Who devised a scientific naming system of plants?
Carl Linnaeus
When was the scientific naming of plants created?
the 1700's
Who was Carl Linnaeus and where was he from?
Swedish Botanist who created the binomial system
What is a binomial naming system?
Two word name to identify various plant species (Genus name + species name)
Why is Latin or the Latin-based name used?
Scholars and scientists have used Latin for a long time - it's the international language of science
Define botanical name and scientific name
Botanical name = binomial name = scientific name = Latin name
Define genus
The first word used in the binomial name of a plant, italicized and capitalized
Define species
The second word in the binomial name of a plant that is italicized but not capitalized - the specific epithet
Define hybrid
A cross plant between two different species
Define cultivar
A specific form of a species or hybrid, bred for specific qualities, not italicized, written in single quotes
Define taxonomic botanist
One who identifies, classifies, and names plants
Why is it advantageous to know scientific names?
Because they are used around the world, and everyone will know what you are talking about - it's the only unmistakable and unfailing name for a plant
What is a common name?
The name by which a flower is generally known
What is a plant "family"?
A classification of plants that includes several genera of similar characteristics
Although the sunflower has long been a member of the Compositae family, the name was updated to what?
Asteraceae
Why is it sometimes beneficial to know the name origin of a genus scientific name?
It provides a guide to the derivation and meaning of scientific names
Although most flowers are available year-round, why are some still classified as seasonal?
Because some are still only available for a couple months out of the year
Name some examples of seasonal branches.
Magnolia, acacia, forsythia, crabapple, pomegranate
Why is some foliage considered "seasonal" and is only harvested for 3 or 4 months each year?
They are used and associated only with a specific season
Why are some leaves from potted plants used in floral design?
They are used for their patterns, colors, and visual interest
In addition to cut foliage and leaves, what are some other plant parts (besides flowers) that are often used in floral designs?
grasses, herbs, vines, bamboos, berries, sticks, pods
What is the definition of "cut foliage" and what are alternative names in the floral industry for cut foliage?
Cut greens or foliage that is cut from its mother plant and packaged in bunches
What are "woody cuts" and what are requirements to be used in the floral industry?
branches and stems harvested from woody vines, shrubs, and trees. must have tall stems and quality postharvest life or vase life.
Name some examples of flowering branches from woody cuts.
forsythia, plum, and pussywillow
Where was Carolus Linnaeus from and what was his profession? (look in the glossary in the back of the text for more information on Linnaeus for answers to test questions on him).
Swedish botanist originally called Karl von Linne
Which 3 countries are producers and exporters and continue to be the leaders in worldwide cut flower exports?
Colombia, Ecuador, and the Netherlands
Name the 3 main worldwide staple crops.
Roses, carnations, and chrysanthemums
What does "seasonal availability" refer to?
refers to the peak supply times for flowers and foliage due to plants natural growth
Why are flowers generally harvested in the early morning?
because they have higher carbohydrate levels in the mornings and therefore they last longer because they contain stored energy
What 3 US crops are available by grade or a grading system?
Roses, carnations, and gladioli
What are the factors or characteristics that determine grade?
stem length, stem strength, stem straightness, flower size and petal count, uniformity, freedom from defects, foliage quality, and typical vase life
Domestic roses produced in the US are often sold in what length increments and how are they typically labeled?
They are sold in 4 inch increments with stem lengths from 10-30 inches. labels: shorts, mediums, longs, fancy, and extra fancy
Most worldwide roses are sold in what lengths and how are they identified?
10 centimeter increments. stem lengths are 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 centimeters. identified as shorts, mediums, longs, extra longs, and extra-extra longs
How many roses and carnations are typically bunched together?
25
What about other flower types?
10 or 12
What are the factors that determine how many flowers are grouped in spray-type flowers?
The number of open flowers, by weight, or by bunch size
What does UPC stand for and why are these codes now used on bunches and boxes?
Universal Product code. helps reduce manual labor and minimize human error, cut cost, and speeds the delivery of the flowers
What is a conditioning solution and how is treatment done?
The process of preparing flowers for shipment, storage, or arrangement. Flowers are re-cut and put in buckets of special liquid solutions
Explain about rehydration treatment and what is in the solution.
Quickly hydrates flowers. solution consists of deionized water that is acidified with citric acid to a ph near 3.5. wetting agents and germicide. No sugar.
Explain about the pulsing process and what is in a pulsing solution.
Post harvest treatment that loads flowers with sugar prior to shipment. main ingredient: sucrose (2-20%). Goal is to extend vase life.
Why are some flowers pulsed with silver thiosulfate?
Some flowers are pulsed with silver thiosulfate (STS) to reduce ethylene effects.
Generally it is advantageous to have tight buds, so why then would a bud-opening solution be used?
Used for flowers that were harvested at an immature stage, and wouldn't otherwise open to their full potential
Who carries out the bud opening solution treatment and what conditions must also be incorporated to help open buds beautifully and quickly?
High humidity, warm temperatures, and high light intensity. Usually done by wholesalers and retailers.
What is tinting and how and why is this process done?
The artificial coloring of flowers. It's either done internally through the stem, or externally dipping/spraying the flower.
Why is flexible netting used on some flowers for shipping?
Used to protect fragile flowers during shipping.
How many gardenias generally are packaged in a box?
3 to a box
How many stephanotis blossoms are packaged together in one box?
25 to a box
Why are most flowers "dry-packed" in long and low boxes?
To keep transportation costs low
What is a hamper box and what two flower crops are often shipped in hampers?
An upright box used to stop geotropic bending in gladioli and snapdragons.
What are the specialized strong square and rectangular plastic containers named that are used to ship flowers with water?
Procona
What is precooling ?
a process that replaces the warm air in a box of flowers with refrigerated air
What is ethylene and what are its effects?
natural gas produced by all plants. causes abscission of florets and leaves, leaf yellowing, and flower distortion.
What is the route of distribution?
Grower ? auction ? broker ? wholesale ? retail ? final consumer
What is an auction?
A centralized wholesale facility where flowers are auctioned off to brokers, wholesalers, and retailers. Products are inspected and graded
What is the role of a broker?
Handles functions between growers and wholesalers, represents a grower or group of growers
What is another name for a broker?
Middle man
What is the function of a wholesaler?
The traditional middleman who buys flowers from growers and brokers to retailers. Breaks up the bulk quantities into bunches.
Why do most wholesalers have various temperature coolers?
Because different types of flowers do better at different temperatures
What are the proper storage cooler conditions for cut flowers?
Most flowers are 36-38?, Tropical flowers 50?, Roses 34 ?
Who are final consumers?
The last person who receives the flowers
Name two wire service companies that spend millions of dollars promoting flowers
Florists' Transworld Delivery, Inc. (FTD) and Teleflora
Be familiar with the trade association SAF.
The Society of American Florists (SAF) provides information and conducts research on the benefits of flowers
What is flower nomenclature?
Botanical or scientific system of naming plants and plant parts.
A botanically complete flower contains what 4 parts?
Petals, sepals, pistils, stamens
What is the showpiece of a flower?
Petals.
Generally sepals are what color?
Green
What is the pistil portion of a flower?
the female reproductive parts of a flower that occupy the central position within the flower
What is the stamen part of a flower?
threadlike extensions that stand up-right from the perianth (the perianth is all the petals/corolla and sepals/calyx combined)
What are anthers and why are they often removed on cut lilies?
The part of the stamen that has pollen. They are often removed because they can stain clothing
How does a solitary flower differ from that of an inflorescence?
An inflorescence is a flower that is made up of several florets instead of one like a solitary flower
What are the botanical terms for the main stem of a flower, and for the lateral stems?
Main stem - peduncle. Lateral stems - pedicles.
Be able to recognize the stick figures and examples of the following inflorescence patterns:
spike, raceme, panicle, corymb, cyme, umbel, compound umbel, spadix with surrounding spathe, catkin, and head flower.
Which are the ray florets and which are the disc florets on a head flower?
The central portion of a head flower is generally composed of tiny tubular florets called disc flowers; ray flowers radiate out from the head, often on the margin or outer portion, giving the flower a daisy-like look.
What is the botanical term for a flower stem that does not have ordinary leaves?
Scapose
Name two examples of cut flowers that do not have leaves on the stem.
Gerbera and Calla Lily
Tell the difference between a simple leaf and that of a compound leaf.
A simple leaf has a single blade, while a compound leaf has more than one blade
Be able to recognize and identify the three main vein patterns of leaves.
Parallel, pinnate, palmate
What is the edge of a leaf called?
The margin
What are genetic factors and common physical and physiological factors that determine longevity for cut flowers?
Stem diameter and stiffness
What is senescence in cut flowers?
The aging process
What is postharvest physiology?
the division of plant physiology that deals with the metabolic processes in plant material after it has been harvested.
When flowers drink in water they become turgid, which means what?
Firm
What are the xylem and phloem?
Xylem is the the plumbing system of the flower stem that carries water throughout the plant, and the phloem is the plumbing system that transports food.
What is the typical reason that cut flowers wilt and die prematurely?
The inability to absorb water
What is plugging?
Stem blockage due to air, debris, or microorganisms
What is transpiration?
Water loss
What are stomata?
The pores of the leaves (regulate transpiration)
How can transpiration be reduced?
Increased humidity, and low temperatures.
What is respiration in cut flowers and how can the respiration rate be lowered and the use of carbohydrates slowed?
Process where food and sugars are broken down. To lower respiration lower surrounding temperatures
What is a tropism, specifically phototropism and geotropism?
Tropism is a growth curve caused by an external stimulus such as light or gravity. Phototropism - light. Geotropism - gravity.
What is the "aging hormone" and what are its effects on cut flowers?
Ethylene, causes flowers to deteriorate.
Ethylene gas is naturally produced by what?
Plants and flowers
High levels of ethylene are associated with what?
Ripening fruits (apples)
What is the single most important factor in postharvest flower care and handling?
Temperature management
Why is precooling of cut flowers encouraged?
To increase postharvest longevity.
Boxes of flowers and foliage are precooled in large coolers set at what temperature?
33?-35? (except for tropical flowers)
How does forced air move through the boxes and for how long does this process take to get to desired temp?
Forced air moves through open flaps at the ends of the boxes, for 30-60 minutes
Describe "processing" and when is this done?
It is the initial treatment of fresh flowers at each level of distribution
Why re-cut stems?
The stems have become plugged or blocked due to healing from an earlier cut, debris, the growth of microorganisms, and even air that has been drawn up into the stem.
How much stem at the base should be cut to open up the water-conducting vessels of the xylem?
1-3 inches at the base of the stem
What is the conditioning process?
The process of preparing cut flowers and foliage for shipping, storage, or arrangement by holding them at room temperature while they drink in a conditioning solution, such as preservative water or a silver thiosulfate solution, hydrating solution, or pul
Describe the differences of woody stems and herbaceous stems.
Woody stems need to be cut more than herbaceous stems
Why is it important to remove lower foliage on stems that will be submerged in water?
The foliage will decompose in the water, producing ethylene and bacteria.
What does new research reveal about removing entire thorns?
It damages the plant and causes bacteria growth in the damaged area
Some flowers bleed a milky sap when they are cut, what is this substance generally called?
Latex
When a flower is described as "wilt-sensitive" or "dry-prone" what does this refer to?
They wilt easily and transpire rapidly, resulting in a loss of turgidity
Although tap water is the easiest to access and is always available, what are various problems?
It contains chemical compounds and varies in PH levels
What does pH stand for?
Hydrogen Power
What is the ideal pH solution for cut flowers?
3.0 - 4.5
What are the problems with hard water and softened water?
Hard water has a high mineral content, specifically high levels of magnesium and calcium. Softened water adds softeners and salts (usually sodium) to the water, doing more damage than hard water to certain flowers.
What does TDS stand for?
Total dissolved solids is the measure of water salinity (salts) or dissolved solids in the water.
High quality water should have less than ___ ppm of dissolved solids or soluble elements in the water.
Less than 200 ppm
What are the 3 main ingredients in flower food and what does each do to ensure a longer vase life?
Sugars/Carbohydrates - provide nutrition and energy, Biocides/germicides - inhibits growth of microorganisms, Acidifiers - lowers pH levels
What is the problem with adding table sugar to the vase water?
It causes an increase in bacteria growth
Name two "home products" that can be added to the water to help cut flowers last longer?
Lemon-lime soft drinks and mouthwash
What are pretreatments, esp. STS and Ethylbloc?
Pretreatments are special care treatments used prior to floral preservatives that help to extend the life of cut flowers. Silver Thiosulfate (STS) is a floral preservative that blocks the effects of Ethylene. Ethylblock releases a non-toxic gas that block
Describe floral treatments.
Conditioning solution - helps flowers to become turgid and bloom. Pulsing - fills flowers with sugars and other chemicals Bud-opening Solutions (high humidity, warm temperatures, high light intensity)
Tell about the 3 main functions of refrigerated storage for fresh flowers.
1. Reduce the rate of respiration (the breakdown of food/sugar to carbon dioxide and water) 2. to reduce water loss or transpiration 3. reduce the rate of bacterial growth and ethylene production and action