Plant Divisions (Phyla) : Wikiversity

Wikiversity
Plant Divisions
(Phyla)
In botany, the equivalent of a Phylum is

called a Division. The Kingdom Plantae is
divided into 14 Divisions. A Division (pl.
Phyla) is the largest formal major grouping
within plant taxonomy below Kingdom.
A sample of plant diversity.
This list is presented in alphabetical order,

and not in any systematic/evolutionary
arrangement.
Science is by no means static. There are

arguments of all sizes and shapes about
the taxonomy of the Plant Divisions. Other
sources may combine or split these listed
Divisions. However, at this time, the list
presented here should stand in good stead
for an introduction to the topic of plant
diversity.
There are approximately 250,000 plant

species that have been described by
science.
This list tries to give the following

information on each Division:
Division Name
A link to a subpage discussing that
Phylum in more detail (if it yet exists)
Name Meaning (in English)
An English Common Name, where one is
in regular use
Distinguishing characteristics of plants
within the Division
An approximate number of species
described within that Division. Since
botany does not stand still, this number
can change.
You can also see Introduction to

Taxonomy for more on that topic.
Anthocerotophyta
Hornworts.
Anthocerotophyta
Name Meaning: Anthoceros-like plant
English Common Name: Hornworts
Major distinguishing characteristics: Horn-

shaped sporophytes, no vascular system
Approximate number of species

described: 100-300 or more
Bryophyta
Moss, a
bryophyte.
Bryophyta
Name Meaning: Bryum-like plant, moss
plant
English Common Name: Mosses
Major distinguishing characteristics:

Persistent unbranched sporophytes, no
vascular system

described: 12,000
Charophyta
Chara, a
Charophyte.
Charophyta
Name Meaning: Chara-like plant
English Common Name: Charophytes

described: 1,000
Chlorophyta
A Chlorophyte.
Chlorophyta
Name Meaning: Yellow-green plant
English Common Name: Chlorophytes

mainly autotrophs with exceptions and
have the same chlorophyll a and b
pigments as "higher" plant divisions

described: 7,000
Cycadophyta
Unidentified
cycad in
greenhouse.
Cycadophyta
Name Meaning: Cycas-like plant, palm-like

plant
English Common Name: Cycads

Seeds, crown of compound leaves

described: 100 - 200
Ginkgophyta
Gingko biloba.
Ginkgophyta
Name Meaning: Ginkgo-like plant

English Common Name: Ginkgo,
maidenhair tree

Seeds not protected by fruit

described: 1 living, about 50 extinct
Glaucophyta
A glaucophyte.
Glaucophyta
Name Meaning: Blue-green plant
English Common Name: Glaucophytes


described: 13
Gnetophyta
Gnetum
scandens.
Gnetophyta
Name Meaning: Gnetum-like plant
English Common Name: Gnetophytes

Seeds and woody vascular system with
vessels
described: 70
Lycopodiophyta (Lycophyta)
Clubmoss.
Lycopodiophyta (Lycophyta)
Name Meaning: Lycopodium-like plants,

wolf plant
English Common Name: Clubmosses,

spikemosses

Microphyll leaves, vascular system
described: 1290 living
Magnoliophyta (Anthophyta)
Magnolia
virginiana.
Magnoliophyta
Name Meaning: Magnolia-like plant
English Common Name: Flowering plants,

angiosperms

Flowers and fruit, vascular system with
vessels
described: 300,000
Marchantiophyta
(Hepatophyta)
Liverwort.
Marchantiophyta (Hepatophyta)
Name Meaning: Marchantia-like plant, liver

plant
English Common Name: Liverworts

Ephemeral unbranched sporophytes, no
vascular system

described: 9,000
Pinophyta (Coniferophyta)
Taxus
wallichiana, the
Himalayan Yew,
a conifer.
Pinophyta (Coniferophyta)
Name Meaning: Pinus-like plant, cone-

bearing plant
English Common Name: Conifers

Cones containing seeds and wood
composed of tracheids

described: 629 living
Pteridophyta
Tree fern fronds

and fiddlneck
(growing young
frond).
Pteridophyta (out-dated! The sub-

devisions Lycopodiophyta and
Euphyllophytina have been differentiated)
Name Meaning: Pteris-like plant, fern plant

English Common Name: ferns, horsetails

Prothallus gametophytes, vascular system

described: 9,000
Other Resources
Tree of Life, Green Plants (http://tolweb.
org/Green_plants/2382)
Encyclopedia of life, Plantae (http://eol.o
rg/pages/281/overview)
Animal Phyla a companion piece to this
one
References
Wikipedia:Phylum
Retrieved from
"https://en.wikiversity.org/w/index.php?
title=Plant_Divisions_(Phyla)&oldid=2466889"
Wikiversity
This page was last edited on 10 January 2023, at

15:24. •
Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless
otherwise noted.

Plant Divisions (Phyla) : Wikiversity

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Plant Divisions (Phyla) : Wikiversity

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Plant Divisions (Phyla) : Wikiversity

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Wikiversity

In botany, the equivalent of a Phylum is

This list is presented in alphabetical order,

Science is by no means static. There are

There are approximately 250,000 plant

This list tries to give the following

You can also see Introduction to

English Common Name: Hornworts

Major distinguishing characteristics: Horn-

Approximate number of species

English Common Name: Mosses

Major distinguishing characteristics:

Approximate number of species

English Common Name: Charophytes

Major distinguishing characteristics:

Approximate number of species

Name Meaning: Yellow-green plant

English Common Name: Chlorophytes

Approximate number of species

Name Meaning: Cycas-like plant, palm-like

Major distinguishing characteristics:

Approximate number of species

Name Meaning: Ginkgo-like plant

Major distinguishing characteristics:

Approximate number of species

Name Meaning: Blue-green plant

English Common Name: Glaucophytes

Approximate number of species

Name Meaning: Gnetum-like plant

English Common Name: Gnetophytes

Major distinguishing characteristics:

Name Meaning: Lycopodium-like plants,

English Common Name: Clubmosses,

Major distinguishing characteristics:

Name Meaning: Magnolia-like plant

English Common Name: Flowering plants,

Major distinguishing characteristics:

Name Meaning: Marchantia-like plant, liver

English Common Name: Liverworts

Major distinguishing characteristics:

Approximate number of species

Name Meaning: Pinus-like plant, cone-

English Common Name: Conifers

Approximate number of species

Tree fern fronds

Pteridophyta (out-dated! The sub-

Name Meaning: Pteris-like plant, fern plant

Major distinguishing characteristics:

Approximate number of species

This page was last edited on 10 January 2023, at

You might also like