CLASSIFICATION IN BOTANY

TAXONOMY SYSTEMATICS
 Science of classification, identification,  Base on phylogeny
description and nomenclature of  Evolutionary relationship
biodiversity
o Organization
o Comparison (Similarities and
Differences)
o Characterization
o Naming
3 Domain (Bacteria,
CLASSIFICATION Archaea, Eukarya)

 Process
o Devise a scheme 2 kingdom System 3 kingdom System
5 kingdom Syster
(Whittaker and
6 kingdom System
(Aristotle) (Earnst Haeckel) (Woese)
o Group organisms Margulis)

 Linnaean Classification
Plantae (non Animalia
o Carolus Linnaeus moving) (Macroscopic)
Animalia Animalia

 Published Systema Naturae

 Devised a Hierarchy for Plantae
Animalia (moving) Plantae Plantae
(Microscopic)
classification
 Kingdom, Division, Class,
Order, Family, Genus, Protista
(Microscopic)
Protista Protista

Species
 From Inclusive to
Bacteria Archaebacteria
Exclusive
o Species (Biological Species Concept)
 Interbreeding Fungi Eubacteria
 Reproductively isolated
 Fundamentally similar
 Anatomy Fungi

 Physiocrophy

CONSTRUCTING A CHARACTER TAXA MATRIX

1. Refer to the data given based from their characteristics
Species Stem Root Leaf Flower Seed Fruit
Lenovo Woody Taproot Compound Imperfect Dicot Simple
Samsung Herbaceous Taproot Compound Perfect Dicot Multiple
Acer Herbaceous Taproot Compound Imperfect Monocot Multiple
Asus Herbaceous Fibrous Compound Perfect Monocot Multiple
Mac Woody Fibrous Simple Perfect Dicot Aggregate
HP Woody Fibrous SImple Imperfect Dicot Multiple
2. Group the species exhibiting similarity in their characteristics
Stem Root Leaf Flower Seed Fruit
Woody Taproot Compound Imperfect Dicot Simple
Lenovo Lenovo Lenovo Lenovo Lenovo Lenovo
Mac Samsung Samsung Acer Samsung Aggregate
 HP Acer Acer HP Mac Mac
Asus HP
Herbaceous Fibrous Simple Perfect Monocot Multiple
Samsung Asus Mac Samsung Acer Samsung
Acer Mac HP Asus Asus Acer
Asus HP Mac Asus
HP
3. Construct a character taxa matrix based on the species’ similar characteristics
STEM ROOT
Species Woody Herbaceous Species Taproot Fibrous
Lenovo + - Lenovo + -
Samsung - + Samsung + -
Acer - + Acer + -
Asus - + Asus - +
Mac + - Mac - +
HP + - HP - +
Classification Classification
Species Lenovo, Mac, HP Species Lenovo, Samsung, Acer
Species Samsung, Acer, Asus Species Asus, Mac, HP

LEAF FLOWER
Species Compound Simple Species Imperfect Perfect
Lenovo + - Lenovo + -
Samsung + - Samsung - +
Acer + - Acer + -
Asus + - Asus - +
Mac - + Mac - +
HP - + HP + -
Classification Classification
Species Lenovo, Samsung, Acer, Asus Species Lenovo, Acer, HP
Species Mac, HP Species Samsung, Asus, Mac

SEED FRUITS
Species Dicot Monocot Species Simpl Multiple Aggregate
e
Lenovo + - Lenovo + - -
Samsung + - Samsung - + -
Acer - + Acer - + -
Asus - + Asus - + -
Mac + - Mac - - +
HP + - HP - + -
Classification Classification
Species Lenovo, Samsung, Mac, HP Species Lenovo
Species Acer, Asus Species Samsung, Acer, Asus, HP
Species Mac
 CONSTRUCTING AND USING TAXONOMIC KEYS IN IDENTIFICATION

IDENTIFICATION
 Use of taxonomic keys
o Artificial or analytical device whereby a choice is provided between two contradictory
statements resulting in the acceptance of one and the rejection of the other
o Process of elimination
o Dichotomous
 Couplets
 2 contrasting statements
 Lead
 Each statement
o Types
Indented key Bracket key
 Each of the couplets is indented a  Two couplets are always next to each
fixed distance from the left margin of other
the page  Should be numbered or lettered
Advantages Disadvantages Advantages Disadvantages
 Characteristics  Maximize  Straight Margin  Hard to track
can be easily space for  Most preferred back
found indention

CONSTRUCTING A DICHOTOMOUS KEY

1. Construct a dichotomous tree branch

Species
S C
Leaf Type
(Lenovo,
(Mac, HP) Samsung, Acer,
Asus)
W H
Stem Type
P Type
Flower (Acer, Asus,
Mac Lenovo
Samsung)
F T
Root Type
I
HP Asus (Acer, Samsung)

M Acer
Seed Type

D Samsung
 2. Dichotomous key
 Lead of Each couplet should be the same
 2 consecutive couplets should not begin with the same word/s
 Should express contradictory statements
 Use positive statements (avoid using “not”)
 Avoid the use of overlapping ranges or vague generalities
 Use Macroscopic features
 Avoid geographical location as a separation character

a. INDENTED DICHOTOMOUS KEY

Leaf Type is Simple

Flower Type is perfect ………………………………………………………………………………… Mac
Flower Type is imperfect …………………………………………………………………………….. HP
Leaf Type is Compound
Stem Type is Herbaceous
Root Type is Tap
Seed Type is Monocot ………………………………………………….……. Acer
Seed Type is Dicot ……………………………………………………………… Samsung
Root Type is Fibrous ……………………………………………………………………..… Asus
Stem Type is Woody…………………………………………………………………………………..… Lenovo

b. BRACKETED DICHOTOMOUS KEY

(1) Leaf Type is Simple …………………………………………………………………………….………..… (2)

(1) Leaf Type is Compound ………………………………………………………………………..……..… (3)
(2) Flower Type is perfect …………………………………………………………..………..… Mac
(2) Flower Type is Imperfect ………………………………………………………….……..… HP
(3) Stem Type is Woody …………………………………………………………………………………….… Lenovo
(3) Stem Type is Herbaceous ……………………………………………………………………………….. (4)
(4) Root Type is Tap ……………………………………………………………………….……..… (5)
(4) Root Type is Fibrous …………………………………………………………………………… Asus
(5) Seed Type is Monocot …………………………………………………………………………………..… Acer
(5) Seed Type is Dicot …………………………………………………………………………………………… Samsung

PLANT NOMENCLATURE

NOMENCLATURE
 Assignment of definite names to plants
 “Binomial”
o Generic name (Genus)
 Noun
 Uppercase first letter
o Specific epithet (Species)
 Adjective or a possessive noun
 All in lowercase
 Common Name
 o Based on the language of the locality where the plant is found
o Sometimes used for more than one taxon
o Convenience
 Scientific Name
o Universally accepted
o Scientific jargons
o Provides a description about the plant
o Can only have one
o Written in Latin
 Dead Language
 Minimal changes in their language
 Language of the God
- Understanding between God and Human
- Language of educated communication
o When people started writing about plants
o Writing Scientific Names
 Italicized when printed
 Discontinuous underline when handwritten
 Scientific name (Common Name)
 Uninomial (genus only)
- Allium sp.
- Rosa sp.
- Persea spp.
 Polynomial
- Rosa alba philippinensis
o Carolus Linnaeus
 Popularized binomial nomenclature in Species Plantarum
 Father of Modern Taxonomy
o International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants (ICN)
 Formerly called International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN)
 Alternately called Melbourne code of 2012
 Supercedes codes on naming plants

CONSTRUCTING SCIENTIFIC NAMES

 Some sources of epithet and examples of latin terms and their English equivalent used in
naming plants
PLANT PARTS COLOUR
LATIN MEANING LATIN MEANING
receptalum Receptacle albicans Whitish
sepalum Sepals albus White
ovulum Ovule atrovirens Dark Green
sperma Seed aureus Golden Yellow
folium or phyllon Leaf candidus Shining White
rhiza Root flavus Pale Yellow
caulos Stem purpureus Purple
roseus Rosy
GEOGRAPHY variegatum Irregularly
 coloured
LATIN MEANING virdis Green
asiaticus Of Asia
australiensis Of Australia HABITAT
helveticus Of Switzerland LATIN MEANING
indicus Of India aquaticus Living in water
luzonensis Of Luzon campestris Of field
manilensis Of Manila hypogeus Underground
philippinensis Of Philippines rupestris Of rocks
sinensis Of China sativus Cultivated
zeylanicus Of Ceylon sylvestris Growing in woods
terrestris Growing in dry
soil

HABIT SIZE
LATIN MEANING LATIN MEANING
arborescens Arborescent altissima Altitude or Tall
dichotomus Dichotomous exaltatus Very Tall
furcatus Forked giganteus Gigantic or very
large
prostratus Prostate grandis Large
ramosus Branched major Greater
repens Creeping minutus Very small
stoloniferus Stoloniferous pumilus Dwarf
robustus Stout or robust

PRINCIPLES OF NOMENCLATURE
 Melbourne Code of 2012

IMPORTANT RULES IN NOMENCLATURE

1. Ranks and endings of Taxa
a. Accepted endings of taxa above the rank of the genus
Ranks / Taxa Endings Examples
Division -phyta (plants) Magnoliophyta
-mycota (fungi) Eumycota
-phycota/phyta (algae) Chlorophycota/Chlorophyta

Subdivision -phytina (plants) Magnoliophytina

-mycotina (fungi) Eumycotina
-phycotina/phytina (algae) Chlorophycotina/Chlorophytina

Class -opsida (plants) Magnolopsida

-phyceae (algae) Chlorophyceae
-mycetes (fungi) Basidiomycetes

Subclass -opsidae (plants) Magnoliopsidae

Order -ales Rosales, Asterales

Suborder -ineae Rosinae

Family -aceae Rosaceae, Asteraceae

Subfamily -oiceae Rosoideae

Tribe -eae Roseae

Subtribe -inae Rosinae

b. Conserved plant family names and their corresponding alternative name and
nomenclature

Conserved Name Alternative Name Type

Compositae Asteraceae Aster L.
Cruciferae Brassicaeae Brassica L.
Gramineae Poaceae Poa L.
Guttiferae Clusiaceae Clusia L.
Labiatae Lamiaceae Lamium L.
Leguminosae Fabaceae Faba Mill. [=Vicia L.]
Papilionaceae Fabaceae Faba Mill
Palmae Arecaceae Areca L.
Umbelliferae Apiaceae Apium L.

2. Principle of Priority

Ex. Genus Penstemon by different botanists at different times (Woodland 1991)

Penstemon brachyanthus Pennell 1941

Penstemon formosus A. Nels. 1904
Penstemon micranthus Nutt. 1834
Penstemon procerus Dougl. Ex R. Grah. 1829
Penstemon tolmieri Hook. 1838

Based on the principle of priority, the correct name should be Penstemon procerus Dougl. Ex R.
Grah. Because it is the oldest validly published name. The remaining names are treated as
synonyms

3. Typification
 Holotype
 a specimen or illustration used by the author in the original publication as the
nomenclature type
 Only 1 holotype
 Nomenclatural Type
  the element with which the name of a taxon is permanently associated,
whether as the correct name or as a synonym
 Name basis
 Isotype
 a duplicate specimen of the holotype, i.e. from the same collection, with the
same locality, date and number as the holotype; it is always a specimen
 Duplicates
 Lectotype
 a specimen or illustration selected by a competent worker from the original
material studied by the author of the species when no holotype was designated
or when the holotype has been destroyed or lost, or if a type is found to belong
to more than one taxon
 Untraceable
 Psudo holotype
 Neotype
 a specimen or illustration selected to serve as nomenclatural type if no original
material is extant, or as long as it is missing
 “New type” / “New collection”
 Epitype
 a specimen or illustration selected to serve as an interpretative type when the
holotype, lectotype, or previously designated neotype, or all original material
associated with a validly published name, is demonstrably ambiguous and
cannot be critically identified for purposes of the precise application of the
name to a taxon
 For modification or correction
 Basis for new publication name
 Syntype
 any specimen cited in the protologue when there is no holotype, or any one of
two or more specimens simultaneously designated in the protologue as types
 Paratype
 any specimen cited in the protologue that is neither the holotype nor an
isotype, nor one of the syntypes if in the protologue two or more specimens
were simultaneously designated as types

Holotype Isotype Isotype Isotype

One can be the Nomenclatural

type
Holotype was published by Scientist A
But sudden death happened and Scientist A
Didn’t get to properly catalogue the
Holotype. Scientist B doesn’t Holotype Isotype Isotype Isotype
know which was used as a holotype so
scientist B designated a Lectotype

One can be the Lectotype

Word War 2 destroyed all the holotypes.
Scientists collected new specimens and
Was used as a basis for new research.
Holotype Isotype Isotype Isotype
It’s called the Neotype

Scientist A published a name but after

Some time Scientist B discovered that
The name scientist A gave is wrong.
Scientists B collected new samples Holotype Isotype Isotype Isotype
And was used as a basis for correcting
Scientist A’s work it’s called the
Epitype

Nomencla Neotype Neotype Epitype

Used for new name tural type
basis then its
nomenclatural type

If there was no holotype designated

It becomes the lectotype as nomenclatural
Type. Cant be isotype because there is a
Holotype Isotype Isotype
Holotype (just not know). Isotype

Syntype Syntype Lectotype Syntype

No holotype, isotype, lectotype
And syntypes. All are paratypes.
Can be used as a basis for nomenclatural
Type or lectotype Paratype Paratype Paratype Paratype

4. Synonyms and Related Definitions

 Synonym
o Name rejected due to misuse or difference in taxonomic judgement
o Example: The following names are all synonyms of Minuartia stricta (Sw.)
Hiern: Alsinella stricta(Sw.) Sw., Arenaria lapponica  Spreng., nom.
illeg., Arenaria uliginosa  Schleich. ex DC. in Lam. & DC., Alsinanthe stricta  (Sw.)
Rchb., Alsine stricta  (Sw.) Wahlenb., Arenaria stricta  Michx.
var.uliginosa  (Schleich. ex Lam. & DC.) B.Boivin, and Spergula stricta  Sw.

The names Alsinella stricta, Alsinanthe stricata, Alsine stricta,  and Spergula

stricata  are all nomenclatural synonyms, based on the same type, while Arenaria
lapponica, Arenaria uliginosa, and Arenaria stricta  Michx. var. uliginosa  are
taxonomic synonyms, based on different types, but considered to be the same
species.
 Basionym
o A specific or intraspecific name which has priority and is retained when
transferred to a new taxon
o Example: the speciesSymphoricarpos albus (L.) S.F. Blake, was originally
described as Vaccinium album L. so, Vaccinium album L. is
the basionym of Symphoricarpos albus (L.) S.F. Blake
 Homonym
o A case in which two or more identical names are based on different types, of
which only one can be a legitimate name
o Example: The name Stellaria humifusa was created by Rottbøll in 1770 and by
Retzius in 1779, Rottbøll's name has priority since it was published first, so
Retzius' name is an illegitimate homonym (nom. illeg.) of Stellaria
humifusa Rottb.
 Tautonym
o An illegitimate binomial, in which the name of the genus and the name of the
species is the same
o Example: Armoracia armoracia (L.) Britton.
 Autonym
o An automatically created legitimate tautonym for intraspecific or infrageneric
taxa
o Example: Hypericum, subgenus Hypericum section Hypericum

5. Citation of Author
 Authors name is not underlined or italicized
 4 letters at most of the last name
o L is reserved for Linnaeus
 Rules
o Original author
 Name of a taxon is complete and accurate only when it is followed by a
full or abbreviated form of the author(s) who first validly published the
concerned name
o Joint author
 If two authors have jointly published the name of a taxon, the names of
both authors should be cited and linked by the word et or ampersand
[&]
 Example: Illicium griffithii Hooks & Thoms (or Hooks et Thoms)
 More than two authors
 Example: Illicium griffithii Hooks et al
o Rank alteration
 When a taxon of a lower rank is upgraded in a higher rank but retains its
name, the author's name who published it first should be cited in the
bracket. It is to be followed by the name of the author who made the
alteration
 Example: Allioni raised the rank of variety Medicago polymorpha var.
orbicularis L. to the species rank: Therefore it becomes Medicago
orbicularis (L.) All.
o Name proposal
 When the name of a taxon is proposed but not validly published by one
author and is later on validly published by another, the word ex should
be used as a connecting link between the name of the former author
and the name of subsequent author
 Example: Gossypium tomentosum Nutt ex Seem