Plant Classification and Taxonomy

Plant Taxonomy Overview

• Phylum represents groups within a kingdom; in the plant kingdom, there are ten phyla.
• Common phyla include Bryophyta (mosses and liverworts), Pteridophyta (ferns), Ginkgophyta (Ginkgo), Coniferophyta (conifers), and Angiospermophyta (flowering plants).

Characteristics of Plants

• Plants are multicellular and have the ability to photosynthesize.
• Plant cell structure includes cellulose, giving cells their rounded shape.
• Unlike animals, plants cannot migrate.

Angiospermophyta (Flowering Plants)

• Reproduce using flowers, which attract pollinators through colorful petals and scents.
• Develop fruit that contains seeds.
• Have a well-defined upright stem with mechanical tissue for wind resistance.
• Adaptable stem, root, and leaf systems enable survival in various environments.

Taxonomic Classification

• Classes within phyla include Monocotyledons and Dicotyledons in the Angiospermophyta.

Monocotyledons

• Features strap-like leaves with parallel veins.
• Vascular bundles are scattered throughout.
• Contains one seed leaf and flower parts in threes or multiples of three.
• Characterized by a fibrous root system that is evenly thick.

Dicotyledons

• Distinguished by broad leaves with netted vein patterns.
• Vascular bundles arranged in rings.
• Contains two seed leaves and flower parts in multiples of 2, 4, or 5.
• Features a tap root system with one main root and many smaller branching roots.

Binomial Nomenclature

• Developed by Carl Linnaeus in 1753; a two-word naming system for plants and animals.
• Genus (capitalized) is the surname, whereas species (lowercase) is the given name, both in Latin and italicized or underlined (e.g., Rosa rugosa).
• Family names end in -aceae, such as Rosaceae.

Importance of the Binomial System

• Botanical names provide a universal language across different cultures.
• Common names can vary significantly between regions or might not exist at all.
• Botanical classifications assist in organizing plant relationships.
• Botanical names often reveal important information about plant traits.

Family and Genus

• Plants are categorized into families based on the structure of their reproductive organs.
• Genus comprises closely related species within the same family.

Understanding Species and Varieties

• Species consist of individuals that breed naturally to produce offspring with similar characteristics.
• Variety refers to groups within a species from the same geographical area in the wild.
• Subspecies differ from true species and often arise from isolation or natural selection.

Cultivar and Hybrid Formation

• Cultivars are groups within a species with minor differences due to cultivation or hybridization by humans, named in English with quotes (e.g., 'Fagus sylvatica' "Zlatia").
• Hybrids result from crossing two different parent species within the same genus (e.g., 'Viburnum x bodnantense').
• Graft hybrids are created by grafting two plants together, where new tissue develops from both parents, denoted with a "+" (e.g., 'Plant A + Plant B').