University of Santo Tomas

College of Science
Department of Biological Sciences

General Botany Laboratory

Exercise 2. Forms of Plants

Group no. 9 Date: ____August 25, 2019________

Group members:

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Objectives:
Following this exercise, the students should be able to:
 Identify the different forms of plants
 Recognize the differences between the different forms of plants.

Introduction:

Plants with different growth forms and habits will characterize different habitats and stages
of succession. In order to understand the processes of succession, you should be familiar with
the major strategies of plant growth and form. One of the major differences in life history
strategies among plants is how long they take to complete their life cycles. Annual plants
(annuals) complete their cycles in a single year. Seeds germinate in the spring, all individuals
flower during the summer, and drop seeds in the fall. These plants live only a single year.
Because they have only a single chance to reproduce, annual plants produce large numbers of
seeds; often only, a few of these many seeds survive. In contrast, perennial plants (perennials)
live for many years. Perennials flower and produce seeds for many growing seasons. Since
they have multiple chances to reproduce, they may produce fewer seeds, which have a better
chance of survival. Some plants are biennials, and have a life cycle, which lasts two years. These
plants store energy, build a strong root system the first year, over winter as a low rosette of leaves,
then flower, and produce seeds during their second summer. After they produce seeds, the plants
die. Relatively few plant species are biennials, and most of these are weeds.

Plants come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, but can be classified into a few growth
forms, or anatomical types. Herbaceous plants (herbs) lack above ground woody tissue.
Herbaceous plants include grasses, "weeds", and most common wild and garden flowers. All
annuals and biennials are herbaceous; many perennials are also herbaceous. Herbaceous plants
devote most of their energy to rapid growth and production of flowers and seeds. Shrubs are
smaller woody plants, usually less than 3 meters high. Shrubs have multiple stems arising from
(or close to) ground level. Trees are large woody plants, usually over nine meters in height,
 University of Santo Tomas
College of Science
Department of Biological Sciences

usually with a single main stem. Trees and shrubs are all perennials, and they devote their first
few years to production of energetically expensive woody tissue. They delay reproduction in order
to use resources to produce permanent structures. Vines have elongate stems adapted for
climbing. They may produce tendrils that help them to cling to trees and shrubs. Vines may or
not have woody tissue.
Source: http://bio.rutgers.edu/~gb102/lab_13/13i2m.html

Activity

1. Familiarize yourself with the specific areas inside UST (you may download a map on the
internet).
2. Inside the campus, locate 5 examples of trees, 5 shrubs, 5 herbs, and 5 examples of vines.
Identify the scientific name and common name of each example; take a clear field
photograph of the vegetative parts, and reproductive parts if there are any.

Materials

 Camera (You may use your phone camera)

Form Identification Field photograph Location inside

UST

1 Tree Scientific Vegetative part: Qpav Park

Name:

Carica
Papaya

Common
Name:

Papaya Tree

Reproductive part:

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 University of Santo Tomas
College of Science
Department of Biological Sciences

2 Tree Scientific Vegetative part: In front of the

Name: Medicine
Auditorium, St.
Leucaena Martin de Porres
leucocephala bldg.
Common
Name:

River
Tamarind
Tree

Reproductive part:

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 University of Santo Tomas
College of Science
Department of Biological Sciences

3 Tree Scientific Vegetative part: In front of

Name: Quadrecentennial
Pavillion
Cocos
nucifera

Common
Name:

Coconut tree

Reproductive part:

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 University of Santo Tomas
College of Science
Department of Biological Sciences

4 Tree Scientific Vegetative part: Qpav Park

Name:

Plumeria
rubra

Common
Name:

Red
frangipani

Reproductive part:

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 University of Santo Tomas
College of Science
Department of Biological Sciences

5 Tree Scientific Vegetative part: Beside the Main

Name: Building near the
Qeuzon drive
Dypsis
lanceolata

Common
Name:

Ivovowo Palm

Reproductive part:

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 University of Santo Tomas
College of Science
Department of Biological Sciences

6 shrub Scientific Vegetative part:

Name:

Common
Name:
Reproductive part:

7 Shrub Scientific Vegetative part:

Name:
Reproductive part:
Common
Name:

8 Shrub Scientific Vegetative part:

Name:
Reproductive part:
Common
Name:

9 Shrub Scientific Vegetative part:

Name:
Reproductive part:
Common
Name:

10 shrub Scientific Vegetative part:

Name:
Reproductive part:
Common
Name:

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 University of Santo Tomas
College of Science
Department of Biological Sciences

11 Herb Scientific Vegetative part: Beside the

Name: Medicine
Auditorium, St.
Tradescantia Martin de Porres
pallida bldg.

Common
Name:

Purple Heart

Reproductive part:

12 Herb Scientific Vegetative part: Medicine

Name: Auditorium, St.
Martin de Porres
Cyphonandra bldg.
betacea

Common
Name:

Tomato

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 University of Santo Tomas
College of Science
Department of Biological Sciences

Reproductive part:

13 Herb Scientific Vegetative part: Beside the UST

Name: Hospital

Peperomia
pellucida

Common
Name:

Man to man

Reproductive part:

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 University of Santo Tomas
College of Science
Department of Biological Sciences

14 Herb Scientific Vegetative part:

Name:

Capsicum
frutescens

Common
Name:

Chilli pepper

Reproductive part:

15 Herb Scientific Vegetative part:

Name:

Chlorophytum
comosum

Common Reproductive part:

Name:

16 Vines Scientific Vegetative part:

Name:
Reproductive part:

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 University of Santo Tomas
College of Science
Department of Biological Sciences

Common
Name:

17 Vines Scientific Vegetative part:

Name:
Reproductive part:
Common
Name:

18 Vines Scientific Vegetative part:

Name:
Reproductive part:
Common
Name:

19 Vines Scientific Vegetative part:

Name:
Reproductive part:
Common
Name:

20 Vines Scientific Vegetative part:

Name:
Reproductive part:
Common
Name:

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