Plant forms
- 1. Plant FORMS Some Basic Defined Forms 2013 *Note: all images are free CC (creative commons)
- 2. TREES • Trees come in a range of sizes and forms • Most trees will have a single main trunk or be multi-trunked • Main limbs support branched canopy • Can be either Evergreen (maintains canopy all year round) or Deciduous (looses its leaves - Autumn) • Range in size from 4m up to 95m (Australia) Small tree 4m-6m Medium tree 6m-20m Large tree 20m-35m+ • Perennial - 3 or more years
- 3. SHRUBS • Multi-branched canopy • Can be either Evergreen (retains its canopy all year round) or Deciduous (looses its leaves - Autumn) • Can range in size from 0.4m to 6m (Australia) Small shrub 0.4 -1m Medium shrub 1 – 2m Large shrub 2 – 4m+ • Annual (up to a year), Bi-annual (up to two years) or Perennial (three or more years)
- 4. GRASSES • Small herbaceous growth • Annual, Biannual, or Perennial growth • Stems being either stolons (above ground runners) or rhizomes (below ground storage stems) • Roots being fibrous and mat forming • Monocotyledonous seeds (one seed leaf structure • Size ranges from 0.004m to 2m • Most grasses are evergreen and can range in colour
- 5. Groundcovers • Soft herbaceous to woody growth forms • Variable leaf forms • Biannual to perennial life expectancy. • Prostrate growth and mat forming • Various size range from 0.4m to 3-4m • Many forms are able to flower. • Some have underground rhizomes (storage stems) • Most groundcovers are evergreen
- 6. Climbers • Soft herbaceous growth to woody stems. • Typically perennial • Some have modified stems, used to help support the main growth, known as stem ‘tendrils’ • Evergreen to deciduous forms • Sizes range from 1 to 2m but some may grow to 6m to 8m+ with support. • Many have colourful flowers
- 7. Aquatic plants • Soft herbaceous growth that resides submerged or partially submerged by water. • May float or be rooted into the aquatic bed floor. • Range in size from 0.002m to 2m • Most are perennial, can be biennial • Most can be asexually propagated (stem propagates) • Most are green coloured
- 8. Ephemeral plants • Short living plants (generally only a few weeks) • Herbaceous tissues • Seeds are long lived • Small in size, 0.002m to 0.4m • Grow in harsh environments • Have specialised features for survival