A shrub is a plant that has what?

Among all known plants a special place is occupied by various shrubs. This is due to their intermediate position between herbs and trees, as well as an extremely important agricultural value. In this article, we'll look at the signs that allow us to determine what a shrub is a plant that has its own characteristics. Also make sure of their diversity.

Possible varieties of plants

Since the modern variety of plants is extremely large, their classification is necessary. Not only in strictly defined taxonomic units that help determine the location in the system of the organic world, but also in the appearance of the plant, that is, in its life form.

The most common system is the classification according to Serebryakov IG, adopted in 1964. According to her, all plants are divided into the following groups:

1. Woody plants. This category includes trees, shrubs and shrubs.
2. Half-wood - semi-shrubs and semishrubs.
3. Ground grass.
4. Water herbs.

This classification is based on the length of the skeletal axes of the plant and the duration of its entire life.

According to Serebryakov, a shrub is a plant that has several wooden stems. In general, this corresponds to reality and is a generally recognized feature of such plants. However, there are some subtleties of the structure of shrubs.

A shrub is a plant that has ...

To answer the question of what is called a shrub, we first give a few simple well-known examples of such plants. It:

• lilac;
• juniper;
• Rowan;
• Bird cherry;
• sea buckthorn;
• Dog rose and others.

Now, when the visual representation of these plants is clearly formed in consciousness, it is possible to define scientifically.

A shrub is a plant that initially has one wooden trunk, but from the youngest age it acquires a few more of the same trunks formed from sleeping buds. That is, a lot of trunks are obtained.

An adult shrub is a plant that has several equivalent wooden trunks, among which it is impossible to distinguish the main one. In this case, the rosette rosette remains the only one for all stems. These plants can vary considerably in height.

For example, bird cherry is a rather tall shrub that resembles in many respects already a real tree. A dwarf willow is a very low flowering shrub whose height does not exceed 5 cm.

The main distinctive features of shrubs

It is possible to generalize all of the above and to distinguish several main distinctive features characteristic of shrubs:

1. Presence of a single trunk of a wooden type.
2. The formation over time of a set of woody stems, which become completely equivalent to the entire plant.
3. Presence of one radical rosette for all stems.
4. Different sizes and adaptations for life.
5. A shorter life cycle compared to trees.
6. They inhabit almost all climatic zones of the Earth, from the subtropics to the tundra.
7. All trunks are updated over time, which is due to the withering away of old and the growth of new ones.

Thus, a shrub is a plant that has a number of distinctive features that make it possible to isolate them from both grasses and trees.

Classification of shrubs

Like all other natural forms of plants, shrubs have their own classification. According to her, they come in the following forms:

1. Those that have a completely lignified stalk along the entire length. Among them, several variants can be designated: loose, aerial, lianoid, erect, creeping, present and pillow-like.
2. With trunks shortened.
3. Stalking water in the stems of leafless shrubs.
4. Parasitic and semi-parasitic forms.

We will examine each group in more detail and give examples in order to have an idea of these plants.

Shrubs with lignified elongated shoots

What types belong to this group, we indicated above. Now briefly describe each of them and give examples.

1. A straight-standing shrub is a plant that has 1 (one) stubby stem and several lateral branches that grow vertically straight. These are transitional forms between shrubs and trees. Most species belong to this group. Examples: astragalus, birch fluffy, bird cherry, mountain ash and others.
2. Real shrubs. These are those in which the aerial part of the shoot is less durable and thinner than the underground xylopodia. Examples: dog rose, barberry, bamboo, sea-buckthorn, snow leopard, lilac and others.
3. Shrinking bushes are those with stalks that branch and spread along the ground, in some places taking root. Examples: mountain alder, juniper, willow.
4. Lianoid bushes - like liana trees, they use other trees for growth. The difference is that the thickness of the trunk in the bushes is much smaller. Examples: honeysuckle, girl's grapes, lemongrass and others.

Obviously, this type includes the largest number of species from all known shrub forms today.

Shrubs with short shoots

Such a shrub is a plant that has one wooden stem with very frequent rosettes of leaves and strongly shortened internodes. Therefore, they look more like lush grasses.

Examples include a few species of heather, a serpentine, erica, rhododendron and some others. Habitats - Australia and Oceania.

Shrub-parasites

This group includes several different species that have adapted to life at the expense of other plants. A typical example is mistletoe. This parasite settles on trees and sucks out of them all life juices. In this case, he himself has a fairly extensive deciduous crown and actively implements the process of photosynthesis.

Attached shrub parasite to the branches of the tree with the help of special devices - Haustorium. Also as an example, we can mention the Osiris white and representatives of the family of serpentina.

An interesting representative of this family, known in Australia as a Christmas tree - nuysia is abundantly flowered. She got her name for the beautiful bright orange and yellow flowers, which bloom right into the New Year.

It is obvious that a parasitic shrub is a plant that has special adaptations for life due to other plant forms. Isolate parasites radical, stem, aboveground and underground.

Shallow Shrubs

These include several families of cacti. Their thick fleshy stems serve to store water, and the leaves are practically reduced, turning into needles to reduce the evaporating surface. That is why these shrubs have received such a name. The place of growth is obvious - desert areas and typical deserts.

Examples of species are the genus Opuntia. In height, these shrubs reach four meters, flowers are bright yellow or red. Also here are species of the genus Euphorbia, which are used by people for a variety of purposes.