Theory Questions – Classification of Plants

Evaluation Questions

Question:

1a. Classify plants based on the following criteria:

i. Life cycle:

Answer:

Plants are classified based on their life cycle as follows:

• Annuals:  Plants that complete their life cycle within one year or one growing season. Examples are maize, rice, cowpea, millet, yam, and melon.
• Biennials: They are crops that complete their life cycle between two years e.g. plantain, banana, pineapple.
• Perennials: Plants that complete their life cycle in many years, usually more than two years. e.g. orange, mango, iroko, and mahogany.

ii. Economic importance/Agricultural classification

 Classification based on Agricultural or economic importance:

Cereals: Maize, rice

LegumesA legume is any plant that bears its fruit inside a pod. Legume is an umbrella term that includes beans and pulses. Thus, all beans are considered a legumes, but not... More: Cowpea, groundnuts

Root crops: Cassava, yam

Vegetables: Tomatoes, Okra, Onion, leafy vegetables

Fruits: Pawpaw, Oranges

Beverages: Coffee, tobacco

Oil crops: Coconut, palm fruit, groundnut

Spices: Ginger, Garlic, Pepper

Latex: Natural rubber

Fibres: Jute, Cotton