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is one of the five major kingdoms and comprises all multi-cellular green
organisms with walled cells, composed of cellulose and which obtain food by
photosynthesis, a process where light energy
can be
converted into chemical energy with the help of chlorophyll. |
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Plants were probably the first life forms which ventured out from the oceans onto
the barren land and are essential for the oxygen in the atmosphere on
which all air breathing animals depend. They are also an important
source of food for the animals and laid down the fossil fuels
modern humans depend on so much these days. |
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There are 260 000 species of plants known worldwide
but the estimate goes well into the 300 000's as many are not yet
classified. They are divided into two mayor
phyla, the bryophytes or non-vascular plants with 16 000 species and the rest are vascular ones or tracheophytes.
Plants are also classified as terrestrial (rooted in the soil), epiphytes
(air plants sitting on trees) and aquatic (living in the water). |
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PHYLUM: Bryophyta (non-vascular
plants) |
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Class |
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Hepaticea
( liverworts ) |
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Musci
( mosses ) |
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Anthocerotae ( hornworts ) |
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PHYLUM:
Tracheophyta (vascular plants) |
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| Sub Phylum |
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| Lycophytina
(club mosses) |
| Sphenophytina
(horsetails) |
| Filocophytina
(ferns) |
| Psilophytina
(whisk ferns) |
| Spermatophytina
(sperm plants) |
Class |
Sub Class |
Angiospermae
(flowering plants) |
Dicotyledoneae |
| Monocotyledonea |
| Cycadinae
(cycads) |
| Ginkgoinae
(ginkgo) |
| Coniferae (conifers) |
| Gnetinea |
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Orders of the flowering plants ANGIOSPERMAE |
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Sub
Class |
Order |
Representative
Species or Families |
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DICOTS
170 000 species |
Magnoliiflorae |
magnolias,
annona, asarum, nelumbo |
| Nymphaeiflorae |
pepper,
cabomba, anemopsis |
| Ranunculiflorae |
ranunculus,
papaver, nandina |
| Caryophylliflorae |
phytolacca,
opuntia, cactus, portulaca |
| Polygoniflorae |
antigonon,
fallopia, rheum |
| Theiflorae |
dillenia,
paeonia, camellia |
| Malviflorae |
tilia, ceiba,
malva, cannabis |
| Violiflorae |
violets,
passion fruit, begonia, alyssum |
| Corniflorae |
erica,
garrya, maccleania |
| Araliiflorae |
apium,
ferula |
| Primuliflorae |
primula,
myrsine, halesia |
| Rosiflorae |
roses, tree
nuts, crassula, rubus |
| Fabiflorae |
mimosa,
tamarind, lotus |
| Proteiflorae |
grevillea,
macadamia, protea |
| Myrtiflorae |
callistemon,
melastoma, lythrum |
| Santaliflorae |
santalum,
celastrus, vitis |
| Rutiflorae |
line seed,
geranium, pelargonium, acer |
| Gentianiflorae |
gentian,
vinca, asclepias, jasmin, olea |
| Solaniflorae |
solana,
petunia, brugmansia, cordia |
| Lamiiflorae |
verbena,
calceolaria, scrophularia, lantana |
| Asteriflorae |
composites, dahlia,
espeletia, helianthus |
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MONOCOTS
50 000
species |
Liliiflorae |
orchids,
lilies, irises, agaves, amaryllis |
| Ariflorae |
arum, calla,
philodendron, anthurium |
| Alismatiflorae |
alisma,
butomus, aponogeton |
| Bromeliiflorae |
bromeliads,
pine apple, puya |
| Zingiberiflorae |
banana,
heliconias, jenigbre, canna, thalia |
| Commeliniflorae |
grass,
elegia, callisia |
| Areciflorae |
palm, areca,
butia, calamus |
| Pandaniflorae |
pandanus |
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In the evolutionary process, flowering plants were
the last to arrive, flourishing after the age of reptiles together with insects,
their main pollinators. Monocots are
the latest to evolve and are
considered the most advanced flowers, which evolved from simple aquatic dicots. |
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People, who are not so much interested in explications but like to see and enjoy pictures of plants, should check out the nature
section of our Ecuador-Images.net. |
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