Ecological groups of plants: examples

All plants are diverse, they grow practically on the whole planet and in any conditions. And depending on what conditions are most suitable for certain species, they are united in ecological groups of plants.

What it is?

Ecological groups of plants are collections of species that are characterized by similar needs in the magnitude of any factor, for example, moisture, illumination, etc. In addition, plants of one particular group possess certain common features that arose during evolution in the process of adaptation of the organism to various conditions of the external environment. 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 exist?

All plants are divided into such groups, as noted above, depending on the need for this or that factor.

So, the division of plants into ecological groups is based on their need for:

• Light;
• Moisture;
• A certain temperature;
• Soil trophicity;
• Acidity of the soil;
• Salinization of the soil.

By the same principle, it is possible to classify not only wild plants, but also isolate ecological groups of indoor plants. The principle will be exactly the same. In addition, knowing which group the flower belongs to, you can provide him with the right care.

The main ecological groups of plants depending on the need for moisture

According to this ecological 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 bodies, but they can occur even in saline.

This ecological group includes such plants as cane, rice, reed, sedge, arrowhead, etc.

A separate subgroup of aquatic plants can be identified 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 on the surface of the reservoir and is retained by water. Gilathophytes include water lilies, lotuses, water-colors, etc.

Mesophytes are plants that prefer medium humidity. These include almost all widely known plants, including those that are most often grown in orchards and gardens.

Xerophytes are representatives of the flora, which are adapted to exist in arid terrain. These include wheat grass, sandstone, and cacti, including indoor.

Depending on the need for light

By this principle, you can divide the plants into three groups:

• Heliophytes;
• Siogeliophytes;
• Sociophytes.

The first are plants that require bright light.

Sciogeliophytes are able to tolerate a shadow, but they also grow well in sunny areas. Among indoor plants of this type can be allocated a monster. Among the wild-growing - willow, birch, aspen. The cultivated plants of this group are turnip, radish, parsley, mint, lemon balm, cucumber, zucchini, asparagus, lettuce, rhubarb, sorrel.

Ssiophytes are shade-loving plants. They will not grow well in excessively bright light. These include all the algae, as well as mosses, lichens, plains, ferns.

Ecological groups depending on the required temperature

There are four groups of plants:

• Geokistothermophytes;
• Microthermophytes;
• Mesothermophytes;
• Megothermophytes.

The first is a very frost-resistant plant. They grow in the northern part of the planet.

Microthermophytes are representatives of the flora that are able to tolerate significant colds, but not severe frosts.

Mesothermophytes love warmth, and megothermophytes are able to withstand a considerable heat.

Dependence on soil type

Here, ecological groups of plants are distinguished by three different factors.

The first is the trophicity of the 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 solely on chernozems and other types of soils with high fertility.

Depending on the salinity of the soil on which they grow, the 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, the plants are divided into three ecological groups: neutrophytes, acidophytes and basophytes. The former prefer a soil with a neutral pH (close to 7). Acidophytes grow on soils with high acidity. And basophytes prefer alkaline soils.

So we reviewed all the ecological groups of plants, examples of species that are related to them.