Plant classification

The Main Characteristics of Plants
1. Contain chlorophyll and carry out
photosynthesis
2. Possess a cellulose cell wall
3. Are multicellular

Four groups in the plant kingdom

1. BRYOPHYTES (mosses)
2. PTERIDOPHYTES (ferns)
3. CONIFERS (gymnosperms)
4. ANGIOSPERMS
(flowering plants)

ANGIOSPERMS
(flowering plants)

Characteristics
of
BRYOPHYTES

Mosses

Size of
bryophytes
is limited
 as they do not have
vascular issue
(phloem and xylem)

40 cm
 the tallest species is
about 40 cm high

Bryophytes have:
 very simple structure (thallus), having no
proper roots, leaves or stems

 hair-like structures
(rhizoids) on the
lower surface to
absorb moisture
Thallus
Rhizoids

Bryophytes are found in damp &
shady places
 Waxy cuticle is absent or if present, is
inefficient

Bryophytes are mainly found in
damp places
 as male sex cells need water to swim in

Bryophytes reproduce asexually
 by spores found in capsules

Characteristics of PTERIDOPHYTES

Ferns

Pteridophytes (ferns) have:
 Roots because they have vascular
 Stems tissue
 Leaves

[rhizome]

Ferns have
leaf-like:

fronds

Ferns have better anchorage
than mosses
Fern

Tiny rhizoids in moss.

Ferns can attain
considerable
sizes (20 m):
 as they have
vascular tissue

 i.e. ferns have:
 support
 long-distance
transport

Ferns can live in drier environments
than mosses because:
 a waxy layer waterproofs the plant’s
surfaces to reduce water loss

Note shiny
surface due to
a waxy layer.

Ferns can live in drier environments
than mosses BUT:
 grow best in damp, shady places

Ferns reproduce asexually by :
 spores found on fronds

A cluster of sporangia
full of spores.

Ferns reproduce also sexually
 Ferns need water for reproduction like
mosses

Male sex cell of a fern. Flagella help it to
swim towards the female sex organ.

Question: SEP, 2011
Give a biological explanation for each of the
following statements.
Ferns are much better adapted to life on land
than algae. (5)

Algae are not adapted to live on land for two
main reasons.
Algae have no protection against drying up and
lack supporting tissue.
Ferns have an efficient waxy cuticle and
vascular tissue to help in support and long-
distance transport of materials.

Algae in aquarium.

Question: MAY, 2004
Bryophytes and ferns are two major groups of
the Plant kingdom. Complete the table below
by marking with a  if the characteristic given
applies for the particular group. Certain
characteristics may apply to both groups. (9)

Characteristic Bryophytes Ferns
Live only in damp shady places.
Do not have proper roots but have
rhizoids.
Have a proper vascular system.
Can reproduce by means of spores.
Can grow to considerable sizes.
Liverworts are a member of this
group.
The leaves have a waxy layer to cut
down water loss.

Live only in damp shady places. 
rhizoids.
Liverworts are a member of this group.
down water loss.

Do not have proper roots but have 
rhizoids.
group.
down water loss.

rhizoids.


Have a proper vascular system. 
group.
down water loss.

rhizoids.


Can reproduce by means of spores.  
group.
down water loss.

rhizoids.


Can grow to considerable sizes. 
group.
down water loss.

rhizoids.



group. [Not in syllabus]
down water loss.

rhizoids.



group. [Not in syllabus]
The leaves have a waxy layer to cut 
down water loss.

Question: MAY, 2010
1. Explain why bryophytes tend to be small
plants while ferns are larger plants. (2)
Bryophytes are small as they lack vascular
tissue. This means that they cannot
transport materials over long distances.
Bryophytes cannot support themselves due
to lack of xylem.
Better anchorage in ferns by roots rather
than rhizoids in bryophytes.

Question: MAY, 2010
2. Ferns colonise drier areas than bryophytes.
Explain. (2)
As ferns have an efficient waxy cuticle. The
waxy cuticle is either absent or inefficient in
bryophytes.

Characteristics of CONIFERS
 This group is also called gymnosperms

Conifers are large plants with:
 needle-like leaves

Seeds of conifers are:
 produced in cones
 said to be naked, i.e. are not enclosed by a
fruit
A naked seed

ANGIOSPERMS (flowering plants)

Angiosperms
 produce flowers and then seeds
 seeds are enclosed in a fruit

Angiosperms Range from:
herbs massive trees

Two groups of flowering plants
exist:
 Monocotyledonous
e.g. grass, wheat, oat,
palm tree

 Dicotyledonous
e.g. poppy, peach tree,
oak

Differences between:
monocots & dicots

monocots dicots
Long & slender leaf Broad leaf
Parallel veins Branching veins

monocots dicots
Fibrous root Main or Tap
system root system

monocots dicots
Flower parts in
Flower parts in 3’s 4’s or 5’s

monocots dicots
One cotyledon in Two cotyledons
seed [maize] in seed [pea]

Embryo
plant

Question: SEP, 1997

Fill in the table below using a tick () to mean
that the feature is present and a cross () to
show that the feature is absent. (6)

Monocot Dicot
plant plant
Floral parts are arranged in threes
or in multiples of three.
Floral parts arranged in fours or
fives or multiples of these.
Leaves are the main photosynthetic
organs.
Have a tap root system.
Parallel veins found on leaves.
Plants lack vascular bundles in their
stems or roots.

Monocot Dicot
plant plant
Floral parts are arranged in threes
or in multiples of three.  
Floral parts arranged in fours or
fives or multiples of these.  
Leaves are the main photosynthetic
organs.  
Have a tap root system.  
Parallel veins found on leaves.  
Plants lack vascular bundles in their
stems or roots.  

Plant classification

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