10 ASEXUAL PLANTS AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS - BIOLOGY - 2024

The asexual plants are known under this name for its ability to reproduce asexually, or alone; The intervention of flowers, fertilization or sexual nuclei of the plant is not necessary. From mitotic cell development, a complete individual can be generated identical to its parent.

Asexual reproduction in plants can be carried out through two methods: vegetative multiplication and through cell germs. The first consists of the cellular fragmentation of individuals adapted to the environment whose conditions guarantee the development of new ones. The stem cell of individuals divides, multiplying the species in the environment.

Solanum tuberosum, an asexual plant.

In the second method, the germs are produced internally by each individual and expelled by spores that settle and guarantee the development of a new genetically identical individual. Asexual reproduction is summarized in the ability of the plant to generate its own offspring.

As genetic processes that are repeated over and over again in new individuals are involved, it has been considered that any condition that falls on an asexual plant will affect everyone around it in the same way, given the same genetic writing and, therefore, same strengths and weaknesses.

List of asexual plants

Green algae (Chlorophyta

They are a group that includes more than 10,000 species, with a unicellular or multicellular structure; related to terrestrial plants and to a global marine habitat condition for only 10% of species.

Green algae reproduce asexually through the formation and displacement of spores that will later generate new identical individuals.

Some species have the ability to reproduce sexually or asexually (gamete or wait), depending on the division carried out by their mother cell.

Cactus (Cacteae)

This variety of cactus belongs to the Cacteceae family, and they are mainly found in American lands (United States and Mexico).

They can be reproduced individually, or with the help of several grouped individuals. They can be varied in size and produce juicy flowers and fruits.

Many genera and species start from this variety that can vary in shape and size, but maintain similar internal reproduction processes.

Dad (

This plant is known worldwide for its edible tuber, or potato. It belongs to the Solanaceae family.

Native to America, this plant has seen its cultivation domesticated due to the popularity and commercial and nutritional value of its tuber.

It is considered an asexual plant because part of the residual tuber can be used to generate new individuals. They also have the ability to reproduce from seeds they develop.

Sugar cane (

Belonging to the Poacea family, cane is a plant of great popularity and commercial value due to the product that arises from it: sugar.

Sugarcane allows the reproduction and development of similar ones by planting pieces of a previous individual; from this residue another individual grows again.

The ease of multiplication provided by cane allows this industry to be exploited on a massive scale for the production of sugar, reaching up to two tons of sugar for every 20 tons of cane processed.

Aloe (Aloe)

A member of the Xanthorrhoeaceae family, it groups a handful of plants from hot and dry habitats, which are popular for their healing and consumer properties.

They are terrestrial and have a short stem and elongated leaves that store aloe; some species can grow much taller and with a more visible series of fruits.

Aloe vera species, due to their popularity, are usually cultivated domestically or by hand; however, they have their own reproduction mechanisms that allow them to spread in their natural habitat.

Geraniums

Of the more than 400 species recognized in the genus of geraniums, a large number share asexual reproduction behaviors and processes.

Due to the condition that geraniums have to hinder the development of other plant species in the same environment, they must guarantee a rapid propagation of their own.

Geranium seeds are grouped and dispersed through differentiated mechanisms between species, which allows them to cover considerable spaces on which to reproduce. Some species of geraniums are used domestically as sieves.

Willows (Salix)

They are another genus of various species of deciduous trees and shrubs that have the ability to reproduce and spread both asexually and through hybrid crosses.

The willow species that reproduce in a cross-breeding way usually generate hybrid individuals and not genetically identical, as occurs in other asexual reproduction processes.

However, the individual cultivation of these species also allows them to generate new individuals with an identical genetic code. Several species of this genus have become popular for aesthetic use in gardening.

Onion (

As one of the most popular food and commercial plants, controlled onion cultivation is the common denominator today almost all over the world.

The onion has the quality of generating new individuals from the remains of its root, which allows maximizing its domestic or artisan cultivation.

The onion also has seeds that, when sown fresh, can provide positive results at harvest time.

Bad mother (

It is a home grown plant native to South Africa. From its roots it generates new hermaphroditic filaments and branches that continue with the propagation of the individual.

It is considered an invasive and perennial species, so if it is cultivated in some space, it is recommended that it be of limited scope. It does not have a structured stem but rather long leaves.

Gloadiolos (

A genus of plants with unusual and diverse qualities in their different species, which have developed new behaviors depending on the cultivation process to which they are subjected.

Gladioli are considered perennial plants with a high floral incidence. They are native to Europe, Asia and Africa.

Some species resort to propagation and budding processes while others use pollination through external agents.

References

1. Hojsgaard, D., & Hörandl, E. (2015). A little bit of sex matters for genome evolution in asexual plants. Front Plant.
2. Mogie, M. (1992). The evolution of asexual reproduction in plants. London: Chapman & Hall.
3. The Plant List. (2013). Retrieved from The PLant List a Working list of all plant species: theplantlist.org.