Plant Divisions

4 Plant Divisions:

Bryophytes are the most common plant division and are made up mosses, liverworts and hornworts. They are found in almost every habitat, including deserts but are most adaptable to moist environments. This is thought to be the first plant division dominate the environment. Two characteristics that distinguish them are that they lack specialized vascular tissue (xylem and phloem), and they are nutritionally dependent on the gametophyte. 

Pteridophytes are vascular plants such as ferns, horsetails, and lycophytes. This division reproduce using spores instead of seeds, which is why they are often referred to as 'seedless plants'. Two features that make them stand out are their large pinnate leaves and their ability of circinate vernation; meaning the young ferns have a protective spiral coiling.

Gymnosperms are plants that have 'naked' seeds, meaning they are not enclosed in fruit or pods. They include conifers, ginkgo, cycads, and gnetae. Features of this division are plants containing cones or strobili, with visible seeds.

Angiosperms are plants that have seeds enclosed in something such as a fruit. They also reproduce and bear  flowers, this means that the division includes all flowering plants; roses, sunflowers, fruit trees, etc. It is the most diverse and large group of plants because they can be anything from shrubs to trees.