Biology’s Green World: The Plant Kingdom
by Yuvi K - December 16, 2023
Biology’s Green World: The Plant Kingdom
Life on Earth began in the ocean. As millions of years passed, life gradually became more diverse and broke out of the watery depths and moved onto land. One branch of this richening diversity was plants which were the first life forms to inhabit the land. From the first primitive mosses to the towering redwoods, plants form life as we know it.
What are Plants?
A plant is a living organism that belongs to the Plantae kingdom, with the ability to create its own food using a process called photosynthesis. The process involves turning sunlight into energy (ऊर्जा) that it can use for growth and production. These organisms are generally static and are highly diverse in their form and habit. Categorizing plants makes it easier for scientists and researchers to understand and classify them. Plant taxonomy is the science and technique of identification, nomenclature, and classification of plants.
Classification of Plants
The Plantae Kingdom is divided into several smaller, more specific groups, overseen by major plant divisions (विभाग) such as Bryophyta, Pteridophyta, Filicinophyta, Coniferophyta, Cycadophyta, Ginkgophyta, and Anthophyta. Even smaller subdivisions are placed within these divisions. There are several different methods of classifying extinct, present-day, and future species and ongoing discoveries, as well as interdisciplinary collaborations, directly or indirectly impact the classification of this kingdom.
The last category, Anthophyta, is the most abundant and contains 12 divisions. This is further divided into 147 classes that include personal favorites like Lilliopsida, Magnoliopsida, and Rosopsida, known to most of us as monocots, dicots, and rosids, respectively.
Characteristics of the Plant Kingdom
- Photosynthesis – As mentioned, Plants are able to make their own food through the process of Photosynthesis.
- Absence of Locomotion – Plants do not have the ability to walk or move around like animals do.
- Multicellular – Plants are composed of multiple cells.
- Cellulose Cell Wall – Plants have a cell wall made out of cellulose instead of chitin like most animals.
- Vascular System – Plants possess a vascular system for the transport of food and water throughout the body.
- Stomata (स्टोमात योग्य) – Plants have pores on their leaves called stomata, which facilitate the exchange of gases and the transpiration of water.
- Gametangia (गैमेटॅंजिअ) – Plants have gametangia, which are reproductive organs responsible for the production of both male and female gametes.
- Cuticle (द्वारकी) – Plants have an outer layer of wax called a cuticle to protect its internal structures from environmental damage.
Importance Of Plants
Living organisms and the environment they inhabit interact and have a symbiotic relationship. Plants regulate the air, water and soil of their surroundings. They are essential for the maintenance of biodiversity, since animals and microorganisms depend on them for their survival. In addition, plants serve as natural air pollution filters, contribute to the control of climate change and are an essential source of food for humans. Although humans have a diet based mainly on plants, animals also use plants as food, and ecological communities rely on the presence of plants for survival.
Plants offer countless benefits, from providing oxygen to improving soil structure; from cleaning the air to providing food, clothing, fuel, medicine and much more. As scientific research on plants progresses, more and more applications of plant knowledge are being discovered for use in industry, medical research, and agriculture.
Conclusion
The Plantae kingdom is one of the essential components of the world as we know it. If it weren’t for plants, life could not exist on Earth as we know it. Plant research is essential for understanding the broad range of the impact plants have on living organisms, the environment, and mankind. Let us be thankful for the Tree of life, which seems to give us so much and that we too often take for granted.
