Thallophytes: Definition and Meaning of Thallophytes, Characteristics of Thallophytes

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Definition and Meaning

Thallophytes are a polyphyletic group of non-motile organisms.
Thallophytes are also known as Thallophyta or Thallobionta and traditionally described “thalloid plants.”
Thallophytes thus can be defined a division of the plant kingdom including primitive forms of plant life showing a simple plant body that includes unicellular to large algae, fungi, lichens.
A polyphyletic group can be defined as a set of organisms that have been grouped together but do not share an immediate common ancestor.
These include lichens, algae, fungus, bacteria, and slime mould and bryophytes.

These are found in moist or wet places due to the absence of “true roots” and vascular tissue.
They are autotrophic in nature.
Though most of the members belonging to the group can manufacture their own food still a few like fungi depends on other sources of food.
Xylem and phloem are absent.

Those plants that are not well-differentiated body design fall in this group.
These are chlorophyll-bearing thalloid.
These are autotrophic and aquatic plants.
Variety of habitats include moist stones, soils, and wood.
The algae reproduce by vegetative, asexual, and sexual methods.
A moist and damp environment is formed by a sloth fur for the algae to flourish.
The sloth is provided with extra nutrition and camouflage from predators by the algae in return. For e.g. Spirogyra
Reproduction is Vegetative, Asexual and Sexual reproduction.

Fungi are achlorophyllous which means they do not produce chlorophyll.
Fungi also provide a safe environment to algae that shields the algae from UV rays.
Fungi may develop a symbiotic relationship with an alga or a cyanobacterium.
A fungus can be defined as any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds.
One of the examples where two organisms act as a single unit is Lichen.

A lichen can be defined as a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria.
Lichens have different colors, sizes, and forms and are sometimes plant-like.
They may have tiny, leafless branches (fruticose), flat leaf-like structures (foliose), flakes that lie on the surface.
- A microlichen is a lichen that is either bush-like or leafy.