9 Classification and naming
NAMING AND CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS
BASIC BOTANY
Importance of Plant Knowledge
Improves plant performance in various aspects:
Vegetable and fruit crop yields.
Quality of ornamental and cut flowers.
Consistency in nursery stock crops.
Understanding Nutritional Needs
Factors impacting availability:
Fertilizers: organic/non-organic.
pH effects.
Helper organisms enhancing nutrient absorption.
Disease and Problems in Plants
Caused by:
Micro-organisms (pathogens, parasites).
Physiological disorders from poor environment and nutrient regimes.
Understanding Plant Genetics
Breeding new cultivars.
Improving crop yields and quality.
Hybridization and combining desired traits.
Characterization and Grouping of Plants
Efficient management practices.
Understanding relationships between plants and their environment.
Establishing genetic closeness and family relationships (e.g., Potatoes and Tomatoes share the same family).
NAMING & CLASSIFICATION
Classing Plants
Grouping based on similar characteristics for optimal growing and management strategies.
Reliance on morphological methods for naming and classification.
NAMING - Nomenclature
Definition
Application of technical names to plants based on an agreed set of rules.
Plant Identification
Assigning existing names to unknown plants.
NAMING - Importance
Need for Unified Naming
Prevents confusion in international communication (e.g., common names can vary globally).
Example of common plants: Ragwort in Ireland vs. Chinese names.
Historical Variation in Local Names
Use of unified nomenclature mitigates confusion.
Establishing rules for selecting the correct taxon names (species, genus, family).
NAMING & CLASSIFYING - Historical Context
Historical Interest in Plants
Recognition of plants for their specific uses dates back thousands of years.
Early classification systems existed prior to Greeks in 300 B.C.
NAMING & CLASSIFICATION - European Developments
Increased Plant Discovery in Europe
Plant collection expeditions from the 1400s to late 1890s.
Impact on European horticulture and botany studies.
HERBARIA
Definition
Pressed collections of plants grouped into herbaria.
Forms the basis of institutional collections in botany.
Centers of Botany Development
Development of taxonomic disciplines in Europe and America around botanic gardens and universities.
SYSTEMATICS AND TAXONOMY
Definition
Study of classification, naming, rules, and procedures in botany.
Broader Implications
Systematics applies to diverse organisms beyond plants.
CLASSIFICATION
Hierarchical Arrangement
Structure is based on information accumulation about plants.
Two types: Artificial and Phylogenetic.
ARTIFICIAL CLASSIFICATION
Characteristics
Based on obvious or convenient traits like height or color.
Does not necessarily reflect genetic relationships.
Examples
Grouping by ease of observation (e.g., roadside floras).
NATURAL CLASSIFICATION
Basis
Relies on morphological features correlating among plants.
Predictive value increases with inclusion of more attributes.
PHYLOGENIC CLASSIFICATION
Definition
Attempts to follow the evolutionary lineage of plants.
Utilizes information from diverse sources and fossil records.
IDENTIFICATION
Process Description
Assigning names to unknown plants based on characteristics.
Recognition is through comparison with known plants.
Alternative Terminology
Also referred to as determination.
IDENTIFICATION & KEYING
Role of Keying in Plant Identification
Keys assist in identifying and naming unknown plants.
Taxonomic keys often use dichotomous formats.
CLASSIFICATION OF SPECIES
Definition
Species are basic units of diversity distinguished by individual characteristics.
Groups Formation
Similar species are classified into genera.
SPECIES DEFINITION
Characteristics
Sets of individuals derived from common ancestors.
Ability to interbreed within the species, but not with others.
HIERARCHICAL CLASSIFICATION
Structure
Kingdom > Phylum > Class > Order > Genus > Species.
INTERNATIONAL CODE OF BOTANICAL NOMENCLATURE
Latin Names
Published and described under a specific set of rules (ICBN).
Updated every 6 years at International Botanical Congress.
LATIN NAMES
Characteristics
Often descriptive, indicating features or origins.
SYNONYMS
Definition
Plants may have more than one name due to historical naming changes.
RULE OF PRIORITY
Guidelines
Older names are generally considered to have priority.
ST. LOUIS CODE
Purpose
Allows conservation of well-established names over rediscovered ones.
HOMONYMS
Definition
Names wrongly applied to different plants that share the same spelling.
BASIONYM
Definition
A previously published legitimate name that forms a basis for a new name.
EXAMPLES OF BASIONYM
Case Studies
Pinus abies as the basionym of Picea abies.
AUTHORITY NAMES
Guidelines
Include responsible names in references indicating contributions to nomenclature.
INFRASPECIFIC NAMES
Overview
Addresses variation within species, identifying subspecies, varieties, or forma.
GROUPS/GREX
Definition
Intermediate categorization between cultivar and species.
SELLING NAMES/TRADE DESIGNATIONS
Importance for Marketing
Usage of attractive names for market appeal while maintaining the original cultivar name on labels.
PLANT BREEDERS RIGHTS (PBR)
Protection Rights
Indicates legal protection status of cultivars.
CLONES
Definition
Genetically identical group derived from a single individual through vegetative propagation.
WHAT IS A HYBRID?
Definition
Crosses between different species resulting in hybrids that may possess unique names.
INTERSPECIFIC HYBRIDS
Characteristics
Hybrid plants between two species are often given collective Latin names.
INTERGENERIC HYBRIDS
Definition
Hybrid plants resulting from crosses between different genera.
GRAFT HYBRIDS
Definition
Chimaeras occur between species of two different genera.
SUBGENERA, SECTIONS, ETC.
Structure
Subdivisions within larger genera to organize complexity of classifications.
SYNONYMS
Definition
Old or invalid names for plants indicating previous nomenclature.
AWARDS IN BOTANY
Overview
Plants receive recognition and awards through various horticultural societies based on excellence.