How Are Plants Sorted Into Groups?

Scientists sort plants into different groups, just like they do animals.

Nonvascular plants do not have true roots, stems, or leaves because they don’t have veins.

Because they absorb water and food from their surroundings, they cannot grow very tall.

Vascular plants have tissue that supports the plants and carries water and food.

Because of the vascular tissue, vascular plants may grow quite large.

Xylem carries water and food from the roots to other parts of the plant.

There are two types of vascular tissue.

Phloem carries food from the leaves to the rest of the plant.

Non-seed bearing

Vascular plants are again divided into two groups:

Seed bearing

Non-flowering

Once again seed bearing plants are broken into two smaller groups:

Flowering

Non-flowering plants are called gymnosperms; they produce “naked” seeds.

Flowering plants are called angiosperms; they produce seeds protected by a fruit.

An angiosperm’s “fruit” can take many forms.

Vascular tissue, seeds, and fruit all provide advantages to plants; 86% of all plants are angiosperms.