Biology – 1.3 Features of organisms | e-Consult

Organisms within the plant kingdom are classified into groups based on a variety of shared characteristics. These features are used to reflect evolutionary relationships and similarities. The main features include:

• Cell Type: Plant cells are eukaryotic and contain a cell wall made of cellulose.
• Photosynthesis: Plants are autotrophs, meaning they produce their own food through photosynthesis using chlorophyll.
• Reproduction: Plants can reproduce sexually (with seeds) or asexually (vegetative propagation).
• Vascular Tissue: Many plants have vascular tissue (xylem and phloem) for transporting water and nutrients.
• Embryo Development: The development of an embryo within a seed is a key characteristic.

Ferns and Flowering Plants (Dicotyledons and Monocotyledons) are differentiated by the following features:

• Seed Type: Ferns reproduce via spores, while flowering plants produce seeds.
• Root System: Ferns have a rhizome (underground stem) and simple roots. Flowering plants typically have a taproot system (dicotyledons) or a fibrous root system (monocotyledons).
• Leaves: Fern leaves are often called fronds and are typically divided into smaller leaflets. Flowering plant leaves have diverse shapes and venation patterns.
• Vascular Bundles: Ferns have scattered vascular bundles in their stems. Dicotyledons have vascular bundles arranged in a ring in their stems. Monocotyledons have scattered vascular bundles throughout their stems.
• Cotyledons: Dicotyledons have two cotyledons (seed leaves) in their embryo, while monocotyledons have one cotyledon.