Plant Divisions (Phyla)



In botany, the equivalent of a Phylum is called a Division. The Kingdom Plantae is divided into 14 Divisions. A Division (pl. Phyla) is the largest formal major grouping within plant taxonomy below Kingdom.

This list is presented in alphabetical order, and not in any systematic/evolutionary arrangement.

Science is by no means static. There are arguments of all sizes and shapes about the taxonomy of the Plant Divisions. Other sources may combine or split these listed Divisions. However, at this time, the list presented here should stand in good stead for an introduction to the topic of plant diversity.

There are approximately 250,000 plant species that have been described by science.

This list tries to give the following information on each Division:
 * Division Name
 * A link to a subpage discussing that Phylum in more detail (if it yet exists)
 * Name Meaning (in English)
 * An English Common Name, where one is in regular use
 * Distinguishing characteristics of plants within the Division
 * An approximate number of species described within that Division. Since botany does not stand still, this number can change.

You can also see Introduction to Taxonomy for more on that topic.

Anthocerotophyta
/Anthocerotophyta/

Name Meaning: Anthoceros-like plant

English Common Name: Hornworts

Major distinguishing characteristics: Horn-shaped sporophytes, no vascular system

Approximate number of species described: 100-300 or more

Bryophyta
/Bryophyta/

Name Meaning: Bryum-like plant, moss plant

English Common Name: Mosses

Major distinguishing characteristics: Persistent unbranched sporophytes, no vascular system

Approximate number of species described: 12,000

Charophyta
/Charophyta/

Name Meaning: Chara-like plant

English Common Name: Charophytes

Major distinguishing characteristics:

Approximate number of species described: 1,000

Chlorophyta
/Chlorophyta/

Name Meaning: Yellow-green plant

English Common Name: Chlorophytes

Major distinguishing characteristics: mainly autotrophs with exceptions and have the same chlorophyll a and b pigments as "higher" plant divisions

Approximate number of species described: 8,000

Cycadophyta
/Cycadophyta/

Name Meaning: Cycas-like plant, palm-like plant

English Common Name: Cycads

Major distinguishing characteristics: Seeds, crown of compound leaves

Approximate number of species described: 100 - 200

Ginkgophyta
/Ginkgophyta/

Name Meaning: Ginkgo-like plant

English Common Name: Ginkgo, maidenhair tree

Major distinguishing characteristics: Seeds not protected by fruit

Approximate number of species described: 1 living, about 50 extinct

Glaucophyta
/Glaucophyta/

Name Meaning: Blue-green plant

English Common Name: Glaucophytes

Major distinguishing characteristics:

Approximate number of species described: 13

Gnetophyta
/Gnetophyta/

Name Meaning: Gnetum-like plant

English Common Name: Gnetophytes

Major distinguishing characteristics: Seeds and woody vascular system with vessels.

Approximate number of species described: 70

Lycopodiophyta (Lycophyta)
/Lycopodiophyta (Lycophyta)/

Name Meaning: Lycopodium-like plants, wolf plant

English Common Name: Clubmosses, spikemosses

Major distinguishing characteristics: Microphyll leaves, vascular system

Approximate number of species described: 1290 living

Magnoliophyta (Anthophyta)
/Magnoliophyta/

Name Meaning: Magnolia-like plant

English Common Name: Flowering plants, angiosperms

Major distinguishing characteristics: Flowers and fruit, vascular system with vessels

Approximate number of species described: 300,000

Marchantiophyta (Hepatophyta)
/Marchantiophyta (Hepatophyta)/

Name Meaning: Marchantia-like plant, liver plant

English Common Name: Liverworts

Major distinguishing characteristics: Ephemeral unbranched sporophytes, no vascular system

Approximate number of species described: 9,000

Pinophyta (Coniferophyta)
/Pinophyta (Coniferophyta)/

Name Meaning: Pinus-like plant, cone-bearing plant

English Common Name: Conifers

Major distinguishing characteristics: Cones containing seeds and wood composed of tracheids

Approximate number of species described: 629 living

Polypodiophyta (Monilophyta)
Polypodiophyta (Monilophyta)

Once called Pteridophyta (out-dated! The sub-devisions Lycopodiophyta and Euphyllophytina have been differentiated)

Name Meaning: Many foot plant, Polypodium-like plant

English Common Name: ferns, horsetails

Major distinguishing characteristics: Prothallus gametophytes, vascular system

Approximate number of species described: 9,000

Other Resources

 * Tree of Life, Green Plants
 * Encyclopedia of life, Plantae
 * Animal Phyla a companion piece to this one