1. Plant Classification Lab:
Students will read the plant description cards
and apply them to the correct place on the
classification chart.
WS accompanies Lab
Lab & ppt. by Robin D. Seamon

2. Plant Classification Lab:
MATERIALS: Plant classification cards, Lab WS, Classification Chart
DIRECTIONS:
4. Read aloud the plant description cards found at each center. Read the cards fully in
your group.
5. Decide where your organism belongs in the Classification Chart. Write its name in
the correct place on your worksheet.
6. Then complete the WS box for each organism.
NOTE: You should have 20 boxes filled by the end of the lab.

3. PLANTS
Nonvascular Vascular
NO-SEEDS
NO-SEEDS SEEDS
Mosses
Ferns
Gymnosperms
Conifers
NOT A PLANT:
Cycads
(Fungi/Bacteria)
lichen Angiosperms
Horsetails
Monocots
mushrooms
Dicots

4. Header:
Plant Classification Lab
Plant name:________________ Plant name:________________ Plant name:________________ Plant name:________________
Classification: ______________ Classification: ______________ Classification: ______________ Classification: ______________
Circle one Circle one Circle one Circle one
plant NOT a plant plant NOT a plant plant NOT a plant plant NOT a plant
vascular Not vascular vascular Not vascular vascular Not vascular vascular Not vascular
seed NO seed seed NO seed seed NO seed seed NO seed
flowering NO flower flowering NO flower flowering NO flower flowering NO flower
Description: ________________ Description: ________________ Description: ________________ Description: ________________
__________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________
Plant name:________________ Plant name:________________ Plant name:________________ Plant name:________________
Classification: ______________ Classification: ______________ Classification: ______________ Classification: ______________
Circle one Circle one Circle one Circle one
plant NOT a plant plant NOT a plant plant NOT a plant plant NOT a plant
vascular Not vascular vascular Not vascular vascular Not vascular vascular Not vascular
seed NO seed seed NO seed seed NO seed seed NO seed
flowering NO flower flowering NO flower flowering NO flower flowering NO flower
Description: ________________ Description: ________________ Description: ________________ Description: ________________
__________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________
Plant name:________________ Plant name:________________ Plant name:________________ Plant name:________________
Classification: ______________ Classification: ______________ Classification: ______________ Classification: ______________
Circle one Circle one Circle one Circle one
plant NOT a plant plant NOT a plant plant NOT a plant plant NOT a plant
vascular Not vascular vascular Not vascular vascular Not vascular vascular Not vascular
seed NO seed seed NO seed seed NO seed seed NO seed
flowering NO flower flowering NO flower flowering NO flower flowering NO flower
Description: ________________ Description: ________________ Description: ________________ Description: ________________
__________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________

5. Plant name: Brachythecium ***** Plant name: Reindeer *****
Description: light green, low-growing Description: white or gray, low-growing
perennial, no vascular system, spore perennial, no vascular system, spore
producing producing
Light: prefers shade Light: prefers shade. The more light this type
of lichen receives the lighter its color
Soil: damp, fertile soil
Soil: damp, fertile soil
Water: These plants prefer damp places. A
fine mist of rain or from a spray bottle will keep Water: lichen & mosses prefer damp places.
this plant happy. This lichen when not watered will turn dry and
brittle but it is not dead. Moisture will revive it
Habitat: deciduous and conifer forests, esp.
and turn it spongy again.
higher elevations
Habitat: deciduous and conifer forests, esp.
How to grow: keep moist and in the shade.
higher elevations
Be careful not to trample this fragile plant.
This Plant reproduces through spores, How to grow: keep moist and in the shade;
therefore humidity and moisture are important. be careful not to press or trample the reindeer
moss especially when brittle.
http://teresasplants.com/25piecesmallpillowmoss-1-1-2.aspx Resource: http://teresasplants.com/livereindeermoss-gallonbag-2.aspx

6. Plant name: Cedar Bark **** Plant name: Fern ****
Description: green-brown perennial, low- Description: blue-green to bronze green
growing, no vascular system, spore-producing perennial, no vascular system, low-growing
sheet moss, spore-producing
Light: prefers shaded areas
Light: prefers shaded areas
Soil: damp, fertile soil or damp cedar bark
Soil: damp, fertile soil, rocks & stumps
Water: These plants prefer damp places. A
fine mist of rain or from a spray bottle will keep Water:.These plants prefer dampness.
this plant happy.
Habitat: deciduous and conifer forests
Habitat: deciduous and conifer forests, esp.
How to grow: this is a fast growing plant that
higher elevations; grows around the branches
spreads, often used in orchid cultivation; keep
and trunks of cedar trees
moist; used as tender ground cover
How to grow:. Keep moist and in the shade.
It may turn brown as it dries out but it is NOT
dead, but dormant. Water will revive it. Be
careful not to trample this fragile plant.
RESOURCE: http://teresasplants.com/livemoss.aspx
RESOURCE: http://teresasplants.com/delicate-fern-moss.aspx

7. Plant name: Haircap **** Plant name: Mood ****
Description: 6 inch tall, green perennial Description: light green, low-growing
perennial
Light: shade to part shade
Light: shade, very low light
Soil: damp, sandy soil, well-drained medium
Soil: damp, fertile soil
Water: damp, but well drained
Water:. Damp, well-drained soil
Habitat: deciduous and conifer forests
Habitat: grows deep in deciduous and conifer
How to grow: these plants prefer shady,
forests
places and prefer to be damp. Growing
medium should be well-drained; can even be How to grow: easy growing plant; grows well
grown on wet stones/gravel; reproduces in a terrarium, keep it moist, reproduces
through spores through spores
RESOURCE: RESOURCE::
http://teresasplants.com/4gallonsofmossyouchoosethemoss.aspx http://teresasplants.com/4gallonsofmossyouchoosethemoss.aspx

8. Plant name: Fruitcose & Caldonia **** Plant name: British Soldier ****
Description: nonvascular, fruiticose- Description: ¼ to 1 inch tall, no vascular
rounded reddish species that grows with system: symbiotic relationship between
caldonia-light colored r ‘golf-tee-looking’ bacteria & fungus, nonvascular,
organism no vascular system: symbiotic
relationship between bacteria & fungus Light: shade,
Light: shade to part shade Soil: grows in cooler drier conditions (lots of
air flow) decaying wood, soil, mossy logs, tree
Soil: damp bark or soil, decaying wood, bases, and stumps, terrariums
stumps, & terrariums
Water:. Damp sprays of water
Water: damp sprays of water
Habitat: grows in deciduous and coniferous
Habitat: grows in deciduous and coniferous forests; breaking down wood material, cycling
forests matter in Nature
How to grow:.can take more light, and less How to grow: can grow in terrarium if
water than many in this species, but will need conditions are kept cool and dry; reproduces
some light and sprays of water when dry, through spores
reproduces through spores
RESOURCE: RESOURCE:
http://teresasplants.com/britishsoldierlichens-limitedsupplyaskbeforepurcha
http://www.monstermarketplace.com/live-plants-and-flowers/cladonia-and-fruiticose-lichens

9. Plant name: Tube **** Plant name: Umbrella ****
Description: 1-2 inches long, light-colored Description: green to gray species,
hollow species, nonvascular, reproduce with nonvascular, reproduce with spores; fruticose:
spores, fruticose: little tree shaped little tree shaped
Light: shade, part shade
Soil: damp bark or soil, decaying wood, twigs, Light: shade, part shade
stumps, & terrariums
Soil: damp bark or soil, decaying wood, twigs,
Water: likes dry conditions, light sprays of stumps, & terrariums
water occasionally.
Water:. Like others of its kind it prefers drier
Habitat: grows in deciduous and coniferous conditions
forests
Habitat: grows in deciduous and coniferous
How to grow:. can grow in terrarium if forests
conditions are kept cool and dry; reproduces
How to grow: will go dormant when too dry,
through spores; can go dormant but are not
but it is not dead; water will revive it
dead- light spray of water will revive them
RESOURCE:
http://teresasplants.com/fruiticoselichenmounds-12assorted-1-2-1-1.aspx
RESOURCE:

10. Plant name: Lemon **** (Candelaria) Plant name: Sulphur-firedot **** (Caloplaca )
Description: leaf-like growth; nonvascular, Description: nonvascular, reproduces with
reproduces with spores foliose: leafy spores; crustose: crusty on rocks; orange dots are
spore producers for reproduction
Light: shade, part shade
Light: shade, part shade
Soil: damp wood & bark, stumps
Soil: on damp rock surfaces
Water: members of this family prefer cooler,
drier conditions, light occasional sprays Water:. members of this family prefer cooler, drier
adequate; can stand tough, windy conditions conditions, light occasional sprays adequate,
usually rough, windy conditions & higher elevations
Habitat: grows in deciduous and coniferous
forests Habitat: grows in deciduous and coniferous
forests
How to grow:. no vascular system: symbiotic
relationship between bacteria & fungus; need How to grow: no vascular system: symbiotic
clean moist air (doesn’t grow well in cities) relationship between bacteria & fungus no vascular
system: symbiotic relationship between bacteria &
RESOURCE: http://
fungus; need clean moist air (doesn’t grow well in
www.dnr.state.mn.us/young_naturalists/lichens/index.html http:// cities)
www.wisconsinmushrooms.com/CandelariaConcolor.html RESOURCE: http://
www.dnr.state.mn.us/young_naturalists/lichens/index.html

11. Plant name: Shelf **** Plant name: yellow houseplant **** (Lepiota
lutea,
Description: white, shelf-like growth; Description: light, yellow colored;
nonvascular: symbiotic relationship between a nonvascular; reproduces with spores
fungus and bacteria
Light: shade to part shade
Light: shade to part shade
Soil: wet, fertile soil
Soil: damp sides of trees/ bark, rotted wood
Water:. wet
and logs
Habitat: wet, moist soil, often found around
Water: needs damp area
the base of houseplants
Habitat: grows in deciduous and conifer
How to grow: keep moist by misting with
forests
water
How to grow:. Can grow in damp terrariums
RESOURCE: http:// RESOURCE:
herbarium.usu.edu/fungi/funfacts/shelffungi.htm http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/feb2002.html

12. Plant name: Suillus americanus Plant name: Morrel ***
Description: forms and orange slimy area Description: a convoluted, ‘brain-looking’
after a spring rain within the vicinity of an species & is edible! Natives used to eat this in
easter white pine; nonvascular; reproduces the spring after a rain; nonvascular;
with spores reproduces with spores
Light: shade to part shade
Soil: soil must be fertile and damp Light: shade
Water: spores grow into **** quickly after a Soil: fertile, damp soil
rain in the
Water:. Damp; grows from spores after a rain
Habitat: grows with eastern white pines
Habitat: deciduous or conifer forests
How to grow:. Keep moist
How to grow: keep damp
RESOURCE:
http://www.herbarium.iastate.edu/fungi/fungispecies.php?sp=Suillus+americanus+%28Pk.%29+Snell
http://www.mushroomexpert.com/suillus_americanus.html
RESOURCE: http://morelsandmore.com/

13. Plant name: Christmas **** Plant name: Maidenhair ****
Description: perennial, stays green year Description: deciduous perennial, 12-18 inch
round, vascular, reproduces with spores; 2-3 fronds; thin and wiry stems
foot long fronds
Light: shade, part-shade
Light: shade, part-shade
Soil: rich, well drained soil
Soil: rich, well drained soil
Water:. Damp
Water: damp; can tolerate some dryness
Habitat: rich woodlands
Habitat: rich woodlands, deciduous & conifer
How to grow: easy to grow; keep its leaves
forests
during the growing season; loses them in the
How to grow:. Easy to grow; can tolerate full cold winters
sun if well watered
RESOURCE:
http://www.mossacres.com/product_fern_moss2.asp
RESOURCE:
http://www.mossacres.com/product_fern_moss2.asp

14. Plant name: Ostrich **** Plant name: Cinnamon ****
Description: 36-60 inch fronds; vascular, Description: perennial; deciduous (looses
reproduces with spores; grows 3-5 feet tall; leaves in winter); young fiddleheads are white
spreads quickly and wooly; ‘cinnamon looking’ frond; spreads
slowly; tall
Light: shade to part sun
Light: sun or shade (must be moist)
Soil: damp, fertile soil; moist thickets along
rivers and streams Soil: acid, damp, water-logged soils
Water: damp conditions Water:.very wet
Habitat: decidious & conifer forests zones 3-8 Habitat: any area that is wet & boggy
How to grow:.grows tall so it should be a How to grow: keep wet & to the back of the
background plant; likes to be near water; keep perennial garden
moist
RESOURCE: RESOURCE:
http://www.mossacres.com/product_fern_moss2.asp http://www.mossacres.com/product_fern_moss2.asp

15. Plant name: Equisetum Plant name: wood ****
Description: perennial; very old Paleozoic Description: perennial; very old Paleozoic
plant; once a tall tree, one genus survives plant; one genus has surved with 15 species;
today with 15 species in it; vascular; No vascular; No seeds; reproduces with spores;
seeds; reproduces with spores; hollow stems hollow stems
Light: sun Light: sun
Soil: wet sandy to wet clay Soil: wet
Water: wet Water:. wet
Habitat: wet, swampy areas Habitat: wet, swampy forests; open
woodlands
How to grow:. Grows from deep underground
rhyzomes; leaves used as a dye & a silica How to grow: keep wet
supplement; used to polish wooden tools by
natives
RESOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equisetum
RESOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equisetum

16. Plant name: Eastern Red Cedar Plant name: Eastern White pine
Description: evergreen vascular tree; can Description: evergreen vascular tree; can
grow up to 80 feet tall; reproduces with grow up to 150 feet tall; reproduces with male/
male/female cones; one of the first trees to female cones; fast growing
repopulate a cleared area; fast growing;
Light: sun; can tolerate a little shade
berries in the winter
Soil: tolerant
Light: sun or shade
Water:. Tolerates wet and dry
Soil: tolerant
Habitat: tolerant of many habitats
Water: tolerates wet and dry
How to grow: important ecological tree for
Habitat: tolerant of many habitats
wildlife habitat
How to grow:. Wood is decay-resistant;
insects don’t like it; wood has a sweet distinct
odor & is used for wood-working
RESOURCE: http://techtrees.net/shop/product_info.php? RESOURCE: http://techtrees.net/shop/product_info.php?
cPath=44_29&products_id=154 cPath=44_39&products_id=121

17. Plant name: Fraser Fir Plant name: Spruce
Description: evergreen vascular tree; can Description: evergreen vascular tree; can
grow up to 80 feet tall; reproduces with grow up to 200 feet tall; reproduces with male/
male/female cones; female cones; slow growth rate
Light: sun to shade Light: sun to shade
Soil: -20 to -30 degrees F Soil: varies
Water: moderate Water:.tolerant
Habitat: cold boreal conifer forests; Habitat: usually cold boreal climates;
mountains northernmost North American Tree
How to grow:.needs cool dry air; grown for How to grow: used for wood & paper in
Christmas trees Canada
RESOURCE: http://techtrees.net/shop/product_info.php?
cPath=44_29&products_id=154
RESOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picea_glauca

18. Plant name: Cycas rumphii Plant name: Zamia
Description: hard, stiff evergreen leaves, Description: decdiuous shrub, with hard stiff
seeds, woody trunk, male plants & female leaves, this family is an living fossil dating
plants, slow growing, living up to 1,000 years! back to the Mesozoic period, seeded cones
A very early plant dating to the Permian Period
Light: sun
Light: sun
Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
Water: drought tolerant
Water: drought tolerant
Habitat: tropical, subtropical climates
Habitat: tropical, subtropical climates
How to grow: seeds are unfertilized and open
How to grow: needs hot, humid weather; to the air for pollination; specific beetles
reproduction: seeds are unfertilized and open pollinate
to the air for pollination; specific beetles
pollinate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycad Resourcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zamia

19. Plant name: Hemlock Plant name: Sugarcane
Description: evergreen vascular tree; can Description: seed producing from small
grow up to 80 feet tall; reproduces with flowers; tall perennial grass with a sweet,
male/female cones; sugary inside stem; up to 19 feet tall;
Light: sun to shade Light: sun
Soil: cool & moist soils Soil: varies
Water: moist Water:. Grasses tend to need less water; but
as a crop, needs water
Habitat: cool, moist locations; mountains;
boreal forests Habitat: warm, temperate and tropical
regions
How to grow:. Used for rough construction
lumber How to grow: world’s largest crop
RESOURCE: http://www.oplin.org/tree/fact
%20pages/hemlock_eastern/hemlock_eastern.html
RESOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugarcane

20. Plant name: Rice Plant name: Bamboo
Description: rice is the seed from tiny flowers Description: perennial evergreen grass;
of this family; perennial grass; one cotyledon produces seeds from small flowers; grows
very quickly (growing up to 24 inches in a
Light: sun
day!) rhizomes grow just under the ground,
Soil: wet spreading this plant quickly; growth cells
underground (unlike trees)
Water: wet
Light: sun to shade
Habitat: grows in wet bogs; hot, tropical
climate Soil: tolerant
How to grow:.must grow in a wet, boggy area Water:.tolerant
Habitat: tolerant
How to grow: used for many wood products;
especially valuable in Asia
RESOURCE: http://www.heirloom-
organics.com/guide/va/guidetogrowingrice.html RESOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo

21. Plant name: Lily Plant name: Iris
Description: hardy perennial grass with a Description: hardy perennial plant with
showy flower that comes in many colors; showing flowers that comes in many colors; in
flowers often last a day but are continuously the grass family; seed has one coltyledon but
produced; from 1-4 feet tall grows best from rhizomes; grows up to 2 feet
tall; blooms in the spring
Light: sun to shade
Light: full sun to part shade
Soil: tolerant
Soil: rich, well drained soil
Water: tolerant
Water:. tolerant
Habitat: native species grew in woodlands,
but very tolerant of other places now Habitat: woodlands, but tolerant
How to grow:.little care; spreads with How to grow: little care; spreads with
rhizomes rhizomes
RESOURCE:
RESOURCE:

22. Plant name: Daffodil Plant name: Geranium
Description: hardy perennial bulb in the grass Description: annual to tender perennial;
family; showing yellow, white, or orange large flowerclusters in red, salmon, pink,
flowers in the spring white, and bi-colors; seed producing; two
cotyledons
Light: sun to part shade
Light: full sun to part shade
Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
Soil: rich, moist; well-drained soil
Water: tolerant
Water:.likes to dry out between waterings
Habitat: tolerant; zones 4-9
Habitat: tolerant to zone 8; bring indoors for
How to grow:. Easy to grow; plants multiply
winter otherwise
from bulbs
How to grow: easy to grow and take cuttings
RESOURCE:
RESOURCE:

23. Plant name: Pansy Plant name: Impatien
Description: hardy biennial; grows from Description: tender annual; continuous
seed; produces colorful flowers; low-growing; colorful blooms; grows from 8 inches to 2 feet
two cotyledons; likes cooler weather tall
Light: full to part sun Light:
Soil: rich, moist, well-drained soil Soil: rich, moist, well-drained soil
Water: keep moist Water:.needs water
Habitat: can tolerate cold winters Habitat: shady areas
How to grow:.biennial means it will grow How to grow: easy to grow, little care; keep
through the winter and flower & go to seed the watered
next growing season. After seeding plant will
die.
RESOURCE:
RESOURCE:

24. Plant name: Cherry Tree Plant name: Peach tree
Description: flowering deciduous tree that Description: flowering deciduous tree that
bears fruit 6-30 feet bears fruit
Light: sun Light: sun
Soil: fertile, well-drained soil Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
Water: keep watered especially during fruiting Water:.keep watered especially during fruiting
Habitat: varies Habitat: will produce fruit through zone 7
How to grow:.beautiful trees; all cherries are How to grow: careful that early frosts don’t kill
edible, although the ones grown to eat are the early spring blossoms; if the blossoms die
generally white-blooming. the plant will not have fruit
RESOURCE:
RESOURCE: