Can you tell me the most important criterion for grouping two plant species TOGETHER in the same taxon ?

Question

We all know that no plants are perfectly identical and at least differ in their DNA sequence.but taxonomists find numerous plants which resemble in sme characters and differ in some.so which is the most important character they look out before grouping two plants together in a taxon. Give me the order of importance.

Answer 1

The factor that discriminates across the broadest range of plants is the principle reproductive entity. There are four broad categories of multicellular plants:

1] Bryophyte

Division Bryophyta (mosses)

Division Hepatophyta (liverworts)

Division Anthocerophyta (hornwarts)

[2] Pteridophytes

Division Psilophyta (whisk ferns)

Division Lycophyta (club mosses and spike mosses)

Division Sphenophyta (horsetails)

Division Pterophyta (true ferns)

[3] Gymnosperms

Division Coniferophyta (conifers)

Division Cycadophyta (cycads)

Division Ginkophyta (ginko)

Division Gnetophyta (gnetae)

[4] Angiosperms

Monocots

Dicots

The bryophytes and pteridophytes produce only spores, no seeds. The gymnosperms produce naked seeds. the angiosperms produce seeds with an endosperm.

Answer 2

The floral formula of a family of plants was pretty much how classification was done until the advent of the DNA revolution. That revolution serves only to refine what we already knew and listed, the original system of Linnaean taxonomy still our tried and true classification. In general, our plants are classified by the "floral formula" discussed in the first article (link) below. Linnaeus gave us the method and different systems took the method to a greater level of refinement over the years. Look at the below links, with the "floral formula" being the greater in importance (first link below).

Answer 3

Two plants are grouped in the sames species on the basis of similarity of DNA or morphology.

Two different plants of the same species are able to interbreed and produce fertile offsprings ( varieties/hybrids )

The similarity of DNA is most important ( objectively invariable ).

For more info see source and chapter "What is a “Species”?"

ff of this site:

http://www.geog.ubc.ca/~brian/florae/Int...