Post on 15-Dec-2015
Plant Identification
Many things are taken into consideration when trying to identify a plant.
Roots, stems, leaves and flowers will help in the identification process.
Terminology
In order to be able to identify a plant and put it in the right family, you need to know the terminology to use.
Plant Identification
You have two main categories of plants.Monocots – grasses, grain
crops, lilies, gladiolas, and palm trees
Plant Identification
The following sections (roots, stems, leaves and flowers) will show you how to use these for plant identification purposes.
Roots
The type of root will normally help you identify the plant. It will place the plant into a monocot or dicot category.
Types of Roots
Penetrate the soil to various depths - some only a few feet, others like the mesquite to as deep as 114 ft.
Types of Roots
FibrousHave many roots of equal
size and a lot of lateral branching
Fibrous roots are generally much more diffuse and closer to the surface
Types of Roots
This root system can effectively prevent any other plant from becoming established – ex: grasses - idea of a healthy lawn is to compete with weeds
Types of Roots
Adventitious Buds - commonly develop on stems or roots - ex: stolons and rhizomes (Bermuda grass, cherry tree, Sumac and raspberry suckers)
Types of Roots
Prop Roots - augment regular roots for anchorage aid - ex: corn - roots come out above soil and help hold plant up
Types of Roots
Aerial Roots - extend down from the branches into the soil - ex: banyan trees
Pneumatophores- stick up from the mud for the purpose of absorbing oxygen – ex: cypress and mangrove
Types of Roots
Mycorrhizal fungi roots - form associations with soil fungi and act as root hairs increasing the absorption of water and minerals (symbiotic relationship - mutually beneficial) – found on trees in temperate forests such as pines and also on ferns, lettuce, white clover, perennial rye and orchids
Types of Roots
Haustorial - parasitic roots which not only anchor but also penetrate into the hosts vascular system for water and nutrients – ex: mistletoe
Types of Roots
Storage roots - starch and other molecules are stored for growth or flowering needs (ex: carrots, beets and turnips)
Types of Roots
Nitrogen fixing roots - members of the Leguminosae family (alfalfa, peas and clover) have a bacteria that infects their roots and forms nodules. The bacteria are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen, to a form, that the plant can use.
Why Different Types of RootsAll plants are in competition with
each other for food and nutrientsBy having different types of roots,
the plants can reach different depths in the soil and still live side by side with other plants
Roots from Seeds – Monocot vs. Dicot Tap Root
Seeds contain an undeveloped plant (embryo)
Seed germination - embryonic root (radicle) grows by dividing and elongation of cells
Roots from Seeds cont.
Fibrous rootEmbryos of grasses have a
single radicle (root shoot)Also has other embryonic
roots (seminal roots) forming just above the radicle
Roots from Seeds cont.
All of these branch to form the fibrous root
Ex: monocots (one leaf emerges from embryo)
Stems
Flowering plants - divided into two groups, monocots and dicots - stems have major differences in arrangement, distribution of tissues and appearance.
Stems
For identification: type of stem (woody or herbaceous), monocot or dicot, has pubescence (hair) or not (glabrous), shape of stem (square – round), or contains glands.
Mature Structure of Woody vs Herbaceous StemsHerbaceous stems
Lack secondary growth - because plants only live one year/growing season (annuals)
Mature Structure of Woody vs Herbaceous Stems
Stems remain soft and flexible.
Buds lack protective scales (don’t need to survive harsh conditions)
Mature Structure of Woody vs Herbaceous Stems Woody stems
Plants living and growing over multiple seasons have secondary growth (xylem, phloem) increasing diameter of the stems
Specialized Stems
Rhizomes - underground horizontal stems (ex: perennial grasses, bamboo) - may also serve as a storage function (irises) – will grow a plant and roots at a node.
Specialized Stems
Stolons - runners - usually above ground, horizontal stems (really elongated internodes) – will grow a plant and roots at a node - ex: strawberries
Specialized Stems
Tubers - several internodes at the end of an underground rhizome (ex: potatoes) - eyes are axillary buds – where the tuber will grow a plant
Specialized Stems
Bulbs - large bud with small stem at lower end - storage in the form of numerous, fleshy leaves - ex: onion, lily, tulip
Corms - look like bulbs, but are mostly stem tissue with a few, papery leaves on the outside - ex: gladiolus, crocus
LeavesLeaves are used as part of the
identification process along with the roots and stems.
Look of the leaf (margins, venation, and shape), arrangement and whether it is monocot or dicot.
Leaves
Leaves may contain pubescence, glands or thorn like projections.
All of these points are considered when using a leaf for identification.
Parts of a Dicot Leaf
Leaf blade – expanded, usually flat portion of a leaf – contains chloroplasts
Petiole – connects the blade of a leaf to a stem or branch – holds leaf up for better air flow and to catch the light
Parts of a Dicot Leaf
Veins – threads of vascular tissue (xylem & phloem)
Node – place on a stem where leaves or branches normally originate
Stem – used for support of leaf
Parts of a Monocot Leaf
Node – where leaf arises or originates from
Blade – leaf blade – flat upper portion of leaf
Stem – used for support of leaf, inflorescence, and seed heads
Parts of a Monocot Leaf
Sheath – part of leaf that holds leaf to stem – encases stem
Ligule – membrane-like tissue extending up from the sheath (on inside) – keeps dirt and moisture out – clear membrane on leaf where attaches to stem
Parts of a Monocot Leaf
Auricle – small appendages that extend out and sometimes around the stem – found at the junction of the blade and sheath – can be clasping or non clasping appendages
Parts of a Monocot Leaf
Collar – area between the leaf blade and sheath – auricles and ligules are on the inside of this area
Differences Between Monocot and Dicot LeavesMonocots – blade like leaf blade –
wrap around the stem – no petiole – have main vascular bundles running parallel along length of leaf
Dicots – Have both a leaf blade and a petiole – single midrib (Vascular bundles) with branches
Two Types of Leaves
Compound leaves – are composed of a blade that includes several leaflets and a petiole – also contain a rachis (connects leaflets to the petiole) – two types:
Two Types of Leaves
Palmately Compound – (chestnut) – the lobes or divisions come together and are attached at one place at the base
Two Types of Leaves
Pinnately Compound – compound leaf with the leaflets on two opposite sides, but off of one node – ex: ferns, ash, hickory
Leaf Arrangement
Monocots – have only one type of arrangement – leaf comes off of a node – ex: grasses and grain crops
Leaf Arrangement
Dicots – flowering plantsAlternate – one leaf per nodeOpposite – two leaves per nodeWhorled – three or more leaves
per node
Leaf Arrangements
Whorl – look like helicopter blades – ex: Bedstraw
Alternate – one on each side of the stem, are not opposite of each other but every other one
Opposite – one on each side of the stem and opposite of each other
Arrangement of Veins
Four types of vein arrangements:Parallel veins – veins are
small and run more or less parallel – most are long and narrow – ex: Buckhorn Plantain, grasses and Iris – mostly monocots
Arrangement of Veins
Netted veins – are large and small – the small ones connecting to each other to form a net – mostly dicots
Arrangement of Veins
Pinnately veined – with one larger midvein and smaller veins coming off along its length – mostly dicots
Arrangement of Veins
Palmately veined- with two or more large veins arising at or near the base of the leaf blade (palm) – leaves are usually broad or fat – mostly dicots
Leaf Modifications
Tendrils – typically at the end of a compound leaf – enables plant to climb – ex: pea
Modifications
Stipules – occur at node where normal or true leaves arise from stem – are small leaf like structures at the base of petioles – may be leaf -like or spines (ex: locust)
Modifications
Spines – modified leaves – ex: cactus
Awn – on reproductive structure in grasses – extension of the lemma portion of the flowering structure
Modifications
Bracts – floral leaves that form at the base of a flower or flower stalk
Cotyledon – the embryo leaf in a seed - first leaf of a seedling – used for food storage
Flowers
Petals – are highly colored portions of the flower.May contain perfume (rose) or
nectar glands –to attract pollinators.Number of petals on a flower is
often used in the identification of plant families and genera.
Flowers
Dicots –have sepals and/or petals in multiples of four or five
Monocots – have sepals in multiples of threes
Parts of a Flower
Petals
Stamens (anther & filaments)
Pistil (stigma,style & ovaries)
Sepals
Pedicel
Types of Inflorescence (Flowers) Raceme – inflorescence with the
flowers single on pedicels (stems) arranged along an elongated stem (rachis – this is the stem that is between the flowers) – alternate – oldest are at the bottom and the youngest are at the top. Ex: snapdragon, foxglove
Types of Inflorescence (Flowers)
Umbel – flat-topped inflorescence with the rachis non-existent. Ex: wild carrot, dill
Types of Inflorescence (Flowers)Spike – type of inflorescence
with the flowers sessile (without a stalk) along the rachis. Ex: gladiolus
Head – a dense cluster of sessile or nearly sessile (no stalk) flowers on a very short rachis. Ex: sunflower, clover
Types of Inflorescence (Flowers) Panicle – inflorescence with two or
more flowers on each branch which are attached to a rachis (elongated stem). Ex: wild oats, downy brome
Corymb – is made up of florets whose stalks and pedicles are arranged at random along the stalk in such a way that the florets create a flat, round top. Ex: yarrow