THE 10 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MOST RELEVANT PLANTS - BIOLOGY - 2025

Among the main characteristics of plants is the fact that they are living beings. That is, they are born, reproduce, and die. Furthermore, they are autotrophic organisms, which means that they create their own food through photosynthesis.

Plants have no locomotive capacity; that is, they cannot move by themselves. They are attached to the substrate or other structures thanks to their roots. However, they do present movements, such as tropisms and nastias.

Another characteristic of these organisms is that they have particular cells called plant cells, which are endowed with a cell wall that provides rigidity and stability to the body.

Added to this, they can reproduce both sexually and asexually. Some plants are subjected to a complex process called alternation of generations, which is part of their life cycle.

The alternation of generations is a phenomenon that consists of the existence of two consecutive generations of a species: one will reproduce sexually, while the other will reproduce asexually.

The 10 main characteristics of a plant

1- Autotrophic organisms

Plants are autotrophic organisms, so they are capable of synthesizing their own food.

Photosynthesis is the process by which plant organisms produce food substances.

For photosynthesis to take place, the presence of three elements is necessary: ​​sunlight, water and carbon dioxide.

At first, sunlight is transformed into chemical energy, while water molecules separate into hydrogen and oxygen; the latter is released into the environment.

Subsequently, with the intervention of chemical energy, hydrogen joins with carbon dioxide.

The result is one molecule of glucose (food for plants) and six molecules of oxygen that are released into the environment.

2- They present plant cells

Plant cells are called plant cells. These differ from other types of cells because they have a cell wall. This is a rigid membrane made of cellulose.

Thanks to the cell wall, the plant regulates the passage of water and other substances. In addition, the rigidity of the membrane gives stability to the organism.

3- They carry out breathing

In plants, respiration is a process that allows to recover the energy lost during photosynthesis.

To do this, plants oxidize glucose and obtain chemical energy, water and carbon dioxide.

4- Alternation of generations

Many plants go through a complex process called alternation of generations.

It is a cycle in which two different generations of the same species succeed each other. One of the generations will reproduce sexually, while the other will do so asexually.

The process is the following:

- A diploid organism (sporophyte) produces spores. One of these spores germinates and gives rise to a haploid organism. This reproduction is asexual.

- The haploid organism (gametophyte) produces gametes that unite with other gametes, giving rise to a diploid organism, and thus the cycle begins again. This reproduction is sexual.

5- They develop defense mechanisms

Plants develop a series of structures to protect themselves from predators. For example, some cover the stems with thorns and others release repellent or toxic substances.

6- They have a structure formed by root and aerial parts

In general terms, plants are made up of:

- A root, which holds it to the substrate.

- A stem, aerial part of the plant that provides support to the other structures of the same (leaves, fruits, among others).

- Leaves, which are aerial structures endowed with chloroplasts that allow photosynthesis to take place.

7- They have conductive tissues

Higher plants have conductive tissues. These can be of two types:

- Xylem, the woody tissue that carries raw sap.

- Phloem, the tissue that carries the processed sap.

8- They produce flowers and fruits

Flowers are reproductive organs of the plant. When these are fertilized, they are transformed into fruits.

These are containers of seeds, covered with meatiness, like the apple; or woody tissue, such as acorns.

9- Endowed with sensitivity

Plants are sensitive to changes that occur within themselves, as well as changes in environmental conditions.

This element is present in all living beings and is essential because it allows organisms to detect failures in their functioning, to be aware of environmental changes and to adapt to them, among other actions.

The receptor organisms of plants are less specialized than those of animals. However, they are efficient at detecting variations in atmospheric pressure, temperature and light.

10- Lacking locomotion, but they do present movements

Plants are not endowed with locomotive structures, because they are usually attached to the substrate thanks to the root.

However, they present a series of movements. Some of these are tropisms and nastias.

Tropisms

Tropisms are movements that the plant makes in response to an external stimulus. The type of movement carried out is orientation, which means that the individual is directed towards the source of the stimulus or away from it.

Two types of tropisms are distinguished:

- Positive, when the structure of the organism approaches the stimulus.

- Negative, when it is directed in the opposite direction to the stimulus.

If the type of stimulus is taken into account, one can talk about:

- Phototropism, if the stimulus is light.

- Geotropism, if the stimulus is the force of gravity.

- Haptotropism, when it is produced by contact with other individuals or objects.

Nastias

Nastias are also responses to external stimuli. They differ from tropisms because the movement generated is not orientation. They may be:

- Photonastias, movements caused by light. An example of this is the opening and closing of the flowers according to the solar intensity.

- Haptonastias, which occur when an external agent grazes the plant. For example, carnivorous plants close their traps when they sense something has landed on them.

- Nictinastias, caused by the passage from day to night and vice versa. Many plants go into prostration at night and then rise in the day.

References

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