All the cool kids are doing it. What is taxonomy?
• The science dealing with description, identification, naming, and classification of organisms. • Basically… narrowing things down into similar groups The 7 levels of organization:
• Kingdom • Phylum • Class • Order • Family • Genus • Species Example #1:
The Blackburnian Warbler
Example #2
Panther Example of animal taxonomy: Then What is plant taxonomy?
• A system that describes, classifies, identifies, and scientifically names plants. Example #3:
Rose
So why can’t we juSt Say…
“Rose” instead of “Rosa Gallica”? Why not just use a common name?
• Common names are often misleading and confusing • Languages are different across the world • Scientific names are more precise For example…
• If you go to the nursery looking for a Black Eyed Susan… you could end of with any of the following.
or
Rudbeckia hirta Thunbergia alata Common names can also Sound the Same…
• Hummingbird bush • Hummingbird flower • Hummingbird mint So we use scientific names… but what’s really in a name? • The first part of a scientific name is the… •GENUS
• The second part is the… •species (Usually a descriptive word, always lowercase)
The 7 levels of organization:
• Kingdom • Phylum • Class • Order • Family • Genus • Species Where did these crazy names come from?
• The person who described them • Or clues to their characteristics For example…
• Sollya heterophylla
(Means different or various)
(Means leaves)
Some lanceolate leaves and some oblong. Is that English ?
• Yes, some scientific names are much like English!
• Prostratum (Prostrate: To lay flat)
• Compacta (Compact)
• Deliciosa (Delicious)
• Fragrans (Fragrance)
• Pendula (Pendulum: Hanging from a fixed point) Cfu:
Q: Turn to page 754… What is the commonly used botanical name for red? A: rubens, ruber In your swgb
• BOTANICAL/GENUS • Alternate Botanical Name in ( ) • COMMON NAME • Family Name • .species The 7 levels of organization:
• Kingdom • Phylum • Class • Order • Family • Genius • Species CFU
• Turn to page 237 and match the following…
1. CALATHEA A. Common Name 2. Marantaceae B. Genus/Botanical 3. zebrina C. Species 4. Zebra Plant D. Family
Assignment:
• List the following for the 5 plants on your handout
BOTANICAL/GENUS Alternate Botanical Name in ( ) COMMON NAME Family Name .species