Whittaker's Five Kingdom Classification
A classification system proposed by Whittaker in 1969 that includes the kingdoms Monera, Protista, Fungi, Animalia, and Plantae.
Plantae
The kingdom consisting of all plants, which is further classified into groups like Algae, Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms and Angiosperms.
Natural Classification Systems
Classification systems that consider both external and internal features and are based on natural affinities among organisms.
Numerical Taxonomy
A system of classification that assigns numbers and codes to observable characteristics, processing data to give equal weight to each character.
Cytotaxonomy
A classification based on cytological information such as chromosome number and structure.
Algae
Chlorophyll-bearing, simple, autotrophic, and largely aquatic organisms, which can reproduce vegetatively, asexually, and sexually.
Isogamous reproduction
A form of sexual reproduction where the gametes are similar in size and shape.
Anisogamous reproduction
A form of sexual reproduction involving gametes of different sizes.
Oogamous reproduction
A type of sexual reproduction involving a large non-motile female gamete and a smaller motile male gamete.
Chlorophyceae
A class of green algae that have chlorophyll a and b, and are commonly found in a variety of habitats.
Phaeophyceae
A class of brown algae primarily found in marine environments, known for their size and complex carbohydrates storage.
Rhodophyceae
A class of red algae characterized by the presence of red pigments, especially phycoerythrin.
Bryophytes
Non-vascular plants such as mosses and liverworts that require water for sexual reproduction.
Gamete
A mature sexual reproductive cell, male (antherozoid) or female (egg), that fuses to form a zygote.
Sporophyte
The diploid phase in plants that develops from the zygote and produces spores.
Heterospory
The production of two different types of spores, macro and microspores, in plants.
Gymnosperms
Plants that produce naked seeds which are not enclosed by an ovary wall.
Angiosperms
Flowering plants where seeds are enclosed in fruits, classified into dicotyledons and monocotyledons.
Prothallus
The gametophyte of pteridophytes, typically a small, heart-shaped structure from which the sporophyte develops.
Fragmentation
A method of vegetative reproduction where a plant breaks into fragments, each capable of growing into a new individual.
Zygote
A fertilized egg formed from the fusion of male and female gametes.
Sphagnum
A type of moss important for soil formation and water retention, often used as fuel and packing material.
Peat
Accumulated decomposed plant material from mosses, especially sphagnum, used for fuel and horticultural purposes.