NomenclatureScientific Plant Classification

Early Classification Started by the Greek philosopher Theophrastus Classified all plants into annuals, biennials, and perennials, according to life span Herbs, shrubs, and trees, according to their growth habit

Modern Taxonomy Modern classification of plants is based on Linnaeus (Carl von Lenné), a 18th century Swedish physician and “the father of taxonomy” who revolutionized the field of plant and animal classification Use of binomial nomenclature

- Genus and species for scientific names Use of trinomial nomenclature for horticultural crops

Genus, species, and cultivar for cultivated crops

Scientific NamesRed Delicious Apple

ClassificationRed Delicious Apple

KingdomPlantae

DivisionAnthrophyta

ClassDicotyledonae

OrderRosales

FamilyRosaceae

Genus Malus (or Malus)

Speciesdomestica (or domestica)

Variety (naturally occurring)

(cultivar) ‘Red Delicious’

Form--

Individual --

Botanical Names for Horticultural Crops

Mostly deals with family, genus, species, and cultivar Binomial for botanical names Italicize or underline genus and species

Genus species (or Genus species)

Do not underline or italicize family and cultivar names Rosaceae (the rose family) Malus domestica cv. Golden Delicious

Variety names may be underlined or italicized Picea glauca var. densata Black Hills Spruce Picea pungens cv. Hoopsii Hoops Blue Spruce

Blue Spruce

Natural botanical varieties are seed propagated Cultivars are propagated asexually by cuttings or grafting

Picea pungens var. glauca Picea pungens cv. Hoopsii

Red Delicious or Golden Delicious Apples

Malus domestica cv. Red Delicious

Malus domestica cv. Red DeliciousMalus domestica ‘Red Delicious’Malus domestica ‘Red Delicious’

Malus domestica cv. Golden DeliciousMalus domestica cv. Golden DeliciousMalus domestica ‘Golden Delicious’Malus domestica ‘Golden Delicious’

Golden Delicious was a sport of Red Delicious

Selected Terminology

Variety – A group of variants within a species which have similar characteristics

Cultivar – Cultivated variety, usually human-made

Cultigen – A cultivar that has naturalized in a native stand Ecospecies – A subdivision of species that are formed by

ecological barrier (i.e., Cercis canadendensis, Redbud) Clone – A group of plants all of which arose from a single

individual (ortet) through asexual (vegetative) propagation Clonal Cultivar – An asexually propagated clone (i.e., Russet

Burbank potato, Royalty rose, etc.) Pure Lines – Homozygous inbred lines grown from seed

AAbbcc, aabbcc, aaBBcc, aabbCC Hybrid Cultivar – A cultivar developed by hybridizing (crossing)

two or more genetically diverse parental linesGenetically heterozygous, phenotypically uniform (homogeneous)

AaBbCc (A=dominat allele, a=recessive allele)

Ecospecies of Redbud Formed by ecological isolation Clines with continuous variation in leaf pubescence from east to

west

Redbud

Some Horticulturally Important Families

1. Rosaceae Rose Family

2. Solanaceae Nightshade Family

3. Cucurbitaceae Gourd Family

4. Brassicaceae Mustard Family

5. Apiaceae Celery Family

6. Liliaceae Lily Family

7. Orchidaceae Orchid Family

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

• About 100 genera, 3000 species• Rose, raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, prunus

(peach, cherry, apricot, almond, plum), apple, pear, quince

• Examples– Rosa hybrida cv. Royalty Royalty rose– Pyrus communis cv. Bartlett Bartlett Pear– Malus domestica cv. Fuji Fuji Apple– Fragaria ananasa Strawberry

Examples of Rosaceae Crops

Rose

Pear

Strawberry

AppleApricot

Solanaceae (Nightshade Family)

• About 90 genera, 2200 species• Mostly native to South America• Genus Solanum is the largest with 1700 species• Many species contain alkaloids, solanine, nicotine,

atropine• Examples

– Solanum tuberosum Potato– Solanum tuberosum ‘Russet Burbank’ Russet Burbank

potato– Petunia hybrida cv. Red Cascade Red Cascade petunia– Lycopersicon esculentum Tomato– Capsicum frutescens ‘Red Bell’ Red Bell pepper

Some Solanaceae Crops

Bell pepper

Tomato Potato Eggplant

Yukon Gold Potato

Cucurbitaceae (Gourd Family)

• About 100 genera, 559 species• Native to both the old and new worlds• Mostly vines with tendrils• Examples

– Citrullus vulgaris Watermelon– Cucumis sativus Cucumber– Cucurbita pepo Pumpkin– Cucurbita maxima Squash– Cucumis melo Muskmelon

Some Cucurbitaceae Crops

Cucumber

Watermelon, seedlessWatermelon, seedless

Watermelon

Gourds Pumpkin

Muskmelon

Some Cucurbit Displaysat IHC06-Seoul

Brassicaceae (Cruciferae, Mustard Family)

• About 350 genera, 3200 species• Cole crops such as cabbage, broccoli,

radish• Many are common garden crops• Typically 4-merous (cross-like flower petals)• Examples

– Brassica oleracea Cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, broccoli, cauliflower

– Brassica napa Pak Choi, Napa cabbage, turnip

– Brassica juncea Mustard– Raphanum sativa Radish, Daikon radish

Some Brassicaceae Vegetables

ApiaceaeFormerly Umbeliferae, Celery or Parsnip Family

• About 250 genera, 2500 species• Annual or biennial herb• Umbel shape inflorescence (compound

umbels)• Examples

– Daucus carota Carrot– Apium graceolens Celery– Coriandrum sativum Coriander– Petroselinum hortense Parsley

Some Apiaceae Crops

Coriander

Purple carrot

Liliaceae (Lily Family)Monocots

• About 240 genera, 3000 species• Specialized foot storage organs such as

rhizomes, bulbs, fleshy roots)• Include many ornamental plants• Examples

– Asparagus officinalis Asparagus– Lilium longiglorum Easter lily– Aloe barbadensis Aloe vera– Allium cepa Onion– Tulipa spp. Tulips

Some Liliaceae Plants

Garlic

Trillium

Easter lily

Aloe vera

Onion

Tulip

Asparagus

3-merous

Garlic Festival Held in Gilroy, CA, - Garlic capitol of the world (122,000 visitors in 2004) 28th annual Gilroy garlic festival was held July 28-30, 2006

Orchidaceae (Orchid Family)Monocots

• About 800 genera, 30,000 species• Mostly native to tropical and subtropical regions• Epiphytic as well as terrestrial growth habits• Many species are used as ornamentals• Examples

– Vanilla planifolia Vanilla orchid– Cattleya spp. Cattleya orchids– Dendrobium spp. Dendrobium orchids– Phalaenopsis spp. Phalaenopsis orchids– Cymbidium spp. Cymbidium orchids– Cypripedium reginae Lady slipper orchid

Some Orchidaceae Plants

Vanilla orchid

Vanilla flower

Cattleya

Lady SlipperCattleya hybrid

Phalaenopsis

Orchid popularity is increasing worldwide