Definition and Background

Taxonomy or systematic is the study or description on variations among organisms in order to come out with a classification system.

Organisms that are arranged into groups enable a large population to be categorized and understood.

Taxonomy began about 300 years before christ by Theophratus (370-285 BC)

Carolus Linneaus (1707-1778) is regarded as the founder of taxonomy (father of taxonomy) till today.

PLANT TAXONOMY

1. To arrange elements or taxa of plants into a more systematic manner so that they can be better understood and could be used easily and more effectively.

2. To arrange data or information and knowledge about plants.

3. To indicate the source and genetic relationship (phylogenetic), ancestry and origin of plants.

4. To indicate the distribution and habitat of plants on earth and their benefits.

Importance of Plant Taxonomy

1. Classification

Plants are arranged into groups of similar characteristics. The groups are considered as categories or taxa and form the taxonomic system.

2. Identification

To identify and derive the name of an organism by referring to an existing classification.

3. Nomenclature To provide a scientific name to an organism.

4. Description

To describe the characteristics of a taxon e.g. a family.

Taxonomic Components

Taxonomic System

Plant kingdom Animal kingdom

Division Phylum

ClassOrderFamilyGenus

Species

Kingdom : The highest level in a classification e.g. animal

and plant kingdom

Division : The number of groups in this taxon is not fixed,

it depends on the classification system. Based on similar characteristics observed on a

few elements or organs e.g. : dominance of a sporophyte to a gametophyte, presence of an ovule, seed formation and several other morphological and anatomical characteristics.

Those are hereditary characteristics and will continue to exist from generation to generation.

Class : The number of groups in this taxon is also not fixed,

depending on the classification system. Separation is based on important basic differences

that exist between the groups.

Order : Separation is based on a more convincing genetic

relationship which earlier had been detected at the class and division level.

Familiy

Based on more characteristics compared to order, class and division e.g. the morphological characteristics of reproductive organs (inflorescence, ovary position, placentation, number of pistils and carpels, types of ovule and androecium)

Genus Genus involves more similar characteristics including

a closer family relationship but they do not cross. If a hybrid cross does occur the offsprings are normally infertile or will not survive.

Phylogenetically, new genus arises and separates from the same parental origin.

Kingdom

Whittaker (1969) :

Monera (bacteria, prokaryotic cell)

Protista (algae, protozoa, eukaryotic)

Fungi (absorb food in liquid form)

Plantae (photosynthesis) **

Animalia (ingest food)

PLANT KINGDOMDIVISION:

Bryophyta (Mosses: non-vascular)

Pterophyta (Ferns: vascular, spores on leaves) Pinophyta (Conifers, Pinus : seeds in cones)Ginkgophyta (Ginkgo : fan-shaped leaves)

Cycadophyta (Cycads : palm-liked leaves)

Gnetophyta (Gnetum: vessel-filled wood)

Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants) :

Class: Magnoliopsida (Dicot)

Class: Liliopsida (Monocot)

DIVISION (PLANT KINGDOM)

SPERMATOPHYTA (seeded plants)

PTERIDOPHYTA (ferns)

BRYOPHYTA (mosses)

THALLOPHYTA (plants with thallus)

ANGIOSPERMAE GYMNOSPERMAE

DICOTYLEDONEAE MONOCOTYLEDONEAE

EUPHORBIACEAE SOLANACEAELEGUMINOSAECRUCIFERAERUTACEAEMALVACEAECUCURBITACEAE

PALMAEGRAMINEAEMUSACEAEZINGIBERACEAEORCHIDACEAECYPERACEAE

SPERMATOPHYTA (SEEDED PLANTS)

CLASSIFICATION OF BANANA

KINGDOM: Plantae

DIVISION : Magnoliophyta/Spermatophyta

CLASS : Liliopsida/Monocotyledoneae

ORDER : Zingiberales

FAMILY : Musaceae

GENUS : Musa

SPECIES : Musa acuminata

ENDING OF EACH TAXON FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE CLASSIFICATION LEVEL

*(excluding KINGDOM, GENUS and SPECIES)

DIVISION : -phyta CLASS : -opsida / -eae

ORDER : -ales / -ae

FAMILY : -aceae / -ae

Sub family : -oideae

SUB AND SUPER CATEGORIES

Besides the 7 main categories, there are infra taxa to describe varitions within a taxon:

KINGDOM, Subkingdom, DIVISION, Subdivision, CLASS, Subclass, (Superorder), ORDER, Suborder, FAMILY, Subfamily, Tribe, Subtribe, GENUS, Subgenus, Section, Subsection, Series, Subseries, SPECIES, Subspecies, Variety, Subvariety, Form, Subform

Example: There are infraspecific categories Subspecies, Variety, Subvariety, Form and Subform to describe variations within Species

** Cultivar the result of crossing over several generations and does not occur naturally. ** Clone refers to a uniform population of plants, identical to the mother plant, produced either asexually or naturally.

Subspecies and Variety : based on morphological variations that can be identified within a species as a result of adaption to different ecology.

Form is the category used for only slight variations.

THE CONCEPT OF SPECIES

1. Morphological species concept

species is the smallest group of organisms which can be consistently differentiated using morphological characteristics.

the concept is widely used among taxonomists as it is the most practical.

2. Biological species concept

using reproductive biology to define species.

population group which is able to breed but prevented from gene exchange with population of other species.

cannot be used for self-pollinated species or asexually produced species (which do not undergo crossing)

CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS

1. Artificial system

Based on growth habits and uses. A primitive system 300 BC- AD 1500. Theophratus and Dioscorides, Greece.

2. Mechanical system

based on one or a few chosen characteristics. 1580-1760. Caesalpino, Italy; Bauhin, Swiss; Linnaeus, Sweden.

3. Natural system

Based on many characteristics. 1760-1880. Adanson, France; de Candolle, Swiss; Bentham and Hooker, Britain.

4. Phylogenetic system

Based on many characteristics, with evolutionary interpretations. 1880-present. Engler, Germany; Bessey, America; Hutchinson,

Britain; Thorne, America.

NOMENCLATURE

- Nomenclature is important in order to provide the correct name for a plant.

The naming activity is under the control of the `International Codes of Botanical Nomenclature’ (ICBN) published by the `International Association of Plant Taxonomy’ (IAPT).

- The codes are revised at every `International Botanical Congress’

Scientific name is based on the binomial system popularised by Carolus Linnaeus (1753). Consists of genus and species names

The third element is the name of the person who formally gave the name

Oryza sativa L. Oryza sativa Linn. (Binomial)

Oryza sativa subsp. indica

Oryza sativa subsp. japonica (Trinomial)

Bupleurum falcatum ssp. eufalcatum var. hoffmeisteri

(Quadrinomial)

Populus alba var. canescens Aiton Brassica oleraceae var. capatita Prunus cornuta forma villosa (Trinomial)

Name of genera and that of higher taxon, (Monomial / Uninomial)

Rosa L. Rosaceae Juss.

Cultivar taxonomic category

Oryza sativa cv. Mat Candu Oryza cv. Mat Candu Padi kv. Mat Candu

- For species that have been named earlier it is adequate to name the species from then on using only the first letter of the generic name

Solanum melongena, S. melongena- For specific name consisting of two words, a hyphen is needed

between the two words:

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

- If the specific name is not known:

Lathyrus sp. or Lathyrus spp. (if many species)

- Scientific name in capital letters and italised is also accepted

CARICA PAPAYA, HEVEA BRASILIENSIS

- When two or more authors suggest a scientific name, their names are linked by `et’

Delphinium viscosum Hook.f et Thomson

- The original name for a species is Panicum dactylon Linn. When C.H. Persoon changed the genus name to Cynodon, the original specific name remains while the original author’s name is placed in bracket:

Cynodon dactylon (Linn.) Pers.

- When the first author suggests a name but was officially published by a second author, both names are linked by `ex’

Cerasus cornuta Wall ex Royle

- Interspecific and intergeneric hybrids:

Agrostis x Polypogon

Agrostis stolonifera x Polypogon monspeliensis

Salix auritia x S. caprea

- Binary names are given to interspecific hybrids:

Salix x capreola (S. aurita x S. caprea)

Rosa x odorata (R. chinensis x R. gigantea)

- A graft between two species uses `+’ :

Rosa webbiana + R. floribunda

HYBRID NAMES

TAXONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS

1. Morphology Plant growth habit, leaf arrangement and shape, flower

and fruit characteristics.

2. Anatomy

Secondary xylem characteristics, epidermis including

trichomes and stomata.

3. Palinology Pollen characteristics including size, shape, aperture

and exine sculpture.

4. Cytology

The chromosome number, structure and habit

5. Chemical and molecular

Alkaloid, phenolic and amino acids contents. Protein, enzyme and DNA

TAXONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS