.
Flower is the reproductive organ of the plant. Flowers can be composite or simple.
And using flower as the classification criteria makes this a natural classification.
Natural Classification of Plants
Carolus Linnaeus (1707 – 1778) is the first
scientist who presented a natural classification
criteria for plants which have a wide variety
around the world. He introduced his method in
1740s and at that time identified plant
varieties were very few.
So, the initial classification of plants criteria
by Carl wasn’t perfect, but it made a bright
mark.
Modern accepted mechanism for
classification of plants were introduced after
the Evolution Theory of Charles Darwin in
1859. Since Phylogeny is the key-factor of
these classifications, it led to a good
explanation of evolutionary relationships.
New natural classification of plants use
the relationships among the plants. In order
to identify the relationships of plants, we have
to learn almost all the characteristics of
plants. At that time, scientists didn’t had a
clear knowledge about sexual relationships
of some plants.
That led them to classify plants that they knew
had sexual relationships as Phanergamic
Plants while the plants that they didn’t knew
– Lack of sexual relationship knowledge –
exactly as Cryptogamic Plants. However,
later scientists were able to reveal lot of
information about sexual reproduction of
Cryptogamic Plants too.
Stem, branches, leaves and the roots of a plant
are identified as Vegetative Organs. Sexual
organs of a plant are identified
as Androecium and Gynoecium. A flower is
a host for bunch of organs, hence we can
design a perfect classification of plants
as flowering plants and non-flowering
plants.
1. FLOWERING PLANTS or Angiosperms
Characteristics:
 their reproduction is done by flowers
 produce seeds. And it is covered by a fruit
 These are the most developed plants in the world
Types: Dicot & Monocot
i. Dicotyledonous - The seed of this type of plants have 2
cotyledons inside it. Also the root system has a long tap
root. The leaves have webbed veins and the flowers have
5 or multiple of 5 petals. Example: Jak, Mango, Lemon,
Apple, Tomato
ii. Monocotyledonous - These plants don’t have a tap root
system, but a fibrous root system. The seed has only 1
cotyledons and the veins of the leaves are parallel.
Number of petals in the flowers are 3 or multiples of 3.
Example: Coconut, Wheat, Palm, Rice, Garlic
2. NON-FLOWERING PLANTS
Classifications:
 Gymnosperms - plant with seeds and the embryo is
inside a seed. The seed is not covered not not enclosed
in a fruit. Examples: Yews, Ginkgo, Cycads,
Conifers, Pine
 Bryophyte - doesn’t have seeds. Sometimes they do have
leaves. There are no true roots, but roots like structures
available. These are also known as Rhizoids and grow on
moist walls and ground. Examples: Mosses, Liverworts,
Hornworts
 Pteridophyta – Ferns - Stem of these plants may be an
underground rhizome or an Arial stem that grows straight.
These have well developed Xylem and Phloem vascular
tissues. The leaves have spores and also don’t have seeds.
Examples: Nephrolepis
 FLOWERING PLANTS

TOMATO

SUNFLOWER

RICE
 NON-FLOWERING PLANTS

CONIFERS

MOSSES

FERNS