Question

Which of the following is the correct combination for wheat?
A. Genus: Triticum, Family: Anacardiaceae, Order: Poales, Class: Monocotyledonae
B. Genus: Triticum, Family: Poaceae, Order: Poales, Class: Dicotyledonae
C. Genus: Triticum, Family: Poaceae, Order: Sapindales, Class: Monocotyledonae
D. Genus: Triticum, Family: Poaceae, Order: Poales, Class: Monocotyledonae

Answer 1

Hint: The combination of wheat mentioned above is the taxonomic classification of wheat, which is the process of classifying organisms according to the internationally shared classification system.

Complete Answer:
Before finding the correct answers, let's have a brief look at taxonomic classifications. A famous personality once said " Taxonomy is described sometimes as a science and sometimes as an art, but really it’s a battleground ".

Taxonomy is the scientific method of naming, defining and classifying groups of biological organisms based on shared characteristics. Most important levels of taxonomic classification are domain, kingdom, phylum (division is used in botany instead of phylum), class, order, family, genus and species. The system of taxonomy was introduced by Carl Linneaus, who is known as the father of taxonomy. Here we have to find the correct taxonomic classification of wheat.

Option A: Wheat doesn't belong to the family Anacardiaceae. Some examples for plants under family Anacardiaceae are cashew, mango, Peruvian pepper etc. Therefore, this is the incorrect option.

Option B: Wheat doesn't belong to the class Dicotyledonae. Some examples for plants under class Dicotyledonae are rose, oak, pea etc. Therefore, this is the incorrect option.

Option C: Wheat doesn't belong to the order Sapindales. Citrus, maples, rambuttan etc. are some examples for plants under Sapindales. Therefore, this is the incorrect option.

Option D: The taxonomic classification for wheat is

Kingdom	Plantae
Class	Monocotyledonae
Order	Poales
Family	Poaceae
Genus	Triticum

Thus, the correct option is D) Genus: Triticum, Family: Poaceae, Order: Poales, Class: Monocotyledonae.

Note: Taxonomic rank is the relative level of an organism in a taxonomic hierarchy. The lowest taxonomic level is species, which is considered as the fundamental unit of taxonomic classification. Wheat belongs to the genus Triticum, for there are approximately 10 species. Most important species of wheat is T. aestivum.