1.1 Identify The Differences Between Conifers And Flowering Plants Flashcards
Identify the difference between conifers and flowering plants
Gymnosperms (conifers) - All are woody All are perennial Have cones for seed production Seeds are borne naked ON the cone All are wind pollinated Most are evergreen
Angiosperms (flowering plants) May be woody or herbaceous May be annual, biennial,or perennial Flowers for seed production Seeds contained in the ovary of fruits Maybe insect, animal, water or wind pollinated May be evergreen or deciduous
Describe the differences between monocotyledons and dicotyledons
Monocotyledons have linear strap like leaves with parallel veins
Dicotyledons have broad leaves with a network of veins
Monocotyledons have only one cotyledon (seed leaf)
Dicotyledons have two cotyledons (seed leaves)
Monocotyledons internal structure has scattered vascular bundles
Dicotyledons have circular vascular bundles in rings in stems
Monocotyledons flower parts (petals, sepals etc) are in 3’s or multiples of 3’s
Dicotyledons flower parts are in multiples of 2, 4 or 5
Monocotyledons have a fibrous root system
Dicotyledons have a tap root system
State the reasons why botanical plant names are important
Botanical names are the same all over the world. It is the correct name for the plant in any language, and avoids problems arising from different alphabets , for example Chinese
Many plants do not have common names
Common names are variable, even within one country. For example for example “bluebell” in England refers to a plant Hyacinthoides non-scripta and Hyacinthoides hispanica. In Scotland a “bluebell” refers to Campanula rotundifolia
Botanical names can give information about a plant
Describe the binomial system of naming plants
The binomial system of nomenclature was developed in the 18th century by Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus
This system gives a plant two parts or epephets- a genus name and a species name , which provides each plant with its own unique name.
Eg. Genus -Ilex Species - aquifolium
Ilex aquifolium ( this is the botanical name for holly)
The system was so successful for naming plants it was adopted for other living organisms
The naming of plants is governed by an agreed international code. The international code of Botanical Nomenclature- making it consistent and reliable system throughout the world.
State the meaning of ‘genus’ and ‘species’ and state how they are written, with reference to 3 plant examples
Genus -
A genus is a group of one or more closely related species in the same family. The Genus name starts with an initial capital letter followed by all lower case letters, and is always typed in italics (or underlined if hand written)
Species
A species is a group of individuals that breeds naturally to produce offspring with the same characteristics. The species name is written in lower case letters and typed in italics ( or underlined if hand written)
Fatsia Japonica
Rosa canina
Laurus nobilis
Festuca glauca
Describe the naming of cultivated plants. State the meaning of cultivar and star how it is written, with reference to 3 examples
The naming of cultivated plants follows the conventions of the binomial system for generic and specific epithets
A cultivated plant is one that is only man made and doesn’t exist naturally.
A cultivar is a group within a species which has minor characteristics from the type of species and has occurred and is maintained In cultivation rather than in the wild.
Is cultivated by vegetative means only
The cultivar name follows the species name, is in single quotes, has a capital initial for each word with remaining letters in lower case, and is written in Roman type. Modern cultivar names should follow international rules and should be in the vernacular.
Geranium himalayense ‘Gravetye’
Elaeagnus pungens ‘Maculata’
Fagus sylvatica ‘Zlatia’
Panicum virgatum ‘Warrior’
State the reasons for loss of a species name
If the parentage of a cultivar is obscure or complicated, the generic name may simply be followed by the cultivar name, e.g Rosa ‘Buff Beauty’. This is very common in cultivated species
What is a subspecies
A subspecies varies from the true species in several characteristics and may have arisen through natural selection, often arising in an isolated geographical location.
The subspecies name follows the specific epithet and has the prefix subsp.(in Roman type), it is written in lower case italics eg
Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii
What is a variety
A variety varies from the true species in one or two characteristics and is usually from the same geographical location in the wild.
The variety name follows the specific epithet and has the prefix var. (in Roman type) it is written in lower case and italics
Rosa gallica var. officinalis
Describe a Forma
A forma varies from the true species in only ONE minor characteristic (usually colour of leaf) and is usually found growing in the same location in the wild
The forma name follows the specific epithet and has the prefix f. (In Roman type ) , it is written in lower case and italics
E.g Quercus robur f. fastigiata
Describe Hybrids
Plants produced by CROSSING TWO DIFFERENT PARENT SPECIES are called hybrids.
The most common hybrids are between two species of the same genus as they are genetically more similar. Hybrids between species from different genera do occur, but are less common
Describe interspecific hybrids
These are the most common hybrid. A hybrid between two species in the same genus
Example :
Viburnum x bodnantense
This is a cross between Viburnum farreri and Viburnum grandiflorum .
The generic name is retained and suitable new species name chosen
Lower case x is used before the species name which is written in the standard way. The ‘cross ‘ is pronounced when spoken
Describe Intergeneric hybrids
A hybrid between two genera in the same family .
Example :
X Cuprocyparis leylandii - is a cross between plants from the genera Chamaecyparis and Cupressus
A lower case x is used BEFORE the new generic name , which is a combined version of the 2 original genera. The “cross “ is pronounced when speaking the name.
Describe Graft hybrids (chimeras)
These occasionally occur where 2 plants are grafted together. The new plant arises at point of grafting, contains a physical combo of tissues of both parents.
Graft hybrids denoted by a + instead if an x before generic name. Eg
+ Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’ (hybrid graft of Laburnum and cytisus’
The “plus” is pronounced when speaking the name
Such hybrids are rare
