Plants are classified based on several characteristics, beginning with the presence or absence of organs like roots, stems, and leaves. Another key criterion is the presence or absence of conducting tissues (xylem and phloem) responsible for transporting water and food. If plants bear seeds, further classification is based on whether the seeds are enclosed in a fruit. Finally, the number of cotyledons in seeds is used to classify flowering plants. At higher levels of classification, plants are grouped based on specific features:
- Cryptogams: Plants without flowers, fruits, or seeds, reproducing via spores.
- Phanerogams: Plants that bear seeds, further divided into:
- Gymnosperms: Seeds not enclosed in a fruit.
- Angiosperms: Seeds enclosed in a fruit, further divided into:
- Monocots: Seeds with one cotyledon.
- Dicots: Seeds with two cotyledons.
Contribution of Scientists:
In 1883, botanist Eichler classified the Kingdom Plantae into two subkingdoms:
- Cryptogams (non-seed-bearing plants).
- Phanerogams (seed-bearing plants).
This system laid the foundation for modern plant classification, emphasising structural and reproductive differences among plants.
