ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION

The diversity of plant life is an essential underpinning of most of our terrestrial ecosystems.
Humans and most other animals are almost totally dependent on plants, directly or indirectly, as
a source of energy through their ability to convert the sun's energy through photosynthesis.
Worldwide tens of thousands of species of higher plants, and several hundred lower plants, are
currently used by humans for a wide diversity of purposes as food, fuel, fibre, oil, herbs, spices,
industrial crops and as forage and fodder for domesticated animals. In addition, many
thousands of species are grown as ornamentals in parks, public and private gardens, as street
trees and for shade and shelter. (Krupnick, 2001) And as everyone can observe, the plants in
the Bicol Universitys College of Science is very much abundant. This is to provide the campus
with a warm ambiance full of green organisms. This will also lower the temperature inside the
campus; with many of them are photosynthesizing plants that gives of nitrogen that also helps in
the circulation of a healthy air. Now the challenge to the young biologist is to determine the
diversity of plants in College of Science especially outside the Building 3.

There are three types of classification and with the knowledge of morphology, embryology,
palynology, cytology, biochemistry, physiology, and phylogeny has added steps to the concept
of classification. The story of classification has also served in evolution of various allied
branches of botany. Linnaeus promulgated an artificial system of classification based on one or
few characters. Thus, classification is the basic method which man employs to grip with and
organize the external world.

The three kinds of classification are artificial, natural and phylogenetic artificial classification.
When plants are classified for the sake of convenience only, using some arbitrary or easily
observable characteristics the classification is called artificial. One of the most familiar artificial
system is that of Linnaeus, where he employed number of stamens as one of the important
characters in his system of classification. Natural systems of classification reflect the situation
as it might have existed in nature, this clearly means that all plant existing today are related and
should be grouped together to form a natural group. The system of Bentham and Hooker is a
good example of Natural System of Classification. Phylogenetic Classification systems are
those where plants are classified according to their evolutionary tendencies. It may be pointed
out clearly that due to incomplete fossil records it is not possible to claim a system as a perfect
phylogenetic one. The phylogenetic classification is usually designed on the basis of natural
classification. Thus there is an overlapping in practice. The systems of classification proposed
by Engler and PrantlHutchinson and Takhtajan are excellent examples of phylogenetic
classification. (mitterhub.com) But in this activity system of classification is being applied. There
is just a specific area designated to classify the plants. Also this activity is limited only to plant
organisms, other than that is ignored.

The objectives of this activity are to be able to classify the plants outside the College of Science
Building 3 by analysing their morphological structure. They are also to be classified with respect
to their habit, habitat, water requirement, ability to manufacture food and duration of life. Another
is to be able to assess the diversity of plants outside the building. Since the area that was
assigned to the group is outside of CSB3 which is the area of ornamental garden, there will be
much diverse herb plants which require a moderate amount of water and mostly are terrestrial
plants which are autotrophic. As young biologists, we should be familiarized with regards to
classifying organisms by applying our knowledge about morphoanatomy of plants.


MATERIALS

Data Sheet
Plants around College of Science Building 3
Camera
References


PROCEDURE

First was the designation of assigned areas where different plants are to be classified limited
only to that area of the group. Our group was assigned outside the CSB3 including the plants on
the left side of the building. We acquainted ourselves while observing the different plants in our
assigned area and took pictures of them for documentation. Some are not commonly known to
us but all of them are to be classified in artificial way. That is, from their plant habit (trees,
shrubs, herbs, or vines), habitat (aerial, aquatic, or terrestrial), water requirement (mesophytes,
xerophytes, hydrophytes, or halophytes), ability to manufacture food (autotrophic or
heterotrophic) and duration of life (annual, biennial, or perrennial).


RESULTS

Table1. Plants around CSB3 that are identified and unidentified are classified according to their habit,
habitat, water requirement, ability to manufacture food and duration of life.



Plant T
r
e
e

S
h
r
u
b

H
e
r
b

V
i
n
e

M
o
s
s

F
e
r
n

G
r
a
s
s

A
e
r
i
a
l

A
q
u
a
t
i
c

T
e
r
r
e
s
t
r
i
a
l

M
e
s
o
p
h
y
t
e

X
e
r
o
p
h
y
t
e

H
y
d
r
o
p
h
y
t
e

H
a
l
o
p
h
y
t
e

A
u
t
o
t
r
o
p
h
i
c

H
e
t
e
r
o
t
r
o
p
h
i
c

A
n
n
u
a
l

B
i
e
n
n
i
a
l

P
e
r
e
n
n
i
a
l

Manimani
(Arachis pintoi)

Santan
(Ixora sp.)

Flax lily
(Diarella
caenulea)

Moss
Lubi-lubi
(Ficus
pseudopalma)

Guyabano
(Annona
muricata)

Gumamela
(Hibiscus
rosasinensis)

Euphorbia milii
Katakataka
(Klanchoe
pinnata)

Mango Trees
(Mangifera
indica)

Ti Plant
(Cordyline
terminalis)

Pineapple
(Ananas
comosus)

Michiko Cane
(Dracaena
Michico Cane)

Fortune plant
(Agastache
foeniculum)

Calamansi
(Citrus
microcarpa)

Coconut Tree
(Cocos nucifera)
Snake plant
(Sansevieria
trifasciata)

Bougainvilla sp.
Makahiya
(Mimosa pudica)

Bermuda grass
(Cynodon
dactylon)

Macrathur Palm
(Ptychosperma
Macartrii)

Dumbcane
Holy Red Beauty
Bagangan grass
Species 1
Species 2
Species 3
Species 4
Species 5
Species 6
Species 7
Species 8
Species 9
Species 10
Species 11
Species 12
Species 13
Species 14
Species 15
Species 16
Species 17
Species 18
Species 20
Species 21




DISCUSSION


Figure 1. The figure shows the different types of habit of
plants around CSB3.


Figure 2 . The figure shows the different types of habitat of
the plants around CSB3.


Figure 3. The figure shows the different types of water
requirement of the plants around CSB3.

34%
25%
6.80%
4.50%
2.30%
2.30%
25.00%
Herbs
Trees
Vine
Ferns
Moss
Grass
Shrubs
98%
2%
0%
Terrestrial
Aerial
Aquatic
98%
2%
0%
0%
Mesophyte
Hydrophyte
Xerophyte
Halophyte
Table1 shows the cost of different variation of plants in a specific area, outside CSB3
building. Where in qualitative analysis was done to see and compare the plants morphological
structure to another. Thus is also a way of looking into the biodiversity of plants in that specific
area. A total of 44 plants had been identified. They are classified with respect to their habit,
habitat, water requirement, ability to manufacture food and duration of life. In terms of their habit
from Figure 1, there are 15 herbs, 11 trees and shrubs, 3 vines, 2 ferns, 1 moss and grass, had
been identified. It is seen that there is a bountiful amount of herbs in that area. The fact that the
area observed was an ornamental garden. Herbs are small which takes up less space, can
easily be propagated and are pleasing to the eyes. Human intervention is also a factor of this
state of area. With the least amount is the moss and grass. Even though grass could be found
everywhere, some grass prefers a specific habitat to thrive in, in simple terms they are picky. On
the moss, they require a moist environment to reproduce and propagate. The area to which they
are found is where rain pours from the roof of the building. So only selective parts of the area
are this plants able to live that explains their few numbers.

In terms of habitat from Figure 2, 43 plants thrive in a terrestrial way. Only 1 aerial plant
had been distinguished. This is because the area has a rich soil (loam soil). Its just preferably
right that these plants obtain their nutrients through the soil.

In terms of water requirement from Figure 3, 43 plants are mesophyte. These are plants
which thrive in just right water condition. This is also due to the sol composition of the area. Only
1 hydrophyte plant which is the moss had been identified. These plants need a plentiful amount
of water that explains their little number.

All 44 identified plants are autotrophs; they produce their own food with organic
compounds obtained from the environment. Also all 44 plants in terms of duration of life are
perennial; these are plants that live from year to year. The Philippines having two climates, wet
and dry, these plants should thrive from the start to year end.


CONCLUSION

The area observed displays a wide range of plant biodiversity. A numerous difference in
morphological structures of plants is displayed. Human intervention to that area defines to what
extent of diversity of plants are in there. Environmental factor is the top most consideration to
plant biodiversity where only selected plants are able to live and propagate to that area.


REFERENCES
Krupnick, Gary. The importance of plant diversity. Centres of Plant Diversity: Introduction.
Department of Botany, National Museum of Natural History, February 2001 <
http://botany.si.edu/projects/cpd/introduction.htm#importance>.

Types of Classification. Systems Of Classification: Plants. 2013<http://mitterhub.com/know
ledge/notes/botany/LSE-07%20Taxonomy%20and%20Evolution/Block1%20History%20
and%20Concept%20of%20Taxonomy/Systems%20of%20Classification%20%20Plants.
pdf >.

Bicol University
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
Department of Biology















EXERCISE 2
FORMS OF PLANTS















Group No. 2


Emmylou C. Nicolas
May D. Orozco
Kenneth Dela Fuente
Angelica Millar
BS Biology 2-A


Prof. Joan R. Nace
Laboratory Instructor