BIO
Fern / Pteridophyta
- Ferns belong to Division Pteridophyta
- Vascular plants with xylem and phloem
- No seeds, no flowers
- Reproduce by spores
- Plant body has true root, stem, and leaves
- Sporophyte is dominant
- Oldest vascular plants
- Fertilization requires water
- Example: Pteris, Dryopteris
Difference from Bryophytes
| Feature | Bryophytes | Pteridophytes |
|---|---|---|
| Vascular tissue | Absent | Present |
| Dominant phase | Gametophyte | Sporophyte |
| True roots/stems/leaves | Absent | Present |
| Habitat | Moist | Mostly terrestrial |
Mosses (Division: Bryophyta)
- Mosses belong to Division Bryophyta
- Non-vascular plants (no xylem or phloem)
- Plant body not differentiated into true root, stem and leaves
- Have rhizoids instead of roots
- Reproduce by spores
- Gametophyte is dominant
- Fertilization requires water
- Mostly grow in moist, shady places
- Known as “Amphibians of Plant Kingdom”
- Example: Funaria, Polytrichum
Hornworts (Division: Anthocerotophyta)
- Hornworts belong to Division Anthocerotophyta
- Non-vascular plants
- Plant body is thalloid
- No true roots, stems or leaves
- Possess rhizoids for anchorage
- Gametophyte is dominant
- Sporophyte is elongated and horn-like
- Reproduce by spores
- Fertilization requires water
- Found in moist, shady habitats
- Example: Anthoceros
Lichens
- Lichens are not placed in any single plant division
- They are a symbiotic associationof:
- Fungus (mycobiont) – protection & absorption
- Alga / Cyanobacterium (phycobiont) – photosynthesis
- No true roots, stems or leaves
- Reproduce mainly by fragmentation and soredia
- Grow on rocks, tree bark, walls
- Very slow-growing
- Highly sensitive to air pollution → bioindicators
- Can survive in extreme environments
- Examples: Usnea, Parmelia
Algae
| Alga | Division | Type / Colour | Habitat | Key Importance / Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cladophora | Chlorophyta | Green alga | Freshwater & Marine | Forms large filamentous masses |
| Porphyra | Rhodophyta | Red alga | Marine | Used as nori (food) |
| Gelidium | Rhodophyta | Red alga | Marine | Source of agar |
| Sargassum | Phaeophyta | Brown alga | Marine (Sargasso Sea) | Forms large floating mats |
Fungi, Algae & Shrubs
| Group | Kingdom / Category | Nutrition | Key Characteristics | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fungi | Kingdom Fungi | Heterotrophic (saprophytic/parasitic) | Non-photosynthetic, cell wall of chitin, reproduce by spores | Yeast, Mold, Mushroom |
| Algae | Plant-like (Protista/Plantae) | Autotrophic | Photosynthetic, simple thallus body, aquatic | Spirogyra, Chlamydomonas |
| Shrubs | Plantae (Angiosperms) | Autotrophic | Woody plants, medium height, multiple stems | Rose, Hibiscus |
| Organism | Group / Division | Type / Colour | Cellularity | Habitat | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laminaria | Phaeophyta | Brown alga (Kelp) | Multicellular | Cold-water oceans | Large thallus, forms kelp forests |
| Chlamydomonas | Chlorophyta | Green alga | Unicellular | Freshwater & marine | Motile with flagella |
| Fucus | Phaeophyta | Brown alga | Multicellular | Intertidal zones | Air bladders for buoyancy |
| Nostoc | Cyanobacteria | Blue-green alga | Filamentous | Freshwater & terrestrial | Nitrogen fixation (heterocysts) |
Non-vascular (Bryophyta Hornworts) Vascular (Pteridophyta) Rhizoids True roots-stem-leaves Gametophyte dominant Sporophyte dominant Spore reproduction No seeds No flowers Thalloid body Horn-shaped sporophyte Symbiotic association Fungus + Alga/Cyanobacteria Bioindicator of air pollution Moist habitat Amphibians of plant kingdom Oldest vascular plants
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