What kinds of organisms are viruses and lichens?
A virus is a piece of RNA or DNA in a protein coat (obligate parasites). Lichens are formed by symbiotic association between cyanobacteria or green algae and fungi. What features should members of the same species have in common: • same flower color • same number of leaves • capacity to interbreed • Flower color can be quite misleading; redbud trees with white flowers are still called Cercis canadensis or redbud. • Unlike animals in which number of legs or other parts is fixed, plants can have variable numbers of appendages. • Yes, capacity to mate (and produce viable offspring) is an important requirement of members of the same species. What feature of plants is most reliable in the classification into families and genera • flower structure • geographical origin • leaf shape • Yes, this is generally the least variable aspect of plant structure and therefore the most reliable in discerning affinities. • Genera can often be confined to particular areas, but families often occur over ver
