Plant DiversityBotany Basics |
What are the phyla of plants? |
The phyla—the major species of an organism—of plants include a multitude of species, all varying in characteristics, function, and number. The following lists the many phyla of plants (note: this is only one plant classification system—many others exist):
Phyla |
Number of Species |
Characteristics |
Example |
Bryophyta |
12,000 |
Nonvascular |
Mosses |
Hepaticophyta |
6,500 |
Nonvascular |
Liverworts |
Anthocerotophyta |
100 |
Nonvascular |
Hornworts |
Psilophyta |
6 |
Vascular, homosporous, no differentiation between root and shoot |
Whisk ferns |
Lycophyta |
1,000 |
Vascular, homosporous or heterosporous |
Club mosses |
Arthrophyta |
15 |
Vascular, homosporous |
Horsetails |
Pterophyta |
12,000 |
Vascular, homosporous |
Ferns |
Cycadophyta |
100 |
Vascular, heterosporous, seed-forming |
Cycads (commonly known as “sago palms”) |
Ginkgophyta |
1 |
Vascular, heterosporous, seed-forming, deciduous tree |
Ginkgo |
Gnetophyta |
70 |
Vascular, heterosporous, seed-forming |
Ephedra, shrubs, vines |
Coniferophyta |
550 |
Vascular, heterosporous, seed-forming |
Conifers (pines, spruces, firs, yews, and redwoods) |
Anthophyta |
240,000 |
Vascular, heterosporous, seed-forming |
Flowering plants |