An

Introduction to

Botany for

Master

GardenersPresented by Jeff McMillian

Dan Culbert, Extension Agent III –

Environmental HorticultureUF/IFAS – Okeechobee County

Adapted from

Botany for Master Gardeners by Dan Culbert,

Extension Agent III – Environmental

Horticulture UF/IFAS – Okeechobee County

What is Botany?

And for that matter,

what is Horticulture?

Horticulture is the Art

& Science of

growing plants

using intensive

rather than

extensive inputs

Plant classification

(Taxonomy)

There are many methods for identifying or

grouping plants for communication

There are lots of systems of classification

Which ones can you think of?

Life cycle

Annual

Biennial

Perennial

Persistence – Typical Life Spans

Annuals

Biennials

Herbaceous

Perennials

1 2 3 5 100

Time

(Years)

1/2

Woody

Perennials-Trees, Shrubs, Vines

Morphology or appearance

Evergreen, deciduous

Woody, herbaceous

Vines, trees, shrubs

Opposite or alternate leaves

Fruit, seed, etc. types

We’ll get to more morphology in a minute!

Environmental

Xerophyte, halophyte, hydrophyte

Hardy, tender

Temperate, tropical, subtropical

Warm season, cool season

When do you plant cool season annuals

and crops in Beauregard Parish?

Usage

Fruit, vegetable, ornamental

What is the difference between a fruit and a vegetable?

Euler Diagram

Common names

Define rose

The Trouble with Common Names “Lady of the Night” could mean

Brunfelsia jamaicensis, B. americana,

or even B. gigantea

“Angel’s Trumpet” could refer to

Daturas (hardy to zone 9B maybe,

many are annuals, some are weeds) or

Brugmansias (hardy to sometimes even

zone 7, often highly fragrant especially

in the evening)

Spathyphyllum could be

Spathyphyllum, Closet Plant, Peace

Lily, Spath, White Anthurium, Snow

Flower, White Sails, and Cobra Plant

and this applies to practically all

species in the genus.

Scientific nomenclature

Kingdom

Animalia

Others

Plantae

Division (several, those with horticultural interest -)Pterodophyta - ferns

Spermatophyta – seed bearing plants

Class

Gymnospermae – naked seeds

Angiospermae

Subclass

Monocotyledonae (monocots) - 49,000 types

Dicotyledonae (dicots) - 237,000 types

And this is only half of it . . . .

Plants without seeds

Seed Plants without Fruit?

Cycads and Conifers

produce separate male &

female cones =

dioecious

gymnosperms

One or Two,

and threes or fours/fives

A big first step

in plant ID is

to determine if

it is more like

a palm or an

oak,

i.e., a corn plant

or a petunia

Once more - is it a

Monocot or Dicot ?

Number of cotyledons

in seed

Venation pattern

Number of flower parts

Arrangement of

vascular bundles

Do I need to know all this stuff?

Binomial Nomenclature

Developed by Linnaeus

(Carl von Linne)

The father of Taxonomy

and considered one of the

fathers of Ecology

The ‘L. ‘ after many proper

scientific names

Was not the first to develop

a binomial system

Bauhin brothers

200 years earlier

First to use this system

which led to its

widespread adoption

Bottlebrush

Tomato Lycopersicon esculentum L. Big Boy

Order Solanales

Family Solanaceae

Genus Lycopersicon

species esculentum

Botanical variety esculentum

Naming authority L. [ for Linnaeus]

Cultivar Big Boy

Scientific names may tell you something

about the plant.

Divides the Plant Kingdom into groups that

are less and less inclusive

USDA Plants database: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CEOC2

Family

Based on the reproductive structures of the organism

Arrangement & number of various structures

Ovary – superior or inferior

Qty of anthers, sepals, petals, tepals, ovaries, etc…

Ends in ‘aceae’

Pronounced “ay-see-ee”

Asteraceae – sunflower family, Composite family

Helianthus, Rudbeckia, Liatris, Aster

Lamiaceae – mint family

Rubiaceae – coffee family

Even more on scientific

nomenclature

Most commonly used system of nomenclature

System is not static

As you move down though the sections, plants

are more closely related

Based on flower and plant morphology

It’s all in the Family

Being able to identify an unknown plant to its

family is a valuable skill

Look at botanical characteristics and see if it

reminds you of another plant

Look at references under the name of the

family to speed up your search

Common Plant Families

Anacardiaceae

Apocynaceae

Cruciferae

Fagaceae

Gramineae

Labiatae

Leguminosae

Rosaceae

The rose is a rose

and was always a rose;

But the theory now goes

That the apple's a rose,

And the pear is, and so's

The plum, I suppose.

The dear only knows

What will next prove a rose.

You, of course, are a rose,

but were always a rose.

- Robert Frost, "The Rose Family”

More Common plant families

Asteraceae

Brassicaceae

Poaceae

Clusiaceae

Lamiaceae

Fabaceae

Arecaceae

Apiaceae

Zamiaceae

Lily Family - Liliaceae Worldwide distribution.

Includes many ornamentals as well as onion, garlic, and chives. A very diverse family which is divided into several different families by some workers.

Herbaceous, 3-merous flowers which are distinctive and known to most. Many have bulbs, corms, or swollen rhizomes. Leaves are simple, often basel, and have parallel venation. Flowers are regular and may be showy, or small and inconspicous, but always have that 'lily' look with 3 sepals (which may be petaloid), 3 petals, and 6 stamens.

From: http://www.geobotany.uaf.edu/teaching/plant_family_pdf/PlantFamilies.pdf

Genus or Genera

The first part of the binomial name

Lilium michauxii

The smallest grouping within the family

Often shares many of the traits with other

members of it’s family

Places most closely related plants together

Species or Specific Epithet

Generally a distinct entity within the Genus

Lilium michauxii

Reproducing from seed with minimal variation

May share many features as other plants within the Genus

Generally do not naturally cross due to:

Geographic location

Flowering time

Pollen acceptance

Below the Species

Genus + specific epithet = Binomial name

In horticulture we often use a ternary or

three part name subspecies (subspecies) – subsp.

varietas (variety) - var.

subvarietas (subvariety) - subvar.

forma (form) - f.

subforma (subforma) – subf.

‘Cultivar’

Agapanthus praecox subsp. orientalis ‘Storm Cloud’

CULTIVAR = CULTIVATED VARIETY

“Assemblage of cultivated plants which is clearly distinguished by any characters and which, when reproduced (sexually or asexually) retains its distinguishing characters.”

- Liberty Hyde Bailey

*Botanical varieties naturally breed true from seed

*Cultivars are asexually cloned or by controlled sexual crossing of breeding lines

The Beauty and Importance of Botanical

Nomenclature

Often descriptive calli= beautiful

stemon = stamens

citrinus = lemon scented foliage

Mono = one

tropa = turn

uni = one

flora = flower

pulchella, pulchellus = pretty

aurea = orange

lutea = yellow

caerulea = blue

coccinea, eryth = red

mutabilis = change or mutate + ability

oides = like

Monotropa uniflora

Indian Pipes, Ghost

Plant, Corpse Plant

One turn and one

flower

Bottlebrush

Callistemon citrinus

What makes a plant a plant

and not an animal?

Cell walls

Ability to make own food

Special kinds of anatomical (plant) parts

Gross Anatomy

Major Plant organs include:

roots

stems

leaves

reproductive organs:

flowers or cones

fruits and seeds

This Bud’s for You!

New growth comes from Buds, or meristems.

Apical meristems

Lateral or auxiliary meristems

Crown buds

Root tips

Roots

Functions

absorption of water & nutrients

anchoring

conductance

storage

Roots Morphology

primary root/secondary roots

tap root/fibrous roots

adventitious roots

root hairs

Roots can be Special

Pneumatophores = Knees

Rhizomes are

roots

Tubers are

stems

Stolons are

above ground

Stem

Functions

Conductance

Support

Photosynthesis

Gas exchange

lenticels

Morphology

Nodes/internodes

Modifications

tendril

thorn

Leaf

Functions

Collection of light

Photosynthesis

Gas exchange

Storage

More Leaf

Functions

Collection of light

Photosynthesis

Gas exchange

Storage

What’s a C3

plant?

What’s a C4

plant?

Getting Attached

Morphology

Blade/petiole

Shape of blade

Margin

Attachment to stem

Number and arrangement of leaflets

Leaf Shapes are Simple

I’m Getting Edgy!

Leaf Me Alone!

How many

leaves are on

this slide?

Palms are different!

Palms only have one bud

at the top of the stem

Many palm roots do not

have the ability to

branch if they are cut

Flowers

Function

Control pollination

Develop into fruit and seed

Morphology

We need many slides for this!

Remember – much of the

classification of plants is

based on floral morphology

Terminology Flower forms

Actinomorphic – radiallysymmetrical

Zygomorphic – bilaterally symmetrical

Ovaries

Superior ovary – flower parts are above the ovary

Inferior ovary – flower parts are beneath the ovary

Ovary position

Superior InferiorSuperior

Flower morphology

petals - corolla

sepals - calyx

receptacle

pistil

ovary/ovules

style

stigma

stamen

filament

anther

pollen

Pollen Grains

Peas, if you please…

More-phology

Complete

has petals, sepals,

stamens and pistils

Perfect

has both stamens and

pistils

staminate

pistillate

Flower types

monoecious

dioecious

Fruits and seeds

Function

seed dispersal

seed protection

contain genetic

information for next

generation and structures

to create new plant

Morphology

Ovary development

Cotyledons/endosperm,

embryo

Seed Parts

Dry fruits

Fleshy fruits

Dehiscent or

indehiscent

Multiple/aggregate

Common Fruit Types

Pome

Drupe

Compound fruit

Berry False berry

Inferior ovary

Achene Samara

Cypsela – Asteraceae Not true achene

Pod

Follicle - Asclepiads

Capsule - Datura

Nut - Acorn

And what kind is this?

So when someone brings me a plant,

how do I get to the scientific name?

Dichotomous keys

Plant ID books

Glossaries of terms

Master Gardener manual

Websites

Plant Keys

Are like Binomial Nomenclature in that they

divide the plants into groups that are less and

less inclusive

Each question in a key is a go/no-go

Start at the top

Keys to plant families

http://michiganflora.net/family-key.aspx

Keep it simple

Known distribution as a guide

Plants do not recognize political lines

USDA Plants database http://plants.usda.gov/ja

va/

Flora of North America www.efloras.org

Dr. Charles Allen’s ‘Louisiana Plant List’ http://nativeventures.net/

plant_list.php

Herbariums like LSU’s online herbarium

http://www.herbarium.lsu.edu/

Blazing Star, Gayfeather, Liatris

Liatris spicata, L. pycnostachya, L.

elegans, L. acidota, L. squarrosa, L.

aspera, L. squarrulosa

Key Practice on-line

Here’s are some on-line plant identification keys

Plant Identification Game Using an Online

Interactive Dichotomous Key (“Florida Keys”)

http://webworld.freac.fsu.edu/cameras/keys/sa/tree.html

Grasses of Florida http://plants.usda.gov/plantkeys/florida_grasses/FLORIDA_GRASSES.html

Plants & Their

Environment

Plants and energy (simplified)

Photosynthesis

The process of turning light

energy into energy that can be

transported and stored by the

plant

Why not just use the

energy directly?

Eeek! Chemistry!

6 CO2 + 12 H2O +

light + chlorophyll =

C6H12O6 + 6 H2O + 6

O2

What does this mean to you?

Eeek! Chemistry!

6 CO2 + 12 H2O + light + chlorophyll

= C6H12O6 + 6 H2O + 6 O2

C6H12O6 is the general formula for

carbohydrates

Sugars can be transported

Starches can be stored

Both are forms of carbohydrates – as

anyone on the Atkins diet can tell you!

More energy stuff

Respiration

Breaking the carbohydrates into a form

of energy the plant can use

Although we think of

respiration in humans as

breathing, breathing is

really the gas exchange

that supports respiration.

And more chemistry

C6H12O6 + 6 H2O + 6 O2 + mitochondria = 6 CO2 + 12

H2O + energy in a useable form

Does anything about this formula look familiar?

What’s all this used for, anyway?

Plant growth and development

Cell division

Cell elongation

Where does growth occur in plants?

Meristems

Plants and the

environment

Light

Water

Nutrients

Temperature

Air

Light

Color

Why don’t plants grow well in green

light?

Intensity

Shade plants and full sun plant

Duration

Total amount in a day

Photoperiod and flowering

Water

90% of the plant is water

Water is a carrier for

nutrients

Water is essential in

chemical reactions – like?

Nutrients

Required for growth

Environmental elements:

C, H, O

Macro

N, P, K, S, Mg, Ca

Micro

Mn, Mo, Zn, Bo, Fe, Cu, Cl

Temperature8A

(10-15oF)

9A

(20-25oF)

Heat and cold

effect the rate of

chemical

reactions and

therefore, plant

growth. 8B

(15-20oF)

9B

(25-30oF)

Mean Total Annual Precipitation

Chill Hours

Air

Source of some

nutrients

Gases for chemical

reaction

Even some plant

hormones are gases Air circulation affects growth

and therefore productivity in

more than one way

Back to Plant ID:

Who ya gonna call?

The First line of

assistance is your

county agent.

Other local experts

Who ya gonna call?

LSU Herbarium – sent through

Extension office

www.herbarium.lsu.edu/

Interactive Keys

Browse specimens online

Maps

Specimens

Distribution

Much more

Have you gone fruity yet?

Acknowledgements:

This presentation was adapted from PowerPoint originally developed by:

Dr. Elizabeth Lamb, Cornell University IPM program –formerly @ UF/IFAS IRREC

Other contributors include:

Kim Gabel, Hort Agent - Monroe County (THE KEYS)

Stan Rosenthal, Extension Agent – Forestry, UF/IFAS Leon County Extension

Jim Chatfield, Extension Specialist, the Ohio State University

Paul Baumann, Weed Specialist – TAMU

Oregon State Univ. Master Gardener Botany page: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/botany/index.html

Questions?

Thanks for your Attention

Call or Write if you have more

Dan Culbert, Okeechobee Extension Service

863-763-6469

indianco@ufl.edu

Let’s Go to Lunch!