5 Classification
Classification, or classing something, is the assignment of “things” that are similar into recognisable groups.
What groups can you identify in the class? (You are classified by just being in this ‘class’!)
Classification using the Taxonomic system
Taxonomy is the science of defining or classifying organisms into groups.
Plants are arranged into groups of similar or shared characteristics.
As the organism becomes further classified, other organisms in that grouping have more in common, i.e. plants with the same Genus will have the most in common.
There is only one plant in a species! That is the most specific grouping, and this species name is specific to only one plant.
The kingdom is the largest group of organisms, and species is the smallest, most specific group or name.
In this unit we mostly work in the phylum of vascular plants, which we discuss later in this unit.
In the certificate III Identify Plants unit you will further focus on plant families.
Changes within taxonomy
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Different people have different ideas about what is the most important feature of a group and these ideas can change over time.
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Likewise, taxonomy is not something that remains the same over time. You should always keep in mind that there may be changes in the way a particular plant or other living thing is classified or named. These changes reflect developments in our understanding of structures and relationships.