COMPENDIUM ON BOT 304(PLANT TAXONOMY) BY

B.O.D

AOC ON DR. OMOLOKUN’S PART

1. Define taxonomic character

Ans.
Taxonomic characters can be defined as those characters that can
effectively be used for taxonomic purposes such as
naming{nomenclature}, classification and identification of plants.

2. Differentiate between good characters and bad character

Ans.
Good character Bad character
They are not easily modified or They are easily modified.
influenced by the environment.
They are genetically stable. They are not genetically stable.
They show discontinuous They show continuous variations.
variations.
They are not seasonal. They are seasonal.
They are not subject to wide They are subject to wide variation
variation within the samples being within the samples being
considered. considered.

3. List the sources of taxonomic characters

Ans.
Ecological
Morphological
Anatomical
Physiological
Cytological
Embryological
Phytochemical
Palynological

4. What is continuous and discontinuous characters

Ans.
Continuous character: this is when the variations exhibited by a taxon
displays a continuous gradation between characters without obvious
break.
Discontinuous character: this is when variations exhibited by a taxon
displays obvious breaks or discontinuities

5. What are the differences between qualitative and quantitative

characters
Ans.
Qualitative characters Quantitative characters
These are descriptive in nature. They involve
measuring,quantifying or
determining dimensions of
features.
They are used or applied in lower They are used or applied in higher
taxonomic categories such as taxonomic categories such as
species. family.

6. What are the sub-family of Fabaceae

Ans.
Mimosoideae
Papilionoideae
Caesalpinoideae

7. What are the equipment used for herbarium techniques

Ans.
Clipper
Machette
Secateur
Forcep
Pen
Tag
Digger
Polythene bag
Camera
Vasculum

8. What are the informations required during herbarium

Ans.
Voucher number
GPS
Name of the plant and the family
Name of the collector
Date of collection
Site or locality of collection
Habitat
Date
Brief descriptive notes on the plant
Name of the person who identified or confirms the identity of the
plant

9. State the economic importance of Poaceae

Ans.
They are important cereal crops eg Zea mays and Oryza sativa
They can be used as ornamental plants eg Bambusa nana
They are used as lawn eg Axonopus compressus
They are a source of paper pulp eg Imperata cylindrica
They are useful as source of sugar eg Sadcharum officinarum

10. What is the full meaning of the following acronyms: LSH,FHI,UIH and
IUH.
Ans.
LSH ------ Lagos state university herbarium
FHI ------- Forest herbarium Ibadan
UIH ------ University of Ibadan herbarium
IUH -------Ilorin university herbarium

11. Differentiate between Poaceae and Cyperaceae

Ans.
POACEAE CYPERACEAE
They have a cylindrical,solid or Has a triangular and solid stem.
hollow stem.
They have distichous leaf with They have a tristichous leaf
ligule and sheath that splits open. without ligule and sheath is
closed.
They have 3 fused or 1 free carpel They have 3 or 2 fused carpels and
and two styles. three styles.
Their fruit is caryopsis. Fruit is nutlet.
Perianth is represented by two or Perianth are represented by three
three lodicules. or six bristles.

12. Floral symbol

∞ Infinity

⊕ Actinomorphic condition

% Zygomorphic condition

K Calyx (Sepals)

C Corolla (petals)

P Perianth (tepals)

A Androecium (stamens)

G Gynoecium (carpels)

⚥ Bisexual flower

⚦ Unisexual, staminate flower

♀ Unisexual, pistillate flower

K(5) Five fused sepals

C(5) Five fused petals

G- Semi inferior ovary

Inferior ovary

Superior ovary

LIKELY QUESTIONS FROM DR SHARAIBI’S PART

1. List the NOMINAL CONSERVENDA old and new names
Ans.
OLD NAME NEW NAME
Leguminosae Fabaceae
Graminae Poaceae
Guttiferae Clusiaceae
Compositae Asteraceae
Umbelliferae Apiaceae
Labiatae Lamiaceae
Palmae Arecaceae
Cruciferae Brassicaceae

2. List the taxonomic ranks and their characteristic endings

Ans.
Taxon Characteristic ending
Kingdom
Division Phyta
Sub-division Phytina
Class Opsida
Sub-class idae
Super order Anae
Order Ales
Sub-order Ineae
Family Aceae
Sub-family Oideae
Tribe Eae
Sub-tribe Inae
Genus
Specie
Note that genus and specie has no standard ending

3. What are the 12 main taxonomic ranks recognized by the ICBN

Ans.
[i] Kingdom
[ii] Division
[iii] Class
[iv] Order
[v] Family
[vi] Tribe
[vii] Genus
[viii] Section
[ix] Series
[x] Species
[xi] Variety
[xii] Form

4. Enumerate and explain any four kinds of classification

Ans.
[i] Artificial classification:this is produced when habit and utilitarian
values of plants are employed in the classification of plants.
[ii] Mechanical classification: this is produced when one or few
selected characters are used in the grouping of plants.
[iii] Natural classification: this is produced when as many characters as
possible are used in grouping plants.
[iv] Phylogenetic classification: this is produced when as many
characters as possible are used to produce a system of classification
which is interpreted in a phylogenetic or evolutionary manner.

5. What is a flora?
Ans.
These are the plants of a particular region, habitat,
or geological period.

6. Give the binomial nomenclature of the following plants

Ans.
[i] Maize: Zea mays
[ii] Onions : Allium cepa
[iii] Sweet orange : Citrus sinensis
[iv] Yam : Dioscorea alata
[v] Mango : Mangifera indica
[vi] Apple: Malus pumila
[vii] Rice: Oryza sativa
[viii] Pawpaw: Carica papaya
[ix] Plantain: Musa paradisiaca
[x] Oil palm: Elaeis guineensis
[xi] Okro: Abelmoschus esculentus
[xii] Tomato: Solanum lycopersicum
[xiii] Cassava: Manihot esculenta
[xiv] Coconut: Cocos nucifera
[xv] Rubber plant: Hevea brasiliensis

7. What is the full meaning of the accronym I.C.B.N

 Ans.
International Code of Botanical Nomenclature

LIKELY QUESTIONS FROM DR OLUWA’S PART

1. Generate the generic names from the following names:Heywood,
Stebbins ,Bauhin, Julius and Jayeola
Ans.
[i] Heywood: Heywoodia
[ii] Stebbins : Stebbinsia
[iii] Bauhin : Bauhinia
[iv] Julius : Juliusia
[v] Jayeola : Jayeolaea

(when the name ends in a vowel add suffix ea)

(when the name ends in a, add suffix ea)
(when the name ends in a consonant, add suffix ia)

2. Generate the specific epithets from the following locations:

China,Guinea,Quebec,Brazil and Lagos
Ans.
China: Chinaensis
Guinea: Guineaensis
Quebec: Quebecensis
Brazil: Brazilensis
Lagos: Lagosensis
(add the suffix ensis to each name)

3. A new species of genus Tephrosia was discovered by a taxonomist

named Fagbohun in Lagos:

[i] Coin a binomial for the species if it is named after the location
Ans.
Tephrosia lagosensis

[ii] What is the correct binomial if it were named after the taxonomist?
Ans.
Tephrosia fagbohunia
 2019/2020 PQ ANSWER
Section A
1. Briefly define the following terms
[i] Diagnostic characters [ii] Identification [iii] Systematics [iv] Binomial
nomenclature [v] Classification
Ans
[i] Diagnostic characters: these are characters that are necessary to
distinguish a taxon from other similar or closely related taxa.
[ii] Identification: this is the act of recognizing the taxon to which a
plant specimen belongs.
[iii] fBinomial Nomenclature: it is the biological system of naming the
organisms in which the name is composed of two terms,where the first
term indicates the genus and the second term indicates the species of
the organism.
[iv] Classification: this is an aspect of biological systematics concerned
with placing,ordering of plants or group of plants in categories.

2. Give the binomial nomenclature of the following [i] maize [ii] white
yam [iii] beans [iv] coconut [v] pawpaw [vi] rice [vii] okro [viii] sweet
orange [ix] cassava [x] guava
Ans
[i] Maize: Zea mays
[ii] white yam: Dioscorea alata
[iii] beans: Phaseolus vulgaris
[iv] Coconut: Cocos nucifera
[v] Pawpaw: Carica papaya v
[vi] rice : Oryza sativa
[vii] Okro: Abelmoschus esculentus
[viii] sweet orange : Citrus sinensis
[ix] cassava: Manihot esculenta
[x] guava: Psidium guajava

3. Form the generic names from the persons;

4.
5. Give the specific epithets of the binomial nomenclature of plants
originated from these countries; [i] China [ii] India [iii] Guinea [iv] Ivory
coast [v] Brazil
 Ans
[i] China: chinaensis
[ii] India: indiensis
[iii] Guinea: guinensis
[iv] Ivory coast: ivorensis
[v] Brazil: brazilensis

Section B
1a. Outline and explain briefly the various methods involved in
herbarium preparations
Ans
[i] collection: this involves the collection of specimen or plant material
[ii] Pressing: this is the process of placing specimens between the
absorbent drying paper under heavy pressure in plant press.
[iii] Drying: this is the drying of the specimen for 24 - 48 hours
{depending on the specimen} between the folds of paper.
[iv] Mounting: this involves the placing of the specimen on the
herbarium sheet with glue or sellotape.
[v] Poisoning: the dried plant specimens are treated with some
chemicals to protect them against microbial and insect attack.
[vi] Labelling: this involves labelling the specimen at the lower right
hand corner of the sheet,indicating name and date of collection,habit
and locality of the specimen.
[vii] Storage: the herbarium sheet is covered with the transparent
cover and stored in herbarium cupboards.

1b. State any five significance of herbarium

Ans
[i] it is used to discover or confirm the identity of a plant.
[ii] Serves as an educational tool for the public.
[iii] It serves as an archive for related material.
[iv] It provides data for floristic studies.
[v] It is used in forensic studies.

2a. What are taxonomic characters

Ans
These are characters that are effectively used for taxonomic purposes
such as identification,nomenclature and classification of plants.
2b. Critically examine the various types of taxonomic characters
Ans

3 . Give an account of the habit,floral morphology,floral formula and

economic importance of any three {3} of the following angiosperm
families and sub families;
[i] Caesalpinoideae [ii] Papilionoideae [iii] Mimosoideae [iv] Poaceae
[v]Cyperaceae [vi] Asteraceae
Ans
Caesalpinoideae Papilionoideae Mimosoideae
Habit Trees,Shrubs and Trees,Shrubs and Trees,Shrubs
Herbs. Herbs. and Herbs.
Floloral
morphology
Floral formula %,⚥,K5,C3,A10, %,⚥,K(5),C5,A(9)+ ⊕,⚥,K(5-4),
1 1, 1 C(5-4), A∞,
1
Economic [i] they are [i] they serves as [i] they are
importance ornamental. a source of food. ornamental.
[ii] They are [ii] They serve as [ii] they are
medicinal. a source of gum. used for
timbers.
[iii] they serve
as medical
ingredients.

2020/2021 PQ ANSWER
Section A
1. In not more than five [5] lines,define the term Alpha-Taxonomy
Ans
Alpha taxonomy is the branch of biology which is concerned with the
identification and description of biological species.Classification based
on morphological characters is called alpha taxonomy. Alpha taxonomy
deals with the species category.

2. Mention the names of any two botanist each that contributed to the
process of
3. The carl linnaeus system of classification is simply referred to as?
Ans
The Linnaean System

4. State three taxonomic character and give examples of their taxonomic

states

5. Differentiate between the pair (a) ``a priori’’ character and ``a
posteriori’’ character weighting (b) good and bad characters (c)
qualitative and quantitative characters
Ans
a. Priori character weighting is the character weighting done before
the analysis while posteriori character weighting is done after the
analysis

Good character Bad character

They are not easily modified or They are easily modified.
influenced by the environment.
They are genetically stable. They are not genetically stable.
They show discontinuous They show continuous variations.
variations.
They are not seasonal. They are seasonal.
They are not subject to wide They are subject to wide variation
variation within the samples being within the samples being
considered. considered.
Qualitative characters Quantitative characters
These are descriptive in nature. They involve
measuring,quantifying or
determining dimensions of
features.
They are used or applied in lower They are used or applied in higher
taxonomic categories such as taxonomic categories such as
species. family.

6. Differentiate between macro morphological and micro morphological

characters
Ans
7. Mention any five [5] statistical methods of showing the quantitative
character data
Ans

* THE REMAINING QUESTIONS HAS BEEN TREATED ALREADY ABOVE