Difference Between Thallophyta and Pteridophyta

The key difference between thallophyta and pteridophyta is that the thallophyta is a group of non-mobile organisms that possess a thallus-like undifferentiated body while the pteridophyta is a group of vascular plants that possess a plant body differentiated into true stem, roots, and leaves.

Thallophyta and pteridophyta are two groups of organisms. Thallophyta comprises non-mobile organisms that do not possess a differentiated plant body. They have a simple thallus-like body. Furthermore, they don’t have vascular tissue. They are mostly found in aquatic environments. On the other hand, pteridophyta comprises of plants that have differentiated complex plant bodies. They are vascular plants and possess true leaves, stem, and roots. These plants are mostly terrestrial and seen in damp and shady places.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Thallophyta
3. What is Pteridophyta
4. Similarities Between Thallophyta and Pteridophyta
5. Side by Side Comparison – Thallophyta vs Pteridophyta in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Thallophyta?

Thallophyta is a group of non-motile organisms that are nonvascular primitive or lower plants. They possess a thallus-like undifferentiated plant body. Hence, they do not have true leaves, stem, and roots.

This group includes mainly fungi, lichens, and algae. They are mostly found in both freshwater and marine water environments. These plants also show alternation of generation. Furthermore, their sex organs are unicellular.

What is Pteridophyta?

Pteridophytes are the first true land plants. They are a group of vascular plants that are seedless. They reproduce via spores. Furthermore, they possess differentiated and erect plant bodies that have true leaves, true stem, and true roots. Ferns, horsetails, and lycophytes are the three major groups of pteridophytes. Lycophytes include club mosses, quillworts and spike mosses.

In addition, pteridophytes show alternation of generations. Their sporophytic generation is dominant over the gametophytic generation. Moreover, one of the prominent characteristics of pteridophytes is circinate vernation. Young leaves of pteridophytes show circinate vernation. Sex organs of the pteridophytes are multicellular, unlike thallophytes.

What are the Similarities Between Thallophyta and Pteridophyta?

• Thallophyta and pteridophyta are two groups of organisms.
• In addition, they are autotrophs.
• Also, they do not produce seeds, fruits or flowers.
• They reproduce via spores.
• Furthermore, their cell walls are made up of cellulose.
• Moreover, they reserve food as starch.

What is the Difference Between Thallophyta and Pteridophyta?

Thallophytes are primitive plants that possess a thallus-like body. On the other hand, pteridophytes are complex plants that have a differentiated plant body. Therefore, Thallophyta lacks true leaves, stem, and roots while Pteridophyta has true leaves, stem, and true roots. Thus, we can consider this as the key difference between thallophyta and pteridophyta. Additionally, thallophytes are found mostly in aquatic habitats while pteridophyta is mostly found in terrestrial habitats which are damp and shady. Therefore, a significant difference between thallophyta and pteridophyta is their habitats.

Moreover, a further difference between thallophyta and pteridophyta is their vascular system. Thallophytes do not have a vascular system while pteridophytes have a vascular system.

The infographic below presents more information on the difference between thallophyta and pteridophyta.

Summary – Thallophyta vs Pteridophyta

Thallophyta is a group of organisms that have thallus like plant bodies. Generally, they are the lower or primitive plant like-organisms that lack true stems, true leaves, and true roots. Their bodies are undifferentiated. Fungi, bacteria, lichens, algae are thallophytes. On the other hand, pteridophyta is another group of organisms that includes seedless and flowerless vascular plants. They are the first true land plants. Moreover, they possess a differentiated plant body with true leaves, stem, and roots. Ferns, horsetails, lycophytes are pteridophytes. Thus, this summarizes the difference between thallophyta and pteridophyta.

Reference:

1. “Pteridophyta.”. “Pteridophyta.” A Dictionary of Plant Sciences, Encyclopedia.com, 2019, Available here.
2. “Thallophyte.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Feb. 2019, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Athyrium filix-femina” By Rror – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “CSIRO ScienceImage 4092 Lichen on tree in Adelaide Hills SA 1992” By CSIRO (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia