Chapter 2 - Plant Classification (PPT) Flashcards
Father of plant classification systems, dating back to 300s B.C.
Theophrastus
Theophrastus’ categories for plants
Trees, shrubs, half shrubs, herbs
Theophrastus’ plant life cycles
Annuals, Biennials, Perennials
Father of MODERN plant classification
Carolus Linnaeus
What is modern plant classification based on?
similar morphology
Plant nomenclature classification system (in order from top)
- Kingdom
- Division (Phylum in Animal Kingdom)
- Class
- Subclass
- Order
- Family
- Genus
- Species
The study of plant classification
taxonomy
Plant Classes (end in -ae, name all three)
- Filicinae (ferns)
- Gymnospermae (ginkgoes, cyads, taxads, and conifers)
- Angiospermae (flowering plants)
Angiospermae Plant Subclasses (end in -eae, name both)
- Dicotyledoneae (Dicots)
- Monocotyledoneae (Monocots)
Dicots: how many cotyledons in a seed? Venation type? Flower parts? Vascular bundles?
- Two cotyledons in a seed
- Net leaf venation
- Flower parts in 4s, 5s or multiples thereof
- Vascular bundles in rings
Monocots: how many cotyledons in a seed?
Venation type?
Flower parts? Vascular bundles?
- One cotyledon in a seed
- Parallel leaf venation
- Flower parts in 3s or multiples thereof
- Vascular bundles scattered
Plant Orders (end in ales) - name two for dicots, three for monocots
Dicots: Polemoniales & Sirophulariales
Monocots: Liliales, Graminales, & Palmales
Plant Families (end in -aceae): what they’re useful for.
-Useful for knowing similarities between plants, think of plants in a family as cousins (ex. squash)
Why is taxonomy Latin?
- Universal
- Precise
- Descriptive
What does a binomial consist of?
Genus first, then specific epithet/species (ex. Iris sibirica) *species should be italicized
natural variation in a species
variety (ex. var. contorta)
human-selected and vegetatively propagated and maintained variety
cultiva
difference in a species too subtle to be a variety
forma (ex. f. glauca)
cultivar that is sexually propagated
Line (ex. genus cross: Rosa x hybrida & species cross: X Fatshedera (Fastsia japonica x Hedero helix))
group of similar lines (often just a different flower color)
series
cross between two species or general
hybrid (
Classification by overwintering adaptation (name the two categories)
- Herbaceous (succulent): soft annual tissues, survive winter below-ground (if at all)
- Woody: hard perennial tissues - survive winter above-ground
Classification by growth habit (name the two categories)
- Vines: herbaceous plants that climb or twine up vertical supports
- Lianas: vines that develop woody stems over time
Classification by growth habit and size (name the three categories)
- Herbs: herbaceous self-supporting
- Shrubs: woody self-supporting (smaller)
- Trees: woody self-supporting (big)
Classification by tolerance to frost or freezing (name the two categories)
- Tender: readily damaged by frost
- Hardy: not easily damaged by frost, flower buds usually less hardy than leaf buds, roots may also have diff freeze tolerance
By preferred growing temperatures (name the two categories)
- Warm Season: like warm temps (squash, lima beans, sweet potatoes, etc.)
- Cool Season: like cool temperatures (broccoli, kale, lettuce, etc.)
Classification by water requirements/preferences (name the four categories)
- Hydrophytes: grow in water or in continuously wet soils
- Mesophytes: grow in soils that range from wet to dry many times during the year (most horticultural plants)
- Xerophytes: adapted to seasonal or persistent drought (cacti, some succulents)
- Halophytes: adapted to growing with high salt concentrations (beets, spinach, salt-bush)
Classification by soil pH preference (name the two categories)
- Acidophiles (blueberries, rhododendrons, azaleas)
- Basophiles (coltsfoot)
Classification by growth pattern/longevity (name the four categories)
- Annuals: seed to seed in one season, then DIES
- Winter Annuals: germinate from seed in fall and overwinter before producing seed the next spring and DIE
- Biennials: seed to rosette in 1 season; rosette to seed spike in 2nd season then DIES
- Perennials: may take several years to reach reproductive maturity; will reproduce seeds annual (under favorable conditions) for multiple years without DYING
