Difference Between Plant and Tree
Last Updated : 06 Apr, 2023
There are five major kingdoms - Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia. The Plantae Kingdom mainly consists of multicellular eukaryotes, trees, shrubs, herbs, bushes, and many others. They are photoautotrophs that produce their own food by using sunlight and chlorophyll. The main difference between a plant and a tree is that a tree is a woody perennial plant that consists of a straight unbranched trunk while a plant is a member of the kingdom Plantae.
What is a Plant?
Plants are the living multicellular organisms of the kingdom Plantae which uses photosynthesis to produce their own food and obtain energy from the sunlight. The green plant consists of a pigment known as chlorophyll responsible for the green color in the leaves. Plants consist of cell walls that are made up of cellulose. They take nutrients by absorbing water through the roots. They mainly provide food, shelter, clothes, and many other things in life which are the basic necessities of living beings. Plants have many cultural and many other uses such as building materials, ornaments, and writing materials. They have been the source of medicines. The scientific study of plants is known as botany.
What is a Tree?
Trees are a type of plant which are tall and woody perennial plants. They have single trunk from which branches come out into small limbs and leaves. The leaves in trees are used to capture sunlight for the photosynthesis process. Trees have longer life as compared to plants. Trees provide food, shelter, fuel, shade, and cooling. The trunk of trees consists of woody tissues which help in strengthening the trunk. The outer layer of the trunk acts as a protective layer known as bark. The roots of the trees absorb water and nutrients from the soil which require for the growth of the trees. Trees are mainly autotrophic. They can produce their own food from sunlight by using chlorophyll. They show resilience against sudden climatic conditions.
Difference Between Plant and Tree
Plant | Tree |
| Definition |
| Plants belongs to the member of kingdom Plantae. | Trees are a type of woody perennial plant which has a trunk. |
| Size |
| Plants are mainly near the ground such as grasses and shrubs. | Trees varies from one size to another they are taller and thicker than plants. |
| Longevity |
| Plant don't have a long lifespan and have shorter lifespan as compared to trees. | Trees can live hundreds of years. They have longer lifespan than plants. |
| Nutrition |
| Some are heterotrophic and some are autotrophic. | They all are autotrophic. |
| Shapes |
| Plants also have unique shapes from scrambling vines to clumps. | Trees have many shapes such as triangular, columnar and rounded. |
| Apical Dominance |
| There are some plants which may not show clear apical dominance. | Trees show apical dominance. |
| Stem |
| Plants have single or multiple stems such as tender stem or woody trunk. | Trees consists of trunk. |
| Diversity |
| Plants have extremely higher diversity than the trees. | Trees have less diversity. |
Similarities Between Plant and Tree
- The main similarities between the plant and tree are the presence of a vascular structure with roots and stems.
- They both use sunlight and chlorophyll to make their own food and use them as nutrients.
- They both consist of green pigment which provides the green color in the leaves of plants and trees.
Conclusion
Therefore plants and trees have many similarities but they are easy to tell apart. Plants generally have several roots but they are weaker, soft, and bendable when compared to trees. Trees have one woody stem known as a trunk. Trees are larger and bigger in size but plants are mainly near the ground such as grasses and shrubs. Plants don't have a long lifespan and have shorter lifespans as compared to trees. Trees have many shapes such Anas triangular, columnar, and rounded while Plants also have unique shapes from scrambling vines to clumps.
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