Module 2 The Classification of Plants Classification We will discuss a few ways of classifying plants: Big vs. Small Grass vs. Tree Native vs. Introduced Invasive (Noxious) vs. Non-Invasive Trees vs. Shrubs 1
What s in a name? Who has heard of: Ribbon grass? Dockmackie? Withe-rod? Possum-haw? Water oak? Black oak? Scrub pine? What s in a name? Who has heard of: Ribbon grass? Dockmackie? Withe-rod? Possum-haw? Water oak? Black oak? Scrub pine? - Reed canary grass - Maple-leaf viburnum - Northern wild rasin - Southern wild rasin - Virginia pine 2
What s in a name? Who has heard of: Ribbon grass? Dockmackie? Withe-rod? Possum-haw? Water oak? Black oak? Scrub pine? - Reed canary grass - Maple-leaf viburnum - Northern wild rasin - Southern wild rasin - Virginia pine - Phalaris arundinacea - Viburnum acerifolium - Viburnum cassinoides - Viburnum nudum - Quercus nigra - Quercus veluntina - Pinus virginiana What s in a name? Pinus virginiana Miller? Botanical name Common name(s) Habitat Native status 3
http://vaplantatlas.org/ Lycophytes & Pteridophytes Gymnosperms Monocots Dicots Bryophytes Ferns Ground pines Pines Cedars Hemlocks Grasses Rushes Sedges Lillies All flowering plants Mosses Lichens Other ways to classify plants? 4
Classification Small Big Human beings have the urge to classify things 5
Tree vs. shrub vs. herb (forb) vs. grass vs. fern vs. moss Woody vs. Herbaceous (forbs) White oak Joe Pye Weed 6
Woody vs. Herbaceous Bald cypress Little bluestem Annuals vs. Perennials Annual ryegrass (winter annual) Little bluestem (warm season perennial) Partridge pea (summer annual) 7
Differences between annuals and perennials Germination Death Seedling growth Coreopsis Seed set Flowering (sexual reproduction) Differences between annuals and perennials Germination Death Seedling growth Purple coneflower Seed set Flowering (sexual reproduction) 8
Germination Annual Fast (often 1 to 3 days) Growth Fast Slow Flowering Differences between annuals and perennials Early and Abundant Perennial Number of seeds Many Often few Root system Shallow Extensive Replanting Every year Long lived Long (sometimes ½ year or longer) At least after one year of growing often much longer Legumes vs. Non-leguminous plants Legumes are a specific type of plants that have an association (symbiotic relationship) with bacteria on their roots (root nodules) 9
Legumes vs. Non-leguminous plants Legumes vs. Non-leguminous plants Examples of legumes: Peas Green beans Soy beans Peanuts Alfalfa But also: Red buds Black locust Mimosa Wisteria Lupine Lotus Clover 10
Legumes in ESC BMP Clearing House: None ESCH: Crown vetch Sericea lespedeza Flat pea Birdfoot trefoil Annual lespedeza Red clover White clover Black locust Honey locust Flowering plants vs. Non-flowering plants Christmas fern Butterfly weed Loblolly pine Round headed bush clover Eastern red cedar 11
1/12/2016 Flowering plants vs. Non-flowering plants Christmas fern Butterfly weed Loblolly pine Round headed bush clover Eastern red cedar Warm season vs. Cold season Bermuda grass Kentucky bluegrass 12
1/12/2016 and SWM Plant Hardiness Zone and SWM Plant Hardiness Zone 13
1/12/2016 Shade vs. Partial Shade vs. Sun Shade vs. Partial Shade vs. Sun Swamp sunflower ( ) Cinnamon fern ( ) Cardinal flower ( ) 14
1/12/2016 Wetland Facultative Upland Wet Moist Dry Grow in areas with saturated soil conditions during part or most of the growing season. May require specific ranges in water depth. Plants may tolerate droughts. Grow in areas with moist soil conditions. Tolerates occasional saturation/flooding. Plants also tolerate droughts. Drought tolerant plants that grow in areas where the soils dries out after a rain event. Does not require irrigation. Wetland Facultative Upland Wet Moist Dry 15
1/12/2016 Wetland Facultative Upland Wet Moist Dry Wetland Facultative Upland Wet Moist Dry Overcup oak White oak Red oak 16
1/12/2016 Wetland Facultative Upland Wet Moist Dry Bioretention/ Treatment wetland Rain garden Grass swale Wetland species flooding requirements: Floaters Shallow water Emergent Intermittent water 17
1/12/2016 Wetland species flooding requirements: Floaters Shallow water Duck weed Emergent Intermittent water Yellow Pond Lily Wetland species flooding requirements: Floaters Shallow water Eastern Rose-Mallow Emergent Intermittent water 18
1/12/2016 Wetland species flooding requirements: Floaters Shallow water Emergent Intermittent water Common Rush Wetland species flooding requirements: Floaters Shallow water Emergent Intermittent water (flood plain) 19
1/12/2016 Wetland species classification: Obligate (OBL) almost always in wetlands (90+%) Facultative Wet (FACW) usually occur in wetland Facultative (FAC) can occur in wetland and upland Facultative Upland (FACU) usually occur in upland Upland (UPL) almost always in uplands Questions? 20