DIVERSITY OF PLANT FORMS

Classification of Plants
Artificial classification
A. Based on whether or not they can manufacture food out of inorganic nutrients.
Autotrophic / independent plant- can produce their own food through photosynthesis.
- all green plants
Heterotrophic or dependent plant – cannot manufacture their own food
i. parasite – nutritionally dependent on other living organism
ii. Saprophytes – nutritionally dependent on dead organic matters

B. Based on environmental location
Aquatic plants - live on water
Terrestrial plants - live on land
Epiphytes – found above the grounds & attached to plants
C. Based on water requirements
Xerophytes – live in dry places
Mesophytes – require moderate supply of water
Hydrophytes – lives in watery or moist places & require abundant supply of water

D. Based on lifespan
Annuals – a plant that complete its life cycle during a single growing season & then dies.
Biennials – typically herbaceous plants, requires 2 growing seasons. Produce flower & seeds in the 2nd season.
Perennials – a plant that grows for many years, woody or herbaceous.
E. Based on appearance or habit
Tree – woody w/ single main stem, about 10 ft high
Shrub – woody w/ a relatively short main stem w/c gives rise to many branches
Herb – soft stemmed w/c is relatively short; short-lived
Vine – either creeping along the ground or climb upright.

annual plants
biennial
perennial
biennial plants
biennial
perennial
perennial plants
biennial
perennial

Natural classification
- based on morphological & structural relationships.
A. Non-vascular plants –lack conducting tissues (phloem & xylem)
a. thallophytes- simplest forms of plants
thallus – is their body composed of undifferentiated roots, stem, leaves. Ex: algae, fungi, lichens (alga & fungi)
b. bryophytes – mosses, liverworts, & hornworts.
- usually found in moist places, rocks, & trees.

B. Vascular plants – have conducting tissues
a. Pteridophytes – produces spores
- ex: ferns
b. Gymnosperms – seed bearing plants w/c do not produce flowers.
- ex: cycads (pitogo), pine trees, & spruces
c. Angiosperms – flowering plants that produce seeds
- ex: gumamela, santan, etc.

Angiosperms
Monocotyledonae (Monocot)
- has one seed leaf or cotyledon
Dicotyledonae (Dicot)
- contains two seed leaves