Final answer:
The four types of plants are nonvascular plants, vascular seedless plants, gymnosperms, and angiosperms. Vascular plants are differentiated by the presence of vascular tissue, with gymnosperms producing seeds in cones and angiosperms producing seeds in ovaries of flowers. Nonvascular plants do not possess vascular tissue and are found in moist environments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The four types of plants can be divided into two main categories: nonvascular plants and vascular plants. Nonvascular plants, such as mosses, lack vascular tissue and do not produce seeds. Vascular plants are further subdivided into two groups: plants that reproduce without seeds, called the vascular seedless plants, and those that reproduce with seeds, known as seed plants.
The seed plants are split into two categories: gymnosperms and angiosperms. Gymnosperms are seed plants that produce seeds in cones, while angiosperms produce seeds enclosed within an ovary, which commonly develops into fruit.
Vascular tissue, which includes xylem and phloem, is a crucial adaptation that allowed plants to transport water, nutrients, and sugars, enabling them to grow larger and in a wider range of environments. Examples of vascular seedless plants include ferns and horsetails, which have vascular tissue but do not produce seeds. Conversely, examples of angiosperms, which possess both vascular tissue and seeds, include flowering plants like roses and daisies.
Non-vascular plants are often found in moist environments because the absence of a vascular system means they must rely on diffusion and osmosis for water and nutrient transport, which is more efficient in damp conditions.