Kingdom Plantae
Characteristics of Plants
There are more than 300,000 different plant species on Earth. Plants are sorted and classified into a separate kingdom known as Kingdom Plantae. This classification is based on the similarities and differences of plants. The characteristics for the Kingdom Plantae includes:
- all plants are multicellular;
- all plants are autotrophic eukaryotes that conduct photosynthesis;
- all plants contain a nucleus and advanced membrane bound organelles;
- all plants contain a cell wall made of cellulose;
- all plants contain the pigment chlorophyll;
- all plants have the ability to reproduce either sexually or asexually; and
- all plants lack motility.
Nonvascular Plants
The first plants to evolve in Earth’s history were nonvascular plants. Nonvascular plants are considered simple plants. They lack vascular systems consisting of xylem and phloem. Because of the absence of a complex transportation system, nonvascular plants do not have the ability to grow tall. In this interactivity, explore nonvascular plants. Click the player button to begin.
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Vascular Plants
Over time, vascular plants evolved from nonvascular plants. Vascular plants have a vascular system used to transport water and food throughout the plant. Because of this system, vascular plants are able to grow to great heights and are supported by a system of roots. In this interactivity, investigate vascular plants.
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Monocotyledons and Dicotyledons
Angiosperms are vascular plants that produce their seeds inside of fruits or flowers. This type of seeded vascular plant can be further classified based on the number of cotyledons they contain. A cotyledon is the leaf or leaves that first appear from a germinating seed.
Monocotyledons, or monocots, have one cotyledon and a parallel vein structure in their leaves. The flower part of the monocot usually comes in multiples of three. Examples of monocots include garlic, onion, corn, wheat, asparagus, and various types of grasses.
Dicotyledons, or dicots, have two cotyledons and a branching vein structure in their leaves. The flower part of the dicot usually comes in multiples of four or five. Examples of dicots include peanuts, tomatoes, deciduous trees, and daises. Dicotyledons are shown in the image on this page.
Plant Homeostasis and Response
Plants have the ability to change in response to their environment while maintaining homeostasis. Plants store water in their vacuoles for use in drier conditions. They contain hormones that allow them to grow toward light, against gravity, and around objects. In this interactivity, explore the different ways plants respond to their environment and maintain homeostasis. Click the player button to begin..
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Kingdom Plantae Review
Now that you have explored the plant kingdom, review your knowledge. In this non-graded activity, read the directions associated with each question and provide the correct response. Click the player button to get started.