Define the Need for classification of Plants and Animals?

First of all there is a need to know what classification is? Let us define in simple term. Classification is placing of a plant (or groups of plants) Or animals (or groups of animals) in groups or categories according to a particular plan or sequence and in conformity with a nomenclatural system. Every species is classified as a member of a particular genus, the genus belongs to a family, family to an order, the order to a class and so on.

The principal categories in classification

In practical terms classification deals more with the placing of a plant group with a selected scheme than the placing of an individual plant in one of several minor categories. Thus a system of classification is necessary to allow us to identify plants and animals and to communicate scientifically with others. Indeed, classification is both an information storage and retrieval system without which scientific communication would be impossible. For instance a plant's name is the key that unlocks the door to its total biology. Ecologists, horticulturists, biochemists, agriculturists and others must have a reference system for the plants, they use in their research. However, the name of plant is not meant only for the scientist, it may be used by other people with varied interests and training, those who are interested in the natural history of plants. The scientific name of a plant communicates the species and genus, and from that the family may be easily determined.