle
- Division of Plantae Kingdom
- Cryptograms and Their Classification
- Phanerogams and their Classification
- Importance of Plant Classification