Final answer:
The two categories of perennial plants are polycarpic plants and non-polycarpic plants. Polycarpic plants potentially live forever and have different behaviors in different meristems. Non-polycarpic plants have underground stems and examples include raspberries and blackberries.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two categories of perennial plants described in class are polycarpic plants and non-polycarpic plants.
Polycarpic plants are perennial plants that potentially live forever because only some modules are turned into flowering shoots on any particular year. These plants have different behaviors in different meristems, with some producing flowers and some not, depending on their sensitivity to cues.
Non-polycarpic plants, on the other hand, are also perennial but have a different pattern of growth. They have underground stems called rhizomes or tubers, which allow the plant to survive unfavorable conditions. Examples of non-polycarpic plants include raspberries and blackberries.