Practise using this type of key by classifying the plants in the following picture 'Six different plants'.
Classify the rest of the plants in the following picture.
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Plant |
Plant group |
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dandelion |
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wheat |
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pine tree |
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gum tree |
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grass |
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sedge |
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Like Aristotle, Theophrastus was both a scientist and a philosopher. He is considered the founder of the science of botany because of his detailed study of plant structures and reproduction, and his ideas about classification. Theophrastus' writings about botany were the basis of all plant studies until the 17th century.
What features were used to classify plants?
What features did Theophrastus use to classify plants? Look again at the key 'Theophrastus's plant classification key' to help you decide.
1 Write the features Theophrastus used to classify plants on the lines below.
2 Think about Theophrastus. In your own words, describe what this Greek scholar contributed to biology.
What about the other structural features of plants, are they useful for classification?
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