Title: Plant Identification
1Plant Identification
- Roots, Stems, Leaves and Flowers are the
Criteria.
2Plant Identification
- Many things are taken into consideration when
trying to identify a plant. - Roots, stems, leaves and flowers will help in the
identification process.
3Terminology
- In order to be able to identify a plant and put
it in the right family, you need to know the
terminology to use.
4Plant Identification
- You have two main categories of plants.
- Monocots grasses, grain crops, lilies,
gladiolas, and palm trees
5Plant Identification
- Dicots - most of the other plants such as the
shrubs, trees, and flowers.
6Plant Identification
- The following sections (roots, stems, leaves and
flowers) will show you how to use these for plant
identification purposes.
7Roots
- The type of root will normally help you identify
the plant. It will place the plant into a monocot
or dicot category.
8Types of Roots
- Tap Root
- Have a main central root and may have some
lateral branching - E.g. Carrots
9Types of Roots
- Penetrate the soil to various depths - some only
a few feet, others like the mesquite to as deep
as 114 ft.
10Types of Roots
- Fibrous
- Have many roots of equal size and a lot of
lateral branching - Fibrous roots are generally much more diffuse and
closer to the surface
11Types of Roots
- This root system can effectively prevent any
other plant from becoming established ex
grasses - idea of a healthy lawn is to compete
with weeds
12Types of Roots
- Adventitious Buds - commonly develop on stems or
roots - ex stolons and rhizomes (Bermuda grass,
cherry tree, Sumac and raspberry suckers)
13Types of Roots
- Prop Roots - augment regular roots for anchorage
aid - ex corn - roots come out above soil and
help hold plant up
14Types of Roots
- Aerial Roots - extend down from the branches into
the soil - ex banyan trees - Pneumatophores- stick up from the mud for the
purpose of absorbing oxygen ex cypress and
mangrove
15Types of Roots
- Mycorrhizal fungi roots - form associations with
soil fungi and act as root hairs increasing the
absorption of water and minerals (symbiotic
relationship - mutually beneficial) found on
trees in temperate forests such as pines and also
on ferns, lettuce, white clover, perennial rye
and orchids
16Types of Roots
- Haustorial - parasitic roots which not only
anchor but also penetrate into the hosts vascular
system for water and nutrients ex mistletoe
17Types of Roots
- Storage roots - starch and other molecules are
stored for growth or flowering needs (ex
carrots, beets and turnips)
18Types of Roots
- Nitrogen fixing roots - members of the
Leguminosae family (alfalfa, peas and clover)
have a bacteria that infects their roots and
forms nodules. The bacteria are able to fix
atmospheric nitrogen, to a form, that the plant
can use.
19Why Different Types of Roots
- All plants are in competition with each other for
food and nutrients - By having different types of roots, the plants
can reach different depths in the soil and still
live side by side with other plants
20Roots from Seeds Monocot vs. Dicot
- Tap Root
- Seeds contain an undeveloped plant (embryo)
- Seed germination - embryonic root (radicle) grows
by dividing and elongation of cells
21Roots from Seeds
- Forms one primary root
- Ex dicots (two leaves emerge from embryo), beans
22Roots from Seeds cont.
- Fibrous root
- Embryos of grasses have a single radicle (root
shoot) - Also has other embryonic roots (seminal roots)
forming just above the radicle
23Roots from Seeds cont.
- All of these branch to form the fibrous root
- Ex monocots (one leaf emerges from embryo)
24Dicot Seed
25Monocot Seed
26Stems
- Flowering plants - divided into two groups,
monocots and dicots - stems have major
differences in arrangement, distribution of
tissues and appearance.
27Stems
- For identification type of stem (woody or
herbaceous), monocot or dicot, has pubescence
(hair) or not (glabrous), shape of stem (square
round), or contains glands.
28Monocot stem
Dicot stem
29Mature Structure of Woody vs Herbaceous Stems
- Herbaceous stems
- Lack secondary growth - because plants only live
one year/growing season (annuals)
30Mature Structure of Woody vs Herbaceous Stems
- Stems remain soft and flexible.
- Buds lack protective scales (dont need to
survive harsh conditions)
31Mature Structure of Woody vs Herbaceous Stems
- Woody stems
- Plants living and growing over multiple seasons
have secondary growth (xylem, phloem) increasing
diameter of the stems
32Specialized Stems
- Adventituous stems can be either rhizomes or
stolons.
33Specialized Stems
- Rhizomes - underground horizontal stems (ex
perennial grasses, bamboo) - may also serve as a
storage function (irises) will grow a plant and
roots at a node.
34Specialized Stems
- Stolons - runners - usually above ground,
horizontal stems (really elongated internodes)
will grow a plant and roots at a node - ex
strawberries
35Specialized Stems
- Tubers - several internodes at the end of an
underground rhizome (ex potatoes) - eyes are
axillary buds where the tuber will grow a plant
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37Specialized Stems
- Bulbs - large bud with small stem at lower end -
storage in the form of numerous, fleshy leaves -
ex onion, lily, tulip - Corms - look like bulbs, but are mostly stem
tissue with a few, papery leaves on the outside -
ex gladiolus, crocus
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40Leaves
- Leaves are used as part of the identification
process along with the roots and stems. - Look of the leaf (margins, venation, and shape),
arrangement and whether it is monocot or dicot.
41Leaves
- Leaves may contain pubescence, glands or thorn
like projections. - All of these points are considered when using a
leaf for identification.
42Parts of a Dicot Leaf
- Leaf blade expanded, usually flat portion of a
leaf contains chloroplasts - Petiole connects the blade of a leaf to a stem
or branch holds leaf up for better air flow and
to catch the light
43Parts of a Dicot Leaf
- Veins threads of vascular tissue (xylem
phloem) - Node place on a stem where leaves or branches
normally originate - Stem used for support of leaf
44Where leaf would be attached to the branch or
stem at the node.
Petiole
Veins
Leaf Blade
Dicot Leaf
45Parts of a Monocot Leaf
- Node where leaf arises or originates from
- Blade leaf blade flat upper portion of leaf
- Stem used for support of leaf, inflorescence,
and seed heads
46Parts of a Monocot Leaf
- Sheath part of leaf that holds leaf to stem
encases stem - Ligule membrane-like tissue extending up from
the sheath (on inside) keeps dirt and moisture
out clear membrane on leaf where attaches to
stem
47Monocot Leaf
Blade
Sheath
Node
Collar
Auricle
Stem
Ligule
48Parts of a Monocot Leaf
- Auricle small appendages that extend out and
sometimes around the stem found at the junction
of the blade and sheath can be clasping or non
clasping appendages
49Parts of a Monocot Leaf
- Collar area between the leaf blade and sheath
auricles and ligules are on the inside of this
area
50Picture showing parts of a grass plant.
51Differences Between Monocot and Dicot Leaves
- Monocots blade like leaf blade wrap around
the stem no petiole have main vascular
bundles running parallel along length of leaf - Dicots Have both a leaf blade and a petiole
single midrib (Vascular bundles) with branches
52Two Types of Leaves
- Simple leaves composed of a single leaf and a
petiole
53Blade
Petiole
Simple Leaf
54Two Types of Leaves
- Compound leaves are composed of a blade that
includes several leaflets and a petiole also
contain a rachis (connects leaflets to the
petiole) two types
55Two Types of Leaves
- Palmately Compound (chestnut) the lobes or
divisions come together and are attached at one
place at the base
56 Leaf Blade
Palmately Compound Leaf
Petiole
57Two Types of Leaves
- Pinnately Compound compound leaf with the
leaflets on two opposite sides, but off of one
node ex ferns, ash, hickory
58Leaflets
Leaf Blade
Pinnately Compound Leaf
Petiole
59Leaf Arrangement
- Monocots have only one type of arrangement
leaf comes off of a node ex grasses and grain
crops
60Leaf Arrangement
- Dicots flowering plants
- Alternate one leaf per node
- Opposite two leaves per node
- Whorled three or more leaves per node
61Leaf Arrangements
- Whorl look like helicopter blades ex
Bedstraw - Alternate one on each side of the stem, are not
opposite of each other but every other one - Opposite one on each side of the stem and
opposite of each other
62Arrangement of Veins
- Four types of vein arrangements
- Parallel veins veins are small and run more or
less parallel most are long and narrow ex
Buckhorn Plantain, grasses and Iris mostly
monocots
63Arrangement of Veins
- Netted veins are large and small the small
ones connecting to each other to form a net
mostly dicots
64Arrangement of Veins
- Pinnately veined with one larger midvein and
smaller veins coming off along its length
mostly dicots
65Arrangement of Veins
- Palmately veined- with two or more large veins
arising at or near the base of the leaf blade
(palm) leaves are usually broad or fat mostly
dicots
66Parallel Veins
Netted Veins
Palmately Veined
Pinnately Veined
67Monocot Leaf -Vein Arrangement
Vein
Dicot Leaf Vein Arrangement
Smaller lateral vein
Midvein
68Leaf Modifications
- Tendrils typically at the end of a compound
leaf enables plant to climb ex pea
69Modifications
- Stipules occur at node where normal or true
leaves arise from stem are small leaf like
structures at the base of petioles may be leaf
-like or spines (ex locust)
70Modifications
- Spines modified leaves ex cactus
- Awn on reproductive structure in grasses
extension of the lemma portion of the flowering
structure
71Modifications
- Bracts floral leaves that form at the base of a
flower or flower stalk - Cotyledon the embryo leaf in a seed - first
leaf of a seedling used for food storage
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73Flowers
- Petals are highly colored portions of the
flower. - May contain perfume (rose) or nectar glands to
attract pollinators. - Number of petals on a flower is often used in the
identification of plant families and genera.
74Flowers
- Dicots have sepals and/or petals in multiples of
four or five - Monocots have sepals in multiples of threes
75Parts of a Flower
Sepals
Petals
Stamens (anther filaments)
Pistil (stigma,style ovaries)
Pedicel
76Parts of a Flower
Pedicel
Sepals
Receptacle
77Types of Inflorescence (Flowers)
- Raceme inflorescence with the flowers single on
pedicels (stems) arranged along an elongated
stem (rachis this is the stem that is between
the flowers) alternate oldest are at the
bottom and the youngest are at the top. Ex
snapdragon, foxglove
78Types of Inflorescence (Flowers)
- Umbel flat-topped inflorescence with the rachis
non-existent. Ex wild carrot, dill
79Foxglove
Snapdragon
Raceme
80Dill
Umbel
81Types of Inflorescence (Flowers)
- Spike type of inflorescence with the flowers
sessile (without a stalk) along the rachis. Ex
gladiolus - Head a dense cluster of sessile or nearly
sessile (no stalk) flowers on a very short
rachis. Ex sunflower, clover
82Spike
Gladiolus
83Clover
Sunflower
Head
84Types of Inflorescence (Flowers)
- Panicle inflorescence with two or more flowers
on each branch which are attached to a rachis
(elongated stem). Ex wild oats, downy brome - Corymb is made up of florets whose stalks and
pedicles are arranged at random along the stalk
in such a way that the florets create a flat,
round top. Ex yarrow
85Wild Oats
Downy Brome
Panicle
86Corymb