This document provides an introduction to a plant taxonomy course, including: - An overview of the course content, teaching methods, and exam dates. - A discussion of why plant classification is important for identification and predicting characteristics. - An explanation of the main divisions in the plant kingdom, including the differences between gymnosperms and angiosperms, and monocotyledons and dicotyledons. - Learning objectives focused on demonstrating knowledge of plant classification systems.

1. RHS Level 2 Certificate
Year 1 Week 1
Introduction, Plant
taxonomy and
classification

2. Housekeeping
 Register
 Student information sheets – please
complete and return next week
 Personal Learning Plan – what is it and how
is it used?
 Fire drill and fire exits

3. Welcome to the Course
 Vikki Sargent – tutor
 Course covers 2 years
 Equivalent to a GCSE but much broader in scope
 Teaching methods – some talking from me, student
discussion, group exercises and some practical
exercises. Supplemented by the on-line Moodle site
for more information, student discussion forum and
self marking quizzes.
 Summer exam dates: 25th
and 26th
June 2014

4. What’s in this year
 Plant names and taxonomy
 Basic plant botany and physiology
 Plant propagation
 Environmental and safety issues in
gardening
 Outdoor food production – vegetables and
fruit
 Introduction to garden planning and design

5. Icebreaker
Speed dating – talk to as many people
as possible and ask the questions on
the sheet.

6. Learning objectives
 Demonstrate a knowledge of the classification
and taxonomic hierarchy of seed bearing plants
 State the major divisions found in the plant
kingdom.
 Identify the basic differences between
gymnosperms and angiosperms.
 Describe differences between the
monocotyledon and dicotyledon divisions of the
angiosperms, including the external features of
root type, leaf shape and venation, and internal
differences in the distribution of vascular
bundles.

7. Plant classification – why?
 Need a common ‘language’ and structure to
enable clear discussion and identification.
 Classification is based on physical structure
 Understanding classification allows
identification of plants and prediction of
various characteristics, including whether
cross breeding is possible.

8. Main divisions of plant family
 Seed producing plants are the focus of this
course (Superdivision: spermatophyta);
ferns, mosses and horsetails have their own
divisions (fungi and algae are not in the plant
family at all).
 Spermatophyta is divided into two Phyla
(singular: Phylum): Coniferophyta (all
conifers) and Angiospermophyta (all other
seed producing flowering plants).

9. Gymnosperms and angiosperms
Angiosperms Gymnosperms
Flowers; seed in ovary Cones; naked seed
Many insect pollinated Usually wind pollinated
Evergreen or deciduous Mostly evergreen
All life cycles and habitats Mostly perennial shrubs or
trees; often dry habitats.
Non-resinous Resinous
Xylem vessels Xylem tracheids

10. Monocotyledons and dicotyledons
 A ‘cotyledon’ is a seed leaf; the first leaf produced by
a plant. Monocots have one seed leaf, dicots have
two.
 Dicots have broad leaves with veins in a network,
branching roots, regular arrangements of vascular
tissue and are insect pollinated.
 Monocots have narrow leaves with parallel veins,
fibrous roots that grow from a single root plate,
scattered vascular bundles and are usually (not
always) wind pollinated.

11. Which is which?

12. Monocot or dicot?

13. Learning outcomes
 Demonstrate a knowledge of the classification and
taxonomic hierarchy of seed bearing plants
 State the major divisions found in the plant kingdom.
 Identify the basic differences between gymnosperms
and angiosperms.
 Describe differences between the monocotyledon
and dicotyledon divisions of the angiosperms,
including the external features of root type, leaf
shape and venation, and internal differences in the
distribution of vascular bundles.