University of Science and Technology of Southern

Philippines - Claveria
Claveria, Misamis Oriental 9004 Philippines
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Unit 2.2
Classification of Crop Plants
Descriptive Classification
Week 4: September 17-23, 2020 | 1st Semester, S.Y. 2020-2021

Introduction

Did you know that in the kingdom Plantae, no two species

are exactly alike? They are unique to each other, some are very
the same while others are so different from one another. The
similarities and differences of crop plants are the reason for the
classification.
There are no hard and fast rules in determining whether a
crop is a horticultural or an agronomic one. The purpose of which
a crop is grown, the type of culture and the general custom of the
country where it is found, are the determining factor.
In this module, we will learn different ways of classifying
crop plants.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this module the learners shall be able to:

1. Familiarize the different types of crop plants.
2. Learn the various ways of classifying crop plants.

COURSE
MODULE

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 I. Classification of Crop Plants

C. Descriptive Classification
Plants are classified based on the following criteria:
a. Growth habits
Annuals – single growing season
Biennials – two growing seasons
Perennial – continue growing indefinitely
b. Structure and form
Herbaceous – soft and succulent
Woody – develop secondary tissues
Vines – trailing or climbing plants
Trees – woody; single stem
c. Leaf retention
Deciduous – lose leaves annually for extended period.
Evergreen – maintain leaves throughout the year
d. Climatic adaptation
Tropical – warm climate
Temperate – marked winter season (freezing)
Sub-tropical – e.g. Baguio city
Classification according to Tissue Structure
1. Vascular Plants
These Plants possess specialized supporting and water-
conducting tissue, called Xylem, and food conducting tissue,
called Phloem. The Ferns, Gymnosperms, and Flowering
Plants are all Vascular Plants. Because they possess
vascular tissues, these Plants have true stems, leaves, and
COURSE roots. They are also known as Tracheophytes.
MODULE 2. Non-Vascular Plants -

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 These Plants lack specialized vascular tissue (xylem and
phloem) for internal water and food conduction and support.
Bryophytes are, therefore, known as Non-Vascular Plants as
they possess no true roots, stems, or leaves. Non-Vascular
Plants include Moss, Liverworts, Hornworts etc.
Classification according to Phylum
1. Bryophyta - These are the most primitive group, lacking vascular
tissues Bryophytes have no root, leaves or stems.
2. Psilophyta - These are simple Vascular Plants lacking true roots
3. Sphenophyta or Equisetophyta – spore-bearing group of vascular
plants with both living and extinct (fossil) members.
4. Filicinophyta or Pterydophyta - These are Vascular Plants which
reproduce by spores. They are commonly known as Ferns.
5. Cycadophyta - Palm-like or fern-like compound leaves;
6. Ginkgophyta - Gingko is a tall. There is only one Species of
Ginkgophyta, known as 'Ginkgo biloba'.
7. Coniferophyta or Pinatae - It is a Gymnosperm
8. Angiospermophyta or Magnoliophyta - It is the dominant land
vegetation of the Earth, including nearly every familiar tree or shrub
that produces flowers and seeds organs). These are commonly
known as Angiosperms.
Plant Classification According to Natural Adaptation
1. Aquatic plants, Hydrophytes, or hydrophytic plants, also called
water-loving plants, are plants that are naturally adapted to growing in
water or waterlogged soil.
2. Acidifuge or calcicole plants, also called chalk-loving, lime-
loving and acid-escaping plants, are plants that prefer calcareous
or alkaline soils or soils with ph above 7.0. the alfalfa (Medicago
sativa)
3. Calcifuge or acidicole plants, also called chalk-escaping, lime
hating, acidophilous, acid-loving, and acid soil plants, are those
that prefer acidic soils or soils having pH levels below 7.0 but do
not tolerate alkaline (basic) or calcareous soils. Crop examples
under this plant classification are the rhododendrons and azaleas
which have a low lime requirement and can live in soils with pH
levels of 4.0 or less (Stiling, 1999).
COURSE
4. Epiphytes or epiphytic plants, also called air plants and tree
MODULE dwellers, are plants adapted to growing aboveground on another
plant but they are not parasitic. They usually need the host only

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 for physical support, deriving their nutritional requirements from
the air and other sources.
5. Halophytes or halophytic plants, also called salt loving plants,
are plants that can tolerate growing under saline conditions or in
natural habitats which are excessively rich in salts. included under
the halophytic plant classification are the nipa (Nypa fruticans),
talisay (Terminalia catappa), bakawan (Rhizophora mucronata)
and many other mangrove species.
6. Heliophytes or heliophytic plants, also called sun-loving
plants, are those that require for their optimum growth full
exposure to the sun. examples are coconut, mango (Mangifera
indica), sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), corn (Zea mays).
This plant classification also applies to the xerophytic plants.
7. Lithophytes or lithophytic plants are plants with special
adaptation to growing on rocks or in rocky terrain having scant
humus. They absorb nutrients from the air, rain, and decaying
organic matter which accumulate on the rocks. Examples are
orchids belonging to the genera vanda, ascocenda, ascocentrum,
and trudelia.
8. Metallophytes are plants adapted to natural habitats with toxic
levels of metals such as Ni, Co, Cr and Mn. Examples of metal-
tolerant plants are myristica laurifolia, shorea tenuiramulosa,
rinorea bengalensis, phyllanthus balgooyi, and walsura
monophylla (ises, 2010).
9. Mesophytes or mesophytic plants, also called moist-loving
plants, belong to the terrestrial plants. Their natural habitats
consist of moderate conditions for plant growth. These conditions
are described as not excessively dry but not too wet. Examples
are corn and many fruit trees and vegetables.
10. Neutrophilus plants or neutrophiles, are plants that can
tolerate either acidic or alkaline soils.
11. Parasites or parasitic plants, are plants which grow on another
plant (host) which they need as a source of nourishment, either
partially or entirely.
12. Phreatophytes are plants adapted to arid conditions by growing
long roots which obtain water from underground reserves. The
mere presence of these plants indicates a stable supply of
underground water and such knowledge has been applied by
COURSE
digging wells close to them. Examples are the mesquite
MODULE
(Prosopis), cottonwood tree (Populus) and California fan palm
(Washingtonia filifera).

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 13. Saprophytes or saprophytic crops, refers to the mushrooms.
they are not plants but fungi which have no green tissues. their
natural habitat consists of the dead or decaying organic matter
from which they obtain their food knowledge of their natural
habitat has been put into use in their commercialized production.
mushrooms are grown on organic substrates such as banana
leaves, rice straws and other plant leaves, saw dust and logs.
14. Sciophytes or sciophytic plants, also called shade-loving
plants, are those plants with special ecological adaptation to
reduced light intensity or partial sun.
15. Xerophytes, xerophytic or xeric plants, also called dry loving
plants, are those having plant adaptation to regions with scant or
no water and hot conditions. Their natural habitats are the arid
and semi-arid regions and those places with long summer
drought.
Classifications based on number of cotyledons:
a. monocots or monocotyledons: having one cotyledon in
the seed. e.g. all cereals & millets.
b. dicots or dicotyledonous: crops having two cotyledons
in the seed. e.g. all legumes
Classifications based on length of photoperiod required for floral
initiation:
1. Short-day plants: flower initiation takes plate when days are
short less than ten hours. E.G. Rice,
2. Long days plants: require long days are more than ten hours
for floral ignition. E.G. Wheat, barley,
3. Day neutral plants: photoperiod does not have much
influence for phase change for these plants. E.G. Cotton,
sunflower. The rate of the flowering initiation depends on how
short or long is photoperiod. Shorter the days, more rapid
initiation of flowering in short days plants. Longer the days
more rapid are the initiation of flowering in long days plants.

COURSE
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 Activity

Take the self-assessment Quiz #1, which opens on September 27,

2021 (Tuesday), at the USTP e-Learning Portal.

Quiz 1 will include all the topics covered in unit 2.

RESOURCES AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Bautista, O.K. 1994. Introduction to Tropical Horticulture.
2nd Edition. SEAMEO and UPLB
Pava, H.M. 2003. Introduction to Crop Science. CMU
University Town, Musuan Bukidnon

COURSE
MODULE

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