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.
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 kingdom are:
– Thallophites: algae, fungi, and lichens
– Bryophytes: mosses
– Pteridophytes: ferns
– Spermatophytes
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
• Cornus-dogwood
• Acer-Maple
• Rhododendronrhododendron
• Ilex-Holly
• Ficus-fig
• Quercus-oak