DIVERSITY

CLASSIFICATION
III. Diversity of Angiosperms on The Basis of the Nature of Stem:

1.Erect:These plants grow upright. Most trees, shrubs and some

2. Creepers:These plants have trailing stem having roots throughout its length.Weak,
long and thin stem they creep on the surface of the soil. Leaves emerge from nodes, from
the axil of which branches arise. roots arise from nodes throughout the length of the
stem, e.g., Oxalis; Cynodon (doob grass) etc. (Pumpkin,Watermelon also)
3. Trailers: Stem sprawling on the ground with the help of roots. These plants are like
creepers with the difference that here roots do not arise from nodes. A trailer may be
procumbant or decumbent. In procumbent trailer, the stem lies completely horizontal
(e.g., Basella,Tribulus), while in decumbent, the apical part of the stem is raised above the
ground (e.g., Lindenbergia, Tridex).
4. Climbers:These plants with weak stem climb on some support by means of
tendrils, petioles, spines, adventitious roots etc., e.g., pea, betel etc. (Grapvine,Cucumber,
moneyplant also are common examples)
 Oxalis - AMRUL Cynodon – DOOB GRASS Basella – INDIAN SPINACH

Lindenbergia – PATTHAR-CHATTI Pea – PISUM SATIVUM(CHANA) Betel – Peper Betel(PAN)

 IV. Diversity on The Basis of Life-Span:

1. Ephemerals: Life span within a very short period before the approach of actual dry
conditions. Often called as drought evaders or drought escapers, e.g., Argemon
mexicana, Solanum xanthocarpum, Cassia tora etc.
2. Annuals: They complete their life-cycle within one year and die after producing
seeds, e.g., wheat, rice, gram.
3. Biennials (or Biannuals); Life-cycle in two years. During first year they show
only vegetative growth, and during second year they develop flowers, fruits and seeds.
These plants are usually herbs, e.g., Radish, Turnip, and Carrot.
4. Perennials: Have long life, and continue to live for many years. The great banyan
tree (Ficus bengalensis) in the Botanical Garden, Kolkata is more than 200 years old. The
Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa) at Gaya is about 2500 years old.Most perennials, after
attaining maturity, bear flowers and fruits in a particular season of each year. They are
called polycarpic, e.g., coconut, mango, Acacia etc. Some perennials (e.g., Bamboos,
Agave) are monocarpic i.e., they bear fruits only once in their life. All annuals and
biennials are monocarpic.
POPPY KANTAKIRI CHAKUNDA WHEAT PADDY(RICE)

RADISH CARROT TURNIP BAMBOO

AGAVE GREAT BANYAN TREE BODHI TREE

MANGO COCONUT
V. Diversity on The Basis of Size:
The smallest angiosperm is a rootless aquatic Wolffia. It has a diameter of 0.1
mm. Aquatic Lemna has a diameter of 0.1 cm. The tallest angiosperm plant it
is Eucalyptus regnans. It is over 100 meter tall. The largest-sized plant is
Banyan tree (Ficus bengalensis). It can spread over an area of 2 – 5 acres with
more than 200 prop roots.
VI. Diversity on The Basis of Nutrition:
1. Autotrophic plants or autotrophs. Most of the plants are autotrophs as they
are green and manufacture their own organic food from inorganic raw
materials (viz. CO2 ,H2O, Chlorophyll & Sunlight).
2. Heterotrophic plants or heterotrophs. These plants obtain a part or whole
of their nourishments from outside sources. Heterotrophs may be parasites,
saprophytes, symbionts and insectivorous.
aquatic Wolffia Aquatic Lemna

LICHENS Eucalyptus regnans

 CUSCUTA
haustorium,penetrates the
host and forms a vascular
union between the plants.
THE NEED FOR CLASSIFICATION
 Since life first appeared on Earth 3.5 billion years ago,many new types of
organisms have evolved.
 Many of these organisms have become extinct, while some have
developed into the present fauna and flora of the world. Extinction and
diversification continues.
 Biological classification is the process of grouping organisms into
convenient categories based on similarities & dissimilarities.
 Biological classification can be study under TAXONOMY & SYSTEMATICS.
Simpson, (1961) has defined system­atics as the branch of biology that deals with the
diversity of organisms and all their comparative & evolutionary relationship.(Biological
systematics is the study of the diversification of living forms, both past and present, and
the relationships among living things through time.) C.Linnaeus is the father of
Systematics.
Plant taxonomy is the science that finds, identifies, describes, classifies, and names plants. The fundamental
processes of Taxonomy are:
 1. Characterization:
The organism to be studied is described for all its morphological and other
characteristics.
2. Identification:
Based on the studied characteristics, the identification of the organ­
ism is carried out to know whether it is similar to any of the known
group or taxa.
3. Classification:
The organism is now classified on the basis of its resemblance to different
taxa. It is possible that the organism may not resemble any known taxa or
groups. A new group or taxon is raised to accommodate it.
4. Nomenclature:
After placing the organism in various taxa, its correct name is determined. If
the organism is new to systematics, it is given a new name based on rules and
conventions of nomenclature. 5. Affinities:
It is the study of interrelationship between living organisms.
 NOMENCLATURE
The nomenclature may be defined simply as the system of naming of plants.
After determina­tion of a new taxon based on some important characteristics,
it becomes essential to give a scientific name. The name of the taxon is given
following the rules of International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN).

Carolus Linnaeus who used binomials for the plants described in his ‘Species
Plantarum’ (1753) and later works.

The binomial nomenclature is the system where naming of plants consists of

two words — a generic name and a specific name. The first one is the generic
name and the second one is the specific name. Both the names together form
a binary or binomial name.

Names must be unambiguous & universal.

“Taxonomic hierarchy
is the process of
arranging various
organisms into
successive levels of
the biological
classification either in
a decreasing or an
increasing order from
kingdom to species
and vice versa.”
 QUESTION TIME ?
 1.What is the mode of nutrition in green plants? 5.What life cycle a Paddy Plant has?
        a. autotrophic         a. Biennial
        b. heterotrophic         b. Annual
        c. autotrophic and heterotrophic         c. Perennial
        d. none of these        d. none of these
2.What is a monocarpic plant?
6. Distinguish between Autotrophs &
        a. they bear fruits twice in their life
Heterotrophs?
        b. they bear fruits only once in their life
7.___________ is an example of Parasitic
        c. they bear no fruits in their life
Plant.
       d. none of these
8.Who is the Father of Systematics ?
3.How do you define 'biodiversity'?
a. Biology         
b. Living organisms
c. Variety of living organism
d. Interaction between living and non-living organism
THANK YOU
MURARI PRASAD SAHU
Principal
Vikash Higher Secondary School
BARGARH