BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION OF VEGETABLES
This is the only method of classifying crop plants, which is universally accepted. Linnaeus, a
renowned taxonomist was the first to give binomial classification in plants and animals. The
classification is based on morphological and cytological similarities and dissimilarities, place
of origin, crossability behaviour, floral biology etc. The successive levels of morphological
relationships are a result of evolution. Botanical classification involves grouping of plants
This is the only method of classifying crop plants, which is universally accepted. Linnaeus, a
renowned taxonomist was the first to give binomial classification in plants and animals. The
classification is based on morphological and cytological similarities and dissimilarities, place
of origin, crossability behaviour, floral biology etc. The successive levels of morphological
relationships are a result of evolution. Botanical classification involves grouping of plants
This is the only method of classifying crop plants, which is universally accepted. Linnaeus, a
renowned taxonomist was the first to give binomial classification in plants and animals. The
classification is based on morphological and cytological similarities and dissimilarities, place
of origin, crossability behaviour, floral biology etc. The successive levels of morphological
relationships are a result of evolution. Botanical classification involves grouping of plants
This is the only method of classifying crop plants, which is universally accepted. Linnaeus, a
renowned taxonomist was the first to give binomial classification in plants and animals. The
classification is based on morphological and cytological similarities and dissimilarities, place
of origin, crossability behaviour, floral biology etc. The successive levels of morphological
relationships are a result of evolution. Botanical classification involves grouping of plant
This is the only method of classifying crop plants, which is universally accepted. Linnaeus, a
renowned taxonomist was the first to give binomial classification in plants and animals. The
classification is based on morphological and cytological similarities and dissimilarities, place
of origin, crossability behaviour, floral biology etc. The successive levels of morphological
relationships are a result of evolution. Botanical classification involves grouping of plant
This is the only method of classifying crop plants, which is universally accepted. Linnaeus, a
renowned taxonomist was the first to give binomial classification in plants and animals. The
classification is based on morphological and cytological similarities and dissimilarities, place
of origin, crossability behaviour, floral biology etc. The successive levels of morphological
relationships are a result of evolution. Botanical classification involves grouping of plant
This is the only method of classifying crop plants, which is universally accepted.
Linnaeus, a renowned taxonomist was the first to give binomial classification in plants and
animals. The classification is based on morphological and cytological similarities and
dissimilarities, place of origin, crossability behaviour, floral biology etc. The successive levels of
morphological relationships are a result of evolution. Botanical classification involves grouping
of plants into kingdom, division, sub-division, phylum, sub-phylum, class, sub-class, order,
family, genera, species, sub-species and variety. The broadest group in which vegetables are
discussed is family. The genus and species constitute the scientific name. Scientific names are
accepted worldwide and there cannot be any confusion as per their nomenclature. This
classification is useful to students of Olericulture and academicians but is of little value to the
grower. For example, potato and tomato though belong to the same botanical family but have
entirely different cultural requirements. Therefore, a potato farmer may find it difficult to grow
tomato. On the other hand carrot and radish belong to the different botanical families but require
similar cultural requirements.
All vegetable crops belong to the division Angiospermae. The division Angiospermae has
two classes.
Class I: Monocotyledoneae
Class II: Dicotyledoneae
Most vegetables belong to the class Dicotyledoneae. A list of vegetables belonging to
class, family, genus, species, subspecies or botanical variety and their common English names
are given in Table.
TABLE 1: Class, Family, Genus, Species, Subspecies or Botanical variety and the
Common English names of Vegetable crops
Family Botanical name English name Chro. no
Class Monocotyledoneae
Allium cepa Onion 2n=16
Allium cepa var. Multiplier onion 2n=16
aggregatum
Alliaceae Allium porrum Leek 2n=32
Allium sativum Garlic 2n=16
Allium fistulosum Welsh onion 2n=16
Allium ascalonicum Shallot 2n=16
Allium schoenoprasum Chive 2n=16,24,32
Liliaceae Asparagus officinalis Asparagus 2n=20
Araceae Colocasia esculenta Taro 2n=28
Dioscoreaceae Dioscorea esculenta Lesser yam 2n=40
Dioscorea rotundata White yam 2n=40
Dioscorea alata Greater yam 2n=40
Class Dicotyledoneae
Chenopodiaceae Beta vulgaris var. Leaf beet 2n=18
bengalensis
Beta vulgaris var. cicla Chard
Spinacia oleracea Spinach 2n=12
Beta vulgaris Beetroot 2n=18
Compositae Lactuca sativa Lettuce 2n=18
Lactuca sativa var. capitata Head lettuce
Cichorum intybus Chicory 2n=18
Cichorum endivia Endive
Cynara scolymus Artichoke 2n=34
Convolvulaceae Ipomoea batatus Sweet potato
Brassica oleracea var. Cabbage 2n=18
capitata
Brassica oleracea var. Cauli flower 2n=18
botrytis
Brassica oleracea var. Brussels sprouts 2n=18
gemmifera
Brassica oleracea var. italica Sprouting 2n=18
Cruciferae broccoli
Brassica oleracea var. Kale 2n=18
acephala
Brassica oleracea var. Knol-khol 2n=18
gongylodes
Brassica napus var. Rutabaga 2n=38
napobrassica
Brassica campestris var. Turnip 2n=20
rapa
Brassica chinensis Chinese cabbage 2n=20
Raphanus sativus Radish 2n=18
Raphanus sativus var. Rat tail Radish
mougri
Cucurbitaceae Cucurbita moschata Pumpkin 2n=40
Cucurbita pepo Summer squash 2n=40
Cucurbita maxima Winter squash 2n=40
Citrullus lanatus Water melon 2n=22
Praecitrullus fistulosus Round melon 2n=22
Cucumis sativus Cucumber 2n=14
Cucumis melo Musk melon 2n=24
Cucumis anguria West Indian 2n=24
gherkin
Cucumis melo var.flexuosus Long melon 2n=24
Luffa acutangula Ridge gourd 2n=26
Luffa cylindrica Sponge gourd 2n=26
Lagenaria siceraria Bottle gourd 2n=22
Momordica charantia Bitter gourd 2n=22
Trichosanthes dioica Pointed gourd 2n=22
Trichosanthes anguina Snake gourd 2n=22
Sechium edule Chayote 2n=24
Coccaniagrandis Ivy gourd 2n=24
Euphorbiaceae Manihot esculenta Tapioca 2n=36
Fabaceae Pisum sativus Pea 2n=14
Phaseolus vulgaris French bean 2n=22
Phaseolus lunatus Lima bean 2n=22
Vicia faba Broad bean 2n=12
Vigna unguiculata Cowpea 2n=22
Vigna unguiculata var. Asparagus bean 2n=22
sesquipedalis
Cyamopsis tetragonoloba Cluster bean 2n=14
Dolichos lablab Dolichos bean 2n=22,24,20
Psophocarpus Winged bean 2n=18,22
tetragonolobus
Glycine max Soybean 2n=22
Trigonella foenum-graecum Fenugreek 2n=16
Malvaceae Abelmoschus esculentus Okra 2n=130
Polygonaceae Rheum rhaponticum Rhubarb 2n=44
Solanum tuberosum Potato 2n=48
Solanum melongena Brinjal 2n=24
Solanaceae Solanum lycopersicum Tomato 2n = 24
Capsicum annuum Chilli 2n=24
C. annuum var. grossum Sweet pepper 2n=24
Apiaceae Daucus carota Carrot 2n=18
Petroselinum crispum Parsley 2n=22
Apium graveolens Celery 2n=22
Pastinaca sativa Parsnip 2n=22
