Jan Catalina R.

Munar CAS-06-403P BOTANY

1. Types of plants
Types of Plants Based on Size

One of the important categories of classification, plants can also be differentiated in terms of their
size. From small, medium to huge, the growth of a plant remains limited to the size it
corresponds. Take a look at their different types as per the category of size.
Herbs
Herbs are considered the smallest in size. Their heights are not more than a foot or a few
centimetres and consist of soft stems. Generally, they have fewer branches or none. These herbs
are filled with vitamins and minerals and are an essential part of a nutritious diet. Some of the
major examples of herbs are tomato, ginger, paddy, etc.

Shrubs
‘They are also not very big in size but they are bigger than the herbs, almost a meter and have
hard stems. Examples of shrubs are Rosemary, Cherry, Basil, etc.

Trees
As we all know, trees are the biggest of plants and have very hard stems which are known as the
trunk. The trunk of a tree has branches that bear fruits, leaves and fruits. They can have great
heights, mostly more than a meter. Examples of trees are Mango, Banana, etc.

Creepers
Those plants that creep on the ground have very fragile as well as thin and long stems are
referred to as creepers. These creepers cannot stand straight or support their own weight. Some
of the major creepers include strawberries, sweet potatoes, watermelon, amongst others.

Climbers
Similar to creepers in their thin, long and weak stems, the Climbers cannot stand erect as well but
grow vertically through external supports and can carry their own weight. Some of the examples
of climbers are money plants, runner beans, grapevine, etc.
Types of Plants Based on Life Cycle

Known as the longest living beings on the earth, the classification of age also corresponds to the
growth and size of a plant. Every plant completes its life cycle depending upon its surroundings
as well as seed and whether it got the required nutrition to grow or not. They are mainly of three
types based on the category of the life cycle:
Ephemeral
Ephemerals comprise a very short life span. Having a shorter life cycle that only spans across a
few weeks, they grow, reproduce and die and are found almost everywhere. They are not just
limited to just a single type of environment and some of the ephemeral plants are Bloodroot, Red
trillium, Great White trillium, etc.

Annual

As the name suggests, the annual category corresponds to those plants that only sustain for
more or less than a year. Mainly used for growing crops and in agriculture, the popular examples
of this type are Watermelon, Maize, Durum, etc.

Biennial
Biennials require two years to complete their biological cycle of growth, reproduction and then
decay. During these two years, the first year encompasses their flowering process and they start
to die in the subsequent one. Late spring is the flowering time for Biennials and their prominent
examples are Kalette, Hollyhock, Potato, Carrot, etc.

Perennial
Having the longest life span of all, Perennials continue to grow for several years. They do not
have any fixed age to complete their biological cycle. If they are no t harmed by nature or cut
down forcefully, they will continue to grow for hundreds of years. Examples of such plants are
Strawberry, Basil, Oregano, etc.

Types of Plants Based on Seeds

Seeds lie the foundation of a plant as their growth mainly relies on the type of see d. Some seeds
can be used as food for other living beings while others’ main task is to grow into a new plant.
Based on the seeds of a plant, we can divide them into two types.

Monocotyledon

Having have their seeds in one piece, Monocotyledon has a single cotyledon as per their name.
Examples of these types of plants are Rice, Orchids, Bamboo and so on.

Dicotyledon
These types of plants have two cotyledons within their seeds which can be divi ded into two equal
parts. Examples of Dictyledon are Cashew, Oaks, etc.
2. Plants structure and functions
3. Phyllotaxy
Phyllotaxy is the term used to describe the arrangement of leaves around the stem. The proper
arrangement of leaves is important for providing sunlight and photosynthesis.

Leaves arise from the node of the stem. They develop from the shoot apical meristems. Leaves have
axillary buds that develop into branches. The three main types of leaf arrangement are:

1. Alternate – In this type of phyllotaxy, a single leaf originates at each node and leaves are
arranged in an alternate fashion. E.g. mustard, china rose, sunflower, etc.
2. Opposite – In this type of arrangement, two leaves arise at each node and they lie opposite
each other. E.g. guava, Calotropis, etc.
3. Whorled – In this type of phyllotaxy, more than two leaves arise at each node and form a
whorl. This type of arrangement is found in Alstonia.