MAADHYAM - Gifted Educationgiftededucation.co.in/assets/files/students/13. Sep... · 2 Plant Classification is the placing of known plants into groups or categories to show some relationship

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MAADHYAM Nurturing Gifted Minds

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MONTH: SEPTEMBER ISSUE NO: 2016(13)

Introduction to Taxonomy

Goals of Taxonomy

Importance of Taxonomy

Common Taxonomic Divisions

Taxa of Plant Kingdom

News Corner

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Taxonomy is a branch of science that encompasses the description, identification, nomenclature, and classification of the organisms. Plant taxonomy is an old science that uses the gross morphology [physical characteristics, (i.e., flower form, leaf shape, fruit form, etc.)] of plants to separate them into similar groups.

Quite often the characteristics that distinguish the plants become a part of their name. For e.g. Quercus alba is a white oak, named because underside of the leaf is white. The tallest known white oak is 144 feet (44 m) tall.

Quercus alba Source: www.discoverlife.org

INTRODUCTION TO TAXONOMY

Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778) is regarded as the father of taxonomy, as he developed a system known as Linnaean Classification for the categorization of organisms.

IDENTIFICATION OF PLANTS

CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS

DESCRIPTION OF PLANTS

Watch a short biography of Carolus Linnaeus : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb_IOSzLgk&feature=related


http://www.discoverlife.org/20/q?search=Quercus+bicolor





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Plant Classification is the placing of known plants into groups or categories to show some relationship. Scientific classification follows a system of rules that standardizes the result and groups successive categories into a hierarchy. The classification of plants ideally reflects scientific ideas about inter-relationships between plants.

Plant Identification is the determination of the identity of an unknown plant by comparison with previously collected specimens or with the aid of books or identification manuals. The process of identification connects the specimen with a published name. Once a plant specimen has been identified, its name and properties are known.

Easter Lily Source: www.bojensen.net

Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Series: Liliales Family: Liliaceae Genus: Lilium Species: L. longiflorum

For example, the family to which the LILIES belong is classified as follows:

For more information, read the following: Plant Taxonomy: Methods and Principles by Benson L. 1962, New York: Ronald Press


The classification of plants results in an organized system for the naming and cataloguing of future specimens. The set of rules and recommendations for formal botanical nomenclature, including plants, is governed by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants abbreviated as ICN.

Plant Description is a formal description of a newly discovered species, usually in the form of a scientific paper using ICN guidelines. The names of these plants are then registered on the International Plant Names Index along with all other validly published names.

http://www.bojensen.net/EssentialOilsEng/EssentialOils17/EssentialOils17.htm



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1) To arrange elements or taxa of plants into a more systematic manner

so that they can be better understood and could be used easily and

more effectively.

2) To arrange data or information and knowledge about plants.

3) To indicate the source and genetic relationship (phylogenetic),

ancestry and origin of plants.

4) To indicate the distribution and habitat of plants on earth and their

benefits.

Common Taxonomic Divisions

The scientific system of classification divides all living things into groups called Taxa (singular, taxon).

Here we are discussing Kingdom Plantae. The plant kingdom is divided into two taxa i.e. Cryptogamia and Phanerogamia.

The title page from a 1760 edition of Carl’s book Systema Naturae


KINGDOM CLASSIFICATION

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_(biology)

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Reproductive organs are visible. Well

developed reproductive organs. It is also

called as flowering plants. It produces flowers

and seeds. They have well developed root and

shoot systems. Some examples of flowering

plants are sunflower, daisy ,hibiscus. They are

found in deserts, mountains and rainforests.

Reproductive organs are hidden. External

flowers or seeds are absent. For ex: Algae

and fungi. It is also called as primitive plants

which does not produce any flowers or

seeds. It does not show clearly differentiated

roots, stems ,branches, leaves or flowers For

ex: Fern, moss, fungus. They are found in

shaded and humid places.

Cryptograms

To read more, visit: http://www.biologyexams4u.com/2013/02/classification-of-plants-cryptogamae.html#.V3TOjbh97IV


Fern

Hibiscus

Phanerograms

PLANT TAXONOMY

CRYPTOGAMIA

(Non Flowering plants)

Thallophyta

Algae

Bryophyta Pteriodophyta

PHANEROGAMIA

(Flowering plants)

Gymnospermae Angiospermae

Monocots Dicots

Becteria

Fungi

Lichens

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THALLOPHYTA Thallophyta is the most primitive and the largest division of Cryptograms.

The plant body is not differentiated into root, stem and leaves . The plant body is either unicellular or multicellular. The division Thallophyta is classified into following sub -

divisions: (1) Bacteria (2) Algae (3) Fungi (4) Lichens

BACTERIA

Bacteria were among the first life forms to

appear on Earth, and are present in most of

its habitats. They have a number of shapes,

ranging from spheres to rods and spirals.

Bacteria are used in the production of

yoghurt through fermentation. For e.g.:-

Bacillus, Spirillum etc.

FUNGI

Fungi can be single celled or very complex

multicellular organisms. They are found in

any habitat but most live on the land, mainly

in soil or on plant material rather than in

sea or fresh water. Most fungi build their

cell walls out of chitin. For e.g.:- Yeast,

Mushroom etc.

ALGAE

Algae can be referred to as plant-like

organisms that are usually photosynthetic

but do not have true roots, stems, leaves,

vascular tissue and have simple

reproductive structures. They are found in

the sea, in freshwater and in moist

situations on land. For e.g.:- Euglena.

LICHENS

A lichen is not a single organism. Rather, it is

a symbiosis between different organisms - a

fungus and an alga . The fungus benefits

from the symbiotic relation. Lichens occur

from sea level to high alpine elevations,

mostly growing on bark, leaves, mosses and

on other lichens. For e.g. :- Mycorrhizae.


Bacillus Euglena

Mushroom Mycorrhizae

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BROYOPHYTA It includes mosses, liverworts and hornworts. They are mostly found on damp and shady places. They produce neither flowers nor seeds instead reproduce through spores. A waxy cuticle covering the soft tissue of the plant provides protection and prevents desiccation of the plant's tissues. They are called amphibians of the plant kingdom because these plants though live in soil but they need water for reproduction. They grow close together into a cushion-like covering over soil, rocks, tree trunks, and leaves. For e.g. Java moss, Marchantiophyta.

PTERIDOPHYTA It includes ferns, horsetails, club mosses, spike mosses and quillworts. They are vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce and disperse via spores. Ferns have special stems, called rhizomes, which grow sideways at the surface or underground. Pteridophytes are further united by the presence of a single leaf per vein, an arrangement known as microphyll. For e.g. Marsilea quadrifolia, Lycopodium clavatum.

GYMNOSPERMAE These are woody trees with cone like appearance. They bear no flower, no fruits but bear seeds. The seeds are naked as they are not covered by the fruit wall. They are evergreen plants. The pollen grains fall and germinate directly on the microphyll of the ovules. Pollination occurs by wind alone. They are perennial and softwood. They have scale or needle like leaves. Xylem contains only tracheid and phloem has no companion cells. For e.g. Pinus, Cycas.

Marchantiophyta Moss

Marsilea Quadrifolia lycopodium clavatum

Pinus Cycas

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ANGIOSPERMAE These are also called flowering plants, have seeds that are enclosed within an ovary (usually a fruit). They are seasonal plants. And mostly consists of herbs, shrubs and trees. The leaves of these plants are flat. Pollination occurs through winds, insects etc. Companion cells are present. They are non- perennial and hardwood. They are divided into two classes – monocotyledon and dicotyledon. For e.g. Grass, Coconut tree.


MONOCOTS Monocotyledon (monocots) have seeds with one cotyledon. They have adventitious root system. Leaves have parallel venation. Stems are usually hollow. Flowers are incomplete and trimerous ( floral parts are in multiple of three). Vascular bundles in stem are numerous and scattered. Seed germination is normally hypogeal. For e.g. Lilies, Rice.

DICOTS Dicotyledon (Dicots) have seeds with two cotyledons. They have tap root system. Leaves have reticulate venation. Stems are usually solid. Flowers are complete and pentamerous (floral parts in the multiple of four or five). Vascular bundles in stem are fewer and arranged in circles. Seed germination is either hypogeal or epigeal. For e.g. Maples, Oak.

Grass Butter cup

Lily Rice

Maple Oak

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ARTICLES BY BUDDING RESEARCHERS

p53 gene-The cancer police of the genome By:-Adheesh Ghosh, (Grade- X), St. Columba’s School

In recent years, cancer has become a widespread phenomenon in the human world. Many people suffer

from this disease, either due to genetic defects that pass on the cancer from their parents or external

factors of environmental stress such as tobacco smoke, UV radiation etc. As per WHO Report the most

common cancers in 2016 are projected to be breast cancer, lung and bronchus cancer, prostate cancer,

colon and rectum cancer, bladder cancer, melanoma of the skin, thyroid cancer, kidney and renal pelvis

cancer, leukemia, endometrial cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Cancer is among the leading causes of

death worldwide. In 2012, there were 14 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer-related deaths

worldwide. Therefore, it is necessary that we address this deadly disease and work towards forming

curative or even preventive measures against it. It is to be noted, that humans are not the only

organisms to suffer from cancer. Dogs have 35 times as much skin cancer as do humans, 4 times as

many breast tumors, 8 times as much bone cancer, and twice as high an incidence of leukemia. Rats

are very predisposed to developing tumors as well, and are thus often experimented upon for further

development in cancer research.

However, there are very few animals who have high resistance to cancer, so much so that there are no

cancer-related deaths in the species. The prime example, may be the elephant, the heaviest land

mammal who never gets affected by cancer. The cancer mortality rates in elephants is a measly 4.81%,

as compared to humans who have mortality rates of 11-25%. It should be noted, that if cancer rates

are low in elephants, they are next to non-existent in Bowhead whales. These giant aquatic mammals

live up to 200 years of age and are resistant to most conventional diseases, including cancer. However,

till date, there has been no major discovery why they boast such an exceptional longevity and

resistance. However, this seems strange, as elephants have nearly 100 times more the number of cells

than humans (3.72 quadrillion as compared to 37.2 trillion) and as such should be more susceptible to

mutations in the cells, leading to tumors and cancers. The reason for this has been discovered by

researchers as the higher number of copies of a gene called p53 being present in the elephant genome.

Asian elephants have 30 copies of this gene ,while African elephants have at least 40, a very large

number compared to the human genome which only possesses 1 or 2 copies.

p53, also known as TP53 or tumor protein is a protein coding gene that helps in regulating cell cycles

and thus in tumor suppression. It is very important in multicellular organisms to suppress cancer. It is

present on the 17th chromosome in humans. It performs many functions, including cell cycle control

and apoptosis (a process by which damaged cells are destroyed so as to maintain regular function and

activity of the cell). However, if defective p53 is allowed to function, it leads to mutation of the gene

and eventually turns it into cancer. 50% of all human cancers are due to p53 mutations. Excessive

activity of the p53 gene may also cause accelerated aging due to repeated and excess apoptosis of the

cells. Since p53 is a natural line of defense of the body against malignant tumors and cancers, it would

be an excellent preventive measure to increase the copies of p53 gene in the human genome, granted

that strict regulation of p53 is maintained. A healthy lifestyle and stress-free environment promises

healthy functioning of p53. Eating cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, garden

cress, , broccoli, Brussels sprouts and similar green leaf vegetables also helps in maintaining regular

function of the gene. Apart from external factors, p53 is also regulated by the protein MDM2 (Mouse

double minute 2 homolog). It is an important negative regulator of p53 and lack of it may cause

uncontrolled mutation in it, leading to cancer.

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Researchers show phone calls can forecast dengue fever outbreaks

A team of scientists has developed a system that can forecast the outbreak of dengue fever by simply analyzing the calling behavior of citizens to a public-health hotline. This telephone-based disease surveillance system can forecast two to three weeks ahead of time, and with intra-city granularity, the outbreak of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne virus that infects up to 400,000 people each year.

For more information: (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160708144901.htm)

Liver harvested from brain dead person, taken to Bengaluru

The Port City has given a new lease of life to several people across Karnataka through organ transplantation procedures in the past one year. In a fourth such instance, a brain dead person's liver was taken to Bengaluru late on Monday night. The organ donor is Hardik Raj, 24, a resident of Pacchanady. The victim had met with an accident of August 6 and he was declared brain dead on Sunday.

For more information: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/science/articlelist/-2128672765.cms

Flooded canyons found on Saturn's moon Titan: NASA

NASA's Cassini spacecraft has discovered steep-sided canyons, hundreds of meters deep, on Saturn's moon Titan that are flooded with liquid hydrocarbons. The finding represents the first direct evidence of the presence of liquid-filled channels on Titan. Scientists analyzed Cassini data from a close pass the spacecraft made over Titan in May 2013. The observations show that the channels - in particular, a network of them named Vid Flumina - are narrow canyons, generally less than a kilometer wide, with slopes steeper than 40 degrees. The canyons also are quite deep - those measured are 240 to 570 meters from top to bottom.

For more information:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/science/articlelist/-2128672765.cms

Are black holes 'back doors' to other

parts of universe? Black holes may be a portal that can transfer matter to another part of the universe, rather than destroying it, a new study has claimed. One of the biggest problems when studying black holes is that the laws of physics as we know them cease to apply in their deepest regions. Large quantities of matter and energy concentrate in an infinitely small space, the gravitational singularity, where space-time curves towards infinity and all matter is destroyed. However, a new study at the Institute of Corpuscular Physics (IFIC) in Spain suggests that matter might in fact survive its foray into these space objects and come out the other side. For more information: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/science/articlelist/-2128672765.cms


North East West South

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Are-black-holes-back-doors-to-other-parts-of-universe/articleshow/53596850.cms






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RESPONSE SHEET

1. If you are given a chance to classify plants, on what basis will you differentiate plants?

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2. The leaves in gymnosperms are adapted to withstand xerophytic conditions. Justify.

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3. Give some examples of vascular plants.

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4. Give examples of monocot and dicot.

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5. Which plant do you think is the intelligent plant and why?

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YOUR FEEDBACK

My Name: _______________________________________________

I am in class: __________________

From School: ______________________________________________

Areas well explained in this issue:

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Areas need more explanation in this issue:

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Suggest next Theme:

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Any other:

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PROJECT TEAM

Dr. Jyoti Sharma , Prof. Pankaj Tyagi , Prof. Shobha Bagai , Prof. Bibhu Biswal

Email id: [email protected]

RESEARCH TEAM

Geetu Sehgal, Shilpi Bariar, Savita Bansal, Sakshi Bajaj, Uzma Masood, Jyoti Batra,

Priyanka Saraswat, Shefali Gupta


mailto:[email protected]

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MAADHYAM - Gifted Educationgiftededucation.co.in/assets/files/students/13. Sep... · 2 Plant Classification is the placing of known plants into groups or categories to show some relationship