Plant Taxonomy

• Theophrastus was a greek philosopher and naturalist


  370-285 B.C.
• Theophrastus


  Often called the "Father of Botany"
• Theophrastus was the pupil of Aristotle and was the first one to publish a classification of plants
• Works of Theophrastus


  • Enquiry into plants
  • On the causes of Plants
• Theophrastus' classification of plants

  • Based on form (herbs, shrubs, trees)
  • Based on life cycle (annuals, biennials, perennials)
• Herbs


  Fragrant leaves or other parts of certain plants. Herbs in the Philippines called "damong-gamot"
• Herbs


  • mint
  • basil
  • oregano
  • parsley
  • kinchay
• Shrubs


  A type of plant typically have multiple woody stems and are smaller than trees
• Shrubs


  • roses
  • pomegranate
  • jasmine
  • lemon
  • china roses
• Trees


  Woody perennial plants, having a single stem or trunk growing to a considerable height with lateral branches
• Trees


  • mango
  • papaya
  • ylang-ylang
  • banaba
  • narra
  • raingbolog
• Carolus Linnaeus


  1707-1778
• Binomial system of naming plants

  All plants have a scientific name compared of Latin names for genus and species
• Linnaeus' system is still used today and he is called the "Father of Taxonomy"
• Levels of plant classification

  • Kingdom (275,000 species)
  • Phylum (150,000 species)
  • Class (235,000 species)
  • Order (18,000 species)
  • Family (3,500 species)
  • Genus (3,500 species)
  • Species (e.g. moss rose)
• The plant kingdom has over 275,000 species
• Vascular plants


  • Have tube-like structures that carry water, nutrients, and other substances
  • Examples: ferns, gymnosperms, flowering plants
• Non-vascular plants


  • Do not have tube-like structures but use other ways to move water or substances
  • Examples: algae, mosses, liverworts, hornworts
• Subclasses of plants


  • Angiosperms (plants that produce flowers)
  • Gymnosperms (plants that don't produce flowers)
• Dicotyledons (dicots)


  • Plants with 2 seed leaves
  • Examples: papaya, tomatoes, rose, sunflower
• Monocotyledons (monocots)


  • Plants with 1 seed leaf
  • Examples: coconut, ginger, orchid
• Differences between monocots and dicots


  • Monocots have parallel veins, vascular bundles arranged in a ring, fibrous roots, and produce a single leaf when germinating
  • Dicots have net-like veins, vascular bundles located in the middle, a taproot, and produce 2 leaves when germinating
• Order


  A group of related plant families, classified in the order they are thought to have developed their differences from a common ancestor
• Names of orders end in -ales
• There are over 18,000 plant orders
• There are a total of 13,500 plant species in the Philippines
• 1,500 of the Philippine plant species are medicinal plants
• 3,500 of the Philippine plant species are considered indigenous
• 120 medicinal plants (12.5%) have been validated for safety and efficacy
• 10 medicinal plants have been promoted by the DOH since 1993 and PITAHC since 1997
• Global uses of medicinal plants

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


  • Kingdom Plantae
  • Order Lamiales
  • Family Lamiaceae
  • Species: V. negundo
  • Binomial name: Vitex negundo
  • Common name: Chinese chaste tree, five leaved chaste tree, horseshoe vitex
• Lagundi (Vitex negundo)


  • Used for asthma, cough, upper and lower respiratory tract infections
  • Used for fever, dysentery, colds, pain
  • Used for skin diseases and wounds
  • Used for headache, rheumatism, sprain, contusions, insect bites
• Sambong (Blumea balsamifera)


  • Kingdom Plantae
  • Order: Asterales
  • Family: Asteraceae
  • Genus Blumea
  • Species Blumea balsamifera
  • Binomial name: Blumea balsamifera
  • Common name: Bukad kad, subusab, rubbub osobsob
• Sambong (Blumea balsamifera)


  • Anti edema and diuretic
  • Treat urolithiasis (urinary tract infection or kidney stone)
  • Anti-hypertensive
  • Treat stomach pains
  • Treat infected wounds and respiratory infections
  • Expectorant and anti-diarrheal
• Akapulko (Senna alata)


  • Kingdom Plantae
  • Order: Fabales
  • Family Fabaceae
  • Genus Senna
  • Species: S. alata
  • Binomial name: Senna alata
  • Common name: Emperor's candlestick, bayas bayalan, candle tree
• Akapulko (Senna alata)


  • Fungicidal properties for treating ringworm and other fungal skin infections
  • Laxative and purgative properties - stimulate and facilitate evacuation of the bowels
• Ampalaya (Momordica charantia)


  • Kingdom Plantae
  • Order: Cucurbitales
  • Family Cucurbitaceae
  • Genus: Momordica
  • Species M. charantia
  • Binomial name: Momordica charantia
  • Common name: Bitter Gourd, bitter melon, bitter apple, bitter squash, balsam-pear
• Ampalaya (Momordica charantia)


  • Lowers blood sugar
  • Treats diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent)
• Coconut (Cocos nucifera)


  • Kingdom Plantae
  • Order: Arecales
  • Family Arecaceae
  • Genus Cocos
  • Species: C. nucifera
  • Binomial name: Cocos nucifera
  • Common name: coconut, coconut palm, coconut fruit