All plants are diverse, they grow almost all over the planet and in any conditions. And depending on what conditions certain species are most adapted to, they are combined into ecological groups of plants.
What it is?
Ecological groups of plants are collections of species that share similar needs for the magnitude of a factor, for example, moisture, light, etc. In addition, plants of one particular group possess some common characteristics that arose during evolution in the process of adaptation of an organism to certain environmental conditions. Accordingly, plants of different ecological groups can radically differ from each other.
The boundaries existing between different groups are rather arbitrary.
What ecological plant groups exist?
All plants are divided into such 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;
- certain temperature;
- trophic soil;
- soil acidity;
- salinization of the soil.
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 him with proper care.
The main ecological groups of plants, depending on the need for moisture
According to this environmental factor , three groups of plants can be distinguished:
- hydrophytes;
- mesophytes;
- xerophytes.
Hydrophytes are plants that grow in water. In most cases, they grow in fresh water, but can be found even in saline.
This ecological group includes plants such as reeds, rice, reeds, sedges, arrowheads, etc.
In a separate subgroup of aquatic plants, one can distinguish gilatophytes. These are representatives of the flora, which have weak stems, so they can not grow outside the aquatic environment. The main part of such a plant (leaves and flowers) is located on the surface of the reservoir and is held by water. Hilatophytes include water lilies, lotuses, water lilies, etc.
Mesophytes are plants that prefer medium humidity. These include almost all well-known plants, including those that are most often grown in gardens.
Xerophytes are representatives of the flora that are adapted to exist in arid areas. These include wheatgrass, sand lover, as well as cacti, including indoor ones.
Depending on the need for light
According to this principle, plants can be divided into three groups:
- heliophytes;
- sciogeliophytes;
- sciophytes.
The first are plants that require bright light.
Sciogeliophytes are able to tolerate the shadow, 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 turnip, radish, 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, crowns, ferns.
Ecological groups depending on the required temperature
Four groups of plants stand out here:
- gekystothermophytes;
- microthermophytes;
- mesothermophytes;
- megatermophytes.
The first are very frost-resistant plants. They grow in the northern part of the planet.
Microthermophytes are representatives of the flora that are able to tolerate significant cold, but not severe frosts.
Mesothermophytes love heat, and megathermophytes are able to tolerate significant heat.
Soil type
Here, ecological groups of plants are distinguished by three different factors.
The first is trophic soil. 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, and eutrophs grow exclusively on chernozems and other types of soils with high fertility.
Depending on the salinization 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 are not.
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 examined all the ecological groups of plants, examples of species that relate to them.