1/27/2016 Plant ID Tools and Tricks Lynda Garvin Agriculture Agent Sandoval County Cooperative Extension [email protected] Why is it useful? You may want to learn what’s native to your area so you can watch for invasive species. You may want to monitor the diversity of plants in your area – is it on the decline? are you working to improve it? You may take delight in the beauty of flowers or the majesty of trees. You may already be a bird watcher and now you want to know the names of the plants that are hospitable to birds. You may simply want to know the names of the living things in your surroundings. You’ll need to know the plant families for vegetable rotations Is a rose always a rose? Rose of Sharon ≠ It’s not a rose at all but in the mallow family: Hollyhocks Hibiscus Okra Cotton Cacao Kola Nuts Baobab Trees 1 1/27/2016 Taxonomy Taxonomy is the science of systematically naming and organizing organisms into groups using similar patterns. Systematics -- The study of diversity (taxonomy) and the history of organisms and the evolutionary relationships between them. Taxonomy of Living Things The basic categories are: Kingdom (Plantae, Animalia, Fungi…) Division (Phylum for animals) Class Order Family Genus Species Increasing degree of specificity – towards a single, definable, named species Plant Diversity in North America Plant Families - 210 Genera – 2,350 Species - 20,000+ 400,000 species have been described worldwide 2 1/27/2016 Nomenclature System by which plants are named. Common names. Scientific names. Carl Linnaeus (1707 –1778) Swedish MD & Botanist Binomial Nomenclature – the system we still use today Common Names Disadvantages Advantages No rules -- not Often descriptive consistent Easy to pronounce Applied to various Easy to remember taxonomic levels Familiar to people May not exist for some plants Use Common Names, Confusion reigns. Rabbitbrush 3 related genera of the family Asteraceae: with 17 species All called rabbitbrush. What is it’s common name in NM? 3 1/27/2016 Scientific Names Every plant gets one scientific name. The scientific name is a combination of the generic name and a specific name. Genus - Generic names Species - Specific name Names are in Latin. Italicized or underlined. Taxonomic Classification of NM Locust Kingdom: Plantae (plants) Division: Magnoliophyta (flowering plant) Class: Magnoliopsida (Dicot) Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae) Genus: Robinia Species: neomexicana Scientific Name (binomial nomenclature) Genus & species: Robinia neomexicana Robinia = Latin for locust tree Neomexicana = New Mexico Common name: New Mexican Locust Tool: Dictionary of Botanical Terms 4 1/27/2016 Where to start? Get out and look at plants, especially when they are in bloom! Look at their form: flowers, leaves, fruit, stems, etc. Study how they grow – upright, vining, prostrate… Where they grow (soils, sun, shade, neighboring plants, disturbed areas…) Sketch them Take photos Go to local botanical gardens The plants are already identified ☺ Get a buddy Go throughout the seasons What do you need? Carry a hand lens ID books Camera Note pad pen Plastic bags (Know where you can and cannot collect plants) 5 1/27/2016 Lets Get To It! Looking for those family resemblances to identify plants The following information is based on Botany in a Day and their website: http://www.wildflowers- and-weeds.com/ Plants, like people, the more you know about them the easier it is to recognize them, remember their names, and family members. Good starting place – Is it a… Fern & Moss Herb/Grass Shrub Tree Under 12ft 6 1/27/2016 First question: Is it a… Gymnosperm Angiosperm Naked Seeds – egg cells 90% of all plants exposed to open air Conifers Flowering Plants – eggs protected in an ovary Cycads Ginkgo Angiosperm – Is it a … Monocot Dicot Parallel veins Branching veins Monocot Families Orchidaceae - orchids Poaceae – true grasses & grains corn, wheat, oats, rice, sugarcane Agavoideae – Agave Amaryllidaceae – lilies, onions, garlic, daffodils, narcissus… Arecaceae – palms Zingiberaceae - ginger 7 1/27/2016 General Tips for Tree ID Pine Gymnosperms Needles - # in cluster & length Juniper Leaf shape Cone shape & size or fruiting body Habitat & elevation Cypress Bark – smooth, chunky, shingle like… (Ponderosa Pine bark smells like butterscotch) Pinus ponderosa Pinyon Pine – Pinus edulus 2 needles Cone Habitat Form Flowering Trees - Angiosperms Leaf Shape Branching alternate or opposite Habitat Conspicuous flowers? 8 1/27/2016 Branching pattern will narrow your choices Branching Pattern Opposite M.A.D Maple – Acer spp. Boxelder – Acer negundo Ash – Fraxinus spp. Rocky Mtn Maple - Acer glabrum Dogwood – Cornus sp. Look up! Green Ash – Faxinus pennsylvanica Branching Pattern Alternate Oaks – Quercus spp. Fruit & Nut trees Willow – Salix spp. Desert Willow – Chilopsis Rio Grande Cottonwood – Populus wislizenii NM Olive/Privet - Forestiera neomexicana Gamble Oak – Quercus gambelii 9 1/27/2016 Learning Plants by Family Related plants have similar characteristics/patterns Learn the family characteristics of the following families Cover more than 45,000 species worldwide Sunflower Family- Asteraceae/Compositae Most have nd 2 Largest Composite Family 346 flowers genera & 2,687 species Many have in North milky sap America Many fluffy seed pappus Composite Flowers Ray Florets – outer florets, look like Disk Florets in center petals - have only pistils (female) – - have both stamens rays of the sun and pistils (male and Female) 10 1/27/2016 Sunflowers – Helianthus spp Daisy Zinnia Mexican Marigold – Tagetes erecta Coneflower – Echinacea spp & Ratibida spp Thistles Blanket Flower – Gallardia pulchella Cosmos – Cosmos spp Aster – Aster spp Yarrow – Achillea spp Goldenrod – Solidago spp Blazing Star/gay feather –Liatris Chrysanthemum & Mums Ragweed/Sneezeweed/Cocklebur Chicory Subfamily - Chicoriodideae Strap shaped petals (parallel edges) Milky sap Fluffy pappus Lettuce – Lactuca spp. Dandelion – Taraxicum officinale Chicory – Chicorium intybus Salsify & Goatsbeard - Tragopogon spp. 11 1/27/2016 Family- Rose Rosaceae Rose subfamily Risiodaea 5 sepals & petals, many stamens Alternate branching Fruit 5 pointed star bottom – Worldwide 100 genera & true rose 3,000 species More Strawberry – Fragaria spp Blackberry & Raspberry - Rubus spp Apache Plume – Fallugia paradoxa Family- Rose Almond Subfamily:Amygdaloidaea Apples Fleshy fruit 5 pointed star Malus sp. (Inferior ovary) 5 petals Numerous stamens Serrated leaves 12 1/27/2016 Is there a pattern here? Pear - Pyrus spp Serviceberry - Amelanchier Hawthorn - Crateagus Cotoneaster Pyrocantha What about Blueberries & Cranberries? They have a 5 pointed star at the bottom of the fruit. They are in the Heather Family – Ericaceae Have bell shaped flowers Love acid well drained soils. It’s important to look at as many parts of the plant as possible and the growing conditions. Family- Rose Roseceae Almond subfamily: Amygdaloidaea 5 petals/sepals many Plums stamens Fleshy fruit Prunus with a seam sp. Almond-like pit 13 1/27/2016 Also Includes Apricots – Prunus armenicac Choke Cherry – Prunus virginiana Peaches – Prunus persica Nectarines - P. persica var. nucipersica Almonds – Prunus dulcis Mint Family- Lamiacea/Labiatea = Square Stem* False whorls Many Lower petals fused – landing Aromatic strip for pollinators Many kitchen herbs Mint – Mentha sp. Basil – Ocimum basilicum Rosemary – Rosmarinus officinalis Oregano - Origanum vulgare Sage – Salvia sp. Marjoram – Origanum marjorana Thyme – Thymus Savory - Satureja 14 1/27/2016 Many ornamental plants Lavender – Lavendula sp. Chaste Tree – Vitex agnus-castus Coleus – Coleus sp. Beebalm/Bergamot – Monardia sp Agastache rupestris Sage - Salvia officianlis Other plants with square stems & opposite leaves not in the Mint family Loosestrife – wetlands NE US & Canada Verbena – small 5 petals fused together Stinging Nettle – minute flowers, stinging hairs Pea Family- Fabaceae (Leguminosae) Peas Flower has a banner, Beans wings, keel Vetch Clover Pea-like Locust pods Redbud Spanish Broom Often pinnate leaves 15 1/27/2016 Cover & Forage Crops Clover Vetch Alfalfa Peanuts The flowers self-pollinate and then lose their petals as the fertilized ovary begins to enlarge. The budding ovary or "peg" grows down away from the plant, forming a small stem, which extends into the soil. The peanut embryo is in the tip of the peg, and begins to mature taking the form of a peanut. Comparison of Flowers Pea Mint Banner like a headdress Bottom lip – landing strip 16 1/27/2016 Mustard Family- Brassicaceae (cruciferae – “cross-bearing”) Flowers 4 Major food petals x or crops - 55 H pattern Genera in Seed pods radial North pattern America 6 stamens 2 short, 4 long Favorites in the garden Broccoli Cauliflower Broccoli flowering Kale Cabbage Turnips Rutabaga Canola/rapeseed Radish Collard Greens Mustard Horseradish Bok choy/Tatsoi Arugula …. Radish and seed pods 17 1/27/2016 Parsley Family- Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) umbrella-like Flowers compound umbels Aromatic oils (most) Pinnate leaves Favorites in the garden Parsley Carrot Dill Anise Cilantro Parsnip Celery Note: Poison Hemlock Nightshade Family- Solanaceae 5 united Tomato petals & Chilies sepals Eggplant… 5 stamens 85 genera attached 2,300 species to petals worldwide Alternate leaves often fuzzy 18 1/27/2016 Members of the Solanaceae Family Tomato – Solanum lycopersicum Tomatillo – Pysalis