Garden Botany

Garden Botany

Definitions

• Botany is the science or study of plants• Horticulture is the science and art of

cultivating flowers, fruits, vegetables, grass, and ornamental plants in an orchard, garden, nursery or greenhouse.

• From the Latin: Hortus (garden) and cultus (tilling)

Classifying Plants

• Classification by:1. Use2. Temperate Requirement3. Ecological Adaptation4. Taxonomy5. Stem and leaf structure6. Life Cycle

Classification by Use

• EDIBLE – Fruits

• Tree fruits• Small fruits

– Vegetable• Warm season• Cool season

– Herbs• Culinary• Medicinal

– Nuts

• ORNAMENTAL/LANDSCAPE – Woody Plants

• Trees• Shrubs• Vines and ground covers

– Herbaceous Plants• Flowers• Vines and ground covers

– Grass

Classification by Temperate Requirement

• Tropical plants vs. Temperate-zone plants• Warm vs. Cool season plants• Tender vs. Hardy plants• Long day vs. Short day plants• Cold hardiness zone plants

Classification by Ecological Adaptation

• Alpine• Prairie• Ponderosa pine forest• Pinyon/Juniper forest• Riparian• Xeric (dry)

Classification by Taxonomy

• Plant Kingdom divided into two groups:– Non-vascular plants– Vascular plants

• Nearly all plants in the garden are vascular

Classification by Taxonomy

• Gymnosperms– Do not have true flowers– Seeds are enclosed in

fruits– Most seeds are

produced in cones

Classification by Taxonomy

• Angiosperms– Produce flowers– Develop fruits that

contain seeds– Can be divided into

monocots and dicots

Classification by Taxonomy

Plant Evolution

Classification by Stem and Leaf Texture

• Herbaceous plants• Woody plants• Deciduous plants• Evergreen plants• Broadleaf• Narrowleaf• Grass-like

Bee Balm, Herbaceous/non-woody stemsButterfly Bush, Woody stems

Deciduous plants shed their leaves every yearEvergreen plants hold their leaves year-round

Corn is a good example of broadleaf

Narrow leaf lavendar

Classification by Life Cycle

• Annuals• Biennials• Perennials

PLANT PARTS

• Roots• Stems• Leaves• Fruits• Flowers• Seeds

Roots• Absorb water and

nutrients from soil• Anchor the plant• Provide support for stem• Store sugars and starches

(needed for photosynthesis)

• Source of winter survival for perennials

• Fibrous roots vs. Tap roots

Stems• Connects roots to leaves• Supports buds and leaves• Phloem and xylem serve as

channels in the stem for carrying water, minerals, and sugars to other plant parts. Xylem brings water up the stem, and Phloem sends water down.

• Stems grow above or below the ground.

Leaves

• Absorb sunlight energy to make food through the process of photosynthesis

• Take up carbon dioxide and release oxygen

• Store energy• Control water through

transpiration• Simple or compound

Photosynthesiswater + CO2 sugar + O2

Flowers

• Showiest part of plants; fragrant and/or colorful to attract pollinators

• Important for sexual reproduction

• Self pollinating or cross pollinating

Fruit

• Part of the plant that surrounds one or more seeds

• Spread seeds• Attracts animals to help

spread seeds

Seeds

• Contain the information needed for a new plant to grow

• Embryo• Endosperm• Seed coat