Plant taxonomy

• Plant Classification


  System of sorting and classifying organisms based on their similarities and differences
• Scientists have sorted and classified billions of different organisms living on Earth based on their similarities and differences
• Taxonomy


  The system of classification that usually features both English and Latin names for different divisions
• It is always best to specify the exact plant by the scientific name
• It is important for people in the commercial plant and nursery business to know both scientific and common names as they become confusing
• Theophrastus was a Greek philosopher and naturalist, often called the "Father of Botany"


  370-285 B.C.
• Theophrastus


  • He was a pupil of Aristotle and was the first person to publish a classification of plants
  • He classified plants based on form (herbs, shrubs, trees; annuals, biennials, perennials)
• Carolus Linnaeus was the first person to propose an orderly system for classifying organisms


  1707-1778
• Binomial System of Naming Plants

  All plants have a scientific name composed of two Latin names known as a genus and species
• Linnaeus' system is still used today and he is called the Father of Taxonomy
• Plant Classification Hierarchy


  • Kingdom
  • Phylum
  • Class
  • Order
  • Family
  • Genus
  • Species
• Plant Kingdom


  • Over 275,000 species
  • Includes all plants
  • Broken down into smaller divisions based on characteristics like fluid circulation, reproduction, and size
• Phylum


  • Plants are divided based on whether or not they bear or produce seeds
  • Vascular plants have tubelike structures that carry water, nutrients, and other substances
  • Non-vascular plants do not have these tubelike structures and use other ways to move water or substances
  • Over 250,000 plants in this category
• Class


  • Over 235,000 species
  • Plants are divided into two types: Angiospermae (angiosperms) which produce flowers, and Gymnospermae (gymnosperms) which do not produce flowers
• Subclasses


  • Dicotyledonae (dicots) - plants with two seed leaves
  • Monocotyledonae (monocots) - plants with one seed leaf
• Cotyledons


  Parts of a seed that look like small leaves, which the developing plant uses as a store of food
• Differences between monocots and dicots

  • Cotyledons (one vs two)
  • Leaf venation (parallel vs net-like)
  • Root structure (fibrous vs taproot)
  • Stem structure (internodes visible vs not visible)
  • Flower structure (branched vs not branched)
  • Germination (single leaf vs two seedleaves)
• Order


  A group of related plant families, classified in the order in which they are thought to have developed their differences from a common ancestor
• Over 18,000 species in the Order category, with names ending in -ales
• There are a total of 13,500 plant species in the Philippines, with 1,500 being medicinal plants and 3,500 considered indigenous
• 120 medicinal plants (12.5%) have been validated for safety and efficacy, and 10 medicinal plants have been promoted by the DOH since 1993 and PITAHC since 1997
• Global Uses of Medicinal Plants

  • Phytomedicines and Phytochemicals
  • Nutraceuticals
  • Personal Care Products and Cosmetics
  • Spa Health and Spa Medicine
  • Culinary: Flavors and Spices
  • Fragrance and Perfumer
  • Bio-pesticides
  • Veterinary Medicines
• Lagundi (Vitex negundo)


  • Uses: Asthma and cough, upper and lower respiratory tract infections
  • Fever, Dysentery, colds & pain
  • Skin diseases and wounds
  • Headache
  • Rheumatism, sprain, contusions, insect bites
  • Aromatic bath for sick patients
• Sambong (Blumea balsamifera)


  • Uses: Anti-edema and diuretic
  • Treat urolithiasis (Urinary tract infection or Kidney stone)
  • Anti-hypertensive
  • Infected wounds, respiratory infections
  • Stomach pains
  • Expectorant and Anti-diarrheal
• Akapulko (Senna alata)


  • Uses: Fungicidal properties for treating ringworm and other fungal infection of the skin
  • Laxative and Purgative Properties - Stimulate or facilitate evacuation of the bowels
• Bayabas (Psidium guajava)


  • Uses: Help lower blood sugar levels
  • Help relieve painful symptoms of menstruation
  • Aid weight loss
  • Have an anti-cancer effect
  • Boost your immunity
  • Good for the skin
• Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa)


  • Uses: Lowers blood sugar
  • Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
  • Lowers cholesterol
  • Treat kidney disease
  • Treat Urinary Tract Infection
• Coconut (Cocos nucifera)


  • Uses: Food, Milk and flour - Vitamins, minerals and antioxidants
  • Hair excellent conditioner
  • A healthy refreshing drink
  • The oil - for cooking, skin and hair
  • Anti-cancer
  • Good laxative for improving digestion and bowel function
  • Promote weight loss
• Malunggay (Moringa oleifera)


  • Uses: Headache
  • Bacterial and fungal skin infection
  • Anti-inflammatory gastric ulcers
  • Anti-diarrhea function
  • Malnutrition
  • Antiviral and antidepressant
  • Sexual dysfunction (Male)
• Ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata)


  • Uses: Aromatherapy - Essential oils - Flowers
  • Relieves High blood pressure
  • Normalize sebum secretion for skin problem
  • Perfumery
  • Aphrodisiac
• Tanglad (Cymbopogon citratus)


  • Uses: Herbal supplements and tea
  • Anxiolytic
  • Hypnotic
  • Anticonvulsant properties
  • Analgesic and antipyretic
  • Antifungal agent
• 80% to 90% percent of medicine is from herbs, 10% to 20% synthetic from chemicals
• Vegetative( asexual reproduction) (through cutting)
• Vegetative structure ( asexual reproduction) (through cutting)
• Reproductive structure (sexual reproduction) (from flowers)
• Indigenous (local)
• Phyto - plants

  Nutra- foods
• Ampalaya(Momordica charantria)

  •lowers the blood sugar level

  •diabetes mellitus( mid-non insulin dependent)