Many times it is possible to get lost within the different types of plants that exist on our planet. Therefore, in this article, we want to teach you the basic divisions that you can find within this wide realm. Divided into large blocks, we will explain the most important differences between the different kinds of plants so that you can recognize and classify them without any difficulty.
What types or classes of plants exist – basic classification
Recent studies have managed to catalog more than eight and a half million species of plants. Even so, there are many types of plants that have not yet been fully discovered, with marine plants being the most unknown.
There are a wide variety of types of plants. Trees, palms, conifers, herbaceous, shrubs, mosses, ferns, algae and cacti among others. Each of them with its own characteristics that make them unique species. And although they have in common their system of obtaining energy through photosynthesis, we can classify them into large blocks that differentiate them.
Different criteria for classifying plants can be followed , such as:
- Size
- Reproduction
- Time or duration
Others may be your food source, your location, and so on.
Classes of plants according to their size
One of the most common ways of classifying plants is the one that orders them by classes of plants according to their size :
Herbaceous
In this group are the plants whose stems do not come to conform as a solid structure or woody type. So its consistency is much softer in general. These can be branched or unbranched. Generally their duration is short, but thanks to this they are plants with a superior adaptation to the climate. Hence, they are the most widespread on the surface of the planet.
Shrubs or subshrubs
Woody stem plants whose height does not exceed one meter. They are usually low-stemmed and live for several seasons.
Shrubbery
They are woody plants, generally of the perennial type, that have multiple roots and a height greater than that of the bushes, reaching about three meters in height. Unlike trees, shrubs branch directly from the base.
Trees
Finally, there are the trees that are the largest plants. These have a woody trunk that begins to branch off at a certain height from the ground. Its average height is around five meters high. They are much more long-lived than other plants and can live for several centuries.
Kinds of plants according to their reproduction or if they have flowers
Flowers are the reproductive organs of plants. Depending on whether or not they have them, the classification of plants is given in two large groups:
Plants with reproduction by spores
Here are the bryophytes plants and pteridofitas plants . More primitive plants such as mosses and ferns.
These primitive plants depend on water for their growth and reproduction since they do not have true stems or roots. For this reason, they are attached to the ground using filaments called rhizoids in charge of absorbing water and mineral substances. They usually live in humid environments.
The spores are found in capsules called sporangium. When these are ripe, the capsules open to disperse them and thus create new plants. located on a filament. When this capsule opens, the spores go outside, and give rise to new plants.
Plants with reproduction by seeds
Gymnosperms and angiosperms , which are also known as higher plants.
Angiosperms are plants that do have a true root, stem, leaves, flowers, and fruit. These reproduce by seeds that are inside the fruit.
Gymnosperm plants also have true roots, stems, leaves, and flowers, but no fruit. Its flowers produce seeds, but these are not enclosed. They are usually found naked inside a cone or pineapple.
Classes of plants according to their duration
Finally, this is the classification of the plants according to how long they last:
Perennials
They are those plants that live for several seasons since they have the resources to live more easily and for longer periods of time than the rest.
Biannual plants
These plants have a growth period that takes up two full seasons. During the first, the plant reaches its maximum development so that, during the second, they give flowers and fruits with which the next generation is born.
Annual plants
Finally, there are annual plants that have a life span that only takes up one season. These plants are very fast growing and usually germinate and bloom during the spring in a general way. They end their cycle between the period from autumn to winter.
