Plant taxonomy

Basics of Plant Taxonomy:

• Classification systems group organisms based on common characteristics.
• Plants are distinguished from animals by traits like cellulose cell walls and sedentary growth.
• Plants can convert light energy into organic energy through photosynthesis.
• Species is the basic unit of classification, while genus is a broader classification.
• Several genera form a family, and several families form an order.

History and Evolution of Plant Classification:

• The term angiosperm was coined by Paul Hermann in 1690.
• Robert Brown changed the meaning of gymnosperm and angiosperm in 1827.
• Hofmeister’s discovery in 1851 established the position of gymnosperms.
• Various classification systems have treated flowering plants differently.
• The APG systems have reclassified flowering plants based on recent research.

Goals and Significance of Plant Taxonomy:

• Plant identification determines the identity of unknown plants.
• Plant classification groups known plants into categories to show relationships.
• Scientific classification follows a hierarchy system.
• The International Code of Nomenclature governs formal botanical nomenclature.
• Classification organizes plants for naming and cataloging.

Regulations and Systems in Plant Classification:

• Rules and recommendations for botanical nomenclature are governed by the ICN.
• Plant names are registered on the International Plant Names Index.
• Plant classification follows a standardized system of rules and hierarchy.
• Plant description involves formally describing newly discovered species.
• The system reflects scientific ideas about plant inter-relationships.

Sources and Updates in Plant Taxonomy:

• Academic publications like the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society contribute to plant taxonomy.
• Key sources in plant taxonomy include works by APG and Chase, among others.
• Updates in plant classification are provided by entities like APG and researchers like Chase and Reveal.

Plant taxonomy Data Sources