Plant Classification Basics

Plant Classification Basics

The Great War ProjectThe Great War Project

Botany vs. Horticulture

• Botany: the scientific study of plants, including their physiology, structure, genetics, ecology, distribution, classification, and economic importance.

• Horticulture: the art or practice of garden cultivation and management.

Classification

• Human instinct to classify• We classify everything

– Books, vehicles, furniture, people

• Helps manage information• Efficient communication• Practical concerns

– Poisonous, dangerous, edible, etc.

Types of classifications

• Artificial classifications– Designed for usefulness

• Flower colour, growth habit, use, etc

• Natural (phylogenetic) classification– Based on genetic (evolutionary)

relationship

Are these daisies?

Genus, species

Anemone blandaCaltha palustris

Lilium formosanum Pulsatilla alpina

Summary: Characteristicsused in Plant Classification

• Early systematics restricted to morphology

• Later classification was based on reproduction (flowers) and basic physiology

• Modern-times strong reliance on genetics

• Problem: Convergent Evolution

Cactus???

Used today: Phylogenetic classification

• Phylogenetic classification levels start off broad but become more specific as plant characteristics become more similar (kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species)

• Similarities are the result of genetic relatedness not environmental (convergent) evolution

MUN Botanical Garden

For more information, please contact:Todd Boland, Research HorticulturistMUN Botanical GardenMemorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John’s, NL, A1C 5S7Email: bgprograms@mun.ca