Chapter 3

Plant Kingdom
While going through the chapter pay special attention to the following – At a Glanc
Terms – Types of classification
1. Phenetics 2. Cladistics Algae
3. Algin 4. Carrageen
 Classes of Algae
5. Synergids 6. Antipodal cells
Bryophyta
7. Algology 8. Floridean starch
Pteridophyta
9. Laminarin 10. Pyrenoids
11. Fucoxanthin 12. Frond Gymnosperm

Differences – Angiosperm

(i) Isogamous, anisogamous and oogamous fusion. Plant lifecycle and alternation of
generation.
(ii) Chlorophyceae, phaeophyceae and rhodophyceae.
(iii) Monocotyledons and dicotyledons
(iv) Haplontic, diplontic, and haplo-diplontic lifecycles.

Plant kingdom includes eukaryotic, autotrophic or photosynthetic and non-motile

organisms.
They have well defined cellulosic cell wall. Plastids are present.
Plant kingdom includes five major plant groups i.e., Algae, Bryophyta, Pteridophyta,
Gymnosperms and Angiosperms as proposed by R.H.Whittaker in 1969.
In earlier classifications kingdom plantae also included fungi and members of protista and
monera having cell walls.

TYPES OF CLASSIFICATION
There are various types of classification in angiospermic plants.
1. Artificial system of Classification :
All taxonomists, from Aristotle to Linnaeus, classified organisms on the basis of external
observable (morphological) characters like structure of floral parts ( number of stamens),
root modification, leaf venation etc.
In this system no weightage was given to natural and phylogenetic relationship. Such
system is based on one or a few superficial similarities.
This is an arbitrary system of classification. Linnaeus also used such system of
classification
This system may also be based upon habit and habitats of the organisms.
74 BIOLOGY
2. Natural System of Classification :
It uses more number of characters and is based upon natural affinities using homology
and comparative study.
Bentham Hooker used this system of classification for angiosperms.
3. Numerical Taxonomy ( Phenetics ) or Quantitative taxonomy :
This system uses numerical methods for evaluating the similarities and differences between
the species.
This uses maximum number of characters, without giving extra emphasis on anyone.
Sophisticated calculating machines and computers are used for statistical analysis. This
system gives equal importance and weightage to all the characters used for taxonomy.
As this system was first attempted by Adanson (1763), the numerical taxonomy is also
known as Adansonian system
(The Phenetics is considered to be a better classification as it uses a huge number of
comparative features)
4 Phylogenetic Classification (Cladistics)
This system of classification is based upon evolutionary relationship and uses morphological
characters, origin and evolution of the different organisms.
The ‘Family tree’ in this system is called Cladogram.
This system has led to the emergence of new systematics and bio-systematics.
Phylogenetic system of classification was proposed by Hutchinson
Adolf Engler and K. Prantl, both German Botanists, published ‘Phylogenetic system of
classification’ in plants and considered monocots to be the more primitive than the dicot
angiosperms.
They published twenty volumes of classification (from algae to angiosperm) in Die
Natuerlichen Phlanzenfamilien
5 Karyotaxonomy :
This system of classification uses information like chromosome number, structure of
chromosomes, size and shape of chromosomes and the behaviour of chromosomes during
meiosis.
6 Chemotaxonomy :
This system is based on chemical products, particularly secondary metabolites. Various
families of plants have been identified on the basis of raphides (Crystals of calcium
oxalates).
7. Experimental taxonomy :
Here the relationship is determined on the basis of genetics, breeding experiments and the
effect of captivity.
8. Bio-chemical taxonomy
It is based on the bio-chemistry of various chemicals like hormones, pheromones etc.
Eichler (1883) divided plant kingdom into two subkingdoms mainly on the basis of presence
or absence of seeds,
Cryptogamae—Lower plants in which sex organs are hidden and seeds and flowers absent.
It includes Thallophytes, Bryophytes, Pteridophytes
Phanerogamae—Higher plants in which sex organs are evident; seeds present. It includes
Gymnosperms and Angiosperms
Engler (1886) divided plants into Thallophyta (plant body thallus like and there is no
embryo formation) and Embryophyta (zygote develops into multicellular embryo).
PLANT KINGDOM 75

CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS

THALLOPHYTA
It includes Algae, Fungi, Bacteria, Lichens
In modern system of classification like Whittaker (1969), Fungi, Lichens and Bacteria are
excluded from this group and are placed in separate kingdoms.
Thallophytes are simplest seedless, flowerless, non-vascular plants.
The plant body is thallus which is haploid (n) gametophytic and does not show any
differentiation into roots, stem or leaves. Vascular system is completely absent. The sex
organs are unicellular called gametangia. These are not jacketed by sterile cells.

ALGAE Connecting Concepts

 Morris : Father of algae.
The branch of botany which deals with the study of algae is termed as algology
phycology  M.O.P. Iyenger : Father of Indian
Phycology.
In Whittaker’s classification, algae are grouped in three kingdom – Monera (blue green
algae), Protista (dinoflagellates, diatoms, euglenoids) and plantae (green algae, red algae  Linnaeus, 1753 : Coined the term
algae.
and brown algae).
 They are primary producers of
Algae are haploid gametophytic, eukaryotic, autotrophic, chlorophyllous, aquatic plants.
food and occupy 3/4 of the surface
Algae consist of thallus like plant body i.e. no differentiation of roots, stem and leaves. of earth and account for 90% of total
Algae are plants because they have chlorophyll , cellulosic cell wall, starch as reserve photosynthesis.
food and absorption of food in liquid form.
Chlorophyll , carotenes and xanthophylls occur in all algae. Every algal group has some
additional photosynthetic pigments like fucoxanthin and chlorophyll in brown algae
phycobilins in red algae chlorophyll b and β carotene in green algae
Every algal group has a specific reserve food, e.g., floridean starch (red algae), laminarin
(brown algae), starch (green algae).
Asexual reproduction occurs by unicellular mitospores. Sex organs are unicellular
jacketed and called gametangia
In multicellular reproductive organs (in some brown algae), all the cells are fertile and
take part in reproduction. There is no jacket of sterile cells surrounding the reproductive
organs
Fertilization requires water.
Zygote sheds and develops into perennating thick walled zygospore.
Zygote never develops into embryo.
True alternation of generations is absent (exception— Ectocarpus that shows isomorphic
alternation of generations).
Life cycle mostly haplontic type.
Algae do not require mechanical tissue because buoyancy holds them upright.
The size ranges from the microscopic unicellular forms like Chlamydomonas, to colonial
forms like Volvox and to the filamentous forms like Ulothrix and Spirogyra
76 BIOLOGY

Reproduction
Vegetative By fragmentation, each fragment develops into a thallus.
Asexual By spores like zosspores, aplanospores, autospores, akinete and endospoxs.
The most common is zoospore, they are flagellated.
Fusion of gametes
Isogamous Anisogamous Oogamous fusion :
fusions Gametes fusion Gametes This is a fusion between
can be flagellated or are dissimilar one large and non-motile
Sexual
non-flagellated but in size. e.g female gamete and one
similar in size Chlamydomonas small but motile male
e.g Ulothrix bravni gamete.
Chlamydomonas, E.g. Volvox, Fucus
debaryana Chlamydomonas
coccilera

Economic Importance of Algae

At least a half of the total carbon dioxide fixation on earth is carried out by algae through
photosynthesis.
They are primary producers of energy-rich compounds which form the basis of the food
cycles of all aquatic animals.
Certain marine brown and red algae produce large amounts of hydrocolloids (water
holding substances), e.g., algin (brown algae) and carrageen (red algae) which are used
commercially.
Agar, one of the commercial products obtained from Gelidium and Gracilaria are used
to grow microbes and in preparations of ice-creams and jellies.
Chlorella and Spirullina are unicellular algae, rich in proteins and are used as food
supplements by space travellers.
The algae are divided into three main classes :
Chlorophyceae

Algae Phaeophyceae

Rhodophyceae

Chlorophyceae (Green Algae)

Green algae are mostly freshwater (Spirogyra, Ulothrix, Chara, Zygnema, Volvox,
Chlamydomonas) and hardly 10% are marine (e.g., Acetabularia, Ulva, Caulerpa etc.).
Plant body may be unicellular (e.g., Chlamydomonas), colonial (e.g., Volvox), or filamentous
(Spirogyra, Ulothrix).
They are green due to dominance of pigments chlorophyll and b
The pigments are localised in chloroplasts. The chloroplasts may be discoid, plate-like,
reticulate, cup-shaped, spiral or ribbon-shaped in different species.
Starch is reserve food that is stored as sheets in pyrenoids, present in the chloroplast.
They have rigid cell wall made of cellulose and pectose.
Vegetative reproduction usually takes place by fragmentation.
Asexual reproduction takes place by zoospores produced in zoosporangia.
PLANT KINGDOM 77
Sexual reproduction involves formation of haploid gametes, their fusion to form diploid
zygote, followed by meiosis to form meiospores which on germination produce new
haploid gametophytic plant.
The sexual reproduction shows considerable variation in the type and formation of sex
cells and it may be isogamous, anisogamous or oogamous.
Green algae are regarded as ancestor of land plants because both green algae and land
plants possess chlorophyll b, β carotenoids, cellulosic cell wall and starch as reserve Connecting Concepts
food  The Sargasso (called oceanic
desert) in North Atlantic is named so
Common Examples : Chlamydomonas, Volvox, Ulothrix, Spirogyra and Chara due to abundant occurrence of free
floating Sargassum fluitans which is a
menace to shipping.
 Algae Chlamydomonas snowiae, and
C. nivalis inhabit ice or snow to make it
appear red.
 Red sea is part of the Mediterranean
sea, where a blue green algae
Trichodesmium erythrae grow on
surface and imparts red colour.

Fig. 3.1 Green algae

Phaeophyceae (Brown Algae)

These are brown coloured marine eukaryotic algae. They show great variation in size and
forms
They range from simple branched, filamentous forms (Ectocarpus) to profusely branched
forms as represented by Kelps, which may reach a height of 100 metres (largest marine
plants).
They possess chlorophyll , carotenoids and xanthophylls and a characteristic brown
pigment fucoxanthin, Chl b is absent
They vary in colour from olive green to various shades of brown depending upon the
amount of the xanthophyll pigment, fucoxanthin, present in them.
Food is stored as complex carbohydrates, which may be in the form of laminarin or
mannitol
The vegetative cells have a cellulosic wall usually covered on the outside by a gelatinous
coating of algin. This prevents drying of plant during low tide; freezing of plant in water
in winter as well protect cells when waves beat plant against rocks.
The protoplast contains, in addition to plastids, a centrally located vacuole and nucleus.
Thylakoids are found in groups of three to five in cytoplasm (not in chioroplast) as
chromatophores
Pyrenoids are naked.
The plant body is usually attached to the substratum by a holdfast, and has a stalk, the
stipe and leaf like photosynthetic structure – frond
78 BIOLOGY

Fig. 3.2 Brown algae

Vegetative reproduction takes place by fragmentation.

Asexual reproduction in most brown algae is by biflagellate zoospores that are pear shaped
and have two unequal laterally attached flagella.
Sexual reproduction may be isogamous anisogamous oogamous. Union of gametes
may take place in water or within the oogonium (oogamous species). The gametes are
pyriform (pear-shaped) and bear two laterally attached flagella.
Common brown algae are Ectocarpus, Dictyota, Laminaria, Fucus and Sargassum.

Rhodophyceae (Red Algae)

Check Point Fig. 3.3 Red algae

Fill in the blanks :
They are commonly called red algae because of the predominance of the red pigment, r-
(i) Red colour of red algae is due to
phycoerythrin in the body.
pigment .
(ii) The largest unicellular and uni- Majority of the red algae are marine with greater concentrations found in the warmer areas.
nucleate algae is . They occur in both well-lighted regions close to the surface of water and also at great
(iii) In brown algae, the plants has depths in oceans where relatively little light penetrates.
three parts ,
When growing deep, red algae appear red due to excess formation of r-phycoerythrin that
and .
captures short wavelength (blue green part of visible spectrum) which is able to reach the
(iv) Agar is commercially obtained from
maximum depth in water. These algae, therefore, reach the maximum depth (30-90 mt) in
(v) In brown algae, food is store as sea where no other photosynthetic organism grows. They appear greenish/bluish green or
purple when growing near the surface of the sea due to little production of phycoerythrin.
This property of colour change is called chromatic adaptation.
PLANT KINGDOM 79
The thalli of most of the red algae are multicellular. Some of them have complex body
organisation.
Batrachospermum is only fresh water red alga found growing in well aerated water but
it is not red
The food is stored as floridean starch which is very similar to amylopectin and glycogen
in structure
The red algae reproduce vegetatively by fragmentation.
They reproduce asexually by non-motile spores and sexually by non-motile gametes.
Flagellated cells are totally absent in life cycle.
Sexual reproduction is oogamous and accompanied by complex post fertilisation
developments.
The common members are Polysiphonia, Porphyra, Gracilaria and Gelidium

Divisions of Algae and their main characteristics

Classes Common Major Stored Cell wall Flagellar Habitat

pigments food number and
position of
insertions
Chlorophyceae Green Chlorophyll Starch Cellulose 2-8, equal, Fresh water, brack-
algae b apical ish water, salt water

Phaeophyceae Brown Chlorophyll Mannitol, Cellulose 2, unequal, Fresh water (rare)

algae , fucox- laminarin and algin lateral brackish water, salt
anthin water
Rhodophyceae Red algae Chlorophyll Floridean Cellulose Absent Fresh water (some)
d, phyco- starch brackish water, salt
erythrin water (most)

BRYOPHYTES Connecting Concepts

 Bryophytes do not grow tall :
The Amphibians of the Plant Kingdom Bryophytes seldom grow tall. Average
Bryology : Study of bryophytes. size is hardly 5-6 cm. Greater heights
Father of Indian Bryology : S.R. Kashyap are rare because bryophytes : (i) Do not
Father of Bryology : Hedwig have roots which are required to absorb
water from the soil and provide proper
Bryophytes originated in ordovician period about 420-500 million years ago.
fixation in the soil; (ii) Absence of an
Age of Bryophytes : Silurian period of Palaeozoic era.
efficient internal transport system or
They usually occur in damp, humid and shaded localities. vascular system; (iii) Lack mechanical
The plant body of bryophytes is more differentiated than algae. It is thallus-like, prostrate tissues
or erect, and attached to the substratum by unicellular or multicellular rhizoids. They lack
true roots, stem or leaves.
They may possess root-like, leaf-like or stem-like structures.
Bryophytes are adapted to grow under land conditions by having rhizoids for fixation;
a waxy covering on epidermis to reduce loss of water and protect against dessication;
stomata or air pores for gaseous exchange; multicellular jacketed sex organs to protect
gametes against drying effects of air and retention of zygote inside archegonium to provide
nourishment to developing embryo.
Bryophytes are fundamentally terrestrial plants but they require water for dehiscence
of antheridia, liberation and swimming of antherozoids, fertilization of egg, opening of
archegonial neck and entry of sperms into the archegonium. Because of such peculiar habitat
they have been most appropriately called the amphibians of the plant kingdom
Bryophytes completely lack vascular tissue system and they absorb water by general
body surface.
The main plant body of the bryophyte is haploid. It produces gametes, hence called
gametophyte. Gametophyte is dominant over sporophyte.
80 BIOLOGY
Gametophyte is green, branched, haploid, long lived and independent where as sporophyte
is diploid, short lived and dependent upon gametophyte.
The sex organs in bryophytes are multicellular.
The male sex organ is called antheridium. They produce biflagellate motile
antherozoids
The female sex organ called archegonium is flask-shaped and produces a single non-
motile egg
The antherozoids are released into water where they come in contact with archegonium. An
antherozoid fuses with the egg to produce the zygote. Zygotes do not undergo reduction
division immediately. They produce a multicellular body called sporophyte
The sporophyte is not free-living but attached to the photosynthetic gametophyte and
derives nourishment from it. Some cells of the sporophyte undergo reduction division
(meiosis) to produce haploid spores in sporogonium. The sporogonium is short lived and
differentiated into either foot, seta and capsule or capsule only.
All spores are alike (homosporous).
These spores germinate to produce gametophyte.
Asexual reproduction absent.
Vegetative reproduction by fragmentation of thallus, tubers (Riccia, Anthoceros),
gemmae (Funaria, Marchantia), protonema (mosses), adventitious branches (Pellia),
progressive death and decay of posterior older region of thallus, persistent growing apices
(liverworts)
Sexual reproduction is oogamous. Male gamete is motile whereas female gamete is
non-motile. Archegonia attract sperms by secreting mucilage rich in potassium salts/
proteins/sucrose.

Fig. 3.4 Life cycle of Bryophyte

Economic Importance of Bryophytes

Some mosses provide food for herbaceous mammals, birds and other animals.
Species of Sphagnum, provide peat that have long been used as fuel, and because of their
capacity to hold water used as packing material for trans-shipment of living material.
Mosses along with lichens are the first organisms to colonise rocks and hence, are of great
ecological importance. They decompose rocks making the substrate suitable for the growth
of higher plants. In other words, they initiate the conversion of rocks into soil.
PLANT KINGDOM 81

Since mosses form dense mats on the soil, they reduce the impact of falling rain and
prevent soil erosion.
The Bryophytes are divided into following classes:
Liverworts

Bryophytes

Mosses

Liverworts (Marchantia) Connecting Concepts

 Gold Mines of Liverworts Western
Liverworts usually grow in moist, shady habits such as banks of streams, marshy ground,
Himalayas.
damp soil and bark of trees.
The plant body is haploid (n), gametophytic, small, dorsoventrally flattened, thallose,
dichotomously branched fixed by unicellular and unbranched rhizoids.
On the dorsal side, gemma cups are found. In gemma cups, asexual buds gemmae
formed
On the ventral side scales are found for retaining moisture and protecting growing apex.
Absorption of water by general surface of thallus.
Internally thallus is differentiated into upper photosynthetic and lower storage region;
chlorophyllous cells of thallus are without pyrenoid.
Asexual reproduction in liverworts takes place by fragmentation of thalli, or by the
detachment of gemmae from parent body and its germination to form new individual.

Check Point
Name any one function of these
structures :
(i) Gemmae
(ii) Rhizoids
(iii) Sporogonium
(iv) Seta
(v) Capsule.

Fig. 3.5 Bryophytes Marchantia (a) Female thallus

(b) Male thallus (c) Funaria gametophyte and sporophyte (d) Sphagnum
82 BIOLOGY
During sexual reproduction, male and female sex organs are produced either on the
same or on different thalli. The sporophyte is differentiated into a foot, seta and capsule.
After meiosis, spores are produced within the capsule. These spores germinate to form
free-living gametophytes.

Moss (Funaria)
Mosses are either monoecious or dioecious. The common Indian species Funaria hygrometrica
is monoecious. Mosses are found in moist, shady places in patches on damp soil, moist rocks,
burnt humid soil, damp walls or on tree trunks.

Gametophyte : The main body of Funaria is gametophyte and is of two forms

Juvenile form (Creeping protonema) Protonema is a green filamentous, branched
tructure.
From protonema some branches which grow below the substratum are produced.
These branches are without chloroplasts, known as rhizoidal branches. They fix the
protonema in the soil and help in absorption of water and minerals. Green branches
develop buds of leafy gametophores.
Adult form (Leafy gametophore) : This is the main plant body of moss, consisting of a
small erect axis ‘stem’ surrounded by spirally arranged ‘leaves’ and numerous rhizoids
at the base. Leafy gametophore develops from buds produced on protonema.
Reproduction
Vegetative reproduction : The gametophyte reproduces vegetatively by fragmentation of
primary protonema, secondary protonema, gemmae and bulbils.
Sexual reproduction : Funaria is monoecious and autoicous. .e. antheridia and archegonia
occur on different branches of the same plant.
The male branch is the main branch and develops first. The antheridia mature first i.e., it is
protandrous. The sex organs are borne on the apices of fertile branches called gametophore
or receptacles. The receptacle bearing antheridia called antheridiophore and that bearing
archegonia are called archegoniophore
Sporophyte : The diploid zygote develops into spore producing plant called sporophyte.
Mature sporophyte is differentiated into foot, seta and capsule
Foot The foot remains embedded in the apical tissue of the archegonial head and obtains
nourishment from it. It functions as anchorage and absorbing organ.
Seta It is long, slender, stalk like structure bearing capsule at the top.
Capsule: The capsule is a pear shaped, green, yellow or orange erect or pendent structure.
Its function is production and dispersal of spores. It consists of 3 parts .e apophysis
theca and operculum
Apophysis : It is basal sterile region.
Theca It is central fertile region. It consists of spore sac bearing numerous diploid
spore mother cell that divide to give large number of haploid spores.
Operculum : It is upper region of capsule enclosing peristome
Just below the operculum lies the peristome consisting of two rings of long conical
teeth one within the other. Each ring of peristome possesses sixteen teeth
Dehiscence of Capsule : The spores are dispersed due to hygroscopic movements of outer
ring (exostome) of peristomial teeth. The inner ring (endostome) of peristomial teeth do not
show hygroscopic movements.
Germination of Spores : On getting suitable moist substratum, the spore germinates to produce
a young filamentous stage of gametophyte called protonema.
Common Examples : Funaria Polytrichum and Sphagnum
PLANT KINGDOM 83

Life Cycle of Funaria

PTERIDOPHYTA
The pteridophytes are found in cool, damp, shady places though some may flourish well
in sandy-soil conditions.
Evolutionarily, they are the first terrestrial plants to possess vascular tissues – xylem and
phloem. So known as vascular cryptogams. They are flowerless and seedless plants.
The main plant body is a sporophyte which is differentiated into true root, stem and leaves.
These organs possess well-differentiated vascular tissues. A cambium is altogether absent.
In xylem trachea are absent and in phloem companion cells are absent.
Primary root is short lived. It is replaced by adventitious roots.
The leaves in pteridophyta are small (microphylls) as in Selaginella or large (macrophylls)
as in ferns
84 BIOLOGY

Connecting Concepts Pteridophytes show origin and evolution of stele (i.e., vascular tissue, pericycle and
pith).
 Theopharastus is father of
pteridophytes, botany and ecology. Stem is usually underground rhizome or an erect trunk as in tree ferns. Leaves are large
 Selaginella bryopteris is hasanpadi
(megaphyllous) and variously shaped.
of Ayurved or Sanjivani Booti The sporophytes bear sporangia that are subtended by leaf-like appendages called
 Selaginella rupestris is bird’s nest sporophylls. In some cases sporophylls may form distinct compact structures called strobili
moss. (Selaginella, Equisetum).
 Lycopodium is famous as Christmas The sporangia produce spores by meiosis in spore mother cells. Sporangia are borne on
green
abaxial side of fertile leaves. These sporangia are borne either singly or in groups, called
sori (sing sorus). The spores germinate to give rise to inconspicuous, small but multicellular,
 Sorrow of Kashmir : The aquatic
free-living, mostly photosynthetic thalloid gametophytes called prothallus
weed Salvinia
 Ophioglossum reticulatum
commonly called Adders Tongue Fern,
has maximum number of chromosomes
in plantae, i.e 2n = 1262
 Azolla-Anabaena, show symbiosis,
used as biofertilizer in rice fields
 Smallest Pteridophyte : Water Fern
Azolla
 Tallest Pteridophyte : Alsophila
 Rootless Pteridophyte : Salvinia.
Root like structures are modified
eaves
 Pteridology : Study of pteridophytes.
 Xylem vessels are present in the
stem of Equisetum. Fig. 3.7 Pteridophytes
 Isoetes is a pteridophyte with These gametophytes require cool, damp, shady places to grow. Because of this specific
secondary growth commonly called restricted requirement and the need of water for fertilisation, the spread of living
Quillwort. pteridophytes is limited and restricted to narrow geographical regions.
 Pteridophytes originated in silurian The gametophytes bear male and female sex organs called antheridia and archegonia,
period of palaeozoic era. respectively.
 Golden age of pteriodphytes is Antheridia (male sex organs) produce motile sperms (biflagellated in Selaginella and
devonian period. multiflagellated in ferns).
Archegonia (female sex organs) are sessile, flask shaped with a neck and swollen venter.
Neck is made up of 4 vertical rows of cells, each row with 2-6 cells. Venter is embedded
and has no wall of its own and encloses a non motile ventral canal cell and egg cell
(oosphere)
Sexual reproduction is oogamous
Water is required for transfer of antherozoids – the male gametes released from the
antheridia, to the mouth of archegonium.
Fusion of male gamete with the egg present in the archegonium result in the formation of
zygote which represents the first cell of sporophyte
Zygote thereafter produces a multicellular well-differentiated sporophyte which is the
dominant phase of the pteridophytes.
Life cycle is diplohaplontic; alternation of generations is heteromorphic type.
Genera like Selaginella and Salvinia which produce two kinds of spores macro (large) and
micro (small) spores, are known as heterosporous
The megaspores and microspores germinate and give rise to female and male gametophytes,
respectively.
The female gametophytes in these plants are retained on the parent sporophytes for variable
periods. The development of the zygotes into young embryos take place within the female
gametophytes. This event is a precursor to the seed habit considered an important step
in evolution
PLANT KINGDOM 85

Classification of Pteridophytes Connecting Concepts

Pteridophytes have been divided into the four following subphyla :  Apospory : Formation of gametophyte
directly from cells of a sporophyte
Subphylum I – Psilophyta without the formation of spores is
These plants represent rootless sporophytes which mainly constitute fossils. The example called apospory (Gk. apo – without,
of living form is Psilotum sporos–spores). Apospory is induced
Vascular tissue present only in stem, rhizoids are present for absorption of water and by excess salts, injury and dimlight.
minerals. Aposporous gametophyte is diploid.
It produces diploid gametes which
Subphylum II – Lycophyta
can introduce polyploidy in the race.
These are club mosses, differentiated into root, stems and leaves. Apospory is also means of shortening
Vascular tissue found in all organs of plant. life cycle by producing diploid
sporophytes parthenogenetically from
Subphylum III – Arthophyta
diploid oospheres.
The horsetail or scouring rushes belong to this group.
 Apogamy : Formation of sporophyte
Silica particles are deposited in their stem e.g., Equisetum (horsetail).
directly from gametophyte without
Subphylum IV – Filicophyta involving formation and fusion of
Usually fan shaped leaves gametes is called apogamy (Gk.
apo – without, gamos – marriage).
Stems usually rhizome
It is induced by partial desiccation,
Homosporus e.g., Dryopteris, Pteris or Heterosporous e.g., Marsilea ageing, strong light, high tempera-
ture, presence of sugars and ethylene.
GYMNOSPERMS Haploid sporophytes do not survive.
Theophrastus in 300BC introduced the term gymnosperm. Therefore, apospory is successful only
if the sporophyte develops from diploid
Gymnosperms are plants which bear naked seeds i.e., the ovules and the seeds that develop gametophyte formed either through
from these ovules after fertilization are not enclosed in fruit wall. apospory or diploid spores produced
They acts as a bridge between pteridophyta and angiosperms. due to failure of some division prior to
Gymnosperms are represented by only 900 species of which 500 species are conifers. sporogenesis.

Gymnosperms include medium-sized trees or tall trees and shrubs. One of the gymnosperms,  Tallest Gymnosperm : Sequoia
sempervirens (111.6 m) commonly called
the giant redwood tree Sequoia is one of the tallest tree species.
Red Douglos Fir or Red Wood Tree or
Most plants are perennial and woody. Plants posses well developed tap root system. Californian Fir.
Roots in some genera have fungal association in the form of mycorrhiza (Pinus), while  Smallest Gymnosperm and Smallest
in some other (Cycas) small specialised roots called corolloid roots are present. It is Cycad : Zamia pygmia (26 cm).
associated with N2 – fixing cyanobacteria
 Largest Cycad : Macrozamia (10 m)
Vascular tissues are arranged in vascular bundles. In most gymnosperms, secondary growth
 Father of Forest : Sequoia sempervirens
occurs and annual rings are distinct. The xylem is without vessels (except in Gnetales) and (Redwood Tree).
phloem lacks companion cells.
The stems are unbranched (Cycas) or branched (Pinus Cedrus). The leaves may be simple
or compound.
In Cycas the pinnate leaves persist for a few years. The leaves in gymnosperms are well-
adapted to withstand extremes of temperature, humidity and wind.
In conifers, the needle-like leaves reduce the surface area. Their thick cuticle and sunken
stomata also help to reduce water loss.
The gymnosperms are heterosporous; they produce haploid microspores and megaspores.
The two kinds of spores are produced within sporangia, borne on sporophylls. These are
arranged spirally along an axis to form compact strobili in order to protect their
ovules
Male Strobili The strobili bearing microsporophylls and microsporangia are called male
strobili. The microspores develop into a male gametophytic generation which is highly
reduced and is confined to only a limited number of cells. This reduced gametophyte is called
pollen grain. The development of pollen grains takes place within the microsporangia.
Female Strobili. The cones bearing megasporophylls with ovules or megasporangia
called macrosporangia female strobili
86 BIOLOGY

Connecting Concepts The male or female cones or strobili may be borne on the same tree (Pinus) or on different
trees (Cycas).
 Ephedra has the largest pollen
chamber There is no female cone in Cycas
 Cycas, Ginkgo and Metasequoia The megaspore mother cell is differentiated from one of the cells of the nucellus. The
living fossils. nucellus is protected by envelopes and the composite structure is called an ovule The
 None of the gymnosperm is annual ovules are borne on megasporophylls which may be clustered to form the female cones.
and herbaceous. The megaspore mother cell divides meiotically to form four megaspores. One of the
 Ciliated Sperms : Cycas and Ginkgo megaspores enclosed within the megasporangium (nucellus) develops into a multicellular
 Largest Ovule : Cycas female gametophyte known as endosperm. Thus endosperm is pre fertilization tissue in
 Largest Egg Cell : Cycas gymnosperm.
 Largest Antherozoid : Cycas It bears two or more archegonia or female sex organs. The multicellular female gametophyte
 Cycas as living fossil : Cycas is a living is also retained within megasporangium.
representative of once a large group In gymnosperms male and female gametophytes do not have an independent free-living
of gymnosperms which has became existence. They remain within the sporangia.
largely extinct. It is unable to compete
The pollen grain is released from the microsporangium. They are carried in air currents
with more evolved angiosperms except
n a few selected arid localities where
and come in contact with the opening of the ovules borne on megasporophylls.
other plants do not flourish. Its primitive The pollen tubes, carrying the male gametes, grow towards archegonia in the ovules and
characters include (i) Slow growth; (ii) discharge their contents near the mouth of the archegonia.
Shedding of seed when the embryo
Following fertilisation, zygote develops into an embryo and the ovules into seeds. These
is still immature; (iii) Little secondary
seeds are not covered
growth; (iv) Leaf-like megasporophylls;
(v) Flagellate sperms even when pollen Usually polyembryony is found in seed although ultimately only one embryo survives.
tube is present; (vi) Persistent leaf bases;
Archegonia lack neck canal cells.
(vii) Circinate ptyxis; (viii) Arrangement
of microsporangia in ill-defined sori. Embryo bears two as in Cycas or more (10-11 in Pinus) cotyledons.
 Double Fertilization It is absent in Classification of Gymnosperms
gymnosperms but present in Ephedra
 No archegonium is Gnetum and Gifford and Foster in 1989 divided gymnosperms into seven major taxas.
Welwitschia
Progymnospermatophyta (extinct).
 Ephedra.Itisconnectinglinkbetween
Angiosperms and Gymnosperms. Pteridospermatophyta (extinct).
Cycadophyta (plants are called cycads)
Cycadeoidophyta (extinct).
Ginkgophyta (extinct except maiden hair tree – Ginkgo biloba).
Coniferophyta (extinct and living plants are commomly called conifers).
Gnetophyta (living plants close to angiosperms in having Gnetalian vessels and flower
like arrangement of sporophylls).

Check Point
State True or false:
1. In gymnosperm ovules change into
seeds after fertilization.
2. Endosperm is female gametophyte
n Cycas
3. Two or more archaegonia act as
female sex organ in gymnosperm.
4. Gymosperms are mostly shrubs
and ephemerals (short lived).
5. Archegonia lack neck canal cells in
Cycas.
Fig. 3.8 Cycas circinalis : (A) Female plant, (B) Male plant
PLANT KINGDOM 87

ANGIOSPERMS (FLOWERING PLANTS) Connecting Concepts

 Tallest angiosperm : Eucalyptus
Angiosperms are most dominant and most evolved plants on this earth, appeared about
regnans, around 114 m.
130 million years ago in jurassic (dicot plant) and cretaceous (monocot plants) period of
 Marine angiosperm : Zostera marina
mesozoic era. Tertiary period of coenozoic era is called as Age of angiosperms
and Thalassia
Angiosperms are found in every habitat. They constitute more than 50% of total plants
on this earth  National Tree of India : Ficus religiosa
i.e., Peepal or Enlightment Tree or Bodh
Angiosperms are seed bearing, flowering vascular plants in which seeds are enclosed in
Tree
fruits. The term angiosperm means ‘enclosed seeds’ as seeds (ovules) are found enclosed
in the ovary wall.  Flame of the Forest : Butea
monosperma due to the presence of
Instead of cone, angiosperms bear flowers The flower is the most characteristic structure
reddish flowers
of the angiosperms.
Flower is defined as a modified shoot meant essentially for the reproduction of the plant.
The flower usually develops as a branch from a bud, growing in the axil of a small leaf-
like structure known as bract A stalk called pedicel, supports the flower in the axil of
the bract. The upper swollen end of the pedicel called receptacle thalamus, bears all
the floral parts.
A typical angiospermic flower consists of 4 whorls, viz calyx, corolla, androecium and
gynoecium. Both, calyx and corolla are known as accessory helping whorls The
androecium and gynoecium are called reproductive essential whorls
Androecium (stamen) is microsporophyll and gynoecium (carpel) is megasporophyll.
Megasporophyll is differentiated into ovary style and stigma
Angiosperms lack both archegonia and antheridia. The archegonium is replaced by
gynoecium (pistil) and antheridium by pollen tube.
Flowers are adapted for various modes of pollination by birds, air, water, insects, etc.
The outer most axillary whorl of the flower is the calyx, represented by the sepals
Corolla is the second whorl of flower present inner to calyx and is composed of petals The
bright color of the petals combined with the scent of essential oils present in some flowers
make the flower highly attractive to insects which act as agents for pollination.
The angiosperms are an exceptionally large group of plants occurring in wide range
of habitats. They range in size from tiny, almost microscopic Wolffia to tall trees of
Eucalyptus (over 100 metres). They provide food, fodder, fuel, medicines and several
other commercially important products.
The male sex organs in a flower is the stamen Each stamen consists of a slender filament
with an anther at the tip. The anthers after meiosis, produce pollen grains.
The female sex organs in a flower is the pistil or the carpel. Pistil consists of an ovary
enclosing one to many ovules. Within ovules are present highly reduced female
gametophytes termed embryosacs. The embryo-sac formation is preceded by meiosis.
Hence, each of the cells of an embryo-sac is haploid. Each embryo-sac has a three-celled
egg apparatus egg cell and two synergids, three antipodal cells and two polar
nuclei. The polar nuclei eventually fuse to produce a diploid secondary nucleus
Pollen grain shed at 2-3 celled stage after dispersal from the anthers, are carried by wind
or various other agencies to the stigma of a pistil. This is termed as pollination
The pollen grains germinate on the stigma and the resulting pollen tubes grow through the
tissues of stigma and style and reach the ovule.
The pollen tubes enter the embryo-sac where two male gametes are discharged.
One of the male gametes fuses with the egg cell to form a zygote (syngamy).
The other male gamete fuses with the diploid secondary nucleus to produce the triploid
primary endosperm nucleus (PEN) known as triple fusion
Because of the involvement of two fusions, this event is termed as double fertilisation
and event unique to angiosperms.
The zygote develops into an embryo (with one or two cotyledons) and the PEN develops
into endosperm which provides nourishment to the developing embryo.
88 BIOLOGY
The synergids and antipodals degenerate after fertilisation.
During these events the ovules develop into seeds and the ovaries develop into fruit.
A fruit is a ripened ovary. The ovary wall enlarges due to cell division and cell enlargement
and is termed the pericarp. In fleshy fruits, the pericarp is often differentiated into epicarp
mesocarp and endocarp
A true fruit is one which develops directly from an ovary. Sometimes other parts of the
flower such as thalamus, sepals, etc. become a part of the fruit. Such fruits are termed false,
spurious pseudocarp, as in cashew-nut, apple, strawberry, etc.
They are divided into two classes : the dicotyledons and the monocotyledons
The dicotyledons are characterised by having two cotyledons in their seeds while the
monocotyledons have only one.
Characteristics features of dicot & monocot
The dicotyledons are characterised by seeds having two cotyledons, reticulate venations
in leaves, and tetramerous or pentamerous flowers .e , having four or five members in
each floral whorls, concentric arrangement of tissues in stem, open, conjoint and collateral
vascular bundles in stem, secondary growth present, less than 8 radial vascular bundles in
root, reticulate venation in leaves (exception Calophyllum, Corymbium), tetramerous or
pentamerous flowers e.g Eucalyptus, Mustard, Sunflower, Rose, Cotton, Apple. Number
of dicot species is 200,000.
The monocotyledons on the other hand are characterised by single cotyledonous seeds,
parallel venation in leaves, and trimerous flowers having three members in each floral
whorls, scattered, closed, collateral and conjoint vascular bundles in stem, vascular bundles
with a bundle sheath, more than 8 radial vascular bundles in the root, parallel venation in
leaves (exception Colocasia, Alocasia, Smilax) e.g , grasses, cereals, orchids, lilies, palms,
banana, sugarcane, bamboos. Some 50,000 species.
Differences between Dicotyledons and Monocotyledons
S.No. Dicotyledons Monocotyledons
The plants have two cotyledons. The plants have one cotyledon.

2 Leaves have reticulate venation Leaves possess parallel venation.

3 Stomata are generally kidney-shaped. Stomata are commonly dumb-bell
shaped.
4 Tap root system is more common. Adventitious roots are more common
Adventitious roots are less common
5 Flowers are tetramerous or pentamerous. Flowers are trimerous
6 Pollen grains are generally tricolpate. Pollen grains are generally monocoplate.
7 Stems have concentric arrangement of Concentric arrangement of tissues is
tissues absent
8 In stem the vascular bundles are arranged The vascular bundles are scattered in the
in a single ring. tem
9 Vascular bundles are without bundle In stem, each vascular bundle is covered
sheath in the stem by a sheath of generally sclerenchyma.
0 Vascular bundles of the stem are conjoint, Vascular bundles of the stem are conjoint,
collateral and open. collateral and closed
1 Vessels are polygonal. Vessels are rounded or oval in T.S
2 Stem shows secondary growth. Secondary growth is absent with some
exceptions.
3 In root the vascular bundles are less than 8 In root the vascular bundles are more than 8.

4 Root is generally devoid of pith. A pith is present in the centre of root.

5 Secondary growth occurs in the root. Secondary growth is absent with some
exceptions.
PLANT KINGDOM 89

Check Point
Fill in the blanks :
1. A flower has sepals, petals
and .
2. Trimerous condition of floral whorl
is characteristics of .
3. One of male gamete fuses with sec-
ondary nucleus to form .
This is known as .
4. In dicotyledonous root, vascular
bundles are than eight.
5. Fruit is ripened .

Fig. 3.9 Life cycle of an Angiospermic plant

Fig. 3.10 Diagrammatic representation of life history of an Angiospermic plant

90 BIOLOGY

PLANT LIFE CYCLE AND ALTERNATION OF GENERATION

In plants, both haploid and diploid cells can divide by mitosis. This ability leads to the
formation of different plant bodies – haploid and diploid.
The haploid plant body produces gametes by mitosis. This plant body represents a
gametophyte. Following fertilization, the zygote also divide by mitosis to produce a diploid
sporophytic plant body.
Haploid spores are produced by this plant body by meiosis. These in turn divide by mitosis
to form haploid plant body once again.
Thus, life cycle of any sexually reproducing plant consists of two morphological phases
.e., haploid gametophyte and diploid sporophyte that regularly alternate with each other,
this phenomenon is termed as alternation of generation
However life cycles in different plant groups differ in following manner:

Haplontic life cycle:

There is single dominant vegetative phase .e , haploid gametophyte which is free
living photosynthetic phase. It produces gametes that are fused to form zygote.
Meiosis in the zygote at the time of its generation results in the formation of
haploid spores called meiospores. These meiospores divide mitotically to form
gametophyte.
Thus, in haplontic life cycle there is no true alternation of generation as sporophytic
generation is represented only by one celled zygote. There is no free living
sporophyte.
This life cycle is found in algae like Chlamydomonas,Volvox, Ulothrix, Spirogyra

Diplontic life cycle:

In diplontic life cycle, diploid sporophyte is dominant vegetative phase. The sporophyte
is independent photosynthetic phase of the plant.
It bears sex organs that produce gametes through meiosis. These gametes fuse to form
zygote which again gives rise to sporophytic plant through mitosis.
Here gametophytic phase is represented haploid gametes only. Thus, in diplontic life
cycle also there is no true alternation of generation.
This type of life cycle is found in all seed bearing plants .e , gymnosperm and
angiosperm. Alga Fucus shows diplontic life cycle.

Haplo-diplontic life cycle:

This is intermediate condition where both phases are multicellular and often free
living.
The haploid gametophyte produce gametes in sex organs. The gametes fuse to form
zygote which on germination give rise to diploid sporophyte.
The diploid sporophyte produces spores after meiosis. These spores on germination
gives rise to gametophytic phase.
Thus it represents true alternation of generation. This type of life cycle is found in
bryophytes, pteridophytes and in some algae like Ectocarpus, Polysiphonia
16 BIOLOGY

Fig. 3.11 Life cycle patterns : (a) Haplontic (b) Diplontic (c) Haplo-diplontic
 Chapter
PLANT KINGDOM 17

FACT/DEFINITION TYPE QUESTIONS

1. The natural system of classification for flowering plants 9. What is the number and position of insertions of flagella
was given by in rhodopyceae class of algae ?
(a) Carolus Linnaeus (b) Bentham and Hooker (a) 2 - 8, equal, apical
(c) Engler and Prantl (d) R. H. Whittaker (b) 2, unequal, lateral
2. Phylogenetic classification system is based on the (c) 2 - 6, equal, lateral
(a) morphological characters of various organisms. (d) Flagella are absent in Rhodophyceae
(b) anatomical characters of various organisms. 10. In class phaeophyceae, the plant body is usually attached
(c) physiological characters of various organisms. to the substratum by a A and has a stalk, the B
(d) evolutionary relationships between the various and leaf like photosynthetic organ-the C .
organisms. (a) A – holdfast, B – stipe, C – frond
3. Cytological information like chromosome number, (b) A – stipe, B – holdfast, C – frond
structure, behaviour are related with
(c) A – frond, B – stipe, C – holdfast
(a) numerical taxonomy (b) cytotaxonomy
(c) chemotaxonomy (d) all of these (d) A – stipe, B – frond, C – holdfast
4. Flagellate isogametes and anisogametes are found in 11. Which of the following groups of plants play an important
(a) Spirogyra (b) Fucus role in plant succession on bare rocks/soil ?
(c) Volvox (d) Chlamydomonas (a) Algae (b) Bryophytes
5. Fusion of two gametes which are dissimilar in size is termed (c) Pteridophytes (d) Gymnosperms
as . 12. _______ represent the reproductive organs amongst
(a) isogamous (b) oogamous gymnosperms.
(c) anisogamous (d) agamous (a) Prothallus (b) Capsules
6. Algin, carrageen and proteins are obtained from (c) Setae (d) Cones
13. In bryophytes, male and female sex organs are called
(a) red algae, brown algae, green algae respectively. and respectively.
(b) brown algae, red algae, green algae respectively. (a) microsporangia; macrosporangia
(c) red algae, green algae, brown algae respectively. (b) male strobili; female strobili
(d) green algae, brown algae, red algae respectively. (c) antheridia; archegonia
7. Which of the following class of algae is rarely found in (d) androecium; gynoecium
fresh water ?
14. Laminaria (Kelp) and Fucus (Rock weed) are examples of
(a) Chlorophyceae (b) Phaeophyceae
(a) green algae (b) brown algae
(c) Rhodophyceae (d) Both (a) and (b)
(c) red algae (d) golden brown algae
8. Which of the following class of algae is mostly found in
salt water ? 15. Pyrenoids in green algal cells are related to
(a) Phaeophyceae (b) Rhodophyceae (a) starch formation (b) protein storage
(c) Chlorophyceae (d) Both (a) and (b) (c) general metabolism (d) enzyme secretion
 Plant Kingdom 17

16. The heterosporous pteridophyte belonging to the class 23. Which one of the following is the major difference
lycopsida is between mosses and ferns ?
(a) Selaginella (b) Psilotum (a) Ferns lack alternation of generation while mosses
(c) Equisetum (d) Pteris show the same.
17. Which of the following pteridophytes belong to class (b) Mosses are facultative aerobes while ferns are
pteropsida? obligate aerobes.
(a) Equisetum and Psilotum (c) Vascular bundles of ferns show xylem vessels while
those of mosses lack it.
(b) Lycopodium and Adiantum
(d) Sporophytes of ferns live much longer as compared
(c) Selaginella and Pteris
to the sporophytes of mosses.
(d) Pteris and Adiantum
24. What is the similarity between gymnosperms and
18. Cycas and Adiantum resemble each other in having angiosperms?
(a) seeds (b) motile sperms (a) Phloem of both have companian cells.
(c) cambium (d) vessels (b) Endosperm is formed before fertilization in both.
19. Protonema and leafy stage are the predominant stage of (c) Origin of ovule and seed is similar in both.
the life cycle of
(d) Both have leaves, stem and roots.
(a) moss (b) dicots
25. Which one of the following terms is correctly matched
(c) liverwort (d) gymnosperm with their definition in Pinus ?
STATEMENT TYPE QUESTIONS (a) Monoecious – Male (microsporangiate) and female
(megasporangiate) cones are produced on same
20. Which one of the following is a correct statement? plant.
(b) Monoecious – Male and female sporophylls borne
(a) Pteridophyte gametophyte has a protonemal and on same strobilus.
leafy stage.
(c) Dioecious – Male and female cones are produced on
(b) In gymnosperms, female gametophyte is free-living. different plants.
(c) Antheridiophores and archegoniophores are present (d) Monoecious – Micro and megasporocarp develop
in pteridophytes. on same plant.
(d) Origin of seed habit can be traced in pteridophytes. 26. Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct about
21. Why rhodophyta exhibit a red colour ? mosses ?
(a) Since most rhodophyta grow at great depths, the (a) The predominant stage of its life cycle is the
chlorophyll can only absorb light in the red area of gametophyte which consists of two stages –
the spectrum. protonema and leafy stages.
(b) The wavelengths of light that are absorbed by (b) Leafy stage are attached to the soil through multi-
chloro- phyll are passed to phycoerythrin (a red cellular and branched rhizoids.
pigment). (c) Sex organs-antheridia and archegonia are produced
(c) Red pigment of rhodophyta absorbs all the light at the apex of the leafy shoots.
waves. (d) All of the above
(d) The light reaching the greatest depth in water is in 27. Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct ?
the blue-green region of the spectrum, is absorbed (a) In angiosperms, each embryo sac has a three-celled
by phycoerythrin. egg apparatus – one egg cell and two synergids,
22. Which of the following statement is incorrect ? three antipodal cells and two polar nuclei.
(a) Double fertilization is unique to gymnosperms and (b) All seed – bearing plants i.e., gymnosperms and
monocotyledons. angiosperms follow dipontic life patterns of plants.
(b) Sequoia, a gymnosperm, is one of the tallest tree (c) In gymosperms, roots in some genera have fungal
species. association in the form of mycorrhiza (Pinus) while
(c) Phaeophyceae members possess chlorophyll a and in some others (Cycas) small specialized roots called
c, carotenoids and xanthophylls. coralloid are associated with N2 – fixing
(d) Moss is a gametophyte which consists of two stages cyanobacteria.
namely, protonemal stage and leafy stage. (d) All of the above
 18 Biology
28. Which one of the following statements concerning the Of the above statements
algae is incorrect ? (a) (i) and (ii) (b) (iii) only
(a) Most algae are photosynthetic. (c) (ii) and (iii) (d) (iii) and (iv)
(b) Algae can be classified according to their pigments. 33. Read the following statements and choose the correct
(c) All algae are filamentous. option.
(d) Spirogyra does not produce zoospores. (i) In rhodophyceae, food is stored in the form of
mannitol and laminarin.
29. Which of the following statements is/are correct ?
(ii) The ovules of gymnosperms are not enclosed by
(i) In Equisetum, the female gametophyte is retained
ovary wall.
on the parent sporophyte.
(iii) Salvinia is heterosporous.
(ii) In Ginkgo, male gametophyte is not independent.
(iv) In the diplontic life-cycle, the free living gametophyte
(iii) The sporophyte in Riccia is more developed than represents the dominant phase.
that in Polytrichum.
(a) (ii) and (iii) are correct but (i) and (iv) are incorrect.
(iv) Sexual reproduction in Volvox is isogamous.
(b) (ii) and (iv) are correct but (i) and (iii) are incorrect.
(a) Two (b) Three
(c) (iii) and (iv) are correct but (i) and (ii) are incorrect.
(c) Four (d) One
(d) (i) and (ii) are correct but (iii) and (iv) are incorrect.
30. Consider the following statements regarding
gymnosperms and choose the correct option. 34. Consider the following statements regarding the major
pigments and stored food in the different groups of algae
(i) In gymnosperms, the male and female gametophytes and choose the correct option
have an independent existence.
(i) In chlorophyceae, the stored food material is starch
(ii) The multicellular female gametophyte is retained and the major pigments are chlorophyll-a and d.
within the megasporangium.
(ii) In phaeophyceae, laminarian is the stored food and
(iii) The gymnosperms are heterosporous. major pigments are chlorophyll-a and b.
Of these statements (iii) In rhodophyceae, floridean starch is the stored food
(a) (i) and (ii) are correct but (iii) is incorrect and the major pigments are chlorophyll-a, d and
(b) (i) and (iii) are correct but (ii) is incorrect phycoerythrin.
(c) (ii) and (iii) are incorrect but (i) is correct (a) (i) is correct, but (ii) and (iii) are incorrect
(d) (ii) and (iii) are correct but (i) is incorrect (b) (i) and (ii) are correct, but (iii) is incorrect
31. Which of the following statements with respect to algae (c) (i) and (iii) are correct, but (ii) is incorrect
are correct. (d) (iii) is correct, but (i) and (ii) are incorrect
(i) Fusion between one large, non-motile female gamete 35. Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
and a smaller, motile male gamete is termed as
(i) Green algae are the members of chlorophyceae.
oogamous.
(ii) Brown algae are found primarily in marine habitates
(ii) Fusion of two gametes dissimilar in size is termed as
oogamous. (iii) Some red algae are found in fresh water, mostly occur
in salt water, some are found in brackish water.
(iii) Fusion of two gametes similar in size is called
anisogamous. (iv) The food in red algae is stored as floridean starch.
(iv) In chlorophyceae, the major pigments are chlorophyll (v) Red alga may occur in both well-lighted regions close
a and b , and the food is stored as starch. to water-surface and also at great depths in oceans
(v) In rhodophyceae, the major pigments are chlorophyll where light penetration is little.
a and d , and the food is stored as mannitol. (a) (i) and (v) only
(a) (i) and (v) (b) (iii) and (v) (b) (ii), (iii) and (iv) only
(c) (i) and (ii) (d) (i) and (iv) (c) All of the above
32. Which of the following statements with respect to (d) None of the above
gymnosperms and angiosperms is/are correct? 36. Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct about
(i) The process of double fertilization is present in gemmae ?
gymnosperms. (i) These are specialised structures by which asexual
(ii) Angiosperms range in size from microscopic Wolffia reproduction take place in liverworts.
to tall trees of Sequoia. (ii) They are green, multicellular and asexual buds.
(iii) In gymnosperms, the seeds are not covered. (iii) They develop in small receptacles called gemma cups.
(iv) In gymnosperms, the male and female gametophytes (iv) They detach from parent body and germinate to form
have an independent free living existence. new individuals.
 Plant Kingdom 19

(a) (i) and (ii) (b) (ii) and (iii) (a) Algae (b) Fungi
(c) (i), (ii) and (iii) (d) All of these (c) Bryophytes (d) Pteridophytes
37. Which of the following branch of science is being 41. Which of the following group of plant is being described
described by the given statements ? by the given statements ?
(i) It can easily done by using computers based on all
(i) The plant body is thalloid.
observable characters.
(ii) Numbers and codes are assigned to all the characters (ii) Asexual reproduction takes place by fragmentation
and the data are then processed. of thalli, or by the formation of specialized structures
called gemmae.
(iii) Each character is given equal weightage and at the
same time hundred of characters can be considered. (iii) The sporophyte is differentiated into a foot, seta
(a) Cytotaxonomy (b) Numerical taxonomy and capsule.
(c) Chemotaxonomy (d) -taxonomy (iv) They grow usually in moist and shady habitats.
38. Which of the following statements about algae is/are (a) Liverworts (b) Moss
correct? (c) Fern (d) Gymnosperm
(i) Algae are chlorophyll – bearing simple, thalloid, 42. Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct about
heterotrophic and aquatic (both fresh water and pteridophytes ?
marine) organisms.
(i) The main plant body is a sporophyte which is
(ii) Algae reproduce by vegetative means only. differentiated into true roots and leaves.
(iii) Fusion of two gametes dissimilar in size is termed as (ii) The leaves are small (microphylls) as in ferns or large
oogamous. (macrophylls) as in Selaginella.
(iv) A few of the massive forms of algae such as kelps, (iii) Genera like Selaginella and Salvinia which produce
form massive plant bodies. two kinds of spores–macro (large) and micro (small)
(a) Only (i) (b) Both (i) and (iii) spores, are known as heterospores.
(iv) Common examples are Funaria, Polytrichum and
(c) Only (iv) (d) All of these
Sphagnum.
39. The following statements are associated with one class
(a) Both (i) and (ii) (b) Both (ii) and (iii)
of algae. Identify the class of algae.
(c) Both (i) and (iii) (d) All of these
(i) One or more storage bodies called pyrenoids located
43. Which of the following group of plant is being described
in the chloroplasts are present in the members of
by the given statements ?
this class.
(i) They are plants in which the ovules are not enclosed
(ii) They have a rigid cell wall made of an inner layer of
by any ovary wall and remain exposed before and
cellulose and an outer layer of pectose.
after fertilization.
(iii) Asexual reproduction is by flagellated zoospores (ii) The giant red wood tree Sequoia is one of the tallest
produced in zoosporangia. tree species of the group.
(iv) Chlamydomonas, Volvox, Ulothrix, Spirogyra and (iii) The roots are generally tap roots.
Chara are commonly found members of this class.
(iv) They are heterosporous and they produce haploid
(a) Chlorophyceae (b) Rhodophyceae microspores and megaspores.
(c) Phaeophyceae (d) None of these (a) Algae (b) Bryophytes
40. Refer to the following statement(s) and identify the group (c) Gymnosperms (d) Pteridophytes
of plant which is being described by the given statements? 44. Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct about
(i) They include various mosses and liverworts that are angiosperms ?
found commonly growing in moist shaded areas in (i) In angiosperms or flowering plants, the pollen grains
the hills. and ovules are developed in specialised structure
(ii) They lack true roots, stem or leaves. called flowers.
(ii) They are divided into two classes : the dicotyledons
(iii) The main plant body is haploid.
and the monocotyledons.
(iv) They produce a multicellular body sporophyte which (iii) The male sex organ in a flower is the pistil or the
is not free living but attached to the photosynthetic carpel.
gametophyte and derives nourishment from it. (iv) The female sex organ is the stamen.
 20 Biology
(a) Only (i) (b) Both (i) and (ii) Reason: Phaeophyceae possess chlorophyll a, c,
(c) Both (ii) and (iv) (d) All of these carotenoids and xanthophylls.
45. Read the following statements and answer the question. 50. Assertion: Mosses are evolved from algae.
(i) Sporophytic generation is represented only by the Reason: Protonema of mosses is similar to some green
one-celled zygote. algae.
(ii) Meiosis in the zygote results in the formation of 51. Assertion: Red algae contributes in producing coral reefs.
haploid spores. Reason: Some red algae secrete and deposit calcium
(iii) The dominant, photosynthetic phase in such plants carbonate over their walls.
is free-living gametophyte.
52. Assertion: Coconut tree is distributed in coastal areas
(iv) Many algae such as Volvox, Spirogyra and some
over a large part of the world.
species of Chlamydomonas represent this pattern.
Which of the following pattern of life cycle of plant is Reason: Coconut fruit can float and get dispersed over
described by the above statements ? thousands of kilometers before losing viability.
(a) Haplontic (b) Diplontic 53. Assertion: Red algae contributes in producing coral reefs.
(c) Haplo-diplontic (d) None of these Reason: Some red algae secrete and deposit calcium
46. Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct ? carbonate over their walls.
(i) Agar, one of commercial products obtained from 54. Assertion: The peristome is a fringe of teeth-like
Laminaria and Sargassum are used to grow projections found at the mouth of the capsule.
microbes and in preparations of ice-creams and jellies. Reason: It may be of two types nematodontous and
(ii) In phaeophyceae, major pigments are chl a, d and orthodontus.
phycoerythrin.
(iii) Pteridophytes classified into four classes : Psilopsida, MATCHING TYPE QUESTIONS
Lycopsida, Sphenopsida and Pteropsida.
55. Match the column-I with column-II and select the correct
(iv) Gemmae are green, multicellular, asexual buds, which
answer using the codes given below.
develop in small receptacles called gemma cups
located on the thalli.
(a) Both (i) and (ii) (b) Both (ii) and (iv) Column-I Column-II
(c) Both (iii) and (iv) (d) All of these (Group of (Examples)
47. Which of the following statements is incorrect?
Plant Kindgdom)
(a) Pyrenoids contain protein besides starch.
A. Algae I. Solanum tuberosum
(b) Sexual reproduction may be isogamous, oogamous
and anisogamous in green and brown algae. B. Fungi II. Equisetum
(c) Some of the members of algae also occur in C. Angiosperm III. Cycas
association with fungi (lichen) and animals (eg, on D. Pteridophyte IV. Chlamydomonas
sloth bear). E. Gymnosperm V. Rhizopus
(d) The leaves in pteridophytes are well adapted to (a) A – V; B – IV; C – I; D – II; E – III
withstand extremes of temperature, humidity and (b) A – IV; B – V; C – I; D – II; E – III
wind.
(c) A – IV; B – I; C – V; D – II; E – III
ASSERTION/REASON TYPE QUESTIONS (d) A – IV; B – I; C – V; D – III; E – II
56. Match the classes of pteridophytes given in column I
In the following questions, a statement of Assertion is followed with their examples given in column II and choose the
by a statement of Reason. correct option
(a) If both Assertion and Reason are true and the Reason is Column -I Column-II
the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(Classes of pteridophytes) (Examples)
(b) If both Assertion and Reason are true but the Reason is
not the correct explanation of the Assertion. A. Psilopsida I. Selaginella
(c) If assertion is true but Reason is false. B. Lycopsida II. Psilotum
(d) If both Assertion and Reason are false. C. Sphenopsida III. Dryopteris
48. Assertion: Double fertilization is a characteristic feature D. Pteropsida IV. Equisetum
of angiosperms. (a) A – II; B – I; C – IV; D – III
Reason: Double fertilization involves two fusions. (b) A – I; B – II; C – IV; D – III
49. Assertion: Members of phaeophyceae vary in colour from (c) A – II; B – I; C – III; D – IV
olive green to various shades of brown. (d) A – II; B – IV; C – I; D – III
 Plant Kingdom 21

57. Match column-I with column-II and choose the correct 60. Match the column-I with column-II and choose the correct
option. option.
Column-I Column-II
A. Phaeophyceae I. Have an elaborate Column-IA. Smallest flowing plant I. Eucalyptus
Column-II
mechanism B. Male sex organ in II. Wolffia
of spore dispersal flowering plant
B. Rhodophyceae II. first terrestrial plant with C. Female sex organ III. Stamen
vascular tissue-phloem in flowering plant
and xylem D. Tallest tree IV. Pistil
C. Mosses III. Asexual reproduction by (a) A – I; B – II; C – III; D – IV
biflagellate zoosposes (b) A – IV; B – III; C – II; D – I
D. Pteridophytes IV. Polysiphonia, Porphyra, (c) A – II; B – III; C – IV; D – I
Gracilaria
(d) A – II; B – IV; C – III; D – I
(a) A – III; B – IV; C – I; D – II
61. Match the column-I with column-II and choose the correct
(b) A – IV; B – III; C – I; D – II
(c) A – IV; B – III; C – II; D – I option.
(d) A – IV; B – I; C – III; D – II Column-I Column-II
58. Match the column I with column II and choose the option A. Amphibian of the I. Sphagnum
which shows its correct combination. plant kingdom
Column-I Column-II B. Specialized structures II. Angiosperms
(Pattern of (Examples) in liverworts for
life cycle in plant) asexual reproduction
A. Haplontic I. Bryophytes, C. Monocotyledons and III. Bryophytes
life cycle Pteridophytes, dicotyledons
Ectocarpus, Polysiphonia, D. A plant which has IV. Gemmae
Kelps capacity to holding water
B. Diplontic II. Seed bearing plants (a) A – III; B – IV; C – I; D – II
life cycle (Gymnosperm and (b) A – III; B – IV; C – II; D – I
Angiosperm), Fucus (c) A – IV; B – III; C – II; D – I
C. Haplo-diplontic III. Many algae (Volvox, (d) A – III; B – II; C – IV; D – I
life cycle Spirogyra) and some 62. Which of the following pairs is incorrectly matched ?
species of (a) Chlorophyceae – Major pigments are chl a and b.
Chlamydomonas (b) Phaeophyceae – Cell wall is made up of cellulose
(a) A – III; B – II; C – I (b) A – I; B – II; C – III and algin.
(c) A – II; B – I; C – III (d) A – III; B – I; C – II (c) Rhodophyceae – Stored food is mannitol.
59. Match the column-I with column-II and choose the correct (d) Chlorophyceae – Cell wall is made up of cellulose.
option.
63. Select the correct match of the feature present in column
Column-I Column-II
I with its respective terms given in column II.
(System of (Characteristics)
Column-I Column-II
classification)
(features) (term)
A. Artificial system I. Based on few
A. Presence of tap roots (I) Bryophyte
of classification morphological
characters and coralloid roots
B. Natural system II. Based on evolutionary B. The synergids and (II) Pteridophytes
of classification relationships between the antipodal cells
various organisms degenerates afterfertilization
C. Phylogenetic III. Based on natural affinities C. The food is stored as (III) Red algae
system of among the organisms and floridean starch which
classification consider external as well as is very similar to amylopectin
internal features. and glycogen in structure
(a) A – II; B – I; C – III (b) A – I; B – III; C – II
(c) A – III; B – II; C – I (d) A – I; B – II; C – III
 22
Biology
D. Presence of sporophyte (IV) Angiosperms E. Members of this group (V) Gymnosperms
which is not free living are used for medicinal
but attached to the purposes, as soil
photosynthetic gametophytes binders and frequently
and derives nourishmentfrom it grown as ornamentals
(a) A – I; B – II; C – III; D – IV; E – V
(b) A – III; B – V; C – II; D – IV; E – I
(c) A – III; B – I; C – V; D – II ; E – IV
(d) A – V; B – IV; C – III; D – I; E – II
DIAGRAM TYPE QUESTIONS
64. The given figures (A, B, C, D) represent the members algae. Identify the correct option for the given diagrams.

S. No. A B C D

(a) Porphyra Fucus Dictyota Polysiphonia

(b) Polysiphonia Porphyra Dictyota Fucus

(c) Fucus Dictyota Porphyra Polysiphonia

(d) Porphyra Polysiphonia Fucus Dictyota

65. Refer to the given figure (A, B, C and D) and answer the question. Which of the following figures are the members of green alga?

(a) A, B and D (b) A, B and C (c) B, C and D (d) C, D and A

Plant Kingdom 23

66. The given figures represent the examples of bryophytes. In them few structures/parts are marked as A, B, C and D.

Identify the option which shows the correct labelling of A, B, C and D.

S . No. A B C D
(a) Gemma cup A rchegon iopho re Sporophyte Spha gnu m

(b) Archegonio phore Gemma cup Gametophyte Spha gnu m

(c) Archegon ia A ntheridia Gemma cup Spha gnu m

(d) Antherid ia A rchegonia Gemma cup Spha gnu m

67. Which one of the following options correctly represents the type of life cycle patterns?
Sporophyte
(2n) Zygote Sporophyte
(2n) (2n)
Syngamy Meiosis Zygote (2n)
Meiosis
Zygote (2n)
A B Syngamy C
Spores (n)
Gametogenesis Spores (n)
Gametogenesis Gametogenesis
Syngamy
Meiosis Gametophyte (n)
Gametophyte (n)
(n)
(a) A - Diplontic, B - Haplodiplontic, C - Haplontic (b) A - Haplodiplontic,B - Haplontic, C - Diplontic
(c) A - Haplontic, B - Diplontic, C - Haplodiplontic (d) A - Diplontic, B - Haplontic, C - Haplodiplontic
68. Identify the plants (A, B, C and D) and choose their correct names from the options given below.

A
C D

B
 24 Biology
S . No. A B C D
(a) Equisetum Ginkgo Selaginella Lycopodium

(b) Selaginella Equisetum Salvin ia Gink go

(c) Funaria A diantum Salvin ia Riccia

(d) Chara Marchantia Fucus Pinu s

69. The given figure shows the life cycle of an angiosperm. Few plants are marked as A, B, C, D and E. Identify the correct
labelling from the given options.
A B
Microspore
mother cells
Style Filament
Microsporangium
Ovary
Flower Microspores
Megaspore
mother cell
Megasporangium
(ovule)
Sporophyte GAMETOPHYTIC
SPOROPHYTIC (n)
(2n) GENERATION
GENERATION
Microspore
(pollen grain)
Embryo

E C

Gametes
Zygote D

(a) A–Stigma, B–Anther, C–Male gametophyte, D–Egg, E–Female gametophyte

(b) A–Stigma, B–Anther, C–Female gametophyte, D–Egg, E–Male gametophyte
(c) A–Stigma, B–Anther, C–Male gametophyte, D–Fertilized egg, E–Female gametophyte
(d) A–Stigma, B–Anther, C–Embryo sac, D–Egg, E–Female gametophyte

CRITICAL THINKING TYPE QUESTIONS

70. Which of the following example belong to the same class 72. Fern plant is a
of algae? (a) haploid gametophyte
(a) Chara, Fucus, Polysiphonia (b) diploid gametophyte
(b) Volvox, Spirogyra, Chlamydomonas (c) diploid sporophyte
(c) Porphyra, Ectocarpus, Ulothrix (d) haploid sporophyte
(d) Sargassum, Laminaria, Gracilaria 73. The unique feature of bryophytes compared to other plant
71. A bryophyte differs from pteridophytes in having groups is that
(a) archegonia. (a) they produce spores.
(b) lack of vascular tissue. (b) they lack vascular tissues.
(c) swimming antherozoids. (c) they lack roots.
(d) independent gametophytes. (d) their sporophyte is attached to the gametophyte.
Plant Kingdom 25

74. If there are 4 cells in an anther, what will be the number of 83. Protonema
pollen grains? (a) is a stage of gametophytic generation.
(a) 8 (b) 4 (b) is a creeping, green, branched and develops directly
(c) 16 (d) 12 from a spore.
75. Bryophytes are different from fungi in having (c) produces lateral bud which forms leafy plant body.
(a) land habit. (d) All of the above
(b) sterile jacket layers. 84. The spreading of living pteridophytes is limited and
(c) multiflagellate gametes. restricted to narrow geographical region because
(d) gametophytic plant body.
(a) gametophytic growth needs cool, damp and shady
76. Moss peat is used as a packing material for sending flowers places.
and live plants to distant places because
(b) it requires water for fertilization.
(a) it reduces transpiration.
(c) due to absence of stomata in leaf and absence of
(b) it serves as a disinfectant. vascular tissue.
(c) it is easily available. (d) both (a) and (b)
(d) it is hygroscopic. 85. Classification of plants proposed by Carolus Linnaeus
77. If the cells of root in wheat plant have 42 chromosomes, was artificial because it was based on
then the no. of chromosome in the cell of pollen grain is (a) only a few morphological characters.
(b) evolutionary tendencies which are diverse.
(a) 14 (b) 21
(c) anatomical characters which are adaptive in nature.
(c) 28 (d) 42
(d) physiological traits alongwith morphological
78. A research student collected certain alga and found that characters.
its cells contained both chlorophyll a and chlorophyll d 86. Mosses are of great ecological importance because of
as well as phycoerythrin. On the basis of his observation, (a) its contribution to prevent soil erosion.
the students conclude that the alga belongs to
(b) its contribution in ecological succession.
(a) rhodophyceae (b) bacillariophyceae (c) its capability to remove CO from the atmosphere.
(c) chlorophyceae (d) phaeophyceae (d) both (a) and (b)
79. Fruits are not formed in gymnosperms because of 87. You are given an unknown plant to study in the laboratory.
(a) absence of pollination. You find that it has chlorophyll, no xylem. Its multicellullar
sex organs are enclosed in a layer of jacket cells. Its
(b) absence of seed.
gametophyte stage is free living. The plant probably
(c) absence of fertilization. belongs to
(d) absence of ovary.
(a) chlorophyceae (b) bryophyte
80. What is common in all the three, Funaria, Dryopteris and
(c) pteridophyte (d) gymnosperm
Ginkgo?
88. Mosses do not have ‘true leaves’ because their leaf-like
(a) Independent sporophyte structures lack
(b) Presence of archegonia (a) starch in their chloroplast.
(c) Well developed vascular tissues (b) vascular tissues.
(d) Independent gametophyte (c) chlorophyll.
81. In angiosperms, a mature male gametophyte is derived (d) cellulose in their cell walls.
from a pollen mother cell by 89. Place the following groups of plants in order, beginning
with those that first appeared on the earth and progressing
(a) three mitotic divisions.
toward those that appeared most recently in time.
(b) one meiotic and two mitotic divisions. (a) Gymnosperms, angiosperms, ferns, moss, algae
(c) two meiotic divisions. (b) Algae, moss, ferns, gymnosperms, angiosperms
(d) a single meiotic division. (c) Moss, algae, ferns, angiosperms, gymnosperms
82. If you are asked to classify the various algae into distinct (d) Algae, ferns, angiosperms, gymnosperms, moss
groups then which of the following characters you should 90. Chemotaxonomy is connected with
choose for the classification ? (a) classification of chemicals found in plants.
(a) Nature of habitat (b) use of phytochemical data in systematic botany.
(b) Structural organization of thallus (c) application of chemicals on herbarium sheets.
(c) Chemical composition of the cell wall (d) use of statistical methods in chemical yielding plants.
(d) Types of pigments present in the cell.
 26 Biology
91. In order to colonize land, plants needed to acquire which 94. Angiosperms have dominated the land flora primarily
of the following characteristics? because of their
(a) A mechanism for moving water throughout the plant. (a) power of adaptability in diverse habitat.
(b) A mechanism to prevent desiccation of tissues. (b) property of producing large number of seeds.
(c) An ability to screen ultraviolet radiation. (c) nature of self pollination.
(d) Both (b) and (c) (d) domestication of man.
92. Deep in the tropical rain forest, a botanist discovered an 95. A student was given a sample to observe under the
unusual plant with vascular tissues, stomata, a cuticle, microscope. He observed and found that the sample is
flagellated sperm, cone-like reproductive structures the most common type of spore involved in asexual
bearing seeds, and an alternation-of-generations life cycle. reproduction in algae. Identify the spore.
He was very excited about this discovery because it would (a) Zoospore (b) Endospore
be rather unusual for a plant to have both
(c) Hypnospore (d) None of these
(a) a cuticle and flagellated sperm.
96. Refer to the statement and answer the question.
(b) vascular tissues and alternation of generations.
“They usually reproduce vegetatively by fragmentation
(c) seeds and flagellated sperm. and asexually by non - motile spores and sexually by non
(d) alternation of generations and seeds. - motile gametes.”
93. A universal feature of the life cycle of plants is Identify the group of plants and its example.
(a) morphologically identical haploid and diploid stages. (a) Mosses, Funaria
(b) genetically identical haploid and diploid stages. (b) Red algae, Polysiphonia
(c) alteration of generations between heteromorphic (c) Brown algae, Laminaria
haploid gametophytes and diploid sporophytes. (d) Pteridophytes, Selaginella
(d) none of the above
 Hints & Solutions
11. (b) Bryophytes play an important role in plant
succession on bare rocks/soil. Bryophytes include
Chapter 3 : Plant Kingdom the various mosses and liverworts that are found in
1. (b) The natural system of classification for higher plants moist shaded areas in the hills. Moss stage is the
was given by Bentham and Hooker in their Genera second stage in biological succession on a bare rock
Plantarum (1862 - 1883). The characters employed that slowly changes rocky substratum into fertile
in this system include those of study of form soil. Important members of moss stage are Tortula,
(morphology), internal structure (anatomy), Grimmia and Polytrichum.
development (embryology), reproduction, cell 12. (d) In gymnosperms, the reproductive structures are
structure (cytology), life processes, (physiology), mostly in the form of compact cones except female
behaviour and biochemistry. organs of Cycas. There are two types of sporophylls,
2. (d) Phylogenetic system of classification indicates the usually segregated to form distinct cones or strobili
evolutionary as well as, genetic relationships (male and female cones).
among organisms. It is based on fossil record 13. (c) In bryophytes, sex organs are of two types, male
biochemical, anatomical, morphological, antheridium and female archegonium. They are
embryological, physiological, genetics, karyotype multicellular and jacketed, i.e., covered by jacket of
and other studies. sterile cells.
3. (b) Cytotaxonomy is the classification of organisms 14. (b) Laminaria (kelp) and Fucus (rock weed) are the
based on cellular structure and function, especially examples of brown algae. Brown algae are the common
on the structure and number of chromosomes. name of phaeophyceae. They are found primarily in
4. (d) Isogamous and anisogamous type of reproduction marine habitats and show great variation in size and
are found in Chlamydomonas. Fusion of flagellated form.
gametes of similar size is called isogamous whereas 15. (a) Pyrenoids are the rounded bodies found in the
fusion of two gametes of different size is called chloroplast of green algae and are the centres of
anisogamous. conversion of glucose to starch and also collection
5. (c) Fusion of two gametes which are of dissimilar size is of starch.
called anisogamous. Fusion of flagellate gametes of 16. (a) Selaginella is a member of lycopsida, which produce
similar size is called isogamous. Oogamous is the two kinds of spores-macro (large) and micro (small)
fusion between one large, non - motile female gamete spores. Thus, known as heterosporous pteridophytes.
with a smaller, motile male gamete. Agamous does 17. (d) Pteridophytes are classified into four classes :
not involve the fusion of male and female gametes in Psilopsida (Psilotum), Lycopsida (Selaginella,
reproduction. Lycopodium), Sphenopsida (Equisetum) and
6. (b) Certain marine brown and red algae produce large Pteropsida (Dryopteris, Pteris, Adiantum).
amounts of hydrocolloids (water holding 18. (b) Cycas (a gymnosperm) and Adiantum (known as
substances), e.g., algin (brown algae) and carrageen Maiden hair fern, a pteridophyte) resemble each other
(red algae) which are used commercially. Chlorella in having motile sperms. Seeds, cambium are common
and Spirullina are unicellular green algae, which are in gymnosperms but absent in pteridophytes. True
rich in proteins and used as food supplements. vessels are absent in both pteridophytes and
7. (b) The members of phaeophyceae or brown algae are gymnospems.
found primarily in marine habitats. The common forms 19. (a) The predominant stage of the moss is the presence
are Ectocarpus, Dictyota, Laminaria, Sargassum of gametophyte which consists of two stages – the
and Fucus. first stage is protonema and the second stage is leafy
8. (b) Rhodophyceae are commonly called as red algae stage. Protonema stage develops directly from the
because of the predominance of the red pigment (r - spores and leafy stage develops from the secondary
phycoerythrin) in their body. They are mostly found protonema as a lateral bud.
in salt water.
9. (d) Flagellate forms and stages are completely absent in
class rhodophyceae (red algae).
10. (a) In class phaeophyceae, the plant body is usually
attached to the substratum by a holdfast (A), and has
a stalk, the stipe (B) and leaf like photosynthetic organ
- the frond (C).
20. (d) Gametophyte of bryophytes bears protonemal and
30. (d) In gymnosperms, the male and female gametophytes
leafy stage. In gymnosperm, female gametophyte is
never grow independently but develop within the
not free living. Antheridiophores and
sporophyte structures.
archegoniophores are present in Marchantia which
31. (d) Isogamous fertilization is the fusion of two similar
is a bryophyte. Origin of seed habit started in
gametes while anisogamous fertilization is fusion of
pteridophyte.
two morphologically dissimilar motile gametes.
21. (b) Rhodophyta are commonly called as red algae
In rhodophyceae, the major pigments are chlorophyll
because of the predominance of the red pigment (r –
‘a’ and ‘d’ but the stored food is floridean starch.
phycoerythrin) in their body. They occur in both
32. (b) Double fertilization is a characteristic of angiosperms
well lighted regions close to the surface of water and
not gymnosperms. But in both of these two groups,
also at great depths in ocean where relatively little
gametophytic phase is highly reduced and is retained
light penetrates. They exhibit a red colour because
inside sporophytic structures. Sequoia is the tallest
the wavelengths of light that are absorbed by
gymnosperm not angiosperm. Tallest angiosperm
chlorophyll are passed to phycoerythrin.
belong to the genus Eucalyptus.
22. (a) Double fertilization is a process, unique to flowering
33. (a) In rhodophyceae (red algae) food is stored in the
plants (angiosperms). The gymnosperms do not
form floridean starch. Whereas mannitol and laminarin
exhibit double fertilization or triple fusion like
are stored food material of class phaeophyceae (brown
angiosperms.
algae). In the diplontic life cycle, sporophyte represents
23. (d) Mosses and ferns belong to bryophtes and
the dominant phase.
pteridophytes respectively. In bryophytes, the
34. (d) In chlorophyceae, the stored food material is starch
dominant phase in the life cycle is the gametophytic
and the major pigments are chlorophyll- a and b. In
plant body. However, in pteridophytes, the main plant
phaeophyceae, laminarian is the stored food and
body is a sporophyte, which is differentiated into
major pigments are chlorophyll a, c and fucoxanthin.
true root, stem and leaves. These organs possess
35. (c)
well – differentiated vascular tissues. 36. (d) Gemmae are a means of asexual reproduction found
24. (d) Gymnosperms (including conifers) and angiosperms in many bryophytes (e.g, liverworts). They are 1 to
both have advanced support tissues true leaves, many celled, specially produced clonal plant
stems and roots they also are the two groups that fragments. They are green, multicellular, asexual buds
produce pollen and seeds. which develop in small receptacles (called gemma
25. (a) Monoecious is a plant species in which male cups) located on the thalli. Gemmae become detached
(microsporangiate) and female (megasporangiate) from the parent body and germinate to form new
organs are found on the same plant (for example individuals.
pinus). Dioecious plant is a plant species in which 37. (b)
male and female organs appear on separate 38. (c) Algae are chlorophyll bearing simple, thalloid,
individuals. autotrophic and largely aquatic organisms. They
26. (d) 27. (d) reproduce by vegetative, asexual and sexual
28. (c) Algae are defined as chlorophyllous, thalloid
methods. Fusion of two gametes dissimilar in size is
avascular plants with no cellular differentiation. The
termed as anisogamous.
size and form of algae is highly variable. Not all the
39. (a) The members of chlorophyceae include free-
algae are filamentous. The size ranges from the
swimming unicellular species, colonies, non-
microscope unicellular forms to colonial forms and
to the filamentous forms.
29. (a) Statement (i) and (ii) are correct.
Riccia is liverwort in which simplest sporophyte
consists of capsule only while Polytrichum is moss
in which sporophyte consists of foot, seta & capsule.
Volvox is a fresh water green colonial alga.
Reproduction is both sexual and asexual in Volvox.
Sexual reproduction is of oogamous type.
 flagellate unicells, filaments, and more. They also 46. (c) Agar, one of commercial products obtained from
reproduce in a variety of ways, though all have a Gracilaria and Gelidium are used to grow microbes
haploid life-cycle, in which only the zygote cell is and in preparation of ice-creams and jellies. In
diploid. The zygote will often serve as a resting spore, phaeophyceae, major pigments are chlorophyll a, c
able to lie dormant though potentially damaging and fucoxanthin.
environmental changes such as desiccation. 47. (d) The leaves in gymnosperms are well adapted to
40. (c) Bryophytes are small, non-vascular plants, such as withstand extremes of temperature, humidity and
mosses, liverworts and hornworts. Bryophytes do wind. In conifers, the needle like leaves reduces
not have seeds or flowers. Instead they reproduce surface area. Their thick cuticle and sunken stomata
via spores. also help to reduce water loss.
41. (a) Liverworts (belongs to bryophytes) is a flowerless, 48. (b) Double fertilization is a characteristics feature of
spore-producing plant - with the spores produced in angiosperms. It involves two fusions in which one
small capsules. Liverworts are small, green, terrestrial male gamete fuses with egg cell to from zygote and
plants. They do not have true roots, stems, or leaves. the other male gamete fuses with the diploid
Instead, they have an above ground leaf-like secondary nucleus to produce the triploid primary
structure, known as a thallus, and an underground endosperm nucleus (PEN).
structure, known as a rhizoid. Most liverworts are 49. (a) Phaeophyceae possesses chlorophyll a, c,
found in moist environments and they tend to be carotenoids and xanthophylls. Members of
less resistant to desiccation than their relatives, the phaeophyceae show variations in colour from olive
mosses. green to different shades of brown depending upon
Like mosses, many species of liverworts reproduce the amount of the xanthophyll pigments.
by making gemmae. 50. (a) Mosses that belong to the bryophytes have evolved
42. (c) The leaves are small (microphyll) as in Selaginella from algae. The fact that protonema has a thallus like
or large (macrophyll) as in ferns. Funaria, body shows that mosses have evolved from algae.
Polytrichum and Sphagnum are common examples 51. (a) Red algae generally grow attached to rocky stones.
Some deep water red algae are calcareous and build
of mosses. up hard stony thalli responsible for the production
43. (c) Gymnosperms are seed-bearing vascular plants, such of lime stones and coral reefs.
as cycads, ginkgo, yews and conifers, in which the 52. (a) Coconut tree is distributed in coastal areas since it is
ovules or seeds are not enclosed in an ovary. adapted to saline water.
Gymnosperm seeds develop either on the surface of 53. (a) Red algae generally grow attaced to rocky stones.
scale or leaf-like appendages of cones or at the end Some deep water red algae are calcareous and build
up hard stony thalli responsible for the production
of short stalk. The largest group of living
of lime stones and coral reefs.
gymnosperms are the conifers (pines, cypresses and 54. (b) The peristome teeth are present at the mouth of the
relatives) and the smallest is ginkgo, a single living capsule. The teeth may be solid cellular tissue or
plant species found in China. composed only of the thickened portions of the cell
44. (b) In angiosperms, the male sex organ is the stamen walls of adjacent cells. When the teeth of peristome
and the female sex organ is the pistil or the carpel. are solid structures composed of bundles of dead
Each stamen consists of a slender filament with an cells, it is termed nematodontous peristome are solid
another at the tip. The anther, following meiosis, structures composed of bundles of dead cells, it is
termed nematodyntous peristome. It is found in
produce pollen grains. Pistil consists of an ovary
polytrichum, Pogonatum and Tetraphis. Peristome
enclosing one to many ovules. when composed of thin, membranous, transversely
45. (a) Haplontic life cycle is a simplest and most primitive barred teeth, and each tooth is made up of the
type of life-cycle found in all chlorophyceae. In thickened portions of the cell walls of adjacent cells.
haplontic pattern of life cycle, the somatic phase Such a peristome is called orthodontous.
(plant) is haploid (gametophyte) while the diploid 55. (b) Algae are a simple, non-flowering, and typically
phase (sporophyte) is represented by zygote. During aquatic plant of a large assemblage that includes the
germination, the zygote (2n) divides meiotically seaweeds and many single-celled forms. Example -
producing haploid (n) zoospores, which develop into Chlamydomonas.
individual plant. Here the unicellular or filamentous Fungi is a diverse group of eukaryotic single-celled
gametophyte (n) alternates with one-celled zygote or multinucleate organisms comprising the
mushrooms, moulds, mildews, smuts, rusts, and
or sporophyte (2n).
yeasts. Example - Rhizopus.
 Angiosperms comprises those that have flowers and condition where both phases are multicellular and
produce seeds enclosed within a carpel, including often free living.
herbaceous plants, shrubs, grasses, and most trees. 68. (b) The correct name of the plants A, B, C and D are
Example - Solanum tuberosum. respectively Selaginella, Equisetum, Salvinia and
Pteridophytes are the vascular plants (those having Ginkgo. The first three plants belong to
xylem and phloem tissues). They include the highly pteridophytes and the fourth one belongs to
diverse true ferns and other graceful, primarily forest- gymnosperms.
dwelling plants. Example - Equisetum. 69. (a) The life cycle of an angiosperm is defined by the
Gymnosperms are seed-bearing vascular plants in formation of the seed and its development to a full-
which the ovules or seeds are not enclosed in an grown plant which, in turn, produces seeds.
ovary. Example - Cycas. Angiosperms are vascular plants with flowers that
56. (a) Pteridophytes are the vascular plants (those having produce seeds enclosed in an ovule—a fact that is
xylem and phloem tissues) that reproduce by recognized as the angiospermic condition.
releasing spores rather than seeds, and they include 70. (b) Chlamydomonas, Volvox, Ulothrix, Spirogyra and
the highly diverse true ferns and other graceful, Chara are green algae. The common forms of brown
primarily forest-dwelling plants. The pteridophytes algae are Ectocarpus, Dictyota, Laminaria,
are further classified into four classes: psilopsida Sargassum and Fucus. Polysiphonia, Porphyra,
(eg, Psilotum), lycopsida (eg, Selaginella), Gracilaria and the Gelidium are members of red
sphenopsida (eg, Equisetum) and pteropsida (eg, algae.
Dryopteris). 71. (b) Bryophytes completely lack vascular tissue system
57. (a) 58. (a) and absorb water by generally body surface.
59. (b) Artificial system of classification is based on the Whereas pteridophytes are the first terrestrial plants
few morphological characters. Natural system of to possess vascular tissues -xylem and phloem.
classification is based on the natural affinities among 72. (c) Fusion of male gamete with the egg results in the
the organisms and considers external as well as formation of zygote. This zygote produces a multi-
internal features. Phylogenetic system of cellular well differentiated sporophyte which is the
classification is based on the evolutionary dominant phase of the pteridophytes.
relationships between the various organisms. 73. (d) In bryophytes, zygotes donot undergo reduction
60. (c) division immediately. They produce a multicellular
61. (b) Bryophytes are called as the amphibian of the plant body called a sporophyte. The sporophyte is not a
kingdom because these plants can live in soil but are free-living but attached to the photosynthetic
dependent on water for sexual reproduction. Gemma gametophyte and derives nourishment from it.
is specialised structure in liverworts for asexual
reproduction. Monocotyledons and dicotyledons 74. (c) 1 microspore mother cell  m ei
otic division
  4
are two groups of angiosperms. Species of haploid microspores or pollen grains
Sphagnum, a moss provide peat that have been long 4 microspore mother cells = 4 × 4 pollen grains
been used as a fuel. = 16 pollen grains.
62. (c) Rhodophyceae is red algae in which food is stored 75. (b) Bryophytes have multicellular jacketed sex organs
as floridean starch which is very similar to to protect gametes against drying effects of air and
amylopectin and glycogen in structure. retention of zygote inside archegonium to provide
nourishment to developing embryo.
76. (d) Species of Sphagnum, a moss, provides peat that
63. (d) 64. (a)
have long been used as a packing material for sending
65. (a) The options A B ,C and D are Vo lvox flowers and live plants to distant places because it is
Chlamydomonas Laminaria and Chara respectively. hygroscopic.
A, B and D belong to Chlorophycae (green algae) 77. (b) Number of chromosome in root cells of wheat plant
where as C belongs to Phaeophycae (brown algae) is
66. (b) 2n = 42
67. (d) In haplontic cycle, there is a single dominant phase
42
i.e., haploid gametophyte which is free living n= = 21
photosynthetic phase. In diplontic life cycle, diploid 2
sporophyte is dominant vegetative phase. The The number of chromosome in the cell of pollen grain
sporophyte is independent photosynthetic phase of is 21 because pollen grains are haploid (n) in nature.
the plant. Haplo-diplontic life cycle is intermediate
78. (a) In green algae (chlorophyceae), the photosynthetic reduce the impact of falling rain and prevent soil -
pigments are chlorophyll a and b, carotenes and erosion.
xanthophylls. In phaeophyceae (brown algae), the 87. (b) According to the features described, the unknown
pigments are chlorophyll a, c and carotenes and plant belongs to bryophytes. Bryophytes refer to a
fucoxanth. Rhodophyceae are red algae and contain group of plants comprising the mosses, liverworts,
the major pigment as chlorophyll a and phyeoerythrim. and hornworts. They do not have a true vascular
Phycoerythrin gives red colour to rhodophyceae. system and are unable to pull water and nutrients up
79. (d) The ovules are not enclosed inside the ovary. Instead from the ground at any significant distance. This
they are borne naked on the leafy sporophylls, and distinguishes bryophytes from ferns and flowering
hence the name gymnosperms (gymnos- naked plants.
sperma- seed) is given Double fertilization is absent 88. (b) Mosses are non-vascular plants which means they
in gymnosperms. cannot transport water and nutrients to the aerial
80. (b) The female sex organ archegonium is formed in parts of the plant.
bryophytes (Funaria), pteridophytes (Dryopteris) 89. (b) The correct sequence of the plants group which
and gymnosperms (Ginkgo). appeared first on the earth to appear most recently
81. (b) In angiosperms, a mature male gametophyte is derived in time is: Algae  Moss  Fern  Gymnosperms
from a pollen mother cell by one meiotic and two  Angiosperms
mitotic divisions. In the pollen sac (microsporangium) 90. (b) Chemotaxonomy is based on chemical products
of the anther, haploid microspores are formed by particularly secondary metabolites. Various families
meiosis. Mitosis then follows to produce a two-celled of plants have been identified on the basis of
pollen grain with a small generative cell and a large raphides (Crystals of calcium oxalates).
vegetative cell. This generative cell will undergo 91. (d) In order to colonize the land, the plants needed to
further mitosis to form two male gametes (nuclei). acquire the mechanisms to prevent desiccation of
The pollen tube grows through a spore in the pollen tissues and the ability to screen ultraviolet radiation.
grain, with the tube (vegetative) nucleus at its tips Because there are several successful groups of
and the male nuclei behind. plants that lack mechanisms for moving water
82. (d) Algae are eukaryotic organisms that have no roots throughout the plant.
stems or leaves but do have chlorophyll and other 92. (c) No known seed plant has flagellated sperms.
pigments for carrying out photosynthesis 93. (c) Life cycle of any sexually reproducing plant consists
83. (a) A protonema is a creeping, green, filamentous, of two morphological phases i.e., haploid
thread-like chain of cells which is produced by the gametophyte and diploid sporophyte that regularly
germination of the spores and forms the earliest stage alternate with each other. This phenomenon is termed
(the haploid phase) of a bryophyte life cycle. When as alternation of generation.
a moss first grows from the spore, it grows as a 94. (a) Angiosperms are highly evolved and well adapted
protonema which develops into a leafy gametophore. land plants. They have both vessels and tracheids
84. (d) Pteridophytes are the vascular plants (those having in xylem for better conduction of water. Roots are
xylem and phloem tissues) that reproduce by modified into tap roots, adventitious roots,
releasing spores rather than seeds, and they include pneumatophores etc. to suit the desired climate.
the highly diverse true ferns and other graceful, Sex organs are highly developed, sporophylls are
primarily forest-dwelling plants. The spreading of organized into flowers and the flowers are highly
living pteridophytes is limited and is restricted to coloured or attract pollinators at different times and
narrow geographical region because its places. Insect pollination is more prevalent because
gametophytes require cool, damp, shady places to it is more efficient and leads to less wastage of pollen
grow and also it requires water for fertilization. grains as compared to wind pollination. So the
85. (a) Plant classification proposed by Carolus Linneaus flowers are made attractive to attract a variety of
was artificial because it was based on a few insects. Seeds are more protected as they are
morphological characters such as habit, colour, enclosed inside a fruit. All these adaptations have
number and shape of leaves, etc. made angiosperms more adaptive in diverse habitats.
86. (d) Mosses along with lichens are the first organisms to 95. (a) Asexual reproduction (in algae) is by the production
colonise rocks and hence, are of great ecological of different types of spores, and the most common
importance. They decompose rocks making the type is zoospore. Zoospores are flagellated (motile)
substrate suitable for the growth of higher plants. and on germination give rise to new plants.
Since mosses form dense mats on the soil, they 96. (b) The red algae usually reproduce vegetatively by
 32 BIOLOGY

fragmentation, asexually by non-motile spores and

sexually by non-motile gametes. Red algae is the
common name of Rhodophyta. They are called red
algae because of the presence of red pigment, r-
phycoerythrin.