Plant Kingdom Overview

Energy Source for Plants

• Plants primarily utilize sunlight as their main energy source.
• Through the process of photosynthesis, plants convert sunlight into chemical energy stored in glucose.

Organisms of the Clade Viridiplantae

• The clade Viridiplantae includes green algae and land plants.
• This group is characterized by the presence of chlorophyll a and b, which are essential for photosynthesis.

Number of Known Plant Species

• Approximately 390,000 plant species are currently recognized.
• This vast diversity encompasses flowering plants, ferns, mosses, and more, indicating a rich evolutionary history.

Plants Lacking Chlorophyll Genes

• Certain parasitic plants, such as dodder and broomrape, have lost the genes necessary for chlorophyll production.
• These plants do not perform photosynthesis and rely on host plants for nutrients.

Role of Chloroplasts in Plants

• Chloroplasts are the organelles responsible for photosynthesis in plant cells.
• They contain chlorophyll, which captures light energy, enabling the conversion of carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

Test your knowledge about the characteristics and classification of the plant kingdom, including their photosynthetic nature and exceptions such as parasitic plants. Explore the historical perspective of plant biology as well.