Plant TaxonomyPlant Taxonomy

Taxonomy: The science of Taxonomy: The science of classification.classification.

Why are classification and scientific Why are classification and scientific names important?names important?

For specificity and accuracyFor specificity and accuracy Example:Example:

HemerocallisHemerocallis Common Names Common Names

- Daylily- Daylily

- Lily- Lily

- Ditch Lily- Ditch Lily

- Lemon Lily- Lemon Lily

For Cultural management (Families)For Cultural management (Families)

Carolus LinneausCarolus Linneaus(aka Karl von Linne)(aka Karl von Linne)

Swedish BotanistSwedish Botanist May 23, 1701 – Jan. 10, 1778May 23, 1701 – Jan. 10, 1778 He published He published Species PlantarumSpecies Plantarum

in 1753.in 1753. He based his plant classification He based his plant classification

system on the plant’s method of system on the plant’s method of reproduction and structure of reproduction and structure of reproductive parts.reproductive parts.

‘‘Introduced’ binomial Introduced’ binomial nomenclature. nomenclature. Species PlantarumSpecies Plantarum is the starting point of the is the starting point of the binomial system of nomenclature.binomial system of nomenclature.

Carl Info!Carl Info!

Check this out!Check this out!

KingdomKingdomPhylumPhylum

ClassClassOrderOrder

FamilyFamilyGenusGenus

SpeciesSpeciesCultivarCultivar

KKing ing PPhillip hillip CCalled alled OOut ut FFor or GGood ood SSoupoup

Kingdom Plantae is divided into 12 Kingdom Plantae is divided into 12 Phyla based on reproductive and Phyla based on reproductive and

vascular characteristics.vascular characteristics.

1. Bryophyta: Mosses1. Bryophyta: Mosses

2. Hepatophyta: Liverworts2. Hepatophyta: Liverworts

3. Anthosphyta: Hornworts3. Anthosphyta: Hornworts

4. Lycophyta: Club mosses4. Lycophyta: Club mosses

5. Psilophyta: Whisk Ferns5. Psilophyta: Whisk Ferns

6. Equisetophyta: Horsetails6. Equisetophyta: Horsetails

7. Pterophyta: Ferns7. Pterophyta: Ferns

8. Cycadophyta: Cycads8. Cycadophyta: Cycads

9. Ginkgophyta: Ginkgo9. Ginkgophyta: Ginkgo

10. Coniferophyta: Conifers10. Coniferophyta: Conifers

11. Gnetophyta: Ephedra, 11. Gnetophyta: Ephedra, Gnetum, WelwitschiaGnetum, Welwitschia

12. Angiospermophyta: Seed 12. Angiospermophyta: Seed Plants (monocots and Plants (monocots and dicots)dicots)

Example: ButterflyweedExample: Butterflyweed(Asclepias tuberosa)(Asclepias tuberosa)

Kingdom: Plantae (all plants)Kingdom: Plantae (all plants)Phylum: Angiospermophyta (all flowering plants)Phylum: Angiospermophyta (all flowering plants)Class: Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)Class: Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)Order: Gentianales (all plants with united petals and fused Order: Gentianales (all plants with united petals and fused

reproductive parts)reproductive parts)Family: Asclepiadaceae (plants with a specific pattern of Family: Asclepiadaceae (plants with a specific pattern of

fused reproductive floral parts)fused reproductive floral parts)Genus: Asclepias (all milkweeds)Genus: Asclepias (all milkweeds)Species: tuberosa (a specific kind (species) of milkweed Species: tuberosa (a specific kind (species) of milkweed

with orange flowers and tuberous roots)with orange flowers and tuberous roots)

Plant Evolutionary TheoryPlant Evolutionary Theory

Lower PlantsLower Plants Spore bearing plants with and Spore bearing plants with and

without vascular systems are without vascular systems are ‘Lower Plants’‘Lower Plants’

Higher PlantsHigher Plants Seed-bearing plants with Seed-bearing plants with

vascular systems are ‘Higher vascular systems are ‘Higher Plants’Plants’

Gymnosperms and Gymnosperms and Angiosperms are broad Angiosperms are broad categories of seed bearing categories of seed bearing plants.plants.

GymnospermsGymnosperms

Gymnosperms have seeds with no covering Gymnosperms have seeds with no covering (ie: a fruit or a seed coat). They bear woody (ie: a fruit or a seed coat). They bear woody cones that hold the seeds.cones that hold the seeds.

GymnosGymnos means naked, means naked, spermsperm means seed: means seed: gymnosperm = naked seedsgymnosperm = naked seeds

There are 700 living species placed into four There are 700 living species placed into four divisions: conifers, cycads, ginkgos, and divisions: conifers, cycads, ginkgos, and gnetales (such as gnetales (such as EphedraEphedra).).

AngiospermsAngiosperms Angiosperms were the last of Angiosperms were the last of

the seed plant groups to evolve.the seed plant groups to evolve. Angiosperms all produce Angiosperms all produce

flowers containing the sexual flowers containing the sexual reproduction structures.reproduction structures.

The angiosperms The angiosperms ((angiosangios=covered, =covered, spermsperm = seed) = seed) produce fruits and seeds. There produce fruits and seeds. There are presently 235,000 known are presently 235,000 known living species.living species.

Primitive Versus AdvancedPrimitive Versus AdvancedFloral CharacteristicsFloral Characteristics

AdvancedAdvanced Flower parts few, ten Flower parts few, ten

or lessor less Flower parts united Flower parts united

or fusedor fused Inferior ovaryInferior ovary Flowers with Flowers with

bilateral symmetrybilateral symmetry

PrimitivePrimitive Flower parts many, Flower parts many,

more than tenmore than ten Flower parts free (not Flower parts free (not

united or fused)united or fused) Superior ovarySuperior ovary Flowers with radial Flowers with radial

symmetrysymmetry