5. Body is a relatively
simple simple unicellular
or multicellular thallus,
not differentiated into
roots, stems and leaves.
Cells are covered by a
rigid cellulose cell wall.
Presence of holdfast,
stipe and lamina.
Holdfast is for
attachment, stipe forms
the axis, and lamina
serves as the leaf like
photosynthetic part.
6. Reproduction occurs by vegetative,
asexual and sexual methods
Vegetative reproduction is by
fragmentation, hormogonia, akinetes
etc.
Asexual reproduction is by motile
zoospores, or by non motile
apalnospores, autospores,
hypnospores, exospores, endospores,
carpsospores etc. Spores are produced
in sporangia.
Sexual reproduction may be isogamous,
anisogamous or oogamous. Oogamous
species possess antheridia and oogonia.
8. All plants possess a
cuticle, a waxy covering
on aerial parts that
reduces drying or
desiccation.
A plant is differentiated
into root, shoot, stem,
leaf and flower.
Their cells have cell
walls composed mainly
of cellulose.
9. Their cells contain Chlorophyll
contained in Chloroplasts.
Their cells usually have large
vacuoles.
Store carbohydrates as starch.
Their life cycles are characterized
by Alternation of Generation where
a Haploid Gametophyte alternates
with a Diploid Sporophyte.
11. HABITAT
Both plants and
algae can grow in
water, so this is a
characteristic they
share. However,
algae grows
exclusively in
water, whereas
plants grow either
in the soil or in
water, depending
on their variety.
12. CELL STRUCTURES
The structural make-up of cells from green algae
and plants share similarities in terms of their
materials and the types of cell activities that take
place. The membrane walls of both cell types
contain 20 to 25 percent cellulose.
The cells of both life forms are also lined with
specialized thylakoid membranes, which contain
light-absorbing chlorophyll materials.
METABOLIC PROCESSES
Plant metabolism processes are designed to convert
light energy into glucose, which acts as food for the
plant body. These processes also take place within
green algae organisms.
13. PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Both undergo photosynthesis.
Which means
they both contain chlorophyll and
they both can make their own food.
Which means
they are both autotrophic (“auto”=self,
“trophic”=feeding)
FUNCTION
There are some shared characteristics between
algae and plants in their uses and functions. Both
algae and plants exist, in part, to be eaten by living
creatures.
14. REPRODUCTION
They have the same life cycle called
alternation of generations.
Plants and some varieties of algae
perform meiosis, which is a division of
the reproductive cells, to ensure
genetic diversity.
They also both produce male and
female gametes in order to fertilize
themselves
16. HABITAT
The vast majority
of algae species
are aquatic with a
few adapted to
extremely damp
terrestrial
environments.
Most plants on the
other hand are
confined, and very
well adapted, to
land.
17. PLANT BODY
The body of plants is well
differentiated into roots,
stems, leaves, flowers,
fruits, seeds and cones.
The agal body is not
differentiated into roots,
stems, leaves, flowers
rather it is in the form of
a thallus.
18. VASCULAR SYSTEM
Plants possess vascular systems, which allow for the
uptake and transport of water and nutrients.
Algae do not possess vascular system and each cell
in algae must obtain its own nutrients from water
for survival.
STRUCTURE
All plants are multicellular while most species of
algae are single-celled organisms. Multicellular
algae forms -- seaweeds -- do exist but they are in
the minority.
DEVELOPMENT
Plants develop from an embryo, a characteristic
they share with animals. Algae don't.
19. FEEDING
Green plants and many species of algae create
their own food from sunlight by photosynthesis.
However, some types of algae are partially or
primarily hetereotrophs, they obtain their
nutrients by eating other organisms or organic
material
MOVEMENT
Some algae drift with the water currents. Some algae
are actually actively mobile. Dinoflagellates, for
instance, whip themselves through the water with a
tail-like structures called flagella.
Plants are exclusively sessile. Plants have a limited
range of movement, for example, they can lean
towards a light source.
20. Although both algae and plants are
photosynthetic in nature and are classified as
eukaryotes (have highly differentiated cells
that contain specialized structures like the
nucleus), the two still differ in the following
aspects:
Algae can either be unicellular and multi-
cellular while plants are multi-cellular
organisms.
Algae typically live underwater while plants
thrive on land.
Algae are nonvascular. They don’t have
structures such as connective tissues, leaves,
stems and roots unlike plants.