CBSE Biology Experiment Study The Characteristics of Members of Plant Kingdom

Biology Experiment - Study The Characteristics Of Members Of  Plant Kingdom

We can see plants all around us; they are the reason for the sustenance of life on earth as they are the only producers in our ecosystem. Classification of plants is done into five major divisions, i.e., thallophytes, bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms. Plants are classified into these divisions based on their cell type, body structure, ability to bear flowers and whether their seeds are naked or covered. In this experiment, we will collect the plant specimens and observe the specimens under a microscope. Observation will be made based on the anatomical and morphological characters of the Plant specimen.

Table of Contents

• Aim

• Apparatus required

• Theory

• Procedure

• Observations

• Result

• Precaution 

Aim

To study the characteristics of Bryophytes, Saprophytic plants, and Pinus. Also draw and give identifying features of the group.

Materials Required

Moss, fungi, Pinus Cone (male or female), Compound microscope, slides and coverslips.

Theory

Classification of Plants

Classification of Plants

Kingdom Plantae

• Autotrophic

• Non-motile

• Reproduce sexually, asexually and vegetatively

Subkingdom- Cryptogamae

• Less advanced plants with root like,and leaf like structures.

• Absence of flower and seed.

Division

1. Thallophyta

• Absence of true roots.

• Absence of vascular tissues.

• Example- Algae and Fungi.

2. Bryophyta

• Thallus is like a plant body.

• Presence of rhizoids, which are unicellular or multicellular.

• Amphibians of plant kingdom 

• Example- Moss, Liverworts and Hornworts.

3. Pteridophyta

• Presence of vascular tissues.

• Plant body possesses true roots, leaves and stem.

• Example- Fern, Lycopodium.

Subkingdom- Phanerogamae

• Presence of seed, flowers and well developed vascular systems are the characteristic features of phanerogams. 

Division

1. Spermatophyta

• Plants possess root, stem, leaves and seed bearing structure.

• They have highly developed vascular tissue xylem with both xylem tissue and tracheids.

1. Sub-Division- Gymnosperm

• Do not produce flowers.

• Presence of naked seed.

• They form cones with reproductive structures.

• Example- Cycas, Pinus.

2. Sub-Division- Angiosperm

• All plants bear flowers.

• Seeds are enclosed inside fruits.

• Presence of true vascular tissues, xylem and phloem.

•  Complex root system is present.

• Example- Mango, Banana.

Procedure

1. Gather the plant specimen with the help of your teacher.

2. Put some moss on the clear glass slide, cover it with a cover slide and observe it. Note the characters and make a well-labeled diagram.

3. Put the fungi specimen on a clear glass slide and then cover it with a cover slip. Note the characters and make a well labeled diagram.

4. Observe the given specimen of Pinus and take a note of their characteristics. Draw a well labeled pinus cone diagram.

Observation

1.  Moss

Identifying Characters

• Absence of roots.

• Presence of rhizoids.

• Gametophyte contains small green leaves which are spirally arranged.

• Seta (stem-like structure in the sporophyte) are very weak and generally greenish to brown.

• Presence of unbranched stems.

• Reproduces through spores.

• Sporophyte is made up of foot, seta and capsule.

Moss

2. Fungus

Identifying Characters

• Filamentous in structure.

• They are formed of thread-like structures called hyphae. Network of hyphae forms a mesh-like structure called mycelium.

• Cell wall is composed of chitin.

• Absence of chloroplast. Therefore doesn’t perform photosynthesis.

• Grow on dead and decaying matter. That means plants bearing saprophytic modes of nutrition.

• Spore formation takes place for reproduction.

• Absence of vascular tissues.

Fungus

3. Pinus

Identifying Characters

• Plant body differentiated into stem, root and leaves,

• Shows a well-developed tap root system.

• Presence of seed, not enclosed in fruits.

Male Cone

• Male cone is brown in color and oval in shape.

• Male cones are found in clusters on long branches.

• Contains microsporophyll arranged spirally around the axis. 

• Number of winged microspores present in microsporangia.

Male cone of Pinus.

Female Cone

• Size of a female cone of Pinus varies with age. The cones are very small in the first year, but as they age, they become large and woody and are made of megasporophylls.

• Female cones consist of a short axis around which the megasporophyll are spirally arranged, and each megasporophyll contains two ovules on the upper surface.

Female cone of Pinus.

Results

Precautions

1. Make sure that the glass slides are properly cleaned.

2. Make sure that the coverslips are not dirty.

3. Make sure to stain the specimen to observe a better structure of the specimen.

4. Make sure to set the microscope properly.

Lab Manual Questions

1. What do the cones of the Pinus plant represent?

Ans:  Cones of Pinus represent the reproductive parts of the plant. The male cone is smaller in size and the female cones are larger in size.

2.  Describe the common function of roots and rhizoids.

Ans: The common function of roots and rhizoids are as follows-

• They help in attachment to the substratum.

• They help in absorption of minerals and water.

3. Why are fungi not green in color?

Ans:  The fungi are not green in color because of the absence of a pigment called chlorophyll in their cell.They follow saprophytic mode of nutrition as they feed on dead and decaying matter.

4. What is that mesh-like structure present in Fungi?

Ans:  Fungus bodies consist of thread-like structures called hyphae. These hyphae form a mesh-like structure called mycelium.

Viva Questions

1. Name the amphibians of the plant kingdom.

Ans: Bryophytes are the amphibians of the plant kingdom.

2. What is the economic importance of cones?

Ans: The cone of Pinus can be used for timber and resin.

3. Which plants are known as flowering plants?

Ans: Angiosperms are flowering plants.

4. Who proposed the five kingdom classification?

Ans: R.H. Whittaker gave the 5 kingdom classification.

5.  Name two thallophyta plants.

Ans: Spirogyra, Chara.

6. What type of mode of nutrition is seen in Fungus?

Ans: Saprophytic mode of nutrition because they feed on dead matter.

7.What are sporangiophores?  

Ans: Sporangiophores are stalk-like structures which bear at their tips the sporangia which contains spores.

8. Name the sub-kingdom of the division Bryophyta.

Ans: Cryptogamae.

9.Give the common name of Agaricus.

Ans: Common name of Agaricus is Mushroom.

10.What is common in thallophytes?

Ans: They have thallus bodies. The body is not differentiated in root, stem and leaves.

Practical Based Questions

1. Some students want to prepare a temporary mount of Moss. Where should they search for a fresh specimen?

1. In a pond of a salty water

2. In a pond of stagnant dirty water

3. At a dry in background

4. At a shady and moist area 

Ans: At a shady and moist area

2.  Which of the following identifies a  gymnosperm?

1. Naked seeds

2. Rhizoids present

3. Chlorophyll absent

4. Does not possess a vascular bundle.

Ans: Naked seed

3. Thallophytes include:-

1. Seed bearing plant

2. Algae

3. Ferns and their species

4. Mosses and liverworts.

Ans: Algae

4. Study of Fungus:-

1. Algology

2. Microbiology

3. Phycology

4.  Mycology

Ans: Mycology

5.  Underground stems in pteridophytes are known as:-

1. Rhizoids

2. Rhizome

3. Tube

4. Bract

Ans: Rhizome

6. Which of the following is a structure storing spores?

1. Sporophyll

2. Sporangia

3. Spermatophyte

4. Gametophyte

Ans: Sporangia

7. Which of the following possess mega and microsporophyll?

1. Neem

2. Moss

3. Agaricus

4. Pinus

Ans: Pinus

8. Mosses are

1. Monoecious

2. Dioecious

3. Both (a) and (b)

4. None of these

Ans: Monoecious

9. Which of the following have enclosed seeds?

1. Angiosperm

2. Gymnosperm

3. Pteridophyte

4. Bryophyte

Ans:  Angiosperm

10.  What is the needle shaped structure in the Pinus plant?

1. Leaf

2. Shoot

3. Stem

4. Reproductive part

Ans: Leaf

Summary

Plants are eukaryotic, multicellular and autotrophic. Classification of plants is based on the proper development of the body, the presence or absence of vascular tissues, open or enclosed seeds and flowering or non-flowering plants. Under kingdom plantae, there are two sub-kingdom, Cryptogams and Phanerogamae. Total 5 divisions are there, bryophyta, pteridophyta, thallophyta, gymnosperm and angiosperm.