Types of Plants

Plants and trees are not an unfamiliar sight, though the way we chop through them, it may be. They are found everywhere in varying heights and sights. That shouldn't be surprising considering the fact that there are over 350,000 identified species, and countless unidentified still waiting to be discovered, not to mention that plants are quite capable of mutating themselves into new species. So what are plants? Botanically they are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. The scientific study of plants, known as botany, where they have been classified as per their growing habits. But for you and me, who aren't into botany, here is a list of different plants.

Three Main Types of Plants

As said earlier, there are about 350,000 plus plant species, their classification gets a little difficult. However, most of them are categorized in the following three types:

• Mosses: Mosses are very tiny plants with equally tiny leaves and no flower-bearing capacity. They do not have true roots like other plants, but very thin hair like structures known as a filament that holds them down. They have no seeds, but spores which they use to multiply.
• Grasses: Grass can be identified by their distinct leaves; narrow, slender and usually long. They may or may not bear flowers that are made up of three or six parts which are either ways inconspicuous. The roots are in clump form.
• Dicots and Monocots: This type is a banner for all types of trees, small plants, shrubs, bushes, creeper, weeds, etc. Most of have them flowers that are showy, with four to five petals, a tap root, and leaves that vary in size and color.

Varieties of Plants

As there are a thousand species, hybrids, varieties and cultivars present, plus individual and group tree characteristics, their classification in terms of botanical, culinary, horticultural, etc often tends to overlap in the way they are commonly referred to.

Herbs: Herbs are the ones whose one or all parts are used for culinary, medicinal, wellness and spiritual purposes. Most herbs are low growing and not very woody. Some of the popular herbs have been listed below as per their growing habits.

Annual	Biennial	Perennial
Aloe Vera	Parsley	Sage
Basil	Caraway	Spearmint
Chamomile	Coriander	Thyme
Calendula	Dill	Borage
Cayenne	Mustard	Gingeroot

Shrubs: Shrubs are woody perennials that are smaller than trees. Most shrubs are dense with small branches, and can be trained and shaped to be almost ground level. Shrubs have ornamental and hedging value. Shrubs are often known as bushes, and they can be both; flowering and non flowering.

Flowering Shrubs	Non Flowering Shrubs
Hydrangea	Golden Duranta
Azalea	Coleus
Boxwood	Arborvitae
Bougainvillea	Bamboo Palm
Honeysuckle	False cypress
Firethorn	Artemesia
Holly	Euonymus
American Bittersweet	Hebe
Barberry	Aucuba
Lonicera	Houttuynia

Trees: Deciduous or evergreen, trees are woody perennials that have secondary branches growing away from the trunk. They can be either very tall, too spread out and small enough to be called a shrub.

Angiosperms (Flowering)	Gymnosperms (Non Flowering)
Plum	Cypress
Dogwood	Cedar
Cherry	Spruce
Apple	Sequoia
Maple	Cycas
Bottlebrush	Yew
Buckeye	Juniperus
Hawthorne	Zamia
Almond	Podocarpus
Yellowwood	Sciadopitys

Plants are also categorized as per their characteristics; deciduous or evergreen, annuals, biennials or perennials, and creepers and climbers, etc. Whichever type, I wish I could have all the plants growing in my garden!