Many of us have heard about the lung of the world that corresponds to a large community of plants responsible for providing the planet with precious oxygen, highlighting the fact of a great variety of species, let us learn about the types of plants present on earth
What are Plants?
Plants are considered living beings that are part of the plant kingdom, they are considered autotrophic organisms, because they are responsible for synthesizing organic substances into other inorganic ones to survive, therefore, they do not need to feed on other living beings because They generate their own food. They do not have the ability to move from one place to another, so they always stay in a fixed place, among them can be named, trees, undergrowth, grass, even algae, among others.
They are attached to the earth through their roots, through these parts they can obtain the different minerals found in the strata. They are also composed of cellulose, which corresponds to an organic biomolecule that is most abundant in the entire earth's crust and is found in all plant cell walls, as well as being involved in different biochemical processes such as photosynthesis.
The origin of plants lies from the first algae which are eukaryotes and also photosynthetic, these primitive algae were distributed throughout the sea approximately 1500 million years ago, using photosynthesis as an energy system; over time they conquered land areas until they evolved into ferns, shrubs and even trees.
Plants have a great capacity for adaptation, being able to occupy any part of the world, from very cold habitats such as Antarctica or even very hot habitats such as the Sahara, highlighting the fact that very varied spices will be obtained depending on the climatic conditions in they are subdued
General characteristics of plants
Plants usually adapt to the most appropriate habitat for them, depending exclusively on being able to capture the amount of sunlight in order to be able to grow and expand much more, for this reason there is a great variety of plants distributed throughout the planet, with different traits. , families and species, despite this, the following general characteristics can be indicated:
autotrophic nutrition
The word autotroph comes from the noun “autos” which means itself and the name “tropos” which represents food or nutrition, represents all those organisms that have the ability to synthesize their own organic substances from inorganic compounds, which are acquired from the soil by being connected by means of roots such as water or the various mineral substances provided by the earth's crust, also from ultraviolet rays acquired by contact with sunlight.
Through this system, one of the most important processes for the planet earth known as photosynthesis is carried out, it is the biochemical process that grants the transformation of different carbohydrates to obtain the much-needed oxygen to preserve life on planet earth and carry carry out other processes necessary for the preservation of life.
lack of locomotion
Plants are beings that are unable to execute any movement, differentiating it from animals that have legs and other motor parts that collaborate in moving mammals to different areas, instead plants are united and in full contact with the ground due to its roots and that also manage to extract the great variety of substances necessary for its development and growth.
There are some exceptions such as algae and aquatic plants that have the ability to change their habitat due to being exposed to water, currents and the actions of the wind on the algae, this influencing their different biochemical actions of the plant.
equipped with a cell wall
Plants are mainly composed of a cell wall, it corresponds to a rigid layer that is located on the outside of the plasma membranes that protect the internal cells of the plant, allowing them to have rigidity in their structure. The cell is responsible for offering resistance and hardness, essential in times of growth because it gives them stability that can also influence the growth process as in the case of trees.
Plants types
The characteristics of the plants are always the same, differing in the fact that there are millions of species, which have completely different shapes and conditions, classifying them into two main groups: green algae and land plants. The first is considered the most evolved, also being considered as part of other kingdoms, but due to its outstanding process of photosynthesis, they act like plants.
In the case of the second group, they are better known as higher plants, they have stems, roots, leaves and are also composed of various vascular mechanisms (for example, trees); there are also those that do not have vascular systems, therefore, they do not reach a significant size (for example, mosses and ferns).
The variety of plants is quite significant, especially those that are terrestrial plants, presenting themselves with a great variety of characteristics, therefore, they can be classified into two main groups, highlighted below:
Gymnosperms
They are known as primitive plants mainly because they appeared approximately 350 million years ago, they normally include those plants that have seeds but do not have any type of flowers, because they are plants that can reproduce through seeds and not in a closed ovary. therefore they do not cause the formation of flowers. Hence, the word Gymnosperms which means "naked seed".
There is a large number of species belonging to this classification, so they are very easy to locate in nature and are located in various parts of the world, especially those areas with cold temperatures, in this case various spices belonging to Gymnosperms, highlighted below:
conifers
Correspond to those plants that have characteristics with a completely straight trunk and horizontal branches. With evergreen leaves (leaves that maintain their green color throughout the year) in the form of needles; They have the shape of cones, hence their coniferous name, although they can also be known as Pinidae, Coniferophyta, among others. Also highlighting the fact that its fruits also have a cone shape that protects the ovules and then the seed.
They can be considered as the most important group within all the gymnosperms, considering that they became the most dominant species in the world, worse with time they became displaced by other species, but remaining dominant among the tree communities. . Coniferous forests are usually known as taigas, being made up of sequoias, cedars, pines and firs, the main countries that have a presence of this type of trees are Russia and Canada.
cicadaceae
It deals with those plants that have a straight trunk, it is a mono-typical family, because they are constituted by a single genus known as Cycas. They are made up of plants that have very tall stems (approximately 20 meters), have a foliar base coating, and are also characterized by having very few leaves, being large and pinnate or bipinnate (shaped like wings or fins).
They are characterized by having crown shapes at the tips of the stems, as well as an inflorescent color in the case of females and elongated in males. They have a hard and reddish seed. They are normally distributed in the Asian continent, in Africa and in Oceania, they are considered to exist since the time of the dinosaurs and are called as living fossils, despite this, today it is one of the species found in Danger of extinction.
Ginkgo biloba
It is considered a medicinal plant that originated in China, being very characteristic for its plants being used for brain disorders, in addition to its effects on the blood and circulation. It is considered the oldest tree in our history that is still in force today, it grows very slowly reaching about 35 meters, its leaves can become fan-shaped, they are dark green, in addition to having a straight trunk, with a narrow crown and pyramidal shape.
ferns
Also known as Filicopsida, Pterophyta or Filicinae; considered one of the most popular Gymnosperm plants in warm and temperate regions of the world, being very characteristic in tropical and humid forests specifically in Southeast Asia and South America. They are very notable for not having stems (the majority) but they do have large leaves, they do not produce any type of flowers, being completely herbaceous.
Angiosperms
They are the largest group of plants in nature, corresponding to those seeds that have flowers also have whorls that are made up of three or more leaves that arise directly from the stem. They can be made up of trees, shrubs, also wheat or herbs, among others. The main species that make up this group are described below:
Trees
It corresponds to a plant that has a woody trunk and is composed of perennial leaves (they remain green throughout the year or have deciduous leaves (subject to seasonal changes), they can reach more than 4 meters in height. They represent the most Extended throughout the planet, capable of adapting to different climates, they have a variety of forms and families and are very characteristic for their fruits and varieties of floral species.
Shrubbery
They are usually very similar to trees, because they have a woody trunk and certain branches at the base that connect them to the ground, differing in that they are not more than 4 meters tall but have a large content of flowers, so they are a species very common in home gardens; they can usually grow very close to trees.
Cactus
It is considered as one of the most recent species compared to other plants, they are very easy to differentiate due to their straight and fleshy stem, as well as being composed entirely of thorns and having very prominent flowers that bloom for just a few days. This type of plant usually arises in conditions of high temperatures, specifically in America and Mexico.
herbaceous
Also known as herbs, being small plants that tend to have a very small, flexible and tender stem. Being very developed in spring and summer seasons with their significant colors but in winter they die completely. Some of its most popular species are sunflowers and corn. They can be classified as annuals (they live for one year), biennials (they live for two years) and perennials (they live for several years).
Orchid
In this case, a group of flowers known as orchids are considered part of the angiosperms, being considered the most elegant flowers. They are easily recognized by their bilateral symmetry, varying in different sizes, with very prominent fragrances and a very characteristic color. Being distributed in various areas of the world, except for those regions that have extreme temperatures such as deserts and the arctic.
Parts of a plant
Plants have a great variety of species and forms that make them completely characteristic, but regardless of the types of plants, the basic structure they have is similar in all cases. Let us now know the main parts that plants have:
Root
Corresponds to one of the most fundamental organs of plants are located in the lower area of plants. Its main function is to absorb water and the different mineral substances found in the soil, which are responsible for collaborating with the growth of the plant and the functioning of important biochemical processes. Its growth is directly low in the soil and in a disorderly way, its system stores nutrients and different emergency substances used by the plant.
Stem
Corresponds to the section that grows opposite the root, are the aerial displays of plants that vary according to their size and shape. In its system it is made up of conductive vessels that are responsible for transporting the sap throughout the plant, in addition to all the nutrients acquired by the root; until being transported to the leaves and different organs of the plant. The main importance of the stem is to offer stability to the entire plant and support the upper area where the leaves and fruits are found.
Leaves
It is considered one of the most important parts of plants, because through this area the photosynthesis process can be carried out, they have different shapes between round and elongated, as well as a variety of colors, mainly green and red. They are born directly from the stem and grow in different areas of the tree, they are also exposed to different climatic conditions, tending to fall off (expires) when the autumn season arrives.
Flores
The flowers correspond to the reproductive organs that the plants possess, through them fruits and also seeds can be obtained. They represent great importance due to the fact that they are capable of producing different seeds through sexual reproduction, being the means used to obtain the species in another generation. They are characterized by having an attractive smell and color, attracting other animal species such as bees and birds, which are responsible for carrying out other important processes in plants that facilitate genetic exchange.
Seed
They represent the second result obtained by plants, where once the flowers are fertilized, the plants can generate seeds, they represent new embryos to give life to another individual. Depending on the species of the plant, the seed can originate by itself, not depending exclusively on being linked to the flower; In addition, there is a great variety of seeds linked to the type of plant, the environment that is exposed and its fruits.
Fruits
The fruits are completely varied depending on the type of plant from which they originate, in some cases they have a fleshy coating or in others they are completely dry. They represent a very nutritious part of the plant, and there is a great variety of fruits that are used for the consumption of animals and also for human beings.
plant photosynthesis
It is considered the most important biochemical process for the development of life on planet earth, due to the formation of much-needed oxygen that is consumed by humans, animals and even other plants, this process is carried out by all plants. of the planet whether aquatic or terrestrial.
It starts due to chlorophyll which is responsible for absorbing sunlight and carbon dioxide found in the atmosphere, being processed along with the other substances acquired by the roots (nutrients and minerals) are transported by the sap that moves through the trunk; coinciding in the leaves and initiating photosynthesis and expelling the oxygen necessary for the development of life.
Importance of plants
Standing out for their great variety of species and their ability to adapt that allow them to be present in different regions of the world, contributing their various essential properties for life, let us know the most outstanding importance of plants:
Living beings
They are considered the only autotrophic living beings, it represents that they are capable of transforming all the energy of the sun into ATP energy (chemical energy) and transforming it into organic matter in this way to feed themselves. In addition, they represent the main source of food for a wide variety of herbivorous animals, such as deer, squirrels, maples, among others, thereby providing a large amount of biomass that enriches the soil and favors the evolutionary cycle of plants.
Plants are considered essential for the conservation of life on the planet, because they are responsible for carrying out the oxygenation process for the entire planet earth, oxygen represents the main source of life not only for human beings but for animals and also other herbaceous species that collaborate with the different biochemical processes of the atmosphere.
Importance in the ecosystem
The trophic pyramid represents a chain of processes to carry out the transfer of different nutritional substances through the various species, where each one feeds on the preceding ones but also represents the food of the following one; plants are located at the base of the pyramid where they are the only ones of all beings capable of producing organic matter through sunlight, water and other substances.
In addition, due to their roots, they reduce the effect of erosion on the soil, generating a protective layer that protects the bark from exposure to some elements, and is also a place of shelter for a wide variety of animals (mammals, birds, and insects). , in this way generates a diverse habitat for the development of many species.
Human beings
Plants represent one of the main sources of food for humans, among some of the most common foods are wheat, rice and corn. Due to this, there is a great variety of plant species that are cultivated to supply the world need. It is also considered of importance in the economic field, because the main raw materials used by man such as wood, charcoal, among others, are extracted.
Plant reproduction
All plants have sexual but also asexual reproduction, which will depend directly on the type of species in which it is developing.
Sexual reproduction
In this case, plants that have flowers stand out, starting at the time of pollination where they carry out an exchange of pollen from the flowers of the male organs of the plant to the female organs of another plant, fertilizing the ovules found in the pistil All this can be carried out due to the collaboration of animals such as bees or by the wind when transporting pollen from flowers. There are cases where plants have both sexes (hermaphrodite) carrying out this process by itself.
Asexual reproduction
It does not require any type of flowers, therefore pollination does not intervene in its reproduction, the method varies according to the type of plant such as stolons, rhizomes and tubers, in general terms the same process occurs where there is no genetic variability but rather clonal individuals, usually originates with a parent that then generates a colony of species that are connected and sprout simultaneously.
plant stratification
The distribution of plants will vary according to the species and the different ecosystems that are distributed in the soils, the latter have a set of layers known as plant strata that corresponds to a set of layers or levels that are divided to form the earth's crust . In the first one where the grasses appear, in the following layers the bushes appear and in the third, several meters away from the ground, the trees appear. This system prevents plants from competing with each other to coexist.
Environmental problems
Today there are many problems with the excessive consumption of human beings, leading to the destruction of tree species by excessive felling, the desertification of soils, the destruction of plant communities, the contamination with heavy chemical elements and the great industrialization; causing a great environmental impact on the habitat of plants. Generating great inconveniences to the life of the human being since many of these damages are irreparable.
For this reason, there are projects and different programs for the conservation of plant life, highlighting the great importance of the conservation of species and the relevance in the life of man.
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