Plants are divided into either vascular or non-vascular.
Vascular tissue is used by vascular plants to transport H20 and other nutrients.
There are two types:
Xylem is for transporting H20 and other nutrients such as ions and inorganic material.
Phloem is for transporting glucose and other organic material.
Non-vascular plants are known as Bryophytes. They are primitive, small, near water and damp environments. This includes plant groups such as liver worts, hornworts, and mosses.
Vascular plants are divided between seedless and seed-bearing.
Seedless vascular plants
These are more primitive. The main 2 groups are:
Lycophytes, which are “club mosses.” About 1000 species.
Ferns, horsetails, and relatives. They live in desert habitats and there are about 20,000 species.
Seed-bearing Vascular Plants
These come in two groups called Gymnosperms and Angiosperms.
Gymnosperms, “naked seeds”
come in 4 divisions:
1) D. Cycadophyta
These are “palm-like” plants that live in tropical habitats. There are about 130 species and some produce a neurotoxin called BMAA.
2) D. Ginkgophyta
Only one species exist called the Ginkgo biloba tree which are very resilient.
3) Gnetophyta
There are about 70 species and most are low lying desert plants. They have some of the largest leaves which divide into straps.
4) D. Coniferophyta
There are about 600 species and many are large trees, evergreens, and may produce pine cones. This includes cypress, Redwood, and giant sequoia<3
Angiosperms “flowering plants”
These produce flowers and there are about 250,000 species.
4 groups include:
1) Basal angiosperms
100 species in all. Includes Amborella, star-anise, and water lillies.
2) Magnoliids
8,000 species. Includes magnolia, black pepper, and laurels.
3) Eudicots. “True dicots.” 170,000 species.
4) monocots. 70,000 species.
