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Introduction to Botany

Jan ZientekSenior Program Coordinator

Cooperative Extension of Essex County

zientek@njaes.rutgers.edu

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Basic Botany• The study of the growth, structure and

function of plants

BOTANY

• Evolution• Taxonomy• Plant morphology• Plant physiology and cell biology• Plant reproduction• Plant hormones and growth regulators

Plant Functions

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PLANTAE

• Eukaryotic (with a nucleus)

• Cell walls with cellulose

• Food stored as carbohydrate

• Multi-cellular autotrophs

• Chloroplasts (green)

• Non-motile• Several phlyum• Development of

pollen

DOMAINKINGDOM

PHYLUMCLASS

ORDERFAMILY

Genusspecies

Common Name vs Scientific Name

• Maybe local name

• General• Universally recognized

• Specific

Foxglove Digitalis purpurea

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Common Name vs Scientific NameFire bush

Hamelia patens

Scarlet bush

Texas firecracker

Corail (or is it Koray?)

Ix-canan

Hummingbird bush

Polly red head

Mosses are non-vascular plants --they cannot transport fluids through their bodies. Instead, they must rely on surrounding moisture to do this job for them.

Plant TypesFerns and allies have a vascular system to transport fluids through their bodies but like the mosses, they reproduce from spores rather than seeds. The main phylum, theFerns (Filicinophyta = Pteridophyta) includes around 12,000 species.

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• Monocots: have a single cotyledon (seed leaf), flower parts in multiples of three, parallel venation of leaves, scattered vascular bundles in stems. Around 30,000 plants are classified as monocots including many of the prettiest members of kingdomPlantae: orchids, lilies, irises, palms and even the Bird-of-Paradise plant. The grasses which carpet our lawns and meadows are also monocots.

Dicots: The vast majority of plants are Dicots. Most trees, shrubs, vines, and flowers belong to this group of around 200,000 species. Most fruits, vegetables and legumes come from this class. They have two cotyledons, flower parts in multiples of 4 or 5, netted veins, and stems which are organized in a ring pattern.

Plants can be classified by the type of their seed structure

–Gymnosperm: “naked seed”

–Angiosperm: seed within a fruiting body

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The gymnosperms add the next level of complexity to plant evolution: they reproduce from seeds instead of spores. The seeds, however, are "naked" - not covered by an ovary. Usually, the seed is produced inside a cone-like structure such as a pine cone hence the name "conifer." Some conifers, such as the Yew and Ginko, produce their seeds inside a berry-like structure.Conifers are fairly easy to identify: In addition to the aforementioned cones, these trees and shrubs typically have needle-like, scale-like or awl-like leaves. And they never have flowers.

•Lifecycles help gardeners distinguish between plants:

•Annuals•Biennials•Perennials

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Annuals complete life cycles in one season

Biennials live for 2 years, flower, then die

Perennials live for 3 or more years,flower each year and usually do not die after flowering.

Structures of Plants

RootsStemsLeavesFlowersSeeds

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Examples of Stem Structure

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Herbaceous monocot and dicot stem

Root cross-section

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Apical meristem: point of vigorous cell division and growth

Leaves

• Are the center of food production in the plant– Photosynthesis and respiration occur there– Leaves are either simple (one blade) or

compound (multiple blades)

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Stomata

Flowers• Are sexual organs• Inflorescence• Perfect flower• Imperfect flower• Monoecious• Dioecious

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The Flower

Photosynthesis• Is the chemical process that creates complex

sugars from water, carbon dioxide and sunlight.• Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplast• Chlorophyll is the green pigment that allows

photosynthesis to occur.

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RESPIRATIONThe transformation of stored chemical energy to usableenergy for growth and development

C6H12O6 plus O2 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy

TRANSPIRATIONThe uptake and release of liquids and gases, especially water and CO2, by plants. Important in the regulation of water within the plant (wilt, turgor, stomatal activity, etc.)

http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html?

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HormonesChemical substances that control patterns of

growth and development, and responses to environmental conditions

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Influencing Plant GrowthAuxin – phototropism, gravitropism, apical dominanceGibberellins – increased plant and fruit sizeCytokinins – cell division, sproutingDormin – accelerates abscission, promotes dormancyEthylene – fruit ripening, senescence

• Gardeners use hormones to induce flowering, fruiting, root cuttings, induce or break dormancy, ripen fruit or seeds, chemically “prune” plants, and control growth.

http://www.5min.com/Video/Plant-Physiology-Phototropic-Response-1354341

plant hormone video.avi

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References

Biology, by Miller and Levine, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2002

Botany: A Golden Guide, by Alexander, Burnett and Zim,Golden Press, NY, 1970

Botany for Gardeners, by Capon, Timber Press, Portland, OR, 2005

Horticultural Science, by Jannick, Freeman and Co., San Francisco, CA, 1972

Plant Physiology, by Bidwell, MacMillan Publishing Co., NY, 1979