Sub-kingdom: phanerogamae (phanero-visible, gamous-gametes/reproductive parts)

• This subkingdom includes plants that bear external flowers and able to produce seeds.
• The reproductive parts are well developed in these plants.
• They reproduce through the formation of seeds which consist of embryo.
• The further classification depends upon the presence of naked seeds or seeds enclosed in fruits.

• The plant body is well-differentiated into root, stem and leaves.
• Vascular system (xylem and phloem) is well developed.
• An embryo develops from fertilized egg.

Division Gymnosperm: (Gymno-Naked, Sperm-Seed)

• They are most primitive and simple seed bearing plants.
• The seeds produced by these plants are naked, i.e., not enclosed within fruits.
• Plants of this group are woody, perennial and evergreen.
• Vascular system is well developed but xylem tissue lacks vessels and phloem tissue lacks companion cells.
• Sporophylls (spore bearing leaves) aggregate to form cones. There are separate male and female cones.

Examples:

• cycas, deodar, pinus etc.

Division Angiosperm: (Angio-Case/Covered, Sperm-Seed):

• Angiosperms are highly evolved plants having well differentiated body with developed vascular system.
• They produce seeds that are enclosed within the fruit. Seeds are comprised of embryo that has precursor tissues for the development of plant.
• Plant embryos in seeds are covered with structures called cotyledons.
• Cotyledons are also known as seed leaves as they emerge as green leaves when the seeds germinate.
• Angiosperms are further classified on the basis of number of seeds.

Monocotyledous (Monocot):

• The seeds of these plants have only one cotyledon.
• Their leaves have parallel venation.
• The root system consists of similar fibrous roots.
• The flowers are trimerous, i.e., have there or multiple of three petals.

Example:

• Maize, wheat, rice, barley, bamboo, coconut, banana, sugarcane etc.

Dicotyledonous (Dicots)

• The seeds produced by these plants have embryos with two fleshy leaves, i.e., the cotyledons.
• Their leaves have reticulate venation, with a network of veins.
• The root system has a prominent tap root.

Examples:

• Pea, potato, sunflower, banyan, margosa (neem), apple, mango, beans, gram, oak etc.

Comparison of monocots and dicots