Plant

Plants are a group of diverse, mostly photosynthetic eukaryotes that live primarily on land and in aquatic environments. They share features such as chloroplasts containing chlorophyll, cell walls made of cellulose, and the ability to form sessile, multicellular structures. Most land plants undergo embryonic development in protected tissues, a trait called embryophyte.

They range from small bryophytes like mosses to towering trees. They are classified into major groups: non-vascular bryophytes (mosses, liverworts, hornworts) and vascular plants, which include lycophytes, ferns, gymnosperms (conifers, cycads) and angiosperms (flowering plants). Vascular plants have specialized tissues: xylem transports water and minerals; phloem distributes sugars. Roots anchor plants and absorb water; leaves drive photosynthesis; stems provide support and transport.

Reproduction and life cycles vary; many plants alternate between haploid and diploid generations. Most flowering plants produce seeds enclosed in fruits; pollen enables fertilization via wind, animals, or water. Spores occur in non-seed plants.

Plants are foundational to ecosystems as primary producers, forming the base of most terrestrial and many aquatic food webs. They influence climate through carbon sequestration and influence soil structure and water cycles. They also form symbiotic relationships with fungi and microorganisms.

Humans rely on plants for food, medicine, materials, and aesthetic value. Agriculture and horticulture involve breeding and cultivation of crops. Conservation concerns include habitat loss, invasive species, climate change, and overharvesting; many plants are threatened or endangered.