Download Botany Boot Camp

Botany Boot Camp
Docent Training Class
Liz Woodward
Five Kingdoms of
Living Organisms
Taxonomy
The Classification of Plants and Other Living Organisms
Division/Phylum
Class
Order (-ales)
Family (-aceae)
Genus
Species
Carl Linnaeus
1707-1778
Botanical Names
Fear and Loathing in the Horticulture World
Mispronunciation
Latin and Greek roots
Precise & understood
worldwide
Common names are
inaccurate
Speak to your
audience
Tuscan Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Tuscan Blue’
Kingdom
Division
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Cultivar
Plantae (Plant)
Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plant)
Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledon)
Lamiales
Lamiaceae (Mint Family)
Rosmarinus (Rosemary)
officinalis (of official/medicinal use)
Tuscan Blue
How to read a
QBG Accession Tag
First line: accession number
e.g.
93.0298P, 00.0001 , 2000.0024S
Remaining lines: Taxon
Additional nomenclature: x=hybrid, cv.=cultivar,
sp.=species, cf=confers
Identification/Caption Label have more
interpretive information such as botanical
information, ecological relationships, uses and
conservation information.
Organic Evolution
Natural Selection
Survival of the
Fittest
Convergent
Evolution
Genetics
Charles Darwin
1809-1882
The Flowering Plant
Over 250,000 known species
All have flowers (inconspicuous/conspicuous)
Reproduce from seed
Plant
Structur
e
Roots
Generally underground
Anchor the plant and hold it in place
Absorb water and minerals & send upwards
Storage (sometimes)
Transport system: xylem and phloem
Stems
Primary support structure
Generally above ground
Underground stems
(tubers)
Woody or herbaceous
Bear leaves and flowers
May provide storage and
photosynthesis
Grow upward toward light
Leaves
Photosynthesis (food making)
Other functions: store water, protection, attract
pollinators
Typical leaf has 2 main parts: petiole & lamina
Simple/compound leaves
Various leaf shapes
Leaf arrangements (opposite, alternate, whorled)
Flowers
Pollination
&
Fertilization
Transfer of pollen from stamen to pistil depends on external agent (wind, insect, birds)
Fusion of male and female nuclei
Self pollination vs. cross pollination
Colors, scents and adaptations
Fruits
Diverse in size,
shape, texture
and seeds
Fleshy &
edible
Dry fruits
Seeds
Self complete
reproductive unit
3 parts: seed coat,
embryo & food
Dormant until external
conditions are right to
germinate & sprout
Seed adaptations
Plant Families
Fabaceae - Pea Family
Pea Family Members
Nitrogen fixing roots
Lamiaceae - Mint Family
Mint Family Members
Thyme, Oregano, Marjoram, Basil, Rosemary, Sage, Savory, Mint, Lavender
Rosaceae - Rose Family
Rose Family Members
California Natives: Catalina Ironwood, Chamise, Rosa californica
Asteraceae - Daisy Family
Daisy Family Members
Solanaceae - Nightshade Family
Solanaceae contain narcotic alkaloids
Nightshade Fruits
Euphorbiaceae - Spurge Family
Pointsettia
Euphorbia pulcherima
Candelabra Tree
Euphorbia ingens
Spurge Family Members
Snow Bush, Castor Bean, Tapioca, Caribbean Copper Plant, Pencil Tree
2 Classes of Flowering Plants
Poaceae - Grass Family
Economic importance for wheat, rice, corn, oats,
barley, millet, rye. Also sugar cane & sorghum.
Grass Family Members
Role of Plants
Reduce carbon dioxide
and increase oxygen
Plants produce everything
we eat
Shelter, warmth, clothing,
transportation,
fuel,medicine, paper
The Future for Plants
Endangered species
Botanical Gardens
Selective Breeding
Genetically modified
crops
Valuable diversity