Lab 1

Plant Taxonomy

A field of science that encompasses description, identification, nomenclature, and classification

Classification

The arrangement of taxa into some type of order or grouping

Identification

The process of associating an unknown taxa or other entity with a known one

Morphology

The branch of biology that deals with the form of living organisms and with relationship between their structure

Flora

A general term for the plant life of a region or area

Taxon

a group of organisms, ideally monophyletic and traditionally treated at a particular rank

Clade

a group of organisms believed to have evolved from a common ancestor

Systematics

A science that includes and encompasses traditional taxonomy and that has as its primary goal the reconstruction of phylogeny

Diploid

The presence of 2 complete sets of chromosomes in an organism’s cells; one from each parent

Haploid

The presence of a single set of chromosomes in an organism’s cells

Type specimen

a specimen selected to serve as a reference point when a plant species is first named