Instructor Information

• 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

Keepin’ It ClassyIdentifying and Classifying PlantsBy Kelly Dawkins

Today’s Objectives

● 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

Why Do We Classify Plants?

● 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.

Basic Plant Categories

● Class

● Order

● Family

● Genus

● Species

Class

● Gymnosperms: Plants which don't produce flowers

○ What are some examples of gymnosperms?

● Angiosperms: Plants which produce flowers

Gymnosperms

Angiosperms

Class: 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

Order

● 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

Family

● Each Order is divided into Families.

● These are plants with many botanical features in common.

● Usually the highest classification used.

● The names of the Families end in “-aceae.”

Example: Fabaceae – Pea, Legume and Bean Family

Sweet Peas

Genus

● 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

Species

● 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

Watch This!

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

Uses for Classification

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 Makes Perfect

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