What are Thallophyta?

What are Thallophyta?

The term “Thallophyta” is derived from the Greek word i.e., thallus means young shoot; phyta refers to plant. The plant under this division are primitive exhibiting thalloid plant body i.e., not differentiated into stem, leaves and roots. The term thallophyta was first introduced by Stephan Endlicher in 1836.

Thallophyta is the compilation of a wide variety of plants ranging from unicellular to multicellular with simple mode of reproduction. This group mainly includes members of Algae and Fungi.

Algae are autotrophic in nature comprising a range of pigments including chlorophyll. These plants mainly grow in water or in moist condition eg., Nostoc sp, Chara sp, Vaucheria sp, Diatoms, Polsiphonia sp.

Whereas members in fungal group are heterotrophic due to the absence of chlorophyll pigment. So for their survival they either live as a saprophyte, parasite or in symbiotic relation with the host species. Examples includes species of Alternaria, Saccharomyces, Ascobolus, Agaricus etc