Question

The suffix ‘phyta’ indicates
A. Family
B. Order
C. Class
D. Division

Answer 1

The word suffix refers to the word that is placed after the main word. The suffix phyta is used in botany in order to place the plants and algae according to their taxonomic rank. In biology, the organisms are placed at a certain position or designation depending on their hierarchy level.

Complete answer: The scientific study which involves naming and defining and classifying biological organisms in groups depending on the shared characteristics is called taxonomy. The organisms are grouped into taxon and are given taxonomic rank to each taxon. Depending upon the rank the taxon is named as domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. In botany instead of phylum, the division is used. The current system of taxonomy is found by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus. The critical component of the taxonomic process is biological classification. The designation of phylum used for placing animals in zoology was accepted by the International Botanical Congress in 1993. The term phyta is used in botany as a suffix. For example, the phyta in Bryophyta is used to indicate the division in which it belongs to. Therefore, the suffix phyta indicates division.
So, option D is the correct option.

Note: In botany division is used to indicate the hierarchy level of the plants and algae. The suffix phyta in botany indicates the divisions. The four divisions in botany are Bryophytes, Pteridophyte, Thallophyta, and Spermatophyta. The term division is optional in zoology as the term phylum is used instead of division.