Why are classification and

scientific names important?

Plant Taxonomy
For specificity and accuracy
– Example:
Hemerocallis Common Names
Taxonomy: The Science of
Daylily
Classification
Lily

Ditch lily

Lemon lily

For cultural management (Families)

Carolus Linneaus (aka Karl von Linné

Linné)
Kingdom

Swedish Botanist

May 23, 1701-Jan. 10, 1778 Phylum

He published Species Plantarum Class
in 1753. Order

He based his plant classification Family
system on the plant’s method of
reproduction and structure of Genus
reproductive parts Species

‘Introduced’ binomial
nomenclature. Species Plantarum
(Cultivar)
is the starting point of the binomial
system of nomenclature
Mnemonic: King Phillip Called Out For Good Soup

1. Bryophyta: Mosses 8. Cycadophyta: Cycads

2. Hepatophyta: Liverworts
3. Anthophyta: Hornworts
4. Lycophyta: Club mosses
5. Psilophyta: Whisk ferns
6. Equisetophyta:
Horsetails
7. Pterophyta: Ferns
Kingdom Plantae is divided into 12
Phyla based on reproductive and
vascular characteristics
Example: Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
tuberosa)
9. Ginkgophyta: Ginkgo
10. Coniferophyta:
Conifers
Kingdom: Plantae (All plants)
Phylum: Angiospermophyta (All flowering plants)
11. Gnetophyta: Ephedra,
Class: Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)
Dicotyledons)
Gnetum, Welwitschia
12. Angiospermophyta: Order: Gentianales (All plants with united petals and fused
Seed plants (monocots reproductive parts)
and dicots) Family: Asclepiadaceae (Plants
with a specific pattern of fused repro. floral parts)
Genus: Asclepias (All milkweeds)
Species: tuberosa (a specific kind
(species) of milkweed with orange flowers and tuberous roots)

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 Plant Evolutionary Theory Gymnosperms

Gymnosperms have seeds

Lower Plants with no covering (ie a fruit or a
– Spore bearing plants with seed coat). They bear woody
and without vascular cones that hold the seeds.
systems are ‘Lower Plants’

Gymnos means naked, sperm

Higher Plants means seed: gymnosperm =
– Seed-bearing plants with naked seeds.
vascular systems are ‘Higher
Plants’
– Gymnosperms and
There are 700 living species
Angiosperms are broad placed into four divisions:
categories of seed-bearing conifers, cycads, ginkgos, and
plants (Higher Plants) gnetales (such as Ephedra).

Angiosperms Primitive Versus Advanced

Floral Characteristics

Angiosperms were the last of

Primitive
Advanced
the seed plant groups to
evolve. – Flower parts many, – Flower parts few, ten
more than ten or less
– Flower parts free (not – Flower parts united

Angiosperms all produce united or fused) or fused
flowers containing the sexual – Superior ovary – Inferior ovary
reproduction structures.
– Flowers with radial – Flowers with
symmetry bilateral symmetry

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

Binomial Nomenclature Binomial Nomenclature

Allows a particular type of plant (a species) to
be distinguished from any other plant.

The name contains the genus and species
(Ex. Asclepias tuberosa).

It is written in italics or underlined with the first
letter of the genus name capitalized and the
species name all in lower case.
– Ex. Tiarella wherryi or Tiarella wherryi

Thename is Latin- or Greek-based or
based on the name of an individual.
– Ex. Buddleia davidii: Named after Rev.
Adam Buddle. The species name refers to
Armand David, a French missionary and
plant collector who discovered the plant in
China.

Rules for naming are covered under the
International Code of Nomenclature for
Cultivated Plants (ICNCP).

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 Genus Species

Genus:
Species: A group of organisms within a
genus possessing a constant set of distinct
– A group of closely related plants more similar in
morphological characters that differ from
physiology (usually reproductive) than those of
other genera within the same family.
other organisms.
– A genus is a one word noun and can stand by
itself.
A species name consists of two words, the
– A genus is always capitalized and italicized or genus and specific epithet.
underlined. The plural of genus is genera.
– Example: Rosa or Rosa
The specific epithet is an adjective that
describes the genus, thus it cannot stand
alone.

Species Hybrids: Intergeneric

• The epithet is never capitalized but is italicized
Hybrids:
or underlined. – 1. Intergeneric hybrids:
hybrids between species
of DIFFERENT GENERA

The epithet name was derived from within the SAME family.
morphological features, origin of the plant, or in Tiarella
honor of someone such who found the plant in – The intergeneric hybrid
the wild. The plural of species (sp.) is species name is a hybrid between
the two parent genera. In
(spp.). the example below, it is a
cross between two native
plants, Heuchera spp and

Ex. Rosa rugosa or Rosa rugosa Tiarella spp.
Heuchera

Hybrids: Intergeneric Hybrids: Interspecific

Hybrids:

Hybrids:
– There is a large
multiplication sign in
2) Interspecific hybrids:
Lonicera tatarica
front of the generic hybrids between
name which is not SPECIES of the SAME
+
underlined or
capitalized. GENERA.
– Use a small
multiplication sign. Lonicera morrowii
– The female parent is
=
listed first in the – Ex. Magnolia x
name (part of it) with soulangiana (hybrid
the second part of cross between M.
the genus being part denudata x M. liliflora)
of the male parent
name.
X Heucherella ‘Sunspot’ Lonicera x bella

Ex. X Heucherella

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 Hybrids: Interspecific Cultivars

A cultivar (cultivated variety) is

If the parentage of the hybrid is unknown or
selected by humans because
has more than two parents, it is listed by the
of desirable morphological,
genus and cultivar without a specific epithet. physiological, or cultural traits.
It’s often a plant that mutated

When only a genus and cultivar name is listed in cultivation or in the wild
with no specific epithet, do NOT use a among a population. It is then
multiplication sign between the genus and propagated and brought into
cultivar names. cultivation.

When reproduced, often

– Ex. Tilia ‘Redmond’ (no specific epithet here
asexually, retains those
so no “x” in between the two)
characteristics for which it
was selected. Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’

Cultivars A Few Important Plant Families

The cultivar name is usually in English, but if
Brassicaceae:Mustard Family
it is in another language, it should not be
translated (unless in a language with a
Fabaceae: Legume Family
completely different alphabet, ie. Chinese)
Lamiaceae: Mint Family

Solanaceae: Tomato Family

It is capitalized but is not italicized or
underlined. It is always enclosed in single
quotes.
– Example: Ginkgo biloba ‘Jade Butterfly’

Brassicaceae (Mustard Family) Brassicaceae Leaves

Family formerly called

May have a basal rosette
Cruciferae
of leaves

435 genera worldwide

Leaves may or may not

Herbaceous plants with
annual, biennial and have petioles, may be
perennial life cycles sheathing.

Have an odorous,
Leaves may be foetid or
watery juice odorless.

Many are edible and
Leaves usually simple,
have a characteristic sometimes compound. If
taste due to organic compound, are pinnate.
sulfur compounds.

Many are ‘weeds’.

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 Brassicaeae Flowers Brassicaeae Fruits

Fruit a silique or silicle,
a structure with two

Flowers have 4 halves that are
sepals, 4 petals, dehiscent from a
and 6 stamens (4 central false septum
(replum) to which the
long and 2 short)
seeds are attached.

Flowers in a
Siliques are long and
raceme thin; silicles are short
and fat.

Some Brassicaeae Genera Lamiaceae (Mint Family)

Brassica (Includes turnip, mustard,
Family formerly
cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, called Labiatae
Brussels sprout, etc.)

240+ genera

Raphanus (Radish)
worldwide

Amoracia (Horseradish)

Many adapted to

Alliaria (Garlic Mustard) grow in wet areas

Cleome (Spider Flower)
Herbs and

Lobularia (Sweet Alyssum) shrubs,

Capsella (Shepherd’s Purse)
Mostly aromatic

Lamiaceae Leaves Lamiaceae Flowers

Flowers have

Leaves opposite bilateral symmetry
or whorled
Stamens 2 or 4

Square stems

Foliage has minty
odor

Often hairy

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 Some Lamiaceae Genera

Mentha (Mint)

Coleus

Nepeta (Catnip)

Lavandula (Lavender)

Thymus (Thyme)

Monarda (Bee Balm)

Rosmarinus (Rosemary)

Ocimum (Basil)

Glechoma (Ground Ivy)

Lamium (Dead Nettle)
Solanaceae Leaves

Leaves alternate

Leaves simple to
deeply divided or
compound
Solanaceae Fruits

Fruit:capsule or
berry with many
seeds
Solanaceae (Potato or Tomato Family)

Herbs, shrubs,
trees, vines

Economically
important family –
food crops

Most have a
characteristic rank
odor and contain
many toxic
chemicals.
Solanaceae Flowers

Sepals, Petals, Stamens in 5’s

In genus Solanum, stamens
touch at the anther tips giving
the appearance of a “bird beak”

Some species have a totally-
united, trumpet-like corolla,
while others have the corolla
united only at the base, often
with reflexed petals.

Perfect regular flowers in cymes
or solitary.
Some Solanaceae Genera

Capsicum (Peppers both sweet and
chili peppers and paprika)

Lycopersicon (Tomato)

Nicotiana (Tobacco)

Solanum (Potato)

Datura (Moonflower)

Brugmansia (Angel’s Trumpet)
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The End