We are surrounded by an enormous diversity of plants. There aren’t many aquatic and terrestrial plants among them. Even so, they all have the same components and serve the same purposes; they just seem different due to the many kinds of roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, and other plant parts. Plants can therefore be further classified according to their height, life cycle, branches, and tenderness of stem, among other variables. Ultimately, the classification of plants is dependent on a number of factors.
Give us a detailed explanation of how plants are categorized according to their growing habits in this article. Let’s first define the word “Growth Habit.”
Growth Habit: What Is It?
The phrase “growth habits” in horticulture describes how a plant grows and develops, or how its height, shape, and kind of growth change. Their growing habit is significantly influenced by both environmental and genetic factors.
For example, interactions with different animals affect how plants adjust to their surroundings. From an evolutionary standpoint, growth patterns serve to guarantee plants’ survival and adaptability in a variety of environments, hence raising the likelihood that the genes will be successfully passed on to the following generation.
Grouping According to Growth Patterns
When it comes to plants, some are too short to climb, while others are too tall. Stem thickness and delicacy vary in addition to height.
For instance, the stems of large, tall plants or trees are thick, sturdy, and woody, and are difficult to break, but the stems of short plants are greenish, soft, and delicate.
Plants can be roughly divided into three classes based on their growth habits:
Herbs
Herbs are little plants without woody structures that have delicate, soft, green stalks. In one or two seasons, their life cycle is over. They are usually branchless or have very few branches. They are simply removed from the ground. Herbs can be included in a healthy, balanced diet because they are a good source of vitamins and minerals, among other nutrients. Herbs include, but are not limited to, tomato, wheat, rice, grass, and bananas.
Shrubs
Shrubs are woody, medium-sized plants that are shorter than trees but taller than herbs. Typically, they are between 6 and 10 meters tall. Their stiff, woody, bushy stems with numerous branches are among their characteristics. Stems are tough, yet they are also flexible and not easily broken. These plants’ lifespans often vary by species. Some of the common bushes in our surroundings are tulsi, jasmine, rose, lemon, and henna.
Trees
Trees are large, towering plants. Their trunks have firm, woody stems that are very thick. Numerous branches bearing leaves, flowers, and fruits sprout off of this one main stem, also known as the trunk. Certain trees, like coconut trees, have only one main stem that produces leaves, flowers, and fruits on its own. These plants are known as branchless trees. A tree has an extremely long lifespan. that is, over multiple years. Trees include banyan, mango, neem, cashew, teak, and oak.
There are two more sorts of plants that require assistance to grow in addition to these three categories. They go by the names climbers and creepers, respectively.
Climbers
Creepers lack the sophistication of climbers. Although climbers’ weak, long, and very thin stem prevents them from standing straight, they can grow vertically and sustain their own weight by using external supports. Tendrils are unique structures that these plants utilize to climb. Pea plant, grapevine, sweet gourd, money plant, jasmine, runner beans, green peas, etc. are a few plant names for climbers.
Creepers
As their name implies, creepers are plants that slink across the earth. Their tall, thin, and brittle stems are unable to hold them upright or sustain their entire weight. Sweet potatoes, pumpkin, strawberries, and watermelon are a few examples.
Frequently Asked Questions (Plants)
What distinguishes herbs from shrubs?
Herbs are perennial plants with delicate, silky stalks. Compared to herbs, shrubs are higher and have a hard, branching woody stem.
Give a brief explanation of how plants are classified.
Plants come in many variations, and they are primarily categorized according to particular characteristics, such as growth patterns, the existence or absence of specialized tissues, flowering and non-flowering plants, etc.
What does “growth habit” mean?
A plant species’ look, shape, height, and growth form are mostly referred to as its growth habit. Specific genetic patterns that control development give rise to a plant’s growth habit.
Give five shrub instances.
The most popular types of shrubs are lemon, china rose, marigold, and rose.
What qualities do herbs possess?
The following are the qualities of herbs:
- These are little plants with delicate, silky stalks.
- Their stem is smooth, delicate, fragile, and green.
- They can only survive for one or two seasons due to their limited existence.
- They can reach a height of two to three meters and are smaller in stature.
Climbers—what are they?
Plants classified as climbers have long, slender, green stems that require outside assistance to grow and hold their weight
Give a couple climbers as examples.
Common climbers include beans, cucumbers, grapevines, gourds, jasmine, and money plants.
Give a couple creeper instances.
Some common examples of creepers are sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and passion flowers.
Crawlers: what are they?
Generally speaking, creepers are plants that are unable to stand upright and instead extend horizontally along with the dirt on the ground due to a weak stem.
What distinguishes climbers from creepers?
There are some key distinctions between climbers and creepers.
Along with the dirt on the ground, creepers also spread their stems and leaves horizontally, bearing blooms and fruits on the ground. The fiber-like roots that creeper leaves create anchor the plant to the ground and give it external support as it grows.
Plants with a delicate stem that require outside assistance to thrive are known as climbers. These plants use their leaves to generate a string or hook that helps them climb. Certain plants have unique roots that can be used as holdfasts to climb over specific obstacles.
