Kingdom of Plants

Difference from Other Kingdoms of Living Nature

Plants are singled out as a separate kingdom due to the fact that, in addition to the general characteristics of living things, they have unique features that
distinguish them from representatives of other kingdoms of living nature.

1. Phototrophs: Plants are phototrophs. Green plants, due to the energy of sunlight, form complex, energy-rich organic substances from very simple,
   energy-poor mineral substances like carbon dioxide and water. Unlike green plants, other living things (animals, fungi) cannot use light to provide
   themselves with energy. They absorb ready-made nutrients created by other organisms, extract energy from them, and build their bodies. These
   organisms are heterotrophs.
2. Body Structure: The body of plants, unlike the body of animals, is highly dissected and has a large surface area. To form this large surface, plants
   require long-term growth. Plants grow throughout their lives, while animals are distinguished by limited growth.
3. Sedentary Lifestyle: An important feature of most plants is their sedentary lifestyle, which is primarily due to their large surface area and dismembered
   body. Plant movements are manifested in changes in the position of individual organs.

The Role of Plants in Ecosystems

Green plants convert the energy of sunlight into the energy of nutrients, which can be used by heterotrophic organisms in the process of life. Plants are producers,
 thanks to which all other organisms exist. In addition, in the process of photosynthesis, green plants release oxygen, which is necessary for the respiration of
living organisms.

1. Air Humidification: Forests humidify the air and help preserve rivers and lakes.
2. Soil Stabilization: Plants, such as cereals, fix sands and ravine slopes.
3. Soil Enrichment: Dead plant remains turn into humus and improve the condition of the soil. Legumes, on the roots of which nodules are formed, enrich
   the soil with nitrogen.

The Importance of Plants for Humans

Plants provide humans with many products and materials:

1. Food: Bread (wheat, rye), cereals (wheat, oats, millet, rice, buckwheat), vegetables (potatoes, beets, carrots, cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions,
   garlic), legumes (beans, peas, soybeans), fruits and berries (apples, pears, plums, cherries, raspberries, gooseberries, grapes), drinks (tea, coffee, cocoa).
2. Raw Materials: Plants provide the population of the Earth with sugar (sugar cane, sugar beets), oil (sunflower, peanuts, soybeans, mustard), seasonings
   and spices (pepper, bay leaf, coriander, nutmeg, etc.). Plants are food for farm animals and all herbivores on Earth. Flowering plants produce aromatic
    substances that are widely used in the perfume, soap, confectionery, food industries, and medicine (rose, coriander, vanilla, wormwood, mint, etc.).
   Fibrous plants produce fine fiber for fabrics (flax, cotton) and coarse fiber for ropes, burlap, and tow (hemp, rope).
3. Wood: The wood of plants is used in construction, furniture is made from it, and it is a raw material for paper, artificial silk, plastics, explosives, and wood
   alcohol.
4. Technical Oils: Some oil plants produce oil used for technical purposes (rapeseed, castor oil plant, tung tree).
5. Honey Plants and Medicinal Plants: Among the flowering plants, there are many honey plants (acacia, buckwheat, clover, sweet clover, linden), and
   medicinal plants (belladonna, chamomile, lily of the valley, wormwood, tansy, mint, sea buckthorn, onion, garlic, rose hips).

The Ecological Role of Plants

Plants, especially woody ones, clean the air from dust and pollution. Some plants release volatile substances into the air that kill bacteria and sometimes repel
insects (walnut, bird cherry, tansy, some types of chamomile and wormwood).