Angiospermophyta Classification and Characteristics

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the classification, morphological characteristics, and representative examples of Angiospermophyta families from the lecture notes.

Angiospermophyta (Angiosperms)

The most evolved plants adapted to terrestrial life, characterized by typical flowers and fruit where seeds are completely enclosed in the transformed ovary (protected by carpel walls).

Magnoliatae (Dicotyledonatae)

A class of plants whose seeds have an embryo with $2$ cotyledons used for reserve; features include taproots, eustele-type stems, and flowers organized on the type $5$ or $4$.

Aristolochiaceae

A family in the Magnoliidae subclass containing herbaceous perennials or woody lianas; flowers are solitary, actinomorphic or zygomorphic, with a petaloid perigon and capsule fruit.

Ranunculaceae

A family in the Ranunculidae subclass consisting of terrestrial or aquatic herbs with dialysepalous and dialypetalous flowers containing numerous spiral-arranged stamens and carpels.

Papaveraceae

Herbaceous plants with laticiferous canals secreting white or colored latex; flowers have a caducous calyx ($2$ sepals) and $4$ petals arranged in two rows.

Fumariaceae

Herbaceous plants lacking laticifers but containing mucilaginous juice; flowers are zygomorphic and spurred at the base.

Caryophyllaceae

Herbaceous plants with narrow, opposite leaves on swollen nodes; features include dichasium inflorescences, pentamerous flowers, and capsule fruit opening via teeth.

Hamamelididae (Amentiferae)

A subclass of predominantly woody plants (trees and shrubs) with unisexual flowers often grouped in catkins (aments).

Cannabaceae

Dioecious herbaceous plants with lobed or digitate leaves; male inflorescences are panicles while female ones are cone-shaped (strobilus).

Urticaceae

Often nitrophilous herbaceous plants covered in stinging hairs secreted from a basal bulb; flowers are small, green, and anemophilous.

Crassulaceae

Succulent herbaceous perennials with fleshy leaves adapted to drought, featuring actinomorphic flowers grouped in cymes.

Saxifragaceae

Herbaceous plants often found in rocky mountain areas with pentamerous flowers, partially united carpels, and a semi-inferior ovary.

Rosaceae

Economically important family with hermaphroditic pentamerous flowers featuring a cup or disc-shaped receptacle (hypanthium) and numerous stamens.

Fabaceae (Leguminosae)

Plants capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen via root nodules; features a papilionaceous corolla (standard, wings, keel), $10$ stamens, and legume fruit.

Onagraceae

Herbaceous plants with tetramere flowers (type $4$), an inferior ovary, and an elongated receptacular tube.

Oxalidaceae

Small herbs with trifoliate leaves and a sour taste; flowers are pentamerous with $10$ stamens arranged in two rows.

Geraniaceae

Plants with swollen stems and aromatic secretory hairs; features a characteristic fruit (regma) shaped like a stork's beak that opens elastically.

Balsaminaceae

Plants with succulent, translucent stems and zygomorphic flowers with long spurs; the fruit is a fleshy capsule that explodes elastically (autochory).

Euphorbiaceae

Plants often containing toxic milky sap (latex); features a highly specialized inflorescence called a cyathium and fruit in the form of a tricapsule.

Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)

Plants with hollow (fistulous) stems and oil-secreting canals; inflorescence is a compound umbel and fruit is a cremocarp (diachene).

Brassicaceae (Cruciferae)

Plants rich in glucosinolates with a cross-shaped corolla ($4$ petals), tetradynamous stamens ($4$ long, $2$ short), and silique or silicle fruit.

Ericaceae

Shrubs or subshrubs adapted to acid soils or alpine zones; flowers are gamopetalous (urn or bell-shaped) with bicornute anthers.

Asteridae

The most evolved group of dicotyledons, characterized by gamopetalous, tetracyclic flowers.

Gentianaceae

Herbaceous plants rich in bitter principles; features opposite sessile leaves and a brightly colored gamopetalous corolla with twisted prefloration.

Solanaceae

Plants rich in alkaloids (solanine, nicotine, atropine) with pentamerous, actinomorphic flowers and large anthers united around the style.

Cuscutaceae

Strict parasitic plants lacking chlorophyll and leaves, using filiform stems and haustoria to attach to host plants.

Boraginaceae

Herbaceous plants covered in stiff hairs (scabrous) with scorpioid cyme inflorescences and tetranuclule (tetrachid) fruit.

Scrophulariaceae

Plants with strongly zygomorphic (bilabiate or personate) flowers, $4$ didynamous stamens, and a bilocular capsule fruit.

Lamiaceae (Labiatae)

Plants with aromatic volatile oils, square stems, and opposite decussate leaves; flowers have a bilabiate corolla and fruit consists of $4$ nutlets.

Asteraceae (Compositae)

The most evolved and numerous dicot family; the inflorescence is a calatidium (head) simulated as a single flower, with a reduced calyx (pappus) and achene fruit.

Liliatae (Monocotyledonatae)

A class of plants with a single cotyledon, fibrous root system, and trimerous flowers (type $3$) with a perigon.

Amaryllidaceae

Perennial bulbous plants with an inferior ovary and umbel-type inflorescence initially protected by a spathe membrane.

Iridaceae

Plants with rhizomes or bulbs distinguished from Liliaceae by having only $3$ stamens and a strictly inferior ovary.

Orchidaceae

Plants with strongly zygomorphic flowers where the median internal tepal is a labellum; stamens are fused with the style into a gynostemium.

Cyperaceae

Highland or marsh plants with solid triangular stems in section, no nodes, and closed leaf sheaths.

Poaceae (Gramineae)

The most economically important monocot family; features cylindrical hollow stems (culms) with solid nodes, leaves with a ligule, and caryopsis fruit.