LESSON NO 6-CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS.

Introduction
 Robert Whittaker (1959) proposed five kingdom system of classification for
the study of living organisms .According to Whittaker the five kingdom are
monera , Protista , fungi, plantae and Animalia.
 Botanists’ scientist named eichler in 1883 classified the kingdom plantae as
cryptogams and Phanerogams.
 Basis for classification-
1) Presence or absence of organs.
2) Presence or absence of separate conducting tissues for conduction
of food and water.
3) Presence or absence of seeds in plants.
4) Whether seeds are enclosed in fruits or not.
5) Number of cotyledons in seeds: one or two i.e.- monocots and dicots.

 Sub-kingdom –cryptogams-
Plants belonging to sub –kingdom cryptogams reproduce with the help of
pores.
1) Division I – Thallophyta
1. Plants belonging to this group grow mainly in water. Some grow in fresh
water, while some in marine water.
2. These plants do not have specific parts like roots, stem, leaves and
flowers.
3. They are autotrophic owing to the presence chlorophyll such plants are
called algae.
4. Algae show great diversity. They are either unicellular or multicellular
some are microscopic while others are macroscopic i.e.- large.
Eg- spirogyra, ulothrix, ulva, chara, sargassum etc.
Different types of fungi such as yeast and moulds which do not possess
chlorophyll have also been included in this group.
2) Division II- Bryophyta.
1. Plants belonging to this group are amphibious, because they
grow on moist soil but require water for reproduction.
2. Plants are thalloid multicellular and autotropic.
3. They reproduce by spores.
4. The structure of plant body is long ribbon like and flat without
true roots, stem and leaves.
 LESSON NO 6-CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS.
Instead of these, they possess stem like or leaf like parts,
besides root like rhizoids.
5. They lack specific tissues for the conduction of food and water.
Eg- Funaria, Riccia, Marchantia, Anthoceros etc.
2) Division III- Pteridophyta
1. Plants belonging to this group bears well developed roots, stem
and leaves.
2. They do not bear flowers and fruits.
3. They bear separate tissues for the conduction of food and water.
4. They reproduce by means of spores which are formed on the
posterior side of their leaves.
5. Eg- Nephrolepis (fern), Adiantum, Pteris, Marsilea, Selaginella,
Equisetum, Lycopodium etc.
6. Reproduction in pteridophytes occur asexually by spores and
sexually by zygote formation.

 Sub-kingdom – Phanerogams.
1) These are characterised by the presence of flowers, fruits, and
seeds.
2) They are classified as gymnosperms and angiosperms.
3) In gymnosperms the seeds are naked while in angiosperms the
seeds are enclosed in fruits.

1) Division I- Gymnosperms.
1. Gymnos – naked , sperms-seeds
2. Gymnosperms are perennial, woody and evergreen plants.
3. The stems of gymnosperms are unbranched.
4. The leaves form a crown at the top of the plant.
5. They bear male and female flowers on different sporophylls of the
same plant.
6. Seeds are not enclosed in fruits.
7. Eg- Cycas, thuja (Morpankhi), Picea (Christmas tree), Pinus (Deodar)
etc.
2) Division II- Angiosperms.
1. Angios means – concealed or hidden, sperms – seeds.
2. Angiosperms are those plants in which seeds are hidden.
 LESSON NO 6-CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS.
3. These plants possess all organs.
4. Flowers are reproductive organs of these plants.
5. Angiosperms are divided into two groups, viz- monocots and dicots
depending on the number of cotyledons in their seeds.

Q1) Fill up’s.

1. Plants which have special structure for reproduction and reproduce
seeds are called Phanerogams.
2. Thallophyta plants have soft and fibre like roots.
3. Bryophyta is called the ‘amphibians’ of the plant kingdom.
4. In pteridophytes, asexual reproduction occurs by spores.
5. Male and female flowers of Gymnosperms are borne on different
sporophylls of the same plant.
Q2) Match the proper terms from columns A and C with the description
in column B.
A B C
Thallophyta Seeds are formed in Fern
fruits
Bryophyta No natural covering on Cycas
seeds.
Pteridophyta These plants mainly Tamarind
grow in water.
Gymnosperms These plants need Moss
water for
reproduction.
Angiosperms Tissues are present for Algae.
conduction of water
and food.

Ans-Rewrite the answer-

1. Thallophyta- Algae.
2. Bryophyta- Moss.
 LESSON NO 6-CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS.
3. Pteridophyta- Fern.
4. Gymnosperms- Cycas.
5. Angiosperms- Tamarind.
Q3) State whether following is true or false.
1. Plants belonging to the group Thallophyta are knowns as amphibians-
False.
2. Pteridophytes possess nervous system- False.
3. Autotrophic living organisms having eukaryotic cells with cell walls are
known as plants.-True.
Q4) Find odd man out-
1. Spirogyra, Moss, Ulva, Ulothrix.
Ans- Moss.
2. Pteris, Sargassum, Equisetum, Adiantum.
Ans- Sargassum.
3. Bamboo, Banana, Onion, Bean.
Ans- Bean.
Q2) Answer the following-
Q1) Difference between-
1. Monocotyledons plants and Dicotyledons plants.

Monocotyledons plants Dicotyledons plants.

1. It is a two cotyledons
1. It is a single cotyledon.
2. It has well developed,
2. It has fibrous root. primary root, (Tap root).

3. Leaves show parallel 3. Leaves shoe reticulate

venation. venation.

4. Flowers with 3 parte or in 4. Flowers with 4 or 5 parts or

multiples of three. in their multiples.(Tetra or
(Trimerous). pentamerous)
 LESSON NO 6-CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS.
5. Eg- Banana, onion, 5. Eg- Banyan tree.
Bamboo.

2. Gymnosperms and Angiosperms.

Gymnosperms
1. Gymnosperms are
perennial, woody and
evergreen plants.
2. In Gymnosperms plants,
stems are unbranched and
leaves in the form of a
crown.
3. In gymnosperms male and
female flowers occur on
different sporophylls borne
by the same plant.
4. The seeds of gymnosperms
do not possess a covering.
5. Gymnosperms do not bear
fruits.
6. Eg- Cycas, thuja
(Morpankhi), Picea
(Christmas tree), Pinus
(Deodar) etc.
Angiosperms.
1. Angiosperms are herbs,
shrubs and trees. They may
be annual, biennial and
perennial.
2. In angiosperms plants, the
stems are branched,
bearing different types of
leaves.
3. In angiosperms male and
female reproductive organs
occur in the same flower or
different flower.
4. The seeds of angiosperms
possess a covering.
5. Angiosperms bears fruits.
6. Eg- Maize, wheat, Mustard,
Banyan etc.

Q2) Write a short note on spirogyra and draw a sketch and label it.
Ans- 1. Spirogyra is a green filamentous alga belonging to the division
Thallophyta.
2. It grows in fresh water.
3. The presence of chlorophyll, it synthesises its food by the presence of
photosynthesis.
4. It contains spirally arranged thread like chloroplast in its cells.
5. In each chloroplast, there are number of rounded bodies surrounded
by starch. These rounded bodies are called pyrenoids.
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Q3) Write the characteristics of the plants belonging to the division

Bryophyta.
Ans- 1. Plants belonging to this group are amphibious, because they grow on
moist soil but require water for reproduction.
2. Plants are thalloid, multicellular and autotropic.
3. They reproduce by spores.
4. The structure of plant body is long ribbon like and flat without true roots,
stem and leaves .Instead of roots they possess rhizoids.
5. They lack specific tissues for the conduction of food and water.
Eg- Funaria, Riccia, Marchantia, Anthoceros etc.

Q4) Explain in brief about Marchantia and draw a label sketch of it.
Ans- 1. Marchantia is a bryophyte.
2. Marchantia is called amphibious plant, as it shares two habitants, viz soil for
its growth and water for reproduction.
3. It is flat ribbon like long and without true roots, leaves and stems.
4. Instead of roots, its bear’s rhizoids.
 LESSON NO 6-CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS.
5. It lacks conducting tissues which conducts food and water.

Q5) Explain in brief about Funaria and draw a label sketch of it.
Ans- 1. Funaria is a bryophyte.
2. Like Marchantia, Funaria is also amphibious.
3. The plant body of Funaria is differentiated into stem-like, leaf-like and root-
like rhizoids.
4. It develops a capsule on a stalk during favourable conditions.
5. Spores are formed inside the capsule. The spores give rise to new plants.
 LESSON NO 6-CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS.

Q6) Write a short note on fern and draw a label sketch of it.
Ans- 1.Ferns are ornamental plants seen in gardens.
2. They are called ornamentals as they beautify the place wherever they grow.
3. Since they grow in gardens they do not bear flowers and fruits, they bear
different types of attractive leaves.
4. They reproduce by spores which develop on the lower side of their leaflets
in the form of sori.
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Q7) Write the characteristics of subkingdom Phanerogams.
Ans- 1. Plants that bear seeds are called Phanerogams.
2. In these plants, seeds are formed after reproduction.
3. The seeds contain embryo and stored food.
4. The stored food is used during germination for the growth of the embroys.
5. Phanerogams are divided into two groups, viz gymnosperms and
angiosperms depending upon whether the seeds are enclosed in a fruit or not.

Q3) Answer the following in brief-

1) Which criteria are used for the classification of plants? Explain with
reasons.
Ans- The following criteria are used for the classification of plants.
1. There are two subkingdoms of flowering plants-gymnosperms and
angiosperms. If plants do not bear flowers, fruits, seeds they are non-
seed bearing plant. If they bear flowers, fruits and seeds, they are seed
bearing plants.
2. Plants that are not differentiated into organs like roots, stem and leaves
are called Thallophyta.
3. The presence or absence of conducting tissues. Plants such as
pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms are included under
vascular plants, while bryophytes and thallophytes which do not possess
vascular tissues are included under non vascular plants.
4. These plants are also classified as seed bearing or non- seed bearing
plants.
5. They are also classified as gymnosperms and angiosperms depending
upon whether the seeds are enclosed in fruits or not.
6. These plants are also classified into monocotyledons and Dicotyledons
dependings upon number of seeds present in it.

2) Complete the chart-

 LESSON NO 6-CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS.

Kingdom: Plantae

Cryptogams Phanerogams

Thallophyta Pteridophyta
Bryophyta

Eg- Ulva, Eg- Moss, Eg-Pteris,

Spirogyra Riccia Marsilea

Angiosperms
Gymnosperms

Monocotyledons

Dicotyledons

Eg- Maize
Eg- Mustard
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Q3) Complete the flow chart-

Living organisms

Prokaryotic Eukaryotic

Monera

Unicellular Multicellular

Protista

With cell Without

wall cell wall

Animalia
Autotrophs
Heterotrophs

Plantae
Fungi
LESSON NO 6-CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS.