plante

Plante is the term used for the organisms commonly known as plants. In biology, plants are a diverse group of mostly photosynthetic, multicellular eukaryotes that form the base of most terrestrial ecosystems. They range from microscopic mosses to giant trees and occupy land, freshwater, and some brackish environments. Most plants are stationary, rely on sunlight for energy, and produce organic matter that supports other life through food and oxygen generation.

Key characteristics include cellulose-containing cell walls, chloroplasts with chlorophyll for photosynthesis, and growth at meristems that allow continuous development. Most plants are autotrophic, but some parasitic or mycoheterotrophic species obtain nutrients from other organisms. Reproduction varies across lineages, with many undergoing alternation of generations, alternating between multicellular haploid and diploid phases.

Classification typically divides plants into four broad groups: bryophytes (mosses, liverworts, hornworts), which are non-vascular and reproduce via spores; pteridophytes (ferns and their relatives), which are vascular but do not produce seeds; gymnosperms (conifers and allies), which bear naked seeds; and angiosperms (flowering plants), which produce seeds enclosed in fruits and represent the most diverse group. Seed plants rely on pollen for sperm transfer and, in angiosperms, on flowers and fruits for reproduction and dispersal.

Ecologically, plants are primary producers, converting light energy into chemical energy and supporting terrestrial and many aquatic food webs. They provide food, fiber, medicine, habitat, and aesthetic value. Human societies depend on plants for nutrition, materials, and ecological services, while conservation challenges include habitat loss, climate change, invasive species, and overexploitation.