Scientific Classification of Plants

Scientific Classification of Plants

Taxonomy

• The science of classifying and identifying plants

• Scientific names are used because the same common name is used for different plants in different areas of the world.

Karl von Linne• Swedish botanist that

developed the binomial system of naming plants using two Latin words to indicate the genus and species.

• Linne changed his name to the Latin name Carolus Linneaus.

Scientific Names

• Latin is the language used for scientific classification.

• The first word is the genus and the second word is the species. If there are additional words, they indicate a variety or cultivar.

• Example: Acer palmatum» Japanese Maple

Genus vs. Species

• Plants in the same genus have similar characteristics.

• Plants in the same species consistently produce plants of the same type.

Scientific Classification

• The broadest category of scientific classification is the Kingdom--either plant or animal.

• The broadest category in the plant kingdom is division or phylum.

Divisions

• The four most important divisions of the plant (Plantae) kingdom are:– Thallophites: algae, fungi, and lichens– Bryophytes: mosses– Pteridophytes: ferns– Spermatophytes: Seed bearing or

flowering plants

Thallophytes

Bryophytes

Pteriophytes

Spermatophytes

• Contains flowering or seed-bearing plants

• Two subdivisions are:– Gymnosperms: Seeds are not in an

ovary they are in a cone.– Angiosperms: Seeds are enclosed in

an ovary (fruit), therefore flowering plants

Gymnosperms

Angiosperms

Angiosperms

Common Plant Genus

• Pinus-Pine

• Acer-Maple

• Ilex-Holly

• Ficus-fig

• Cornus-dogwood

• Rhododendron-rhododendron

• Quercus-oak