All plants are diverse, they grow almost all over the planet and in any conditions. And depending on the conditions to which certain species are most adapted, they are combined into ecological groups of plants.
What is this?
Ecological groups of plants are sets of species that have similar needs for the value of any factor, such as moisture, light, etc. In addition, plants of one particular group have some common features that arose in the course of evolution in the process of adapting the organism to certain environmental conditions. Accordingly, plants of different ecological groups can radically differ from each other.
The boundaries that exist between different groups are rather arbitrary.
What ecological groups of plants are there?
All plants are divided into groups, as noted above, depending on the need for a particular factor.
So, the division of plants into ecological groups is based on their need for:
- light;
- moisture;
- certaintemperature;
- trophic soil;
- soil acidity;
- soil salinization.
By the same principle, not only wild plants can be classified, but also ecological groups of indoor plants can be distinguished. The principle will be exactly the same. In addition, knowing which group a particular flower belongs to, you can provide it with the right care.
The main ecological groups of plants depending on the need for moisture
Three groups of plants can be distinguished according to this environmental factor:
- hydrophytes;
- mesophytes;
- xerophytes.
Hydrophytes are plants that grow in water. In most cases, they grow in fresh water, but they can even be found in s alt water.
This ecological group includes plants such as reeds, rice, reeds, sedges, arrowheads, etc.
Gilatophytes can be identified as a separate subgroup of aquatic plants. These are representatives of the flora that have weak stems, so they cannot grow outside the aquatic environment. The main part of such a plant (leaves and flowers) is on the surface of the reservoir and is held by water. Gilatophytes include water lilies, lotuses, watercresses, etc.
Mesophytes are plants that prefer medium humidity. These include almost all widely known plants, including those that are most often grown in gardens and orchards.
Xerophytes are representatives of the flora that are adapted to existence in arid areas. These include wheatgrass, sand-loving, as well ascacti, including indoor ones.
Depending on the need for light
According to this principle, plants can be divided into three groups:
- heliophytes;
- scioheliophytes;
- Sciophytes.
The first are plants that require bright light.
Scioheliophytes are able to tolerate shade, but grow well in sunny areas. Among indoor plants of this type, monstera can be distinguished. Among the wild - willow, birch, aspen. Cultivated plants of this group are turnips, radishes, parsley, mint, lemon balm, cucumbers, zucchini, asparagus, lettuce, rhubarb, sorrel.
Sciophytes are shade-loving plants. They will not grow well in excessively bright light. These include all algae, as well as mosses, lichens, club mosses, ferns.
Environmental groups depending on required temperature
Four groups of plants stand out here:
- gekistothermophytes;
- microthermophytes;
- mesothermophytes;
- megathermophytes.
The first ones are very hardy plants. They grow in the northern part of the planet.
Microthermophytes are representatives of the flora that can tolerate significant cold, but not severe frosts.
Mesothermophytes love warmth, while megathermophytes can tolerate significant heat.
Dependence on soil type
Here, the ecological groups of plants are distinguished by threevarious factors.
First - soil trophicity. This is the saturation of the soil with nutrients, as well as macro- and microelements. According to this factor, plants are divided into oligotrophs, mesotrophs, eutrophs. Oligotrophs can grow on poor soils, mesotrophs prefer moderately fertile ones, and eutrophs grow exclusively on chernozems and other types of soils with high fertility.
Depending on the salinity of the soil on which they grow, plants are divided into two groups: halophytes and glycophytes. The former are able to tolerate soil salinity, while the latter cannot.
And, finally, depending on the pH level of the soil, plants are divided into three ecological groups: neutrophytes, acidophytes and basophytes. The former prefer soil with a neutral pH (close to 7). Acidophytes grow on soils with high acidity. And basophytes prefer alkaline soils.
So we looked at all the ecological groups of plants, examples of species that belong to them.
