Plant taxonomy is the science of classifying plants based on similarities and differences. There is a standardized classification system with a hierarchy of kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. The system was developed by Carolus Linnaeus in the 1700s and uses Latinized binomial nomenclature, with the genus and species forming the scientific name of each plant. This system allows consistent identification of plants worldwide.

1. MODULE 1:
INTRODUCTION TO PLANT
TAXONOMY

2. LEARNING OUTCOME:-
At the end of the lesson, students should be
able to:-
• define order, family, genus and species
• explain the process of plant classification
• describe different types of plant family

3. Introduction
• Scientists have sorted and classified living organisms
based on their similarities and differences.
• This system of classification are called taxonomy and
usually features both English and Latin names for
different divisions.
• It is important for people in the commercial plant and
nursery business to know both scientific and common
names as they become confusing.

4. Plant Taxonomy
• Taxonomy is the science of identifying, naming and
classifying plants.
• Carolus Linnaeus has develop the current Latin based
system called the binomial nomenclature.
• He was the first person to propose an orderly system
for classifying organisms.

5. Theophrastus 370-285 B.C.
• He was a Greek philosopher and
naturalist and is often called the
"Father of Botany“.
• He was the first person to publish a
classification of plants.
• Classified plants based on form
• Herbs, shrubs, trees
• Annuals, perennials, biennials

6. • Developed the Binomial System
of Naming Plants in 1753
• Bi = two (2)
• Nomial = name
• All plants have a scientific
name composed of two Latin
names known as a genus and
species
• The system is still used today and
often called the “Father of
Taxonomy”
Karl von Linne
(1707-1778)
Carolus Linnaeus -
Latin name
Sweedish
botanist

7. Plant Classification
• Kingdom
• Phylum
• Class
• Order
• Family
• Genus
• Species

8. Kingdom
• Over 275,000 species
• Kingdom (Plantae) is broken down into smaller
divisions based on several characteristics:-
• Whether they can circulate fluids (like rainwater)
through their bodies @ need to absorb them from the
moisture that surrounds them
• How they reproduce (by spores @ seeds)
• Their size

9. Vascular
plants
5 KINGDOMS
Multicellular
animals
Eukaryotes that
lack plastids &
chlorophyll
One celled
organisms. Cannot
make organic
compounds & feed
on others
Cells with a nuclear
membrane &
compartmentalization

10. Phylum
• Plants are divided in this category based on:
• whether or not the plant produces seeds
• vascular or non-vascular plants
• Over 250,000 plants in this category

11. Division
• The four (4) most important divisions of the plant
kingdom are :-
i. Thallophyte - algae
ii. Bryophyte - mosses
iii. Pteridophyte - fern
iv. Spermatophyte - gymnosperm & angiosperm

12. Class
• Over 235,00 species
• Plants are divided into two types of classes
• Angiospermae (angiosperms)
- plants which produce flowers
• Gymnospermae (gymnosperms)
- plants which don’t produce flowers

13. Order
• A group of related plant families, classified in the order
in which they are thought to have developed their
differences from a common ancestor
• vegetative structures
• reproductive structures
• Over 18,000 species
• Names of orders end in ales

14. Family
• Each order is divided into families
• These are plants with many botanical features in common
• Related plants with similar flower parts are grouped
together
• The Rose Family → Rosaceae
• consists of plums, apples, strawberries because they all
have similar flower structures
• The names of families end in - aceae

15. Genus
• This is the part of the plant name that is most familiar
• The normal name that you give a plant
• The name of the Genus should be written with a capital
letter
• Over 500 species

16. Species
• This is the highest level that defines an individual
plant.
• Often, the name will describe some aspect of the plant.
• The color of the flowers, size or shape of the leaves,
or it may be named after the place where it was
found.
• Together the Genus and species name refer to only
one plant, and they are used to identify that particular
plant.

17. • Plants in the same species
consistently produce plants of the
same types.
• The species name is an adjective that
describes the genus.
• Alba means white:
Michelia alba = white champaca
• Rubrum means red:
Plumeria rubra = frangipani
• The name of the species should be
written after the Genus name, in
small letters, with no capital letter.