Explain why plants are classified? To study the billions of organisms on Earth, scientists have sorted and classified plants based on their similarities and differences. Who was the first person to create a classification of plants? Theophrastus Who is the Father of Taxonomy? What did he create that is still used today? Carolus Linnaeus. He created the binomial system of naming plants with the genus and species that is still used today. What is the Kingdom called for plants? Plantae Phylum classifies plants on whether or not the plant bears or produces seeds. List the two type of classes for plants. Angiospermae and Gymnospermae Dicotyledonae emerge

1. PLANT TAXONOMY

2. Learning Objectives
 Students will be able to define order, family,
genus and species.
 Students will understand the process of plant
classification.

3. Plant Classification.
 In order to study the billions of different
organisms living on Earth, scientists have
sorted and classified them based on their
similarities and differences.
 This system of classification is also called
taxonomy and usually features both English
and Latin names for different divisions.
 It is always best to specify the exact plant you
want by the scientific name.
 It is also important for people in the
commercial plant and nursery business to
know both scientific and common names as
they become confusing.

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

5. Carolus Linnaeus 1707-
1778
 Linnaeus was the first person
to propose an orderly system
for classifying organisms.
 He developed the Binomial
System of Naming Plants in
1753
 Bi= 2
 Nomial= name
 All plants have a scientific
name composed of two
Latin names known as a
genus and specie
 His system is still used today
and his called the Father of
Taxonomy!

6. Plant Classification
 Kingdom
 Phylum
 Class
 Order
 Family
 Genus
 Species

7. Activity
 Mnemonics at its best!
 You and a partner will develop your own
acronym mnemonics that will help you
in remembering the order of
classification!
 You will have to come up with an
interesting sentence using the first word
of each division of classification, in
order!
 Example: King Phillip Comes Over For
Great Spaghetti!
 Be Prepared to share your Mnemonic
with the class!

8. Plant Kingdom
 Over 275,000 species
 All plants are included in one Kingdom
(Plantae) which is then broken down into
smaller and smaller divisions based on several
characteristics, including:
 Whether they can circulate fluids (like rainwater)
through their bodies or need to absorb them from
the moisture that surrounds them
 How they reproduce (by spores or different kinds
of seeds)

9. Phylum
 Plants are divided in this category
based on:
 whether or not the plant bears or
produces seeds.
 Vascular or Non-Vascular plants
 Over 250,000 plants in this category.

10. 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
 Subclass
 Dicotyledonae (dicotyledons/dicots)– plants with two
seed leaves
 Monocotyledonae (monocotyledons/monocot)- plants
with one seed leaf

11. 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

12. Family
 Each order is divided into families
 These are plants with many botanical features in common.
 Vegetative and Reproductive Structures used.
 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
 Over3,500 species

13. Genus
 This is the part of the plant name that is
most familiar, the normal name that you
give a plant- Papaver (Poppy).
 This is the plants group name
 All plants having the same generic
name are said to belong to the same
Genus and have similar characteristics
and are closely related.
 The name of the Genus should be
written with a capital letter.
 Over 500 species

14. Examples of plant Genus
Genus
 Acer- all maples
 Pinus- all pines
 Ilex- all hollies
 Quercus- all oaks
 Begonia- all begonias
 Rhododendron- all azaleas
 Juniperus- all junipers
 Viola- all violet types
** Think of the plant Genus name as a noun!

15. specie
 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.
 The specie name is an adjective that describes the genus.
 *Alba means white: Quercus alba= white oak
 *Rubrum means red: Acer rubrum= red maple
 The name of the species should be written after the Genus
name, in small letters, with no capital letter.

16. Examples of specie and Genus
 Acer rubrum= Red maple
 Acer saccharum= Sugar maple
 Acer palmatum= Japanese maple
 Quercus palustris= Pin oak
 Quercus virginiana= Live oak
Specific names give geographical
information:
 Pinus virginia- Virginia Pine
 Taxes canadensis= Canadian Yew
 Tsuga caroliniana= Carolina Hemlock

17. Example of Classification
Common Name: Corn Plant
Category Scientific Name
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Spermatophyta
Class Angiospermae
Sub-Class Monocotyledonae
Family Gramine
Genus Zea
Specie Mays

18. Activity!
 Karaoke E-Moment!
 Remember the Classification Rap
Video from the beginning of class?
 Use the following classification order
and meanings to create your very own
song!
 You may work with a partner! Be
creative!
 Pick you favorite song as you know
the words and can plug in the
classification terms!
 Row, row, row you boat, right down
Classification Lane…..

19. Ticket out the Door!
 Explain why plants are classified?
 Who was the first person to create a classification of plants?
 Who is the Father of Taxonomy? What did he create that is still used today?
 What is the Kingdom called for plants?
 ___________classifies plants on whether or not the plant bears or
produces seeds.
 List the two type of classes for plants.
 _________emerge from the ground with 2 leaves.
 Related plants with similar flower parts are grouped together
as____________.
 ________ is the plants group name.
 _________defines an individual plant and it will describe some aspect of

20. Ticket out the Door!
 Explain why plants are classified?
 Who was the first person to create a classification of plants?
 Who is the Father of Taxonomy? What did he create that is still used today?
 What is the Kingdom called for plants?
 ___________classifies plants on whether or not the plant bears or
produces seeds.
 List the two type of classes for plants.
 _________emerge from the ground with 2 leaves.
 Related plants with similar flower parts are grouped together
as____________.
 ________ is the plants group name.
 _________defines an individual plant and it will describe some aspect of