To continue expanding your knowledge about basic botany we wanted to offer you this summary about phanerogamic plants or spermatophytes. In fact, by translating this last name by which this group of plants is also known, we can discover where its vital importance lies. The word spermatophyte means translates literally as "seed plants”. This comes from the union of two Greek words: sperma which means seed and phyton which means plant. We can find very varied phanerogam plants, from terrestrial to marine plants, since plants with seeds are a very large group.
Next, we will answer key questions to understand well the ecological and crucial value of these plants, in addition to adding a list of examples so that you are able to identify them clearly. Read on if you want to discover what are phanerogamic plants, their characteristics and examples.
What are Phanerogamic Plants
Inside of the group of phanerogamic plants, also known as spermatophytes or seed plants, there are two of the great groups of plants that populate our planet: angiosperms and gymnosperms. We recommend you discover more about this type of plants with these other articles about What are angiosperms plants, What are gymnosperms plants and the Difference between angiosperms and gymnosperms. We will even find several species of ferns within this classification known as Pteridosperms. Many of the fern species belonging to this classification are found within the group of fossil plants, hence many forget that they are part of the phanerogamic plants.
Another important fact to comment is that there are certain varieties of phanerogamic plants that have adapted to the aquatic environment. These grow in shallow areas of warm-water oceans, as in the Mediterranean Sea. In fact, they are an essential source for many species of living beings, from small organisms to other living beings, such as fish or man.
Refering to reproduction of phanerogamic plants we will find, in the case of angiosperms, a first group capable of creating flowers for their reproduction. In this way, the seed is the product of pollination. However, we also find plants within the phanerogams that reproduce asexually. The seed, an organ that characterizes spermatophytes or phanerogams, is made up of three layers. In the first stage is the embryo, in the second it is composed of tissues with nutritional properties that help the embryo to grow and develop during the first stage and, finally, in the third is the protective layer that is responsible for inducing the germination of the plant when the optimal conditions for its development are met. We recommend you learn more about The parts of the seed and their functions with this other post.
The importance of phanerogamic plants It not only resides, as in most cases, in its ornamental value, but also in being part of the progress of civilization. These are not only capable of giving us food, such as fruit or cereal, but they also produce energy and medicinal drinks, such as coffee or tea. Moreover, many of them produce materials with which wood and resins are produced, as well as cotton and dyes, essential for the textile industry.
Characteristics of phanerogamic plants
These are the main characteristics of plants phanerogams:
- The main characteristic of spermatophytes is their ability to produce seeds. Seeds are the product of pollination: the union phase between the female and male cells.
- Phanerogamic plants are one of the most common plant groups on the planet. These are distributed throughout the earth, being able to adapt to very diverse climates.
- Do phanerogamic plants form flowers? The truth is that within the phanerogamic plants we will find some capable of producing flowers, such as those belonging to the group of angiosperms. In the same way, there are also gymnosperms that, even without being able to produce flowers, create an elaborate support to protect the seed.
- Phanerogamic plants have chloroplasts that contain chlorophyll. Therefore, all of them can carry out photosynthesis to convert sunlight into a source of energy with which to produce their own food.
- Most of the phanerogamic plants have a highly developed vascular tissue. That is, they have both xylem and tracheids, as well as other secondary growth tissues.
Examples of phanerogamic plants
To finish, we mention several examples of plants phanerogams:
- Abies alba or fir
- Acorus gramineus or grasshopper
- Allium cepa or onion
- Antirrhinum majus or snapdragon
- Bougainvillea or bougainvillea
- Cichorium endivia L. or endive
- Chrysanthemum or chrysanthemum
- Cycadophyta or cycad
- Cyclamen or cyclamen
- Cedrus deodara or Himalayan cedar
- Dahlia or dahlia
- Dianthus caryophyllus or carnation
- Erythronium or dog's tooth
- Fritillaria imperialis or imperial crown
- Ginkgo biloba or gingko
- Helianthus annuus or sunflower
- Hibiscus or hibiscus
- Illicium verum or star anise
- Juniperus communis or juniper
- Juniperus phoenicea or sabina roma
- Pinus pinea or stone pine
- Laurus nobilis or common laurel
- Lactuca sativa L. or lettuce
- Lilium candidum or lily
- Magnolia stellata or star magnolia
- Musa x paradisiaca or banana tree
- Nymphaea termarum or water lily
- Oryza sativa or rice
- Piper nigrum L. or black pepper
- Persea americana or avocado
- Sequoia sempervirens or redwood
- Taxus baccata or yew
- Zantedeschia aethiopica or cove
- Zea mays or corn
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