This slideshow is used to teach botany to Master Gardeners in Beauregard Parish, LA. Mr. Jeff McMillian, Advanced Master Gardener, teaches this class and developed this PPT in collaboration with another PPT cited in this presentation.

1. An
Introduction to
Botany for
Master
Gardeners
Presented by Jeff McMillian
Dan Culbert, Extension Agent III –
Environmental Horticulture
UF/IFAS – Okeechobee County

2. Adapted from
 Botany for Master Gardeners by Dan Culbert,
Extension Agent III – Environmental
Horticulture
 UF/IFAS – Okeechobee County


3. What is Botany?
 And for that matter,
what is Horticulture?
Horticulture is the Art
& Science of
growing plants
using intensive
rather than
extensive inputs

4. Plant classification
(Taxonomy)
 There are many methods for identifying or
grouping plants for communication
 There are lots of systems of classification
 Which ones can you think of?

5. Life cycle
 Annual
 Biennial
 Perennial

6. Persistence – Typical Life Spans
Annuals
Biennials
Herbaceous
Perennials
1 2 3 5 100
Time
(Years)
1/2
Woody
Perennials-
Trees, Shrubs, Vines

7. Morphology or appearance
 Evergreen, deciduous
 Woody, herbaceous
 Vines, trees, shrubs
 Opposite or alternate leaves
 Fruit, seed, etc. types
We’ll get to more morphology in a minute!

8. Environmental
 Xerophyte, halophyte, hydrophyte
 Hardy, tender
 Temperate, tropical, subtropical
 Warm season, cool season
When do you plant cool season annuals
and crops in Beauregard Parish?

9. Usage
 Fruit, vegetable, ornamental
What is the difference between
a fruit and a vegetable?

10. Euler Diagram

11. Common names
 Define rose

12. The Trouble with Common Names
 “Lady of the Night” could mean
Brunfelsia jamaicensis, B. americana,
or even B. gigantea
 “Angel’s Trumpet” could refer to
Daturas (hardy to zone 9B maybe,
many are annuals, some are weeds) or
Brugmansias (hardy to sometimes even
zone 7, often highly fragrant especially
in the evening)
 Spathyphyllum could be
Spathyphyllum, Closet Plant, Peace
Lily, Spath, White Anthurium, Snow
Flower, White Sails, and Cobra Plant
and this applies to practically all
species in the genus.

13. Scientific nomenclature
 Kingdom
 Animalia
 Others
 Plantae
 Division (several, those with horticultural interest -)
Pterodophyta - ferns
 Spermatophyta – seed bearing plants
 Class
 Gymnospermae – naked seeds
 Angiospermae
 Subclass
 Monocotyledonae (monocots) - 49,000 types
 Dicotyledonae (dicots) - 237,000 types
And this is only half of it . . . .

14. Plants without seeds

15. Seed Plants without Fruit?
Cycads and Conifers
produce separate male &
female cones =
dioecious
gymnosperms

16. One or Two,
and threes or fours/fives
A big first step
in plant ID is
to determine if
it is more like
a palm or an
oak,
i.e., a corn plant
or a petunia

17. Once more - is it a
Monocot or Dicot ?
 Number of cotyledons
in seed
 Venation pattern
 Number of flower parts
 Arrangement of
vascular bundles
Do I need to know all this stuff?

18. Binomial Nomenclature
 Developed by Linnaeus
(Carl von Linne)
 The father of Taxonomy
and considered one of the
fathers of Ecology
 The ‘L. ‘ after many proper
scientific names
 Was not the first to develop
a binomial system
 Bauhin brothers
 200 years earlier
 First to use this system
which led to its
widespread adoption
Bottlebrush

19. Tomato
Lycopersicon esculentum L. Big Boy
Order Solanales
Family Solanaceae
Genus Lycopersicon
species esculentum
Botanical variety esculentum
Naming authority L. [ for Linnaeus]
Cultivar Big Boy
Scientific names may tell you something
about the plant.

20. Divides the Plant Kingdom into groups that
are less and less inclusive
USDA Plants database: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CEOC2

21. Family
 Based on the reproductive structures of the
organism
 Arrangement & number of various structures
 Ovary – superior or inferior
 Qty of anthers, sepals, petals, tepals, ovaries, etc…
 Ends in ‘aceae’
 Pronounced “ay-see-ee”
 Asteraceae – sunflower family, Composite family
 Helianthus, Rudbeckia, Liatris, Aster
 Lamiaceae – mint family
 Rubiaceae – coffee family

22. Even more on scientific
nomenclature
 Most commonly used system of nomenclature
 System is not static
 As you move down though the sections, plants
are more closely related
 Based on flower and plant morphology

23. It’s all in the Family
 Being able to identify an unknown plant to its
family is a valuable skill
 Look at botanical characteristics and see if it
reminds you of another plant
 Look at references under the name of the
family to speed up your search

24. Common Plant Families
 Anacardiaceae
 Apocynaceae
 Cruciferae
 Fagaceae
 Gramineae
 Labiatae
 Leguminosae
 Rosaceae
The rose is a rose
and was always a rose;
But the theory now goes
That the apple's a rose,
And the pear is, and so's
The plum, I suppose.
The dear only knows
What will next prove a rose.
You, of course, are a rose,
but were always a rose.
- Robert Frost, "The Rose Family”

25. More Common plant families
 Asteraceae
 Brassicaceae
 Poaceae
 Clusiaceae
 Lamiaceae
 Fabaceae
 Arecaceae
 Apiaceae
 Zamiaceae

26. Lily Family - Liliaceae
 Worldwide distribution.
Includes many ornamentals as
well as onion, garlic, and chives.
A very diverse family which is
divided into several different
families by some workers.
 Herbaceous, 3-merous flowers
which are distinctive and known
to most. Many have bulbs,
corms, or swollen rhizomes.
Leaves are simple, often basel,
and have parallel venation.
Flowers are regular and may be
showy, or small and
inconspicous, but always have
that 'lily' look with 3 sepals
(which may be petaloid), 3
petals, and 6 stamens.
From: http://www.geobotany.uaf.edu/teaching/plant_family_pdf/PlantFamilies.pdf

27. Genus or Genera
 The first part of the binomial name
 Lilium michauxii
 The smallest grouping within the family
 Often shares many of the traits with other
members of it’s family
 Places most closely related plants together

28. Species or Specific Epithet
 Generally a distinct entity within the Genus
 Lilium michauxii
 Reproducing from seed with minimal variation
 May share many features as other plants within
the Genus
 Generally do not naturally cross due to:
 Geographic location
 Flowering time
 Pollen acceptance

29. Below the Species
 Genus + specific epithet = Binomial name
 In horticulture we often use a ternary or
three part name
 subspecies (subspecies) – subsp.
 varietas (variety) - var.
 subvarietas (subvariety) - subvar.
 forma (form) - f.
 subforma (subforma) – subf.
 ‘Cultivar’
Agapanthus praecox subsp. orientalis ‘Storm Cloud’

30. CULTIVAR = CULTIVATED VARIETY
“Assemblage of cultivated plants which
is clearly distinguished by any
characters and which, when
reproduced (sexually or asexually)
retains its distinguishing characters.”
- Liberty Hyde Bailey
*Botanical varieties naturally breed
true from seed
*Cultivars are asexually cloned or by
controlled sexual crossing of
breeding lines

31. The Beauty and Importance of Botanical
Nomenclature
 Often descriptive
 calli= beautiful
 stemon = stamens
 citrinus = lemon scented foliage
 Mono = one
 tropa = turn
 uni = one
 flora = flower
 pulchella, pulchellus = pretty
 aurea = orange
 lutea = yellow
 caerulea = blue
 coccinea, eryth = red
 mutabilis = change or mutate + ability
 oides = like
Monotropa uniflora
Indian Pipes, Ghost
Plant, Corpse Plant
One turn and one
flower
Bottlebrush
Callistemon citrinus

32. What makes a plant a plant
and not an animal?
 Cell walls
 Ability to make own food
 Special kinds of anatomical (plant) parts

33. Gross Anatomy
Major Plant organs include:
roots
stems
leaves
reproductive organs:
flowers or cones
fruits and seeds

34. This Bud’s for You!
New growth comes from Buds, or meristems.
 Apical meristems
 Lateral or auxiliary meristems
 Crown buds
 Root tips

35. Roots
 Functions
 absorption of water & nutrients
 anchoring
 conductance
 storage

36. Roots
 Morphology
 primary root/secondary roots
 tap root/fibrous roots
 adventitious roots
 root hairs

37. Roots can be Special
Pneumatophores = Knees
Rhizomes are
roots
Tubers are
stems
Stolons are
above ground

38. Stem
 Functions
 Conductance
 Support
 Photosynthesis
 Gas exchange
 lenticels
 Morphology
 Nodes/internodes
 Modifications
 tendril
 thorn

39. Leaf
 Functions
 Collection of light
 Photosynthesis
 Gas exchange
 Storage

40. More Leaf
 Functions
 Collection of light
 Photosynthesis
 Gas exchange
 Storage
What’s a C3
plant?
What’s a C4
plant?

41. Getting Attached
Morphology
 Blade/petiole
 Shape of blade
 Margin
 Attachment to stem
 Number and arrangement
of leaflets

42. Leaf Shapes are Simple

43. I’m Getting Edgy!

44. Leaf Me Alone!
How many
leaves are on
this slide?

45. Palms are different!
Palms only have one bud
at the top of the stem
Many palm roots do not
have the ability to
branch if they are cut

46. Flowers
 Function
 Control pollination
 Develop into fruit and seed
 Morphology
 We need many slides for this!
Remember – much of the
classification of plants is
based on floral morphology

47. Terminology
 Flower forms
 Actinomorphic – radially
symmetrical
 Zygomorphic – bilaterally
symmetrical
 Ovaries
 Superior ovary – flower parts
are above the ovary
 Inferior ovary – flower parts
are beneath the ovary

48. Ovary position
Superior InferiorSuperior

49. Flower morphology
 petals - corolla
 sepals - calyx
 receptacle
 pistil
 ovary/ovules
 style
 stigma
 stamen
 filament
 anther
 pollen

50. Pollen Grains
Peas, if you please…

51. More-phology
 Complete
 has petals, sepals,
stamens and pistils
 Perfect
 has both stamens and
pistils
 staminate
 pistillate
 Flower types
 monoecious
 dioecious

52. Fruits and seeds
 Function
 seed dispersal
 seed protection
 contain genetic
information for next
generation and structures
to create new plant
 Morphology
 Ovary development
 Cotyledons/endosperm,
embryo

53. Seed Parts

54. Dry fruits
Fleshy fruits
Dehiscent or
indehiscent
Multiple/aggregate

55. Common Fruit Types
 Pome
 Drupe
 Compound fruit
 Berry
 False berry
 Inferior ovary
 Achene
 Samara
 Cypsela – Asteraceae
 Not true achene
 Pod
 Follicle - Asclepiads
 Capsule - Datura
 Nut - Acorn

56. And what kind is this?

57. So when someone brings me a plant,
how do I get to the scientific name?
 Dichotomous keys
 Plant ID books
 Glossaries of terms
 Master Gardener manual
 Websites

58. Plant Keys
 Are like Binomial Nomenclature in that they
divide the plants into groups that are less and
less inclusive
 Each question in a key is a go/no-go
 Start at the top
 Keys to plant families
 http://michiganflora.net/family-key.aspx

60. Keep it simple
 Known distribution as a
guide
 Plants do not recognize
political lines
 USDA Plants database
 http://plants.usda.gov/ja
va/
 Flora of North America
 www.efloras.org
 Dr. Charles Allen’s
‘Louisiana Plant List’
 http://nativeventures.net/
plant_list.php
 Herbariums like LSU’s
online herbarium
 http://www.herbarium.lsu.e
du/

61. Blazing Star, Gayfeather, Liatris
Liatris spicata, L. pycnostachya, L.
elegans, L. acidota, L. squarrosa, L.
aspera, L. squarrulosa

62. Key Practice on-line
Here’s are some on-line plant identification keys
 Plant Identification Game Using an Online
Interactive Dichotomous Key (“Florida Keys”)
http://webworld.freac.fsu.edu/cameras/keys/sa/tree.html
 Grasses of Florida
http://plants.usda.gov/plantkeys/florida_grasses/FLORIDA_GRASSES.html

63. Plants & Their
Environment

64. Plants and energy (simplified)
 Photosynthesis
 The process of turning light
energy into energy that can be
transported and stored by the
plant
Why not just use the
energy directly?

65. Eeek! Chemistry!
 6 CO2 + 12 H2O +
light + chlorophyll =
C6H12O6 + 6 H2O + 6
O2
What does this mean to you?

66. Eeek! Chemistry!
 6 CO2 + 12 H2O + light + chlorophyll
= C6H12O6 + 6 H2O + 6 O2
 C6H12O6 is the general formula for
carbohydrates
 Sugars can be transported
 Starches can be stored
Both are forms of carbohydrates – as
anyone on the Atkins diet can tell you!

67. More energy stuff
 Respiration
 Breaking the carbohydrates into a form
of energy the plant can use
Although we think of
respiration in humans as
breathing, breathing is
really the gas exchange
that supports respiration.

68. And more chemistry
 C6H12O6 + 6 H2O + 6 O2 + mitochondria = 6 CO2 + 12
H2O + energy in a useable form
 Does anything about this formula look familiar?

69. What’s all this used for, anyway?
 Plant growth and development
 Cell division
 Cell elongation
 Where does growth occur in plants?
 Meristems

70. Plants and the
environment
 Light
 Water
 Nutrients
 Temperature
 Air

71. Light
 Color
 Why don’t plants grow well in green
light?
 Intensity
 Shade plants and full sun plant
 Duration
 Total amount in a day
 Photoperiod and flowering

72. Water
 90% of the plant is water
 Water is a carrier for
nutrients
 Water is essential in
chemical reactions – like?

73. Nutrients
 Required for growth
 Environmental elements:
 C, H, O
 Macro
 N, P, K, S, Mg, Ca
 Micro
 Mn, Mo, Zn, Bo, Fe, Cu, Cl

74. Temperature
8A
(10-15oF)
9A
(20-25oF)
Heat and cold
effect the rate of
chemical
reactions and
therefore, plant
growth. 8B
(15-20oF)
9B
(25-30oF)

76. Mean Total Annual Precipitation

77. Chill Hours

78. Air
 Source of some
nutrients
 Gases for chemical
reaction
 Even some plant
hormones are gases
 Air circulation affects growth
and therefore productivity in
more than one way

79. Back to Plant ID:
Who ya gonna call?
 The First line of
assistance is your
county agent.
 Other local experts

80. Who ya gonna call?
 LSU Herbarium – sent through
Extension office
 www.herbarium.lsu.edu/
 Interactive Keys
 Browse specimens online
 Maps
 Specimens
 Distribution
 Much more

81. Have you gone fruity yet?

82. Acknowledgements:
This presentation was adapted from PowerPoint originally
developed by:
 Dr. Elizabeth Lamb, Cornell University IPM program –
formerly @ UF/IFAS IRREC
Other contributors include:
 Kim Gabel, Hort Agent - Monroe County (THE KEYS)
 Stan Rosenthal, Extension Agent – Forestry, UF/IFAS Leon
County Extension
 Jim Chatfield, Extension Specialist, the Ohio State University
 Paul Baumann, Weed Specialist – TAMU
 Oregon State Univ. Master Gardener Botany page:
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/botany/index.html

83. Questions?
 Thanks for your Attention
 Call or Write if you have more
 Dan Culbert, Okeechobee
Extension Service
 863-763-6469
 indianco@ufl.edu
Let’s Go to Lunch!