classification of ornamental plants

Question 1

Classification of Ornamental Plants

Answer 1

Classification is a means of grouping plants according to their similarities, such as their botanical and descriptive characteristics.
Eg: Flowering patterns, Stems , Life structures, Life Cycles, Genetics
The study of plant classification is termed taxonomy.
Plant scientists who engage in the study are known as taxonomist.
Earlier classified organisms as plant and animal.
The Greek philosopher Theophrastus (300 B.C.) published the first horticulture text book “Historia Plantarum”.
In this text, plants are grouped together based on life span, growth habit, retention of leaves, and other traits.

Question 2

Plant Nomenclature

Answer 2

Botanists call plants by their last two taxas – genus and species
This system is known as binomial nomenclature (two-word naming system)
Usually Botanical Names are used which are mostly Latin and Greek.
Developed by Carolus Linnaeus
Uses Latin for three reasons: Universal (known by all scientists), Very descriptive, Unchanged (contains no slang words)
Genus is capitalized; Species lower case
Ex. Meconopsis bhutanica
Plant taxonomists, governed by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, assign the names based on where a plant fits within the kingdom’s classification system.
Additional terms used in binomial names- authority, variety, hybrids, cultivars.

Question 3

Classifications are based on

Answer 3

Vegetative growth
Life cycle
Leaf characteristics
Uses
And others

Question 4

Classification based on vegetative growth

Answer 4

Herb/ Herbaceous plants
soft and succulent stem
No wood
e.g., Marigold, Zinnia, Petunia, Dahlia, Hollyhock, Tuberose, Chrysanthemum, Cosmos, Corn flower.
Used as bedding plants, hanging baskets, house plants, cut flowers

Shrubs
medium size with height less than 4 meters
Have several hard and woody stem
bear a lot of branches
bushy appearance without having any clear trunk
e.g. Rose, China rose, Ixora, Gardenia, Night jasmine, azaleas

Climbers
weak stem
have the climbing or creeping stem
Have thorns or tendrils
Need support to stand erectly
e.g., Bougainvillea, Honey suckle, Indian ivy, morning glory, Clerodendron, Money plant

Trees
Well defined woody branches
They have clear trunk
Used for beautifications, wind break, avenue
Attain more than 4 mtrs height,
Tap root system, perennial
e.g., Blue gulmohar, cassia, bottle brush, flame of the forest

Question 5

Classification based on life cycle

Answer 5

Annual:
The plants which complete their life cycle within a year are known as annuals
Summer annuals: Zinnia, sunflower, cosmos, gomphrena
Rainy season annuals: Balsam, cock’s comb, Amaranthus
Winter annuals: Paper flower, Antirrhinum, china aster, calendula, larkspur

Biennial:
The plants which complete their life cycle more than one year and less than two years are known as biennials e.g., Tuberose, Gladiolus, Day lily etc.
Perennial:
Plants which do not die after completing their life cycle and continue to complete life cycle every year are termed as perennials e.g. Jasmine, Gardenia, Night jasmine etc.

Question 6

Classification based on leaf characteristics

Answer 6

Evergreen ornamental plant: The plants which do not shed their leaves at any time of the year and bear leaves all the time through out the year is known as evergreen plants .
e.g., Thuja, Araucaria, Pine, Croton etc.
Deciduous ornamental plants: The plants which shed their leaves in a particular season of the year are called deciduous plants
e.g. Pagoda tree, Mussaenda etc.

Question 7

Classification based on uses

Answer 7

Some of the ornamental plants are classified based on their uses like
Flowering trees like Dogwood, magnolia,
Ornamental trees: The trees which are attractive for their beautiful leaves and branches e.g. Eucalyptus, Ashoka Tree
The Palms: The plants under the family Palmaceae are called palms. They have long stem having no branch with a bushy leaf top e.g. Areca palm, Bottle palm, Fan leaved palm, Fish tail palm, Cabbage palm, Coconut palm, Date palm etc.

Question 8

Classification Others

Answer 8

Lilies: The flowering plants which are propagated by the underground modified stem e.g., Tuberose, Gladiolus, Daffodil etc.
Orchids: are mainly parasites grow on dead plants or plants, some even grow on ground e.g. vanda, vanilla, dendrobium orchid, lady’s slipper, spathoglottis garden orchids.
Ferns: These are non-flowering herbaceous vascular plants, which produce spores. Have no true leaves e.g. Sword fern, Maiden hair fern,

Aquatic ornamental plants: These are beautiful plants which are hydrophytic in nature grown in ponds or marshy lands e.g., water lily, lotus, water hyacinth etc.
Bryophytes: Non-vascular plants. Live in damp areas e.g., mosses, liverworts