Classification of Plants
1. Match the proper terms from columns A and C with the description in column B.
Thallophyta: These are simple plants like algae, which mainly grow in water (matched with “Fern” incorrectly in the table; should be “Algae,” but based on context, corrected logically).
Bryophyta: Plants like moss have no natural seed covering and need water for reproduction (matched with “Cycas” incorrectly; should be “Moss”).
Pteridophyta: Ferns are plants that mainly grow in water (matched with “Tamarind” incorrectly; should be “Fern”).
Gymnosperms: Plants like Cycas need water for reproduction and have naked seeds (matched with “Moss” incorrectly; should be “Cycas”).
Angiosperms: Plants like Tamarind have tissues for water and food conduction, with seeds in fruits (matched with “Algae” incorrectly; should be “Tamarind”).
2. Complete the sentences by filling in the blanks and explain those statements.
(angiosperms, gymnosperms, spore, Bryophyta, thallophyta, zygote)
a. ……………….. plants have soft and fiber-like body.
Answer: Thallophyta
b. ……………….. is called the ‘amphibian’ of the plant kingdom.
Answer:
Bryophyta plant
c. In pteridophytes, asexual reproduction occurs by ……………….. formation and sexual reproduction occurs by ………………..formation.
Answer:
Spore, zygote: Pteridophyta plants show alteration of generation. One generation reproduces by spore-formation and the next generation reproduces sexually by zygote formation.
d. Male and female flowers of ……………….. are borne on different sporophylls of the same plant.
Answer:
Gymnosperms bear their male and female flowers on different sporophylls of the same plant
3. Answer the following questions in your own words.
a. Write the characteristics of subkingdom Phanerogams.
Answer:
- Plants which have special structures for reproduction and produce seeds are called Phanerogams.
- In these plants, after the process of reproduction, seeds are formed which contain the embryo and stored food.
- During the germination of the seed, the stored food is used for the initial growth of the embryo.
- Depending upon whether seeds are enclosed in a fruit or not phanerogams are classified into gymnosperms and angiosperms.
b. Distinguish between monocots and dicots.
Answer:
| Dicots | Monocots | |
| Seed | Two cotyledons | Single cotyledon |
| Root | Well developed, primary root (Taproot) | Fibrous roots |
| Stem | Strong, hard. e.g. Banyan tree | Hollow, e.g. Bamboo False, e.g. Banana Disc-like, e.g. Onion. |
| Leaf | Reticulate venation | Parallel venation |
| Flower | Flowers with 4 or 5 parts or in their multiples (tetramerous or pentamerous) | Flowers with 3 parts or in multiples of three (trimerous). |
c. Write a paragraph in your own words about the ornamental plants called ferns.
Answer:
- Ferns belong to the group of plants called Pteridophyta.
- They have well-developed roots, stem and leaves but do not bear flowers and fruits.
- They have separate tissues for the conduction of food and water.
- They reproduce with the help of spores formed along the back or posterior surface of their leaves.
- They reproduce asexually by spore formation and sexually by zygote formation.
d. Sketch, label and describe the Spirogyra.
e. Write the characteristics of the plants belonging to division Bryophyta.
Answer:
- Bryophyta group of plants are called the amphibians of the plant kingdom because they grow in moist soil but need water for reproduction.
- These plants are thalloid, multicellular and autotrophic.
- They reproduce by spore-formation.
- Their plant body structure is flat, ribbon-like, long, without true roots, stem and leaves.
- Instead, they have stem-like or leaf-like parts and root-like rhizoids.
- They do not have specific tissues for the conduction of food and water.
- Examples: Moss (Funaria), Anthoceros, Riccia etc.?
4. Sketch and label the figures of the following plants and explain them into brief.
Marchantia, Funaria, Fern, Spirogyra.
Spirogyra.
- Spirogyra belongs to the division thallophyta. They are called as algae.
- It grows mainly in water.
- It does not have specific parts like root-stem- leaves-flowers but are autotrophic due to the presence of chlorophyll.
- The plant body of Spirogyra is soft and fibre-like.
- It has spirally arranged chloroplasts in its cell.
Funaria and Marchantia (Bryophyta)
- These plants are called ‘amphibians’ of the plant kingdom because they grow mostly in soil and need water for reproduction.
- They do not have specific tissues for the conduction of food and water.
- The plant body is fiat, ribbon-like long, without true roots, stem and leaves
- Instead, they have stem-like or leaf-like parts and root like rhizoids.
Fern (Pteridophyta):
- They have well-developed roots, stem and leaves for the conduction of food and water.
- They do not bear flowers and fruits.
- They reproduce with the help of spores present along the back or posterior surface of the leaves.
5. Collect a monocot and dicot plant available in your area. Observe the plants carefully and describe them in scientific language.
1. Monocot Plant: Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
Scientific Classification:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Angiosperms
- Class: Monocotyledonae
Morphological Characteristics:
- Seed: Contains a single cotyledon, observed after soaking the seed for 8-10 hours.
- Root: Fibrous root system, with multiple thin roots spreading out from the base.
- Stem: Hollow and cylindrical, providing support; example includes the wheat stalk.
- Leaf: Long, narrow with parallel venation, arranged alternately along the stem.
- Flower: Small, arranged in spikes, with parts in multiples of three (trimerous).
Habitat: Grows in agricultural fields, prefers well-drained soil, and thrives in temperate climates.
Observation Notes: The plant’s height ranges from 60-120 cm. The fibrous roots help absorb water efficiently, and the parallel veins in leaves are a key monocot feature.
2. Dicot Plant: Mustard (Brassica juncea)
Scientific Classification:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Angiosperms
- Class: Dicotyledonae
Morphological Characteristics:
- Seed: Contains two cotyledons, visible after soaking.
- Root: Taproot system, with a strong primary root and secondary roots branching out.
- Stem: Solid, sturdy, and woody in mature plants, supporting broad leaves.
- Leaf: Broad with reticulate (net-like) venation, arranged in a rosette pattern.
- Flower: Four petals, typical of tetramerous flowers, yellow in color.
Habitat: Found in fields and gardens, grows well in fertile, moist soil.
Observation Notes: The plant reaches 30-100 cm in height. The taproot anchors it deeply, and the reticulate venation is a distinct dicot trait.
Method of Observation:
- Collect a young wheat plant and a mustard plant from a local field or garden.
- Soak a few seeds of each in water for 8-10 hours to observe cotyledon number.
- Examine roots, stems, leaves, and flowers with a magnifying glass or naked eye.
- Note differences in structure and compare with the table from the textbook (e.g., parallel vs. reticulate venation).
6. Which criteria are used for the classification of plants? Explain with reasons.
Answer:
Criteria for classification of plants:
- If plants do not bear flowers, fruits and seeds, they are non-seed bearing plants. If they bear flowers, fruit and seeds, they are seed-bearing plants.
- Presence or absence of conducting tissues- Plants such as pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms which possess conducting tissues are included in vascular plants whereas thallophytes and bryophytes which do not possess conducting tissues are included under non-vascular plants.
- Depending upon whether the seeds are enclosed in fruit or not, plants are classified as gymnosperms (naked-seeds) and angiosperms (seeds covered by fruit)
- Depending upon the number of cotyledons in seeds, plants are classified into dicotyledons and monocotyledons
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