Terminology
Botany: the science of plants
Taxonomy: classification of plants
Terminology
Dicotyledons: flowering plants
that contain two seed leaves
Monocotyledons: flowering plants
that possess one seed leaf
Terminology
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Cultivar
Terminology
Binomial nomenclature: all plants are
given two names. These make up the
scientific name and include the genus
and species.
Cornus florida - flowering dogwood
cultivar - Fragrant cloud
Terminology
Problems
Dicentra spectabilis :
red bell flower
Common
Bleeding
Heart
Plant Parts
Plant parts fall
into two
categories:
a) vegetative
b) sexual
reproduction
Vegetative
Morphology
Duration: the length of time an individual plant exists.
• Annual: A plant lives for one growing season and then dies.
Winter annuals survive the winter, summer annuals survive
the summer.
• Biennial: A plant the requires two growing seasons to
complete its life cycle.
• Herbaceous perennial: A nonwoody plant that lives for
several years. It’s shoots die back every winter.
• Woody perennial: A tree or shrub
Vegetative
Morphology
Stem
• Xylem
• Phloem
• Cambium
Vegetative
Morphology
Modified Stem
Stolon:
above ground
growth
Rhizome: below ground
growth
Vegetative
Morphology
Root
Vegetative
Flower
Morphology
• Sepals
- small, green, leaflike structures
on the base of the flower
• Petals - highly colored parts of the flower
• Stamen - male reproductive parts
• Pistil - female reproductive parts
Vegetative
Flower
Morphology
• Perfect flower - has a stamen, pistil, petal and
sepals.
• Incomplete flower - missing one of the four
parts
• Complete flower - has a stamen and pistil
• Imperfect flower - has either a stamen
(staminate) or a pistil (pistillate)
Vegetative
Flower
Morphology
• Dioecious - have staminate (male) and
pistillate (female) on separate plants ie, hollies.
• Monoecious - have male and female flowers
on the same plant ie, squash and cucumbers.
Leaf Morphology
• Venation refers to the pattern in which the veins
are distributed in the blade
• Parallel or Net-veined
• Net-veined can be either pinnate or palmate
Identifiable Leaf Morphology
Shape of the leaf blade and the type of margin is
important in plant identification.
Identifiable Leaf Morphology
Acute - ending in
an acute angle
Acuminate - tapering
to a long, narrow
point
Obtuse - tapering
to a round edge
Truncate - having a
relatively square
base
Identifiable Leaf Morphology
Entire - smooth
edge
Serrate - having small teeth
pointed toward the apex
Lobed - incisions
extending less
than 1/2 way to
midrib
Dentate teeth
pointed
outward
Cleft - incision
deeper than1/2
way to midrib
Identifiable Leaf Morphology
The various ways leaves are arranged along the
stem can also be used to identify plants.