Non-Vascular Plants

NON-VASCULAR PLANTS Alfred K. Apetorgbor  DIVISIONS OF THE PLANT KINGDOM Plant Kingdom is divided into two main groups: i. CRYPTOGAMS (flowerless or seedless plants) ii. PHANEROGAMS (flowering or seed- bearing plants) or SPERMATOPHYTA The Cryptogams form three main groups: Thallop...

NON-VASCULAR PLANTS Alfred K. Apetorgbor  DIVISIONS OF THE PLANT KINGDOM Plant Kingdom is divided into two main groups: i. CRYPTOGAMS (flowerless or seedless plants) ii. PHANEROGAMS (flowering or seed- bearing plants) or SPERMATOPHYTA The Cryptogams form three main groups: Thallophyta, Bryophyta and Pteridophyta  Thallophyta are characterized by: ✓ Undifferentiated thallus that has no roots, stems or leaves ✓Are single-celled or simple multicellular plants ✓Include Algae and Fungi Bryophyta are simple plants with stems and leaves but lack true roots ✓Include the Mosses and the Liverworts  Pteridophyta have true roots, stems, leaves and vascular system but lack flowers ✓Include the Ferns and their allies. PHANEROGAMS (SPERMATOPHYTA) have flowers which produce seeds ✓Consist of Gymnosperms (naked- seeded plants) e.g. Cycads and Conifers, and Angiosperms (closed-seeded plants)  Angiosperms further divided into Dicotyledons (have embryos with two cotyledons) and the Monocotyledons (have embryos with one cotyledon). ▪Thallophyta (Fungi and Algae) and Bryophyta are described as NON- VASCULAR ✓because they do not have specialized internal tissues (xylem and phloem) for conveyance of materials (water, mineral salts and food) from one part of the body to the other. ▪Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae and Angiospermae are described as VASCULAR (or TRACHEOPHYTES) ✓because they have specialized vascular tissue (phloem and xylem) in most of their organs