What are plants

We generally recognize plants as living beingsgenerally green, which have adapted to the environment where they live and that, almost always, is fixed on the ground. However, one of the characteristics of the most outstanding plants is that They do not need to feed on other living beings To get the energy they need to survive. His method to achieve that contribution is through a function called photosynthesis.

This process, exclusive to them, is carried out through plant cells, called chloroplasts, which carry a substance called chlorophyll. Thanks to it, the plant will capture solar energy. To this is added the collection of water, mineral salts and coal dioxide, necessary to produce organic matter for subsistence.

Among the diverse Plants functionsmost importantly, during the process of photosynthesis, Plants give off oxygen to the atmosphere, vital for the rest of living beings that populate the earth.

To learn more about the functions of vegetables, we encourage you to read this other post about the importance of plants. In addition, to better understand what plants are, we advise you to read this article about the Planee Kingdom: what is, characteristics, classification and examples.

Now that you know what plants and their general functions are for life, we will know more detail the plant and its specific parts.

Most plants have three big parts in which they coincide: roots, stem and leaves. However, some also have flowers and fruits, with their seeds inside and others do not have these structures or present them different.

Learn a little more about the plants and their parts With this summary:

• The roots: They are the underground organ of the plant, whose main function is to absorb water and nutrients from the soil, as well as provide a solid grip. Here you can read more about the parts of the root and their functions.
• The stem: It is the part of the plant that has the function of providing structure and support to the rest of the air organs, such as leaves and flowers or fruits. Know better the stem and their functions with this post.
• The leaves: They are responsible for manufacturing food for the plant from the elements absorbed by roots and sunlight, through the process of photosynthesis. In addition, they are also responsible for perspiration and breathing. In this link you will see more about the parts of a sheet and its functions.
• We finally have The flowers: which are a vital part of the sexual reproduction of angiosperms. Fertilized flowers will lead to fruitsthat protect The seeds while these are formed and will then help propagate them. In these other links you will learn more about what are the parts of a flower and their functions, the parts of the seed and their functions and the parts of the fruit and their functions.

Now that you know more about plants and their parts, you can find more details about the parts of a plant and their functions in another article and this video of Ecology Verde.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gns9im61baq

To help recognize the different Types of plants That there are on our planet we offer you a simple classification of them, so that you identify them and know of a single glance:

Green algae

This type of plant, although they are within the protist kingdom, are considered Primal plants being the first organisms of the Earth to perform photosynthesis. Discover more about what are green algae, characteristics, types and examples, here.

Embriophytes

Commonly known as Terrestrial plantsthey are those that grow and feed on the earth’s soil. These are divided into two sub-classifications: vascular and non-vascular.

• Vascular or upper plants: This type of plants are formed natural parts (root, stem, leaves, seed, flower and fruit) and vascular tissue to be able to transport nutrients. In turn, vascular plants include: pteridophytes and spermatophytes. Within the latter they are classified as angiosperms and gymnosperms.
• Non -vascular: As their own indicates they lack a vascular tissue and, usually, they do not have the physical constitution. Within this group are some algae and the ferns.

If you want to know more, do not miss this article about the difference between vascular and non -vascular plants.

Briophytes

The habitat of this type of plants, mosses mainly, usually requires areas with high humidity and use surfaces such as tree trunks, rocks. Similarly, there are also species that prefer mountain areas and low temperatures.

In this other post you will see more information about the briophyte plants: examples and characteristics.

There is one Classification of plants According to aspects related to its reproduction, which focuses together are gym or angiosperms:

• Gymnosperms: Those plants that have a woody trunk, seeds such as flowers, and usually develop in regions with cold or tempered climate. They are usually perennial. This group belongs species such as cypresses, pines or secuoyas. Expand this information with this post about gymnosperms plants: which are, characteristics and examples.
• Angiosperms: They are distinguished by being plants with colorful flowers, seeds and fruits. Another of its main characteristics is that the ovule is protected by fruit and this can even contain several seeds. They are the most abundant type of plants on the planet. By clicking here you will see more information about angiosperms plants: what are, characteristics and examples.

To finish understanding this classification, we also recommend you read this other article about the difference between angiosperms and gymnosperms.

We call carnivorous plants to those species that They have evolved and developed the ability to obtain nutrients through digestion of insects and even small mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

Their techniques and strategies are very varied, usually using the production of sticky and rich substances in sugars to attract insects to their different traps, in which they will be absorbed and digested.

Learn much more about them knowing these 9 types of carnivorous plants and their characteristics.

He use of medicinal plants It goes back to prehistory. The different plant species whose use is beneficial to human health are known as medicinal plants. It can be used directly consumed as food, in infusions or even by direct application in the skin.

In general, The industry uses its essential extracts or oilsof much greater power and that should not be used without specific training, so it is vital to follow the indications of the doctor when consuming them.

If you are interested in entering more in the world of this type of plants, here are some ecology guides with 50 Mexican medicinal plants and what they are for and another 60 medicinal plants in Peru and what they are for.

If you want to read more articles similar to What are plantswe recommend that you enter our biology category.