Question

Describe the characteristics of division Thallophyta with examples.

Answer 1

Thallophyta

It includes the most primitive and simple plants. The plants in this group are commonly called algae.

The characteristics of division Thallophyta are-

1. They are aquatic — found in moist or wet places. Some are terrestrial.
2. They do not have a well-differentiated body. They are seen in the form of the undivided thallus. Thallus can be unbranched filaments in Ulothrix and Spirogyra, the thallus is branched filaments in Cladophora and Chara and the thallus is parenchymatous in Ulva.
3. They are autotrophic and the reserve food is generally Starch.
4. Their cell wall is made up of cellulose.
5. Mechanical and conducting elements are absent in Thallophyta. In other words, they have a non-vascular system.
6. There is no embryo formation after fertilization.
7. Examples are Ulothrix, Cladophora, Chara, Spirogyra, and Ulva, etc.