CHAPTER 1

CLASSIFICATION
PRINCIPLES
 Classification Principles
• Study of Plant classification is known as
Taxonomy
• Taxonomy is the science of naming, describing and
classifying organisms.
 ‘Taxon’ means ‘group’
 Taxonomy have two branches – nomenclature (the naming
of organisms) and systematics (the placing of organisms in
groups)
 Systematics is a dynamic and flexible science in which the
diversity of organisms and their relationships are studied
 Nomenclature = naming of organisms and a taxa to which
they belong
 Classification of organisms is important for the
following reasons:

i. It is essential that we are able to distinguish

between beneficial and harmful varieties.
ii. It is important to record the world’s biodiversity
iii. To communicate biological knowledge
efficiently between scientists
iv. To develop strategies for protection and
conservation of endangered species.
 Classification system
 There are two types of classification:
A. Artificial classification
B. Natural classification

A. Artificial classification
 This classification often categorize the
organism based on economic or practical
purpose
 Several characteristics are simple and easy to
observe (eg.flower color, habit)
 Many plants in a category are not closely
related to each other by descent from a
common ancestor
 B. Natural classification

 Natural classification consider embryological,

morphological, anatomical, physiological and
behavioral of the organisms to determine the
different or similarity among them.
 There are basically two type of natural

classification schemes:
 Phenetic

 Phylogenetic
 A.Phenetic classification
 Phenetic classification is a classification
system which based on overall similarities

 It is based on the number of shared observable

characteristics between organisms

 It is a quantitative approach- the more

measurable similarities there are, the more
likely two organisms are to belong to the same
group
 B.Phylogenetic classification

 Phylogenetic classification is a classification

system which based on evolutionary history, or
pattern of descent

 Organisms are grouped based on shared

characteristics which reflect evolutionary
relationship

 This means that organisms in the same group

are believed to have a common ancestor
 Classification hierarchy
 Classification hierarchy= Taxonomy hierarchy

 Nature is characterized by diversity. No two

individuals are exactly alike.

 These classifications can be arranged in order

from the most inclusive group (kingdom) to the
least inclusive group (species)
THE SEVEN MAIN TAXONOMIC RANK

KINGDOM The highest taxonomic category

A group of organisms constructed

on a similar plan and thought to
PHYLUM be evolutionary relate

CLASS A group of related order

A category of taxonomic
classification ranking above
ORDER the family and below the class

A group of related plants or animal forming a

category ranking above a genus and below an
FAMILY order and usually comprising several to many
genera

GENUS A class, kind, or group marked by common

characteristics or by one common
characteristic

SPECIES A category of biological

classification ranking immediately
below the genus or subgenus
Major Taxonomic Ranks Taxa

Kingdom Plantae
Phylum (Division) Magnoliophyta
Class Liliopsida
Order Arecales
Family Arecaceae
Genus (plural:genera) Cocos
Species Cocos nucifera

Eg. Magnoliophyta is a taxon placed at the rank of phylum;

Liliopsida is a taxon placed at the rank of class
Major Taxonomic Ranks Taxa

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum (Division) Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Primates
Family Homonidae
Genus (plural:genera) Homo
Species sapiens

Eg.Chordata is a taxon placed at the rank of phylum;

Mammalia is a taxon placed at the rank of class
 Living thing

Cell type Cell type

Prokaryotic Eukaryotic

Domain Eubacteria Domain Archea Domain Eukarya

- Kingdom bacteria - Kingdom Euryachaeota - Kingdom plantae

- Kingdom animalia

- Kingdom fungi
 Carolus Linnaeus
 Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus or
Carl Linnaeus , also known as
Carl von Linné
 (May 23, 1707 – January 10, 1778),
 was a Swedish botanist, physician and
zoologist
 who lead the foundations for the
modern scheme of nomenclature.
 He is known as the "father of modern
taxonomy."
 He is also considered one of the
fathers of modern ecology.
 Nomenclature: Linnaeus system
 Nomenclature refer to the naming of organisms
based on the Binomial Linneaus system.
 Binomial system devised by Carolus Linnaeus
 Each type of organism is given a two-part Latin
name:
 First word is the genus name , begins with capital
letter.
 Second word is the species name and begins with
small letter
 The scientific name is printed in italics or
underlined when handwritten
o When scientific names are used, there is no two species can
have the same scientific name
 MAJOR CROPS TAXONOMY
K- Plantea K- Plantea
D- Magnoliophyta D- Magnoliophyta
C- Liliopsida C- Magnoliopsida
O- Arecales O- Malpighiales
F- Arecaceae F- Euphorbiaceae
G- Elaeis G- Hevea
S- guineensis, oleifera S- brasiliensis
= Elaeis guineensis = Hevea brasiliensis

K- Plantea K- Plantea
D- Magnoliophyta D- Magnoliophyta
C- Liliopsida C- Liliopsida
O- Arecales O- Pooles
F- Arecaceae F- Poaceae
G- Cocus G- Oryza
S- nusifera S- sativa
= Cocus nusifera = Oryza sativa
 Classification of Plantae
 Plantae:- a group of organisms multi-cells,
eukaryote and autotroph and contain
chlorophyll.
 At least 9 phylum/division can be recognize in
Plantae kingdom such as:

Bryophyta,Filicinophyta,Spenophyta,Lycopodophyta,Gingkoph
yta,Coniferophyta,Cycadophyta,Gnetophyta and
Angiospermatophyta

 The important phylum is Angiospermatophyta

 Angiospermatophyta

 The main characteristic of Angiospermatophyta:-

1. Seed produce in ovary that develop to fruit
2. Flowering and fruiting
3. Complex vascular tissue (xylem and phloem)

 This phylum divided into 2 main classes:-

 Monocotyledon
 Dicotyledon
 SEED LEAVES LEAF VEINS STEMS FLOWERS ROOTS

MONOCOTS

One Main veins Vascular bundles in Floral parts usually Fibrous

cotyledon usually parallel complex in multiples of three root
arrangement system

DICOTS

Two Main veins Vascular bundles Floral parts usually in Taproot

cotyledons usually netlike multiples of four or usually
arranged in ring five present
 5.1 COMPARISION BETWEEN….
Monocotyledon Dicotyledon
One cotyledon Two cotyledon
Veins usually parallel Veins usually netlike
Vascular bundles Vascular bundles
usually complex usually arranged in ring
arranged
Fibrous root system Taproot usually present
No cambium Have cambium
Floral parts usually in Floral parts usually in
multiples of three multiples of four or five
 Quiz
1. Define the following terms:-
- Taxonomy
- Nomenclature
2. Why organism classification are
important?
3. State 7 main taxonomy rank