• Plants and Soil Pathways – Standard G1.1: Understand how to classify and identify plants by order, family, genus, and species
• Upon completion, students will:
○ Know the general hierarchy of classification– focusing on class, order, family, genus, and species
○ Be able to write the basic scientific names for plants
○ Understand how identification and classification can be used in the
FFA and career fields

By Kelly Dawkins

●
Learn the common methods used to identify and classify plants
● Learn the proper methods for writing plant names
● Learn basic terms used to group plants
● Learn about vocabulary used to distinguish plants within a species

● Plants are classified in several different ways.
● A plant name shows their relationship to other plants.
● It also tells us about its place in the plant world.
● Only the family, genus and species are needed for average identification.

● Gymnosperms: Plants which don't produce flowers
○ What are some examples of gymnosperms?
● Angiosperms: Plants which produce flowers
Gymnosperms
Angiosperms

● Dicotyledons (Dicots) o Plants with two cotyledon leaves o Four to five floral parts
● Monocotyledons (Monocots) o Plants with one cotyledon leave o Three floral parts

● A group of related Plant Families o classified by their differences from a common ancestor.
● The names of the Orders end in “-ales.”
Examples: Liliales Lily Order

● Each Order is divided into Families.
● These are plants with many botanical features in common.
● Usually the highest classification used.
Sweet Peas
● The names of the Families end in “-aceae.”
Example: Fabaceae – Pea, Legume and Bean Family

● It’s the normal name that you give a plant.
● The plants in a Genus are often easily recognizable as belonging to the same group.
● Similarity of flowers and fruits is the most widely used feature, although roots, stems, buds, and leaves are also used.
● The name of the Genus should be written with a capital letter and either underlined or italicized .
Example: Magnolia

● This is the level that defines an individual plant.
● The name will describe a feature of the plant o flower color, size or shape of leaves, etc.
● The Genus and Species name are used to identify that specific plant.
● The name of the Species should be written after the Genus name, uncapitalized and either underlined or italicized .
Example: Ranunculus flammula

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKwOlAqQoLk -- Overview of taxonomic hierarchy

What are some SAE or FFA activities that may require plant classification?
• Vegetable Judging
• Floriculture
•
Nursery/ Landscape
•
Others?
What are some career fields where classification/identification can be used?
• Forestry
• Crop/Fruit Sciences
• Horticulture
• Others?

Practice writing the classifications for Roses.
How would we write the order?
•
Rosales
How would we write the family name?
• Rosaceae
How would we write the genus?
•
Rosa
How would we write the genus and species for the Rugosa rose?
• Rosa rugosa