AGF 103: AGROFORESTRY TAXONOMY

Marvi Mynell P. Cid

MODULE 2: Agroforestry Species Morphology

I. Overview

This module aims to understand Agroforestry species morphology and its

significance in agroforestry systems. By exploring the basic concepts, morphological
characteristics, effective study methods, and the role of morphology in ecosystem
services, learners will gain the knowledge needed to design and manage productive and
sustainable agroforestry systems.

The study of Agroforestry species morphology is essential for understanding the

physical characteristics of trees and their importance in agroforestry systems. By
examining leaf, stem, and root morphology, we can uncover valuable insights into growth
patterns, adaptation strategies, and ecosystem services provided by these species.

Taxonomic characters play a crucial role in identifying and classifying different

agroforestry plants, enabling us to understand their unique characteristics and utilize
them effectively.

II. Learning Objectives

After finishing the module, you will be able to:

1. Identify the different morphological features of specific plants.
2. Investigate and document the morphological features of different plant species
for accurate classification and identification.

III. Learning Concepts

Carolus Linnaeus classified organisms that can be seen with the naked eye into two large groups
called Kingdoms: Plantae and Animalia. This was based on whether or not they could move.

Fungi were included with plants. Linnaeus further divided organisms by shared physical
characteristics. His sub-groups included classes, orders, genera, and species. With the invention
of the microscope around 1590 new organisms were discovered. This led to the need for more
kingdoms.

The Five Kingdom system was first proposed in 1969. In this system, prokaryotes were put
into a single kingdom called Monera. Most multicellular eukaryotes were either in the
kingdom Plantae (plants), Animalia (animals), or fungi. Eukaryotes that did not fit elsewhere
were put in the kingdom Protista.

Not long after the five-kingdom system was created, Carl Woese proposed a Six
Kingdom system. He split the Monera kingdom into two new kingdoms. These were archaea,
which were ancient single-celled organisms and bacteria.
AGF 103: AGROFORESTRY TAXONOMY
Marvi Mynell P. Cid

But Carl wasn’t finished thinking about classification. In 1990, he developed what is known as
the Three Domain system. This system groups organisms mainly based on differences in the
structure of the ribonucleic acid (RNA) found in their ribosomes. Within the three domains,
there are six kingdoms. These domains closely mirror the ones from 1977.

Morphology

Morphe = form + logos = study

Morphology deals with the study of forms and features of different plant organs like roots,
stems, leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, etc.
The body of a typical angiospermic plant is differentiated into:
a. An underground root system
b. An aerial shoot system

The shoot system consists of a stem (including branches), leaves, flowers, and fruits.

The roots, stems, and leaves are vegetative parts, while the flowers constitute the
reproductive part
AGF 103: AGROFORESTRY TAXONOMY
Marvi Mynell P. Cid

Classification of Plants

Crops are classified for order and organization. Agricultural crops are diverse in nature hence
classification of a crop is very helpful.
Crops are classified for logical naming. A crop can be identified by its common name, which
varies from one locality to another, or by its scientific name, which is constant worldwide.

A. SYSTEMS OF CLASSIFICATION
a. Artificial system – based on convenience in which a structure of features serves as a basis
for grouping.
b. Natural system – uses the most prominent and most peculiar morphological structure of the
plant with the intention of grouping those crops that are most familiar in a number of
structures.
c. Phylogenetic system – plants are classified according to their evolutionary status.

B. GENERAL CLASSIFICATION OF CROPS

i. According to growth habit

a. Herbs – succulent plants with self-supporting stems, with soft stems.
b. Vines – succulent or woody plants without self-supporting stems.
c. Shrubs – may have several main branches with no trunk and rarely grows higher than 5
meters.

ii. According to the life cycle

a. Annuals – complete their life cycle in one year or single growing season, or few weeks
to a few months. They pass the unfavorable period in the form of seeds e.g. Mustard,
Pea.
b. Biennials – Complete their life cycle in two years- growing, vegetative, and storing food
in the first year, flowering and fruiting in the second year. They die off after producing
flowers and fruits, e.g. Radishes, Turnips, carrots are biennial in colder areas. They
become annual in warmer places.
c. Perennials – Survive for several years. These plants usually bear flowers and fruits every
year and do not die after producing flowers. e.g. Mango, Banana, Guava.

iii. According to the mode of reproduction

a. Sexual – plants that develop after undergoing processes of meiosis and fertilization in
the flower to reproduce a viable embryo in the seed.
b. Asexual – plants that are produced by any vegetative means not involving meiosis and
the union of gametes.

iv. Special types:

a. Parasites – parasitic, sucking roots
b. Epiphytes – grow upon other plants (orchids) but not parasitic.
c. Saprophytes – grow in places rich in decaying organic substances,
AGF 103: AGROFORESTRY TAXONOMY
Marvi Mynell P. Cid

C. CLASSIFICATION OF CROPS BASED ON PURPOSE

1. Cereals/Grain crops – grown for their grains (rice, corn, wheat, sorghum)
2. Legumes – for pods and seeds (cowpea, mungbean, sitao, peanut)
3. Root crops – for enlarged roots/tuberous roots (cassava, ube, arrowroot)
4. Fiber crops – grown for their fibers used in textile, cordage, twines, sacks, bags, etc.
(cotton, ramie, kenaf, jute)
5. Oil crops – grown for their oil content (soybean, peanut, sunflower, castor, coconut)
6. Sugar crops – grown for their sugar content (sugar cane, sugar beet, stevia)
7. Pasture/Forage crops – used for roughage source for animals (para grass, Napier grass,
ipil-ipil)
8. Beverage crops – used for brewing non-alcoholic drinks (coffee, cacao, tea)
9. Spices, condiments, and essences provide special flavor, scent, and color to food,
perfumes, soaps, and body dressing. (black pepper, vanilla, citronella, ilang-ilang, annatto)
10. Latex and resins – used for extracting sap from the trunk/stem. (rubber, chico, pili, rimas,
papaya)
11. Medicinal and poison crops – with curative, laxative, and pesticidal properties. (Lagundi,
sambong, tabacco)
12. Vegetables – usually eaten with staple crops, further classified according to similarities in
the method of culture.
a. Root – radish, carrot
b. Leafy – spinach, lettuce
c. Stem – celery, asparagus
d. Flowers – squash, katuray
e. Fruit – okra, tomato, eggplant
13. Fruits – edible botanical fruits usually used for dessert which may be eaten raw, cooked
or in processed form. (pineapple, cashew, mango)
14. Ornamentals – plants cultivated mainly for their aesthetic value, further classified
according to their special uses.
a. Cut flowers – grown for its flowers (roses, orchids)
b. Cut-foliage – foliage provides background in floral arrangement (ferns, fortune plant,
palmera)
c. Flowering pot plants – plants grown in containers for their flowers that are usually
used for display
d. Landscape plants – for landscaping purposes.
e. Foliage Plants – for attractive foliage, maybe grown indoors or outdoors for
decoration.
f. Turf – used in lawns or greens (Bermuda grass, carabao grass, frog grass)
AGF 103: AGROFORESTRY TAXONOMY
Marvi Mynell P. Cid

D. SPECIAL GROUPS
1. Green Manure – a crop that is plowed under while still green and growing to improve the
soil.
2. Cover crop – any crop grown to provide soil cover to prevent soil erosion by wind or by
water, improve soil, and control weeds
3. Companion crop – crop sown with another crop and harvested separately. Yje
combination benefits either or both of the crops.
4. Trap crop – a crop that is planted to protect the main crop from pests by attracting the
pests to the crop itself and later destroying it. ( example: the main crop is rice, and sweet
potato is planted to trap some rats, preventing them from attacking the main crop)
5. Catch crop – a short seasoned crop grown immediately after the failure of the main crop
to utilize residual resources. (Rice is the main crop but may have been destroyed by a
typhoon; therefore, pechay or mustard is planted immediately)
6. Soilage – grasses grown, cut, and fed to animals.
7. Silage – grasses grown, cut, fermented, and preserved before being fed to animals

IV. Learning Activity

Types and Classification of Crops

I. Using the table below, identify the 25 crops in your locality according to their
categories, classification, and description.

Crops Scientific Common Local Life Cycle Mode of Purpose(s)

Name Name Name Reproduction with
specification