Kingdom Plantae

The idea

Kingdom Plantae comprises multicellular, autotrophic, photosynthetic organisms with a rigid cellulose cell wall, divided into five classes: Thallophyta, Bryophyta, Pteridophyta, Gymnosperm and Angiosperm.

A garden of plants

A garden holds a moss, a fern, a pine, a mango tree and a pond alga.

Do you think they all belong to one kingdom?

• Yes, all are plants
• No, each is its own kingdom
• No, only the mango tree is a plant

Is it a feature of Plantae?

Tap the bin where each belongs.

Five classes

Plants form the base of most food chains and release oxygen that is essential for life on the Earth. The kingdom is divided further into five classes.

Kingdom Plantae comprises multicellular, autotrophic, photosynthetic organisms with a rigid cellulose cell wall, divided into five classes: Thallophyta, Bryophyta, Pteridophyta, Gymnosperm and Angiosperm.

• Class | Example in the book
• Thallophyta | Spirogyra
• Bryophyta | moss, Marchantia
• Pteridophyta | ferns
• Gymnosperm | pines, cycads
• Angiosperm | flowering plants

Notes

Plantae are multicellular, autotrophic, photosynthetic with a cellulose wall, divided into five classes.

Check yourself

Into how many classes is kingdom Plantae divided?

Answer: 5

The five classes are Thallophyta, Bryophyta, Pteridophyta, Gymnosperm and Angiosperm.

What is the plant cell wall mainly made of?

How do plants get their food?

Which one is a class of kingdom Plantae?

• Cellulose — correct. Yes!
• Chitin. Chitin is found in the cell walls of fungi.
• Protein only. The book says the plant cell wall is primarily made of cellulose.
• They absorb it from dead matter. That is how most fungi feed.
• They are autotrophs and perform photosynthesis — correct. Yes!
• They depend on other organisms. That describes animals.
• Protista. Protista is a separate kingdom.
• Echinodermata. This is a group of animals, not a class of plants.
• Bryophyta — correct. Yes!