Botany Quiz on *Eragrostis tef*

Botanical Information

• Plant Family: Belongs to the Poaceae family, commonly known as the grass family.
• Plant Type:
  • Herbaceous plant
  • Classified as a herb
  • Typically grows as an annual plant but can exhibit perennial characteristics in some regions.
• Native Distribution: Primarily native to the Horn of Africa, especially in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

History as a Food Plant

• Domestication: First domesticated in the Ethiopian highlands, where it has been cultivated for thousands of years.
• Widespread Growth: Most widely grown in Ethiopia, integral to local diets and cultural practices.

Utilization

• Plant Part Used: The seeds of the teff plant are the primary part utilized for human consumption.
• Processing Methods: Seeds are harvested, cleaned, and ground into flour, which is used to make various traditional dishes, including injera (a type of sourdough flatbread).

Botanical Information

• Plant Family: Belongs to the Poaceae family, commonly known as the grass family.
• Plant Type:
  • Herbaceous plant
  • Classified as a herb
  • Typically grows as an annual plant but can exhibit perennial characteristics in some regions.
• Native Distribution: Primarily native to the Horn of Africa, especially in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

History as a Food Plant

• Domestication: First domesticated in the Ethiopian highlands, where it has been cultivated for thousands of years.
• Widespread Growth: Most widely grown in Ethiopia, integral to local diets and cultural practices.

Utilization

• Plant Part Used: The seeds of the teff plant are the primary part utilized for human consumption.
• Processing Methods: Seeds are harvested, cleaned, and ground into flour, which is used to make various traditional dishes, including injera (a type of sourdough flatbread).

Botanical Information

• Arugula (Eruca vesicaria) belongs to the Brassicaceae family, known for its member plants like cabbage and mustard.
• This plant is herbaceous and categorized as a herb, typically having a short lifespan.
• Native distribution spans Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia, thriving in Mediterranean climates.

Utilization

• The leaves of the arugula plant are primarily used for food, adding a peppery flavor to dishes.
• It is commonly prepared in salads, cooked in dishes, or used as a garnish, often served fresh to retain its distinct taste.

Historical Overview of Plant Classification

• Organisms have been classified since Ancient Greek times, focusing on similarities and defining grouping criteria.
• Early classifications were artificial, emphasizing appearance and medicinal properties rather than evolutionary relationships.
• Theophrastus created the first plant classification system about 2300 years ago, recognizing families like Pea, Grass, and Mustard.

Development of Nomenclature

• The Age of Herbals (1470-1670) saw expansion due to the printing press, listing plants' medicinal uses with common names.
• Issues with common names included variability and ambiguity across languages, leading to a standardized Latin-based nomenclature system.
• Carl Linnaeus simplified naming through his binomial system introduced in Species Plantarum (1753), consisting of a genus name and species epithet.

Rules of Binomial Nomenclature

• Generic names are capitalized; species epithets are not.
• Names are italicized (or underlined) and may include an authority designation indicating the nomenclatural history.
• Short forms of generic names are used for repeated references (e.g., P. glauca).

Plant Species Concept

• Plant classification is primarily based on the biological species concept, indicating groups that can interbreed but face challenges in practical application.
• Spatial separation and variation in reproduction methods (e.g., agamospermy in dandelions) complicate interbreeding among plant species.

Morphological Classification Challenges

• Morphological classification faces issues due to genetic changes causing significant morphology shifts and environmental effects on growth.
• Plants exhibit plasticity in morphology that complicates consistent classification, influenced by factors like light exposure and water availability.

Evolutionary Relationships

• Phenetic classification utilizes many characters and emphasizes conservative traits, avoiding highly variable characteristics.
• Darwin's Origin of Species sparked interest in phylogenetic classification based on evolutionary relationships.

Theories of Flowering Plant Evolution

• Competing theories in the 19th century proposed differing views on the earliest flowering plants: Engler suggested small, wind-pollinated flowers, while Hooker argued for large flowers with numerous parts.
• Hooker's system—modified by others—remains accepted today, recognizing 300-350 flowering plant families.

Monocots vs. Eudicots

• Plant classification divides flowering plants into monocots (one cotyledon) and eudicots (two cotyledons), each with distinct features:
  • Monocots: Herbaceous, floral parts in multiples of three, linear leaves, and fibrous root systems.
  • Eudicots: Herbaceous or woody, floral parts in multiples of four or five, broad leaves, and persistent taproots.

Magnoliid Angiosperms

• Genetic studies indicate an additional group, magnoliid angiosperms, evolved before the divergence of monocots and eudicots.
• Key magnoliid families include:
  • Magnoliaceae: Horticultural and timber species.
  • Lauraceae: Includes cinnamon, avocado, and bay leaves.
  • Annonaceae: Tropical fruits like soursop.
  • Piperaceae: Black pepper.
  • Myristicaceae: Nutmeg and other tropical timbers.