Botany Handbook for Florida

Master Gardener TrainingInstructor: Ann McMullianIndian River State College

Plant Names

Nomenclature

Plant nomenclature (use of scientific names)

Common name vs. Scientific name (botanical name)

Common names are more widely used because they are easier to pronounce

and remember.

Common names only have value if both persons know exactly which plant is being discussed. This only happens when people are from the same area

or community.

Hortus third list 27 plants named “Jasmine”

To prevent confusion it is recommended to use both the scientific and common name.

Each plant has a scientific name.

Example: Magnolia grandiflora

The two-word (binomial) scientific name is made up off:

Genus + specific epithet = Species

Magnolia grandiflora↑

The specific epithet describes a characteristic of the plant.

The scientific name is italicized or underlined.

The Genus is capitalized. The specific epithet is not capitalized.

Examples of species: Citrus sinensis

Examples of species: Magnolia grandiflora

Examples of species: Tulbagia violacia

The Plant World(Plant Classification)

Classification

• Plant Kingdom– Lichens and mosses (no leaves, roots, etc)– Ferns (no flower with seeds, spores instead)– Seed producing plants

• Gymnospermae (Gymnosperm)• Angiospermae (Angiosperm)

Plant Kingdom

• Non-vascular (Bryophytes)• Vascular

– Spore bearing (Pteridophyta)– Seed bearing (Spermatophyta or Spermopsida)

• Gymnosperm (Cone bearing, naked seed) Examples: pines, podocarpus, ginkgo, cycads

• Angiosperm (Non-cone bearing, covered seed)– Monocotyledon (grasses, grains, palms, lilies, onions)– Dicotyledon

Gymnosperm

Slash Pine

GymnospermKing Sago

Gymnosperm Juniper

Gymnosperm- Podocarpus

Gymnosperm( Zamia family)

Angiosperm

• Flowering Plants• Seed protected by Fruit• Two main groups (divisions):

– Monocotyledoneae (Monocots)– Dicotyledoneae (Dicots)

Monocots vs Dicots

ROOTS SYSTEMS

Root Functions:

• anchor plant• support the stem• absorb and conduct water and minerals• store food

Two types of roots:

• - fibrous roots, highly branched, slender• - tap roots, main enlarged root.

Water and Nutrient Uptake

Water and nutrient uptake is done by millions of thin walled root hairs.

Nutrient uptakeSecondary roots Primary root

Nutrient and water up take: Root hairs –> secondary root –> primary root –> stems and leaves.

Some different type or roots:

• Adventitious roots• Fleshy roots• Aerial roots• Knees ( pneumatophores)

Adventitious Roots:Roots that do no originate off the primary

root

Prop roots

Fleshy roots – food reserve

Turnip CarrotBeets

Aerial Roots

Banyan Tree

Aerial rootsSome aerial roots are fleshy and store water

Philodendron

Aerial roots on orchids

Knees or Pneumatophores

Knees or pneumatophores enable plants to obtain air in swampy conditions

Bald Cypress

Mangrove

Stems Functions and Modifications

Stems have nodes and buds

Stem Types

• Crowns – short inconspicuous• Simple – without branches• Branched• Climbing• Creeping• Rhizomes• Stolons

CrownsShort inconspicuous stem

Gerbera daisy

Dandelion

Simple StemStem without branches

Food Storage in stems

Asparagus Celery

Many herbaceous perennials have some type of modified stems.

• Examples of modified stems:– Rhizomes– Stolons– Tubers – Corms– Bulbs

Rhizomes – the main stem of a plant, horizontal, underground.

Ginger

Tubers are modified stems that

develop on under ground stems

Corms are short, thickened, underground stems.

Gladiola Corms

Bulbs are short, thickened, underground stem with thick storage leaves making up the bulk.

Stolons or runners

Leaf and Stem Arrangement

A stem has nodes and

internodes.

Nodes are where leaves or buds are attached.

Leaf arrangement:

• alternate• opposite• whorled

What leaf arrangement is pictured here?

Alternate

Leaf Anatomy

• Leaf is composed of:– leaf blade– petiole– stipules (in some

cases)

Stipules

Stipules

Name the parts

1 Blade

2 Vein

↑ 3

Stipules

↓4Petiole

Leaf Veins

Veins are extensions of the vascular system.• Venation types:

– parallel (mostly found in monocots)– pinnate– palmate

Leaf types:

• Simple

• compound– palmate– odd pinnate– even pinnate

Simple Leaf

Compound Leaves

Pinnately Compound Leaves

Plant identification requires the use of specialized term to describe the leaf tip, base, margin, shape,

and surface.

Leaf Tips

Leaf Bases

Leaf Shapes

Leaf Surfaces

Modified/Specialized Leaves

Bracts are modified leaves that may function as part of the flower.

Modified/Specialized Leaves

TendrilSpines

Parts of a typical flower:

• sepals that form the calyx• petals that form the corolla• stamens, male organ, with anther and

filament• pistil, female organ, with stigma, style and

ovary• receptacle• peduncle (pedicels)

Pollination and Fertilization

• To produce seed pollination followed by fertilization must take place.

• Self pollinating flowers are self-fertile

• Cross-pollinating flowers need pollen from other plants.

↓● ● ●

●Pollination

Pollination in action.

Flowers with no pistil are male flowers. (staminate flowers)

Flowers with no stamens are female flowers. (pistilate flowers)

Terms based on flowering characteristics:

• Monoecious• Dioecious• Polygamous

Dioecious plants: plants with only male or female flowers.These plants need two plants for fertilization.

Dioecious plants

Date Palm

Left: Female bearing fruit

Top: Male staminate flowers producing pollen

Monoecious plants: plants

with both male and female

flowers on one plant. Only one

plant needed for fertilization.

Monoecious plant – Pine Tree

Monoecious Plant

Pine Tree

Polygamous – plants that bear

staminate, pistillate, and

bisexual flowers. Example: Acer

rubrum

Inflorescences

Single (Solitaire) Inflorescence

Racemose Inflorencense

• Raceme• Panicle• Spike• Spathe & Spadix• Catkin• Corymb• Umbel• Head

See diagram

Umbel

Panicle

Spike

Cymose Inflorescence• Cyme• Fascicle

Cyme – apple blossom

Flower Forms and Parts

• What is a Complete Flower?

• What is a Perfect Flower?

• What is an Apetalous flower?

• What is an Asepalous flower?

Complete Flowers have 4 major parts.↓Pistil

← Stamen

← Petals

← Sepals

Let’s Review: Name the 4 major parts.

3 Petals

4 Sepals

2 Stamens

↓ 1 Pistil

What is a Perfect Flower?

A flower with at least the male (stamen) and female (pistil)

structures.

Perfect flower

Stamen

Pistil

Is this a perfect flower? Is it complete?

Apetalous flower – no petals

Asepalous flower – without sepals

Flower forms

• Gamopetalous – united petals– Funnel form– Rotate– Urn-shaped– Salver-form

• Gamosepalous – united sepals• Polypetalous – separate petals• Polysepalous – separate sepals

Gamopetalous

Gamosepalous

United sepals

Fruit and Seeds

Fruit and Seeds

Helpful tool in identification of plants.

Fruit is the mature ovary of a flower, contains the seed/or seeds

Fruit types:

• Fleshy• Dry Fruits• Dehiscent• Indehiscent

Examples for Fleshy fruits:

• Drupe• Berry• Pome• Aggregate Fruit

Drupe

PeachCoconut

Examples of Dry Fruits.

• Acheme• Samara• Nut• Capsule• Legume• Follicle

Leaves manufacture food for the plant.

Photosynthesis is the food manufacturing process.

Photosynthesis:Carbon dioxide + water + light energy sucrose + Oxygen CO2 + H2O + light C H2O + O2

Carbon dioxide + water + light energy sucrose + O2

6CO2 + 6H2O + light C6H12O6 + 6O2

Sucrose is the energy source used by most plants.

Chloroplasts collect the light needed for photosynthesis.

Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll.(See next slide)

Respiration is the burning of food (sugar) to release energy.(opposite of photosynthesis)

Respiration:sucrose + O2 Carbon dioxide + water + light energyhttp://wps.prenhall.com/esm_freeman_biosci_1/0,6452,498648-,00.html

Transpiration – loss of water though stomata in the leaf.

Stomata open and close by guard cells.

See next slide.

Transpiration

Environmental factors that affect Plant Growth

• Light• Temperature• Water.

The End