Cryptogams and phanerogams are two sub-kingdoms of the kingdom Plantae.

This classification system

was introduced by A. W. Eichler in 1883. The main difference between cryptogams and phanerogams
is that Cryptogams consist of seedless plants whereas phanerogams consist of seed-bearing
plants. Cryptogams comprise plants like algae, mosses, and ferns. Cryptogams are non-flowering
plants, which mainly reproduce by the production of spores. They do not produce fruits. Phanerogams
comprise gymnosperms and angiosperms. Gymnosperms are non-flowering plants with naked-seeds
(seeds are not covered by a fruit). Angiosperms are flowering plants that produce seeds covered by a
fruit. Angiosperms are the most prominent vegetation on earth.

What are Cryptogams

Cryptogams refer to the seedless plants or plant-like organisms. Cryptogams form a sub-
kingdom in the kingdom Plantae called Cryptogamae. The major characteristic of the
Cryptogamae is that they reproduce by means of spores. Therefore, Cryptogams do not produce
flowers, seeds or fruits. They consist of hidden reproductive organs. And Many plant bodies of
Cryptogams are not differentiated into true leaves, stems, and roots. Many of them do not have
a vascular system as well. The sub-kingdom Crytogamae is further divided into three phyla;
phylum Thallophyta, phylum Bryophyta, and phylum Pteridophyta.
Thallophyta
Thallophyta consists of both unicellular and multicellular organisms. The multicellular body
can be either thallus-like or filamentous. Thallophyta comprises organisms that belong to three
kingdoms; kingdom Monera, kingdom Protista, and kingdom Fungi. The blue-green bacteria
of the kingdom Monera belong to Thallophyta. In the kingdom Protista, all red, green, and
brown algae belong to Thallophyta. Moreover, all fungi along with lichens belong to
Thallophyta.

Bryophyta
Bryophyta consists of liverworts, mosses, and hornworts. Most bryophytes grow in wet, shady
environments. They show alterations of generations along with a prominent gametophyte. The
plant body is not differentiated into true stem, root, and leaves. Bryophytes are non-vascular
plants.
Pteridophytes
Pteridophytes consist of ferns. Ferns are well-developed plants that grow in dry environments.
They also grow in wet environments. Ferns show the alterations of generations along with a
prominent sporophyte. Ferns are differentiated into true leaves, stem, and root. Ferns are
vascular plants.

What are Phanerogams

Phanerogams refer to the seed-bearing plants. The phanerogams are also called spermatophyte.
Phanerogams form a sub-kingdom in the kingdom Plantae called Phanerogamae. The major
characteristic of phanerogams is that they produce seeds. Phanerogams are vascular plants with
differentiated boy structures into leaves, stem, and root. The sub-kingdom Phanerogamae is
further divided into gymnosperms and angiosperms.
Gymnosperms
Gymnosperms are non-flowering plants that produce naked-seeds. Gymnosperms are
monocots since they develop from a single seed-leaf. They are vascular plants with an
unbranched, parallel vein system in the leaves. Gymnosperms can be divided into four phyla;
phylum Cycadophyta, phylum Ginkophyta, phylum Coniferophyta, and phylum Gnetophyta.

Angiosperms
Angiosperms are flowering plants that produce a seed covered by a fruit. They can be
either monocots or dicots. Angiosperms consist of a highly differentiated vascular system and
they are the most prominent group of plants on earth. Their reproductive structure is the flower.
They also show double fertilization. A passion flower and its fruit is shown in figure 5.

Difference Between Cryptogams and Phanerogams

Definition
Cryptogams: Cryptogams refer to a plant or plant-like organisms that produce spores.
Phanerogams: Phanerogams refer to the higher plants that produce seeds.
Classification
Cryptogams: Cryptogams consist of Thallophyta, Bryophyta, and Pteridophyta.
Phanerogams: Phanerogams consist of gymnosperms and angiosperms.
Major Reproduction method
Cryptogams: The major reproduction method of cryptogams is the production of spores.
Phanerogams: The major reproduction method of phanerogams is the production of gametes.
Plant Body
Cryptogams: Most cryptogams lack well-differentiated stem, leaves, and roots.
Phanerogams: The plant body of phanerogams is well-differentiated into stem, leaves and
roots.
Vascular System
Cryptogams: Cryptogams do not have a well-developed vascular system.
Phanerogams: Phanerogams have a well-developed vascular system.
Reproductive Organs
Cryptogams: Cryptogams contain hidden reproductive organs.
Phanerogams: Phanerogams contain well-developed reproductive organs.
External Water for Fertilization
Cryptogams: Cryptogams require external water for fertilization.
Phanerogams: Phanerogams do not require external water for fertilization.
Seeds
Cryptogams: Cryptogams are seedless plants.
Phanerogams: Phanerogams are seed-bearing plants.
New Plants
Cryptogams: Spores germinate and produce new plants in cryptogams.
Phanerogams: Seeds germinate and produce new phanerogams.
Evolution
Cryptogams: Cryptogams are less evolved plants.
Phanerogams: Phanerogams are well-evolved plants compared to cryptogams.
Examples
Cryptogams: Algae, mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and ferns are the examples of cryptogams.
Phanerogams: Conifers, Ginko, cycads, gnetophytes, and dicots are the examples of
phanerogams.
Conclusion
Cryptogams and phanerogams are two sub-kingdoms of the kingdom Plantae. Cryptogams
consist of seedless plants and plant-like organisms whereas phanerogams consist of seed-
bearing plants. Cryptogams do not develop flowers and fruits as well. Most Cryptogams do not
have a vascular system. Cryptogams can be divided into Thallophyta, Bryophyta, and
Pteridophyta. In contrast to Cryptogams, phanerogams are highly developed plants with a
vascular system and plant body differentiation. The two classes of phanerogams are
gymnosperms and angiosperms. Gymnosperms are non-flowering plants with a naked-seed.
Angiosperms are flowering plants with seeds covered by fruits. The main difference between
cryptogams and phanerogams is the presence or absence of seeds.

Distinguishing Characteristics of Plant Families

1. Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) Mustard Family

a. Leaves are often deeply lobed and pinnatifid.
b. Flowers are actinomorphic and without subtending bracts (ebracteate).
c. Perianth is of 4 sepals and 4 petals in a cruciform (cross-like) arrangement.
d. Petals are often clawed.
e. Stamens are tetradynamous (4 long and 2 short).
f. Fruit is a special capsule; either a silique (longer than wide) or a silicle (wider
than long)
g. Entomophilous.
h. Economic genera: Brassica (cabbage, broccoli, turnip, cauliflower, mustard,
rutabaga,
kohlrabi), Raphanus (radish), Rorippa (watercress), Armoracia (horse radish).

2. Oxalidaceae. Oxalis or Wood-Sorrel Family

a. Perennial or annual herbs, often with acrid juice.
b. Leaves are often palmately compound; mostly trifoliate).
c. Androecium of 10 stamens, often in 2 whorls, the outer whorl shorter than the
inner whorl (sometimes reduced to staminodes).
d. Gynoecium of 1 pistil, 5 carpels, 5 stigmas.
e. Fruit a loculicidal capsule, often deeply 5-angled.
3. Malvaceae. Mallow Family
a. Plant body with stellate hairs (star-shaped).
b. Flowers often are subtended by an epicalyx of distinct or connate bracts.
c. Androecium has numerous stamens with its filaments grouped into
a staminal column, called a monodelphous condition.
d. Fruit is a capsule or schizocarp, usually separating at maturity into one to
several 1-seeded segments.
e. Economic
genera: Gossypium (cotton), Abutilon, Hibiscus esculentus (okra), Althaea (hol
lyhock).

4. Geraniaceae. Geranium Family

a. Flowers are actinomorphic with elongated receptacle.
b. All plants are annuals in the Mojave Desert.
c. Perianth of 5 sepals and petals.
d. Fruit is a capsule splitting into 5 segments with a style attached to each.
e. Fruits often have hygroscopic awns that twist into a corkscrew. As the
awns uncoil (when wet) and contract (when dry) in response to moisture, the
pointed fruit segment is driven into the ground. Retrorse hairs (barbs) secure
the dispersal unit.
f. Genera is mostly limited here to Erodium.

5. Zygophyllaceae. Caltrop Family

a. Leaves mostly opposite, pinnately compound with 2 or 3 or more leaflets.
Stipules present, sometimes spiny.
b. Compound pistil composed of 5 carpels.
c. Fruit is a hairy schizocarp, splitting into 5 – 12 indehiscent segments.
d. Major genus in the family is Larrea tridentata (creosote bush).

6. Plantaginaceae. Plantain Family

a. Leaves are basal with parallel venation.
b. Flowers are small, in a tight cluster at the tip of a leafless stalk (scapose).
c. Corolla is papery-like, with 4 fused petals, lobes flaring.
d. Fruit is a pyxis, a capsule that opens by a lid to release seeds.
e. Seeds are mucilaginous, and have been used as an ingredient in laxative
formulas.
f. Family is represented here by one genus, Plantago.

7. Hydrophyllaceae. Waterleaf Family

a. Plant generally with erect, bristly hairs, sometimes with glandular hairs.
b. The gynoecium has either 2 styles, or 1 forked or bifid style.
c. Fruit is a capsule.
d. Major genera in southern Nevada includes Phacelia, Nama,
and Eriodictyon (yerba santa).
e. Inflorescence a coiled cyme, resembling a scorpion.

8. Boraginaceae. Borage Family

 a. Inflorescence a coiled cyme, one-sided, resembling a scorpion.
b. Stem hairs are generally bristly and erect.
c. Flower color is often white or yellow.
d. Corolla tube often with infoldings or scales (corona).
e. Fruit is a schizocarp splitting into 4 nutlets.

9. Cactaceae. Cactus Family

a. See notes on Cactaceae on Website.