Classification of living world has been done since the time of Aristotle. Many scientists classified organism as per their capacity. But, Whittaker’s five kingdoms classification was accepted and adopted at a great extent.
Great Greek philosopher Aristotle also classified life forms on the basis of habitats in which they live and survive like land, water and air.
In 18th century, the father of taxonomy, Carolus Linnaeus also proposed classification but that was limited to plants and animals only. Neither it explained organism on the basis of advancement of nucleus nor on the number of cells as unicellular and multicellular aspects.
Hence, this model did not upheld its relevancy. Eventually, it paved the way for for a new model of classification.
Understanding five kingdoms classification of Whittaker
Best among all, it is a broad classification of organisms suggested by Whittaker.
R H. Whittaker, an American ecologist studied the living life thoroughly and proposed a new model of classification of organisms.
Cell nature, cell number, mode of nutrition, mode of reproduction and level of organization in living organisms were his major basis of classification. He classified organisms in five broad categories.
Five kingdoms of organisms
By observing major characteristics and physical features of organisms he categorised organisms according to earlier to advanced one, even microorganisms in a special kingdom.
- Kingdom Monera
- Kingdom Protista
- Kingdom Fungi
- Kingdom Plantae
- Kingdom Animalia
Let’s see each kingdom one by one in detail.
1. Kingdom Monera
Monera kingdom includes Prokaryotic unicellular microorganisms. Some of them can produce their own food and some depend on the other organisms. Both are called “Autotrophs heterotrophs”.
For examples, Cyanobacteria or blue-green algae, actinomyceten, bacteria are examples of this kingdom.
2. Kingdom Protista
Protista includes Eukaryotic and unicellular autotrophic organism. Also, many organisms are heterotrophic and depend on others for their food and survival.
For their movements, they have hair like structures called cillia or flagella known as psudopodia.
Amoeba is a well known example of Protista kingdom.
3. Kingdom Fungi
We have often seen that white hair like structures found on breads when they are kept opening for couple of days.
These are nothing but fungi and are mostly multicellular eukaryotic organisms.
Fungi can’t produce their own food. They are heterotrophic. Organisms of fungi depend on dead organic material for their food stuff so called as saprophytes.
Sometimes, fungi live in symbiotic relationship in other organisms like blue green algae.
Like, Lichen is a well known examples of this symbiotic relationship.
Such organisms have cell wall called as chitin. Mushroom is an example of fungi kingdom.
4. Kingdom Plantae
Plantae kingdom includes, eukaryotic multicellular organisms that are capable of producing own food.
Organisms of plantae have cell wall made up from tough material called cellulose. All plants, herbs and bushes are examples of this kingdom.
5. Kingdom Animalia
Highly advanced eukaryotic multicellualar organism which are motile. It means move from one place to another in search of food, shelter and reproduction.
These all are heterotrophs and don’t have cell wall unicellular structure. All animals including man, tiger, monkey, salamander, birds are examples of this kingdom.
Plantae kingdom of five kingdoms classification
Before we start classification of kingdom plantae let’s take an overlook of the major characteristics of kingdom plantae.
Characteristics of kingdom plantae
1.Species in this kingdom are multi-cellular eukaryotes
2.They all are autotrophs and produce their own food as they have chlorophyll, a green pigment inside the chloroplast.
3.They having another covering outside a cell membrane called as cell wall.
4.Cell walls are made up of somewhat tough material called cellulose.
5.They are non motile means can’t move from one place to another on their self.
Now let’s understand the basis of classification of kingdom Plantae.
Basis for classification of kingdom plantae
These major characteristics make plants distinct from other organisms. Further they are classified depend on :-
1.Differentiation of body or body parts
2.Availability of special tissues or vascular tissues for transporting food, water and minerals transportation like xylem or phloem
3.Ability to bear seeds Whether seeds are enclosed within or outside it.
4.Numbers of layers of seed that is monocotyledon and dicotyledon
Understanding kingdom plantae
Before Robert Whittaker a German botanist A. W Eichler had divided entire plants into two sub divisions as “Cryptogams and Phanorogama” on the basis of characteristic of bearing flowers and seeds.
Plant kingdom is divided in the two sub kingdoms “Cryptogamae and Phanorogamae”
- Cryptogamae
- Phanorogamae
Cryptogamae is a class of Plants which are not so advanced. Their body is not differentiated in specialised parts like root, stem, and leaves.
They don’t have specialised reproductive organs instead they have spores.
1.Thallophyta
- Most earlier plants on the earth don’t have well differentiated body plants are commonly called as algae majority of this plant species are aquatic in nature.
- Other examples are spyrogyra, cladophora, ulva and chara
2. Bryophyta
- This plant species can live in water as well as on land so called as amphibians of plant kingdom.
- Commonly differentiated body into stem and leaf like structures.
- Don’t have specialised transportating tissues.
- Examples are Moss and Marchantia
3. Pteridophyta
- Body is well differentiated into roots , stem and leaves.
- Special conducting tissues for water and other food substances
- Examples are Ferns and Mersilia
“Sub kingdom Phanorogamae”
These are most advanced plant species o the earth surface and having ability to bear flowers and seeds. They are also categorised into two divisions as Gymnosperms and Angiosperms.
1. Gymnosperms
Gymnosperms is a Greek word made up from two root words “Gymno and sperms”.
Gymno means naked and sperms means seeds. Obviously, these are plants bearing naked seeds. Generally, evergreen trees like Pines and deodars are included in this category.
2. Angiosperms
Most advanced plant species bearing seeds inside the fruits. As Angio means coverd and spermatozoon means seeds.
Seeds develop inside an ovary to become a fruit. On the basis of numbers of layer a seed bearing thy have two types as monocotyledons and dicotyledons.
Single layered seed bearing plants like all cereals like wheat, bajara, maize Jawar are some examples of monocotyledons.
Whereas two layered seed plants like all pulses including gram, green gram, nuts, all oil seeds are examples of dicotyledons.
Last thought on five kingdoms of classification of Whittaker
So far we have understood the five kingdoms of classification of Whittaker. He classified all organisms as Monera, Protista, fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.
Here, we have also explained each kingdom with basis, characteristics and well known examples.
Later, this article dealt with Plantae kingdom with explanation, basis, characteristics and examples.
Plantae kingdom is classified as Cryptogams and Phanorogama organisms.
In the next article, I’m going to explain in detail Animalia kingdom in the detailed manner.
Solved Questions on five kingdoms of classification of Whittaker
Here, I’m going to provide some useful questions and answers on this topic. Please, read carefully.
Q.1. Who was R.H.Whittaker?
Ans: R. H. Whittaker was as American ecologist who studied organisms thoroughly, and proposed five kingdoms of classification. His five kingdoms of classification is proved milestone and universally accepted.
Monera, Protista, fungi, Plantae and Animalia are five kingdoms of classification proposed by R. H. Whittaker.
Q. 2. What are the basis of five kingdoms of classification of Whittaker?
Ans: Cell nature, cell number, mode of nutrition, mode of reproduction and level of organization in living organisms were his major basis of classification.
Q. 3. What are the characteristics of Monera kingdom?
Ans: Monera kingdom includes Prokaryotic unicellular microorganisms. Some of them are Autotrophs, and can produce their own food and some depend on the other organisms.
Both are called “Autotrophs heterotrophs”. Cyanobacteria or blue-green algae, actinomyceten, bacteria are examples of Monera kingdom.
Q. 4. What are the characteristics of Protista kingdom?
Ans: Protista includes Eukaryotic and unicellular autotrophic organism. Also, many organisms are heterotrophic and depend on others for their food and survival.
For their movements, they have hair like structures called cillia or flagella known as psudopodia. Amoeba is a well known example of Protista kingdom.
Q. 5. Explain the fungi kingdom of Whittaker?
Ans: Fungi can’t produce their own food. They are heterotrophic. Organisms of fungi depend on dead organic material for their food stuff so called as saprophytes.
Sometimes, fungi live in symbiotic relationship in other organisms like blue green algae.Like, Lichen is a well known examples of this symbiotic relationship.
Such organisms have cell wall called as chitin. Mushroom is an example of fungi kingdom.
Q. 6. What are the characteristics of kingdom Plantae?
Ans: Species of Plantae kingdom are multicellular and Autotrophs. They are non motile and have cell wall. These are major characteristics of kingdom Plantae.
Q. 7. What are the basis of classification of Plantae kingdom?
Ans: Plantae kingdom is classified on the basis of following points. These are:–
1.Availability of special tissues or vascular tissues for transporting food, water and minerals transportation like xylem or phloem
2.Ability to bear seeds Whether seeds are enclosed within or outside it.
3.Numbers of layers of seed that is monocotyledon and dicotyledon.
These are some solved questions on five kingdoms of classification of Whittaker. I have this article on Whittaker’s classification will help in your preparation.
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