Plant Classification Quiz

Plants Classification

• Plants are living organisms found on Earth.
• Plants are identified by their foliage, profile, color, and anatomy.
• Plant anatomy includes roots, stems, leaves, flowers, etc.
• Plants can be categorized into 3 parts: stem, leaf, root.

Course Outline

• Chapter 2: Classification of ornamental plants
• 2.1 Classification of Plants
• 2.2 Plants type
  • 2.2.1 Trees
  • 2.2.2 Shrubs
  • 2.2.3 Climbers and creepers
  • 2.2.4 Palm
  • 2.2.5 Cactus
  • 2.2.6 Orchids
  • 2.2.7 Ferns
  • 2.2.8 Aquatic plants
  • 2.2.9 Groundcovers
  • 2.2.10 Bamboos

Plant Classification Based on Category & Height

• Ground cover: Below 500mm (20 inches)
• Low shrub: 500-1000mm (20-40 inches)
• Medium shrub: 1000-2000mm (3-7 feet)
• Tall shrub: 2000-6000mm (7-20 feet)
• Small tree: 6-10m (20-30 feet)
• Medium tree: 10-15m (30-50 feet)
• Tall tree: Above 15m (50 feet)

Plants Layering

• Background: 4m and Taller
• Midground: 1.5m - 4m
• Foreground: 0.5m - 1.5m
• Ground layer: < 0.5m

Why Classify Plants?

• One plant can have many common names.
• For example, the white lily in Europe has at least 245 common names.
• Knowing only the common name of a plant is inaccurate.
• Botanists use scientific classification (taxonomy) for precise naming.

The Binomial System of Classification

• Scientific names define a plant's place in the biological world.
• Developed by Carolus Linnaeus (18th-century Swedish botanist).
• Scientific names have two parts: genus (capitalized) and species (italicized), both in Latin.

The Binomial System of Classification(details)

• Genus: A noun that describes an aspect of the plant. -Example: Coffea arabica (coffee plant)
• Species: An adjective describing the genus. -Example: arabica in Coffea arabica
• Example: Coffea arabica - Coffea is Latin for kahwah (Arabic word for beverage). Arabica indicates the plant's origin (thought to be Arabia).

Tree (details)

• A woody plant with a trunk and branches that grow above 5 meters.

Tree Structure

• Crown: The top leafy portion of the tree.
• Trunk: The main woody stem.
• Branches: Extensions of the trunk supporting the leaves.
• Twigs: Small branches that bear leaves.
• Leaf: The photosynthetic part of the plant.
• Roots: The part that anchors the tree and absorbs water.

Shape of Trees

• Round: Common in formal gardens
• Spreading: Wide and extensive, gives a feeling of breadth and extent
• Pyramidal: Cone-shaped, sharp edges
• Columnar: Emphasizes verticality, draws the eye upwards
• Weeping: Downward-arching branches, produce a sound like someone weeping when the wind blows
• Irregular: Adapted to environmental conditions in the area

Palm Trees (details)

• Palm trees are angiosperms and monocots.
• They are closely related to grasses and bamboos.
• Belong to the botanical family Arecaceae (formerly Palmae).
• Many species of palms, although some are endangered due to deforestation and unsustainable cultivation.
• Palm trees can grow fast due to allocating less energy to defending against insect damage.
• Two types of growth: solitary (one apical meristem) and clustering (one apical meristem per stem).

Palm Trees (details 2)

• Over 2,500 palm tree species.
• Common staples from palm trees: coconuts, dates, betel nuts, acai fruit, and palm oil.
• The Quindio wax palm (Ceroxylon quindiuense) of Colombia is the tallest-growing palm species (197 feet).
• The Dypsis minuta is likely the smallest species.

Palm Tree Structure

• Leaf (or frond): Large, divided into leaflets.
• Leafstalk (petiole): Attachment point for the leaf.
• Stem: Main support structure.
• Old leaf bases: Remains of old leaves.
• Leaf scars: Marks on the stem where leaves were attached.
• Roots: Anchor the palm to the ground.

Palm Tree Leaves

• Palmate: Hand-shaped with segments radiating from a central point.
• Pinnate: Feather-like, leaflets growing on either side of the stem.

Palm Tree Stems/Trunks

• Palms grow like grasses, the successive leaf sheaths wrap around the stem or trunk.

Palm Flowers and Fruits

• Most palm fruits are inedible, but some are food crops (dates, coconuts).
• The flowers are tiny, but structures bearing flowers are often large.

Important Orchid Species

• Aerides: Attractive inflorescence, called Fox Tail Orchid ( A.multiflorum, A. adoratum).
• Arachnis: Beautiful flowers, very popular cut flower (A. annamensis, A. cathcari, A. maggie oei).
• Calanthe: Showy flowers, prominent pseudo bulbs (C. bilobo, C.verstita, C.chloroleuca, C.herbacea).
• Cattleya: Striking colours, large flowers, fragrant blooms (C. aurantiaca, C. bicolour, C. labiata, C. maxima).
• Coelogyne: Pseudo bulbous stems, free flowering, attractive flowers (C. cristata, C.odoratissima).
• Cymbidium: Popular commercial orchid, long spikes (C. elegans, C. pendulum, C. grandiflorum, C. longifolium, C. tigrinum).
• Bulbophyllum: Deciduous with pseudo-bulbous creeping rhizome (B. caryanum, B. cylindracum, B. rigidum).
• Dendrobium: Second largest genus, marvellous large showy flowers, epiphytes (D. crysanthum, D. chrysotoxum, D. densiflorum, D. nobile, D. regium).
• Oncidium: Leaves leathery, single leaves arise on tips pf small pseudo stems (O.ampliatum, O. crispum, O.papilio, O. luridum).
• Paphiopedilum: Called ladies slippers orchid, spectacular handsome flowers, mostly terrestrial, lithophytic, and epiphytic (P. bellutulum, P. callosum, P. concolor, P. insigne, P. venusium, P. farieanum).
• Peristeria: Called Dove orchid or holy ghost flower, tall spikes, white flowers (P. elata).
• Phaius: Vigorous growing, tall clustered stems, showy flowers in racemes (P. grandifolius, P. wallichi, P. blumei).
• Phalaenopsis: Called Moth orchids, very popular, short stems, good for cut flower trade (P. amabilis, P. fuscata, P. speciosa, P. violacaea).
• Miltonia: Bears short pseudobulbs with two or more narrow flexible leaves, flowers in single or in cluster (M. ancepts, M. candida, M. spectabilis, M. stenoglassa).
• Odontoglossum: Pseudostem is oval, green with 2-3 leaves, inflorescence in arch shape, large and showy (O. cardatum, O. grande, O. maculatum, O. nobile, O. rossi).
• Renanthera: Epiphytic, tall-growing, free flowering (R. coccinea, R. storie, R. elongata, R. pulchella).
• Rynchostylis: Flowers clustered closely in dense cylindrical drooping raceme, good for hanging baskets (R. retusa, R. gignatea).
• Spathoglottis: Tall and slender inflorescence, attractive, three-lobed labellum (S. affinis, S. acerea, S. plicta, S. grandifolia).
• Thunia: Tall bamboo-like stems bearing flower clusters at the top (T. alba, T. marshallina).
• Vanda: Popular, monopodial, epiphytic roots prominent and stout, produce attractive flowers (V. amesiana, V. bensoniui, V. coerulea, V. cristata).

Cactus (details)

• A plant with succulent stems and branches.
• Scales or spines instead of leaves.
• Commonly found in dry areas like desserts.
• Cactus species vary in size, colour, shape, and growing habits.
• They may grow in upright columns, spreading clumps, or spiny balls.
• They are also found cascading over rocks and in hanging baskets.

Cactus Characteristics

• Most cacti are stem succulents, with fleshy stems.
• Little woody tissue.
• Never have leaves.
• Spines probably evolved from leaves.
• Dormant in winter, grow in summer.
• Vary widely in size and shape.
• Range from less than 1 inch to over 60 feet tall (Giant Saguaro).

Cactus Parts

• Stem: Thick, fleshy part, stores water.
• Spine: To protect cactus from being eaten or damaged.
• Areoles: A cluster of spines; located on the stem.
• Tubercle: Raised spots of areoles.
• Glochids: Tiny, barbed hairs that can irritate skin.

Cactus Flowers

• All cacti produces flowers.
• Usually are seen on the areoles.
• Flowers can be white or vivid colours like yellow, orange, red, or lavender.
• Most blooms for only a few days.
• Some open only at night.

Cactus Roots

• Extremely long roots to go through sandy or rocky soils.
• Close to the surface to collect water.
• Large saguaro can have root systems as long as 50 feet.
• After a rain, roots absorb and move large amounts of water to the stems.

Cactus Life Cycle

• Reproduce through flowers with both male and female parts.
• One or two seeds live and grow into new cactus plants.
• Some reproduce without seeds by breaking off stems and growing new plants.

Where to Grow Cactus

• Most cacti grow in hot and dry areas.
• Common in Mexico and the Southwest US.
• Can be found on mountains, rainforests, and polar regions too.

Cactus Landscaping

• Cacti and succulents make great landscaping choices.
• Require little maintenance and are easy to care for.
• Tolerate a variety of climates.
• Adapted to potted environments and perfect for growing indoors.

Types of Cactus

• Prickly pear: Known for broad, flat prickly stems; tips turn coral colored in bright sun. Wide, flat, thick pads with spines and segmented stems.
• Barrel: Resembles spine-covered barrels, ribbed, cylindrical shape. Many sizes (low and squat, up to 10 feet high).
• Cholla: Thin round stems, attractive as focal points. Creeper, shrub, or tree-like forms. Comes in various heights. Flowers are green or orange, usually bloom April through June.
• Pincushion: Small, squat plants with tiny spines. Round ball-like shape. Rarely grow more than 6 inches high.
• Totem pole: Characterized by large height and spineless column shape; folds and curves on stems help retain moisture.
• Organ pipe: Grows in clusters, similar to organ pipes; well-drained, gritty soils. Lives a long time and reaches maturity at 150 years old.

Orchid (details)

• A plant with complex flowers often showy or bizarrely shaped, with a large specialized lip (labellum) frequently a spur.
• Native to tropical countries, humid forests of South and Central America, Mexico, and India.
• Most are perennial herbs.
• Grow as terrestrial (land), epiphytic (on trees), lithophytic (on rocks), and semi-aquatic.

Orchid Classification

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Division: Magnoliophyta
• Class: Liliopsida
• Order: Asparagales
• Family: Orchidaceae
• Subfamilies: Apostasioideae, Vanilloideae, Cypripedioideae, Epidendroideae, Orchidoideae

Orchid Species (details)

• Aerides: Attractive inflorescence (fox tail orchid).
• Arachnis: Beautiful flowers, popular cut flowers.
• Calanthe: Showy flowers, prominent pseudo bulbs.
• Cattleya: Striking colors, large flowers, fragrant blooms.
• Coelogyne: Pseudo bulbous stems, free flowering, attractive flowers.
• Cymbidium: Popular commercial orchids with long spikes, suitable for decoration.
• Bulbophyllum: Deciduous with pseudo-bulbous creeping rhizome.
• Dendrobium: Second largest genus, marvellous large showy flowers, epiphytes.
• Oncidium: Leaves leathery, single leaf arises on the tip of small pseudo stem.
• Paphiopedilum: Called ladies slippers orchid, spectacular handsome flowers.
• Peristeria: Called Dove or holy ghost flower, tall spikes, white flowers.
• Phaius: Vigorous, tall, clustered stems; showy flowers in racemes.
• Phalaenopsis: Called Moth orchids, very popular, short stems, good for cut flower trade.
• Miltonia: Bears short pseudobulbs with two or more narrow flexible leaves, flowers in single or in clusters
• Odontoglossum: Pseudostem is oval, green with 2-3 leaves, inflorescence in arch shape, large and showy.
• Renanthera: Epiphytic, tall-growing, free flowering.
• Rynchostylis: Flowers clustered closely in dense cylindrical drooping raceme, good for hanging baskets.
• Spathoglottis: Tall and slender inflorescence, attractive, three-lobed labellum.
• Thunia: Tall bamboo-like stems, flower clusters at tops.
• Vanda: Popular, monopodial, epiphytic roots prominent and stout, attractive flowers

Fern (details)

• Vascular plants that reproduce via spores.
• Do not have seeds or flowers.

Fern Details(2)

• Never have flowers and fruits, instead, they reproduce through spores.
• Spores are dust like substances produced in capsules called sori on the underside of the frond.
• Ferns make good, low-maintenance garden plants and have few pests and diseases.

Size range and habitat (Fern)

• Range from minute filmy plants to large tree ferns.
• Some are twining vines, others float on the surface of ponds.
• Prefer warm, damp environments.
• Less common in dry and cold areas.

Aquatic Plant (details)

• Aquatic plants include those found in freshwater and saltwater.
• Four main types: Algae, Floating Plants, Submerged Plants, and Emergent Plants.
• Grouping is based on the position of their roots and leaves.

Aquatic plant classification

• Algae: Primarily found in the ocean, no roots, stems, or leaves
• Floating Plants: Not attached to the bottom but has roots, often have flat leaves, for example Water Lettuce, water hyacinth
• Submerged Plants: Rooted to water floor, most of their vegetation submerged and has thin, narrow leaves. Examples include hydrilla and bog moss
• Emergent Plants: Rooted to the water but most of their vegetation above water. They need frequent sunlight and constant exposure. Examples include lily pads, blue iris flowers

Cycad (details)

• Primitive palm-like plants.
• Inhabit tropical and subtropical regions.
• Bear large male or female cones.
• Usually unbranched woody trunks with a distinctive green crown of pinnate, stiff leaves.
• Reproduce by male and female cones, which have pollen (male) that travels by wind to the female cones.
• The pithy stems are a source of sago, a food starch.
• Cycads have specialized pollinators like beetles.
• Some species fix nitrogen in association with various bacteria in their "coralloid" roots

Bamboo (details)

• Woody perennial evergreen plants.
• 91 genera and about 1,000 species.
• Erect-sub erect, clambering or climbing
• Members of the grass family (Graminae)
• Rhizomes

Bamboo Types

• Bambusa: Rhizomes sympodial, culms erect to sub erect, and never clambering or climbing. Can be for food. Examples: B. blumeana, B. vulgaris, B. vulgaris var striata, B. multiplex, B. laxa.
• Dendrocalamus: Rhizomes sympodial, culms erect to sub erect, and never clambering or climbing. Can be for food. Examples: D. asper, D. pendulus, D. dumosus, D. elegans, D. giganteus, D. hirtellus
• Chimonobambusa: A Chinese genus, erect habit. Example: C. quadrangularis

Test your knowledge on plant classification with this quiz covering the binomial nomenclature system, the characteristics of various plant types, and their classifications. Answer questions about specific plants and their defining features for a deeper understanding of botany.