Plant Divisions (Phyla)
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In botany, the equivalent of a Phylum is called a division. The Kingdom Plantae is divided into 14 Divisions. A Division (pl. Phyla) is the largest formal major grouping within plant taxonomy below Kingdom.
This list is presented in alphabetical order, and not in any systematic/evolutionary arrangement.
Science is by no means static. There are arguments of all sizes and shapes about the taxonomy of the Plant Divisions. Other sources may combine or split these listed Divisions. However, at this time, the list presented here should stand in good stead for an introduction to the topic of plant diversity.
There are approximately 250,000 plant species that have been described by science.
This list tries to give the following information on each Division:
- Division Name
- A link to a subpage discussing that Phylum in more detail (if it yet exists)
- Name Meaning (in English)
- An English Common Name, where one is in regular use
- Distinguishing characteristics of plants within the Division
- An approximate number of species described within that Division. Since botany does not stand still, this number can change.
You can also see Introduction to Taxonomy for more on that topic.
Anthocerotophyta
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Name Meaning: Anthoceros-like plant
English Common Name: Hornworts
Major distinguishing characteristics: Horn-shaped sporophytes, no vascular system
Approximate number of species described: 100-300 or more
Bryophyta
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Name Meaning: Bryum-like plant, moss plant
English Common Name: Mosses
Major distinguishing characteristics: Persistent unbranched sporophytes, no vascular system
Approximate number of species described: 12,000
Charophyta
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Name Meaning: Chara-like plant
English Common Name: Charophytes
Major distinguishing characteristics:
Approximate number of species described: 1,000
Chlorophyta
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Name Meaning: Yellow-green plant
English Common Name: Chlorophytes
Major distinguishing characteristics: mainly autotrophs with exceptions and have the same chlorophyll a and b pigments as "higher" plant divisions
Approximate number of species described: 8,000
Cycadophyta
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Name Meaning: Cycas-like plant, palm-like plant
English Common Name: Cycads
Major distinguishing characteristics: Seeds, crown of compound leaves
Approximate number of species described: 100 - 200
Ginkgophyta
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Name Meaning: Ginkgo-like plant
English Common Name: Ginkgo, maidenhair tree
Major distinguishing characteristics: Seeds not protected by fruit
Approximate number of species described: 1 living, about 50 extinct
Glaucophyta
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Name Meaning: Blue-green plant
English Common Name: Glaucophytes
Major distinguishing characteristics:
Approximate number of species described: 13
Gnetophyta
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Name Meaning: Gnetum-like plant
English Common Name: Gnetophytes
Major distinguishing characteristics: Seeds and woody vascular system with vessels.
Approximate number of species described: 70
Lycopodiophyta (Lycophyta)
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Name Meaning: Lycopodium-like plants, wolf plant
English Common Name: Clubmosses, spikemosses
Major distinguishing characteristics: Microphyll leaves, vascular system
Approximate number of species described: 1290 living
Magnoliophyta (Anthophyta)
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Name Meaning: Magnolia-like plant
English Common Name: Flowering plants, angiosperms
Major distinguishing characteristics: Flowers and fruit, vascular system with vessels
Approximate number of species described: 300,000
Marchantiophyta (Hepatophyta)
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Name Meaning: Marchantia-like plant, liver plant
English Common Name: Liverworts
Major distinguishing characteristics: Ephemeral unbranched sporophytes, no vascular system
Approximate number of species described: 9,000
Pinophyta (Coniferophyta)
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Name Meaning: Pinus-like plant, cone-bearing plant
English Common Name: Conifers
Major distinguishing characteristics: Cones containing seeds and wood composed of tracheids
Approximate number of species described: 629 living
Polypodiophyta (Monilophyta)
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Polypodiophyta (Monophyte)
Once called Pteridophyta (outdated! The sub-divisions Lycopodiophyte and Euphyllophyte have been differentiated)
Name Meaning: Many foot plant, Polypodium-like plant
English Common Name: ferns, horsetails
Major distinguishing characteristics: Prothallus gametophytes and vascular system
Approximate number of species described: 9000
Other Resources
[edit | edit source]- Tree of Life, Green Plants
- Encyclopedia of life, Plantae
- Animal Phyla a companion piece to this one