When I look to the outside of my window, I notice a large banyan tree standing with its branches. I can the days remember when it was a small plant. Like this one, we all are familiar with different types of plants. We are also known to seaweeds or other algae. But how much do we know about the difference between algae and plants? In this article, we are going to talk about it.
Algae vs Plants
Algae can be unicellular or multicellular. They can be found in nature staying as single-cell organisms. They can also be found staying in colonies as multicellular organisms. On the other hand, we always found plants as multicellular organisms in nature.
Difference between algae and plants
| Algae | Plants |
| Algae can be unicellular or multicellular. | Plants are found in the multicellular form. |
| Algae have simple vascular systems. | Plants contain very complex vascular systems. |
| Algae continue their reproduction through sporadic systems. | Plants do their reproduction through sexual reproduction system. |
| They are found underwater. | They are mostly found above water. |
| Algae are from Kingdom Protista. | Plants are from Kingdom Plantae. |
| The degree of mobility is higher. | The degree of mobility is lower. |
| Soil is not their source of nutrients. | Soil is the source of nutrients and water for them. |
| They contain chlorophyll, phycobilin, and carotenoid. | They contain chlorophyll and carotenoid. |
| Algae have no tissues. | Plants have tissues. |
| Have root to attach, not to absorb anything. | They have roots to attach to the ground and absorb water and nutrients. |
What are Algae?
‘Algae’ is the plural form of ‘Alga’. They are one of the existing simplest forms of life on this earth. They can be unicellular or multicellular forms.
Algae can stay in the singular form as unicellular organisms. They can also stay in plural form as multicellular organisms. Mostly they don’t have any tissue.
Algae contain chlorophyll and by using it and sunlight, they produce their food. In the earlier period, they were classified as a part of the Plant Kingdom.
But now, scientists have decided to classify them as a part of the Protista Kingdom. Mostly algae live and grow in water.
Because of living in water, they can move from one place to another. Some algae can also be found in the snow. Some algae have roots to attach to the surface.
What are Plants?
Plants are one of the most crucial parts of nature. They are surrounding our earth. Plants are the part of Kingdom Plantae. All plants are multicellular. They do their reproduction through the sexual reproduction system. They have tissues in their body.
Plants contain chlorophyll in their body. They use sunlight and chlorophyll to produce their foods. They use their roots to absorb the water and nutrients of the soil.
Plants have highly complex vascular systems. Mostly trees cannot move from one place to another. They keep themselves attached to the surface of the earth.
Trees have different parts in their body. They have branches, roots, leaves, etc. A particular part has a particular task to do. There are approximately 315000 plants on the earth. Most of them are flower plants. In a census, the number of flower plants on the earth is 290000.
Related: Difference between homozygous and heterozygous [With Table].
The main difference between algae and plants
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- Algae can be unicellular or multicellular. On the other hand, plants are always in multicellular form.
- Algae generally live and grow underwater. But usually, you can find plants on the surface of the earth.
- Algae hardly have tissues but plants have tissues.
- Algae belong to Kingdom Protista. On the contrary, plants belong to Kingdom Plantae.
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Conclusion
Algae and plants have some similarities like producing their own food but they are from different kingdoms. We hope after going through this article you won’t get messed up with the difference between algae and plants.
Summary
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- Algae can be in unicellular or multicellular form. On the other hand, plants are always in multicellular form.
- Algae generally live and grow underwater. But usually, you can find plants on the surface of the earth.
- Algae hardly have tissues but plants have tissues.
- Algae belong to Kingdom Protista. On the contrary, plants belong to Kingdom Plantae.
- Algae do sporadic reproduction but plants do sexual reproduction.
- Algae have simple vascular systems but plants have complicated vascular systems.
- The Algae use their roots to attach or hold with something but plants use their roots to attach on the earth and to absorb nutrients and water.
- Algae can move from one place to another but trees hardly can move.
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The FAQs about Algae and Plants
If you have any queries, you may check our FAQ section. You can also put your opinion in below comment section.
What are the differences between a plant cell and an algae cell?
An alga cell can be unicellular or multicellular but a plant cell is always multicellular.
Why are algae mistaken for plants?
Algae contain chlorophyll and produce their own food by photosynthesis as like plants. This is why algae are mistaken for plants.
Do algae live on land?
Yes, sometimes they can survive on land. It occurs when they grow on wood, tree surface, animal fur, etc.
Where are Phaeophyta found?
Phaeophyta is mostly found in the intertidal region.
How are algae similar to plants Quizlet?
Algae are similar plants cause both of them contain chlorophyll and produce their own food by photosynthesis.
Are algae plant cells?
No, algae and plant cells have some similarities but they are not the same.