On this earth the plants are classified in to differenet classes. Carolus Linnaeus, a biologist classified plants based on their reproductive organs.
Classification of plants: Plants are basically classified by their flowers. They are classified as Flowering plants or Phanerogams and Non-Flowering plants or Cryptogams.
Flowering plants: The plants which give flowers and fruits are called as Flowering plants or Phanerogams. These are again divided into two categories.
1.) Gymnosperms
2.) Angiosperms
Gymnosperms: These come under flowering plants but these produce naked seeds. As these seeds are not enclosed in the fruit. These flowers are arranged on structures called cones.
Eg: Cycas.
Angiosperms: These plants produce fruits with seeds in them. Most of the plants belong to this group. These plants are useful for human beings for ex- Mangoes, tomatoes, beans, rice, coconut. This Angiosperm is divided again in to two categories.
1.) Monocots.
2.) Diocots
Monocots: The plants which contain one seed in their is called Monocots.
For example: Rice, Jowar
Diocots: The plants which contains two or more seeds in them is called as Diocots.
Ex: Beans.
Cryptogams: We can find these plants in our surroundings. As these donot have flowers. These are called as Non flowering plants or Cryptogams.
Basically plants are classified on their size. They are
- Herbs.
- Shrubs.
- Trees.
Herbs: These are small plants. They grow in height of 3-4 meters.
Ex: Paddy, brinjal e.t.c
Shrubs: These plants are in average size with hard stem.
ex: Rose e.t.c
Trees: These are tall plants. They have hard, strong stem which we cannot break with our hands.
Ex: Mango, neem e.t.c
Classification of plants based on their life span:
The plants are also classified in to three categories based on their life span.
- Annual plants
- Biennial plants
- Perennial plants
Annual Plants: The plants which germinate in a year are called Annual plants.
Ex: Beans e.t.c
Biennial plants: The plants which lives in two years are called as Biennial plants.
Ex: Carrot e.t.c
Perennial plants: These plants live for many years.
Ex: Mango, neem , sapota e.t.c