Plant Systematics (Final)

From after ferns onwards

Cycadaceae & Zamiaceae

cycadales

• cicinnate verriation

Ginkgoaceae

Ginkgo biloba

Conifers

• Cupressaceae

• Pinaceae

Cupressaceae

• Persistent, scale-like or rarely needle-like leaves

• Cone scales diverse, often T-shaped and
  uncommonly fleshy (junipers / cedars)

• Monoecious or dioecious (junipers)

Pinaceae

• Eventually deciduous, linear or needle-like leaves

• Cone scales flat

• Monoecious

Nymphaeceae

water lilies

• Aquatic, often with floating leaves

• Sepals and petals often hard to tell apart,
  generally numerous (tepals)

• Stamens numerous, intergrading from tepals

• Pistils numerous, partially fused into a cheese-
  wheel type structure

  
  

Magnoliaceae

• Trees and shrubs with encircling stipules

• Perianth of 6-numerous parts, spiraled in
  weak whorls of 3

• Numerous stamens

• Numerous pistils

• Fruit aggregates of follicles or samaras

  
  

Annonaceae

• Mostly tropical trees and shrubs

• 2-ranked leaves, no stipules

• Sepals 3, petals 6

• Stamens numerous

• Pistils numerous

  • Fruit an aggregate of berries, sometimes
    fused when mature

Lauraceae

• bays,” “cinnamon,” “sassafras,” “avocado”

• Mostly trees and shrubs

• Leaves full of ethereal oils

• Perianth of 6 parts (tepals)

• 6 stamens, anthers opening by valvate anther
  dehiscence (“Mickey Mouse”)

• 1 pistil with 1 ovule / seed

• Fruit a berry or drupe (e.g., avocado), often surrounded by perianth cup
  

Illicaiaceae

anise, stinkbush

• Shrubs

• Numerous tepals

• Numerous stamens

• Numerous pistils, arranged in a whorl like a
  cheese-wheel

• Fruit an aggregate of follicles

Ranuncullaceae

Buttercups” and “clematis”
• Mostly herbs (occasionally vines)
• Leaves often dissected (“bird-foot family”)
• Sepals and petals usually 5
• Stamens numerous
• Pistils numerous
• Fruit aggregates of follicles or achenes
(=nutlets)

Caryophyllaceae

Pinks and carnations

• Opposite, entire leaves with swollen nodes

• Inflorescences cymose or flowers solitary

• 5 – 5 - 10 – (3)

• Petals often cleft, notched, or “pinked”

• Free-central placentation

• Curved embryo

Cactaceae

cacti

• Stem succulents, sometimes epiphytic

• Leaves early deciduous or absent

• Congested branches (areoles) bearing 1 to several spines

• Flowers solitary

• Numerous tepals, spirally arranged

• Stamens numerous

• Ovary inferior

• Almost all New World (one exception, Africa)

  
  

Polygonaceae

buckwhear, smartweed, rhubarb

• Generally herbs

• Stipules, when present, connate and
  sheathing, forming an ocrea

• Tepals in two whorls of 3

• Fruits lenticular (coin-shaped) or 3-sided
  pyramidal (thus, polygon-aceae), sometimes
  enclosed by sepals

Droseraceae

sundews

• Herbaceous

• Covered in insect-trapping glandular hairs

• Found in nitrogen- and phosphorus-poor,
  acidic, boggy habitats

  
  

Placentation (3)

!!!

Onagraceae

evening primroses

• Generally herbs with pinnate venation

• Prominent hypanthium

• Generally 4-merous perianth

• Anthers often linear, opening longitudinally

• Inferior ovary

• Most have capsular fruits

• Many bloom in the evening, thus the name

Melastomataceae

• Generally shrubs

• Opposite leaves with ladder-like venation

  (3-veined from base to apex with

  perpendicular secondaries)

• Prominent hypanthium

• Generally 4-merous perianth

• Anthers linear, opening by pores

• Inferior ovary

• Fruits berries or capsules

Eurphorbiaceae

Euphorbs

• All growth formMonoecious or dioecious (always!)

  White, milky sap (usually)

  Petals, and sometimes sepals, missing

  Unisexual flowers in the big genus Euphorbia

  condensed into a pseudo-flower, a cyathium

  3-carpellate, fruits usually 3-lobed

Vitaceae

grapes/muscadines

• Lianas

• Tendrils opposite the leaves

• Petals deciduous

• Nectary disk present

• Fruit a berry

Salicaeceae

willows and cottonwoods

• Sepals and petals essentially absent;

  each flower just the sexual part, a

  gland, and a bract

• Dioecious; male and female flowers in

  catkins on separate trees

• Fruits capsules with hairy seeds

Violaceae

• Herbs (shrubs and trees in the tropics);

  stipules sometimes quite large.

• Usually zygomorphic (not so in tropics)

• Stamens 5, connate around the

  ovary, sometimes the lower two with

  nectary spurs

• Parietal placentation

Passifloraceae

• Vines with tendrils (axillary)

• Hypanthium is decorated with a corona

• Stamens and pistil usually borne on a stalk

• Parietal placentation

Hypericaeceae

st john’s worts

• Sometimes placed in the larger family

  Clusiaceae or Guttiferae (“gum-bearing”)

• Opposite, entire leaves with glandular

  dots

• 1 pistil but (usually) separate styles

• Capsular fruits

rosaceae

the rose family

• Herbs, shrubs, or trees with

  alternate, simple to compound leaves.

• Prominent stipules on leaves; margins of leaves

  often serrate.

• Hypanthium often well-developed.

• Stamens 10-many, pistils 1-5 or many. Flowers

  hypogynous, perigynous or epigynous!

• Fruit a drupe, achene, follicle, pome, or aggregates

  of drupes, achenes, or follicles!

rosoideae (rosaceae)

the pistils are almost buried in the hypanthium, appearing like an inferior ovary, as in Rosa

maloideae (rosaceae)

crataegus/prunus

• clearly a thorn in the axil of a leaf; has little bract-like/leaf-like structures like a true branch

spriaeoideae (rosaceae)

follicles

fabaceae (leguminosae)

bean family

• Three subfamilies based on flower structure.

• Flowers either zygomorphic or actinomorphic.

• Stamens numerous and showy (Mimosoideae)

  or 5-10 (Caesalpinioideae) or 10 (9+1) and

  diadelphous (in Papilionoideae).

• Leaves usually pinnately compound with a pulvinus

  at the base. May have glands or extrafloral nectaries.

• 1 carpellate pistil, fruit matures into a legume, a

  dehiscent fruit that opens on two sides (sutures)

fabaceae subfamilies (3)

• faboideae

• mimosoideae

• caesalpinioideae

mimosoideae

binpinnate leaves; small, actinomorphic flowers

caesalpiniodeae

banner petal is inside the wing petals and stamens are not in the 9+1 configuration.

fagaceae

oaks and beeches

• Leaves alternate, simple; numerous buds congested at the apex of branches

• Plants monoecious, with male flowers in catkins (or spikes) and female flowers subtended by an involucre of bracts.

• Fruit a nut surrounded by woody, cup-like or bur-like involucre (acorn=cupule + nut)

two major kinds of oaks

• red oaks

• white oaks

red oak characteristics

• Leaf margins with bristles

• Tight bark

• Acorns mature in two years

white oak characterisitcs

• Rounded leaf margins

• Shaggy or flaky bark

• Acorns mature in one year

betualaceae

birches, alders, hornbeams, hazelnuts

• Monoecious trees and shrubs

• Both male and female flowers in catkins, the male usually pendant (hanging) and the female erect

• Fruits 1-seeded nuts or samaras, found in catkins or catkin cones

cucurbitaceae

cucumbers, melons, squash, pumpkin

• Vines with tendrils

• Usually monoecious

• Corolla connate (tubular)

• Ovary inferior

• Placentation parietal

brassicaceae

the mustards

• Generally herbs with alternate leaves that

  contain mustard oils (cabbage smell)

• 4 free petals, 4 free sepals.

• 6 stamens, 4 long and 2 short, all free.

• Superior ovary with a septum but with

  parietal placentation (very unusual).

malvaceae

the cotton family

• Leaves alternate, with stipules; usually 3-veined from the base; stellate hairs present.

• Numerous stamens, 1 superior ovary, the carpels sometimes fused on the sides like a cheese-wheel.

• Epicalyx sometimes subtends the flower.

• Stamens monadelphous around styles.

• Fruit a schizocarp or capsule

sapindaceae (including aceraceae and hippocastanaceae)

• Trees, shrubs, or vines. Leaves alternate or opposite, often pinnately or palmately compound.

• Inflorescences sometimes with unisexual or functionally unisexual flowers.

• Stamens 8 or fewer. Nectar disk often present within the flower.

• Fruits are usually samaras or schizocarps

anacardiaceae

• Resinous trees, shrubs, or lianas, the resin sometimes causing dermatitis

• Alternate, pinnately compound leaves

• Flowers usually unisexual

• Nectary disk present

the asterids

the most advanced grouping within the dicots

• Fusion of petals (connate) and stamens often adnate to

  the corolla.

• Reduction in stamen number to 4 or 5.

• Inferior ovaries (in some); often one 2-carpellate pistil.

• Complex inflorescence structure, often cymes or heads.

sarraceniaceae

pitcher plants

• Carnivorous herbs

• Leaves highly modified into pitcher-like traps with downward pointing hairs, often in a basal rosette

• Sepals and petals free; stamens numerous (very atypical for Asteridae)

• Style expanded to form an umbrella- shaped structure

ericaceae

• Sepals and petals 4 or 5, fused at base, often vase-shaped

  (urceolate).

• Stamens 8 or 10, often with terminal projections and dehiscing by pores.

• Ovary superior or inferior.

• Common on acidic soils.

• Family of the blueberries, rhododendrons, azaleas, cranberries, mountain-laurel, etc

apocynaceae

milkweed family

• Mostly herbs and shrubs with white milky sap.

• The leaves are nearly always opposite or whorled.

• One group (formerly separated as Asclepiadaceae) has an elaborate crown of appendages between the corolla and sexual parts.

• The calyx consists of 5 distinct or basally connate sepals. The inner perianth is a 5-lobed sympetalous

  corolla.

Umbelliferae

carrot family

• Herbs with alternate leaves, simple to

  variously lobed or compound.

  • Petioles sheathing the stem.

  • Plants often strongly scented, caused by

  internal oil tubules.

  • Inflorescence of compound umbels.

  • Flowers actinomorphic.

  • Sepals 5, free, petals 5, stamens 5, all

  free.

  • Ovary inferior, of two carpels.

  • Fruit a schizocarp, often strongly ribbed.

Solanaceae

nightshade family

• mostly herbs

• Leaves alternate, simple to

  deeply divided.

  • Sepals 5, Petals 5, both

  connate.

  • Stamens 5, poricidal anther

  dehiscence.

  • One pistil of 2 carpels, ovary

  superior.

  • Fruit a capsule or a berry with

  axile placentation.

Lamiaceae

mint family

• Herbs and shrubs with stems usually

  4-angled (square).

  -Leaves opposite, usually aromatic.

  -Flowers zygomorphic.

  -5 Sepals, 5 petals, lobes often

  appearing as 4 due to connation.

  -Stamens either 2 or 4, epipetalous.

  -Ovary of 2 carpels, superior, 4-lobed

  or divided into 4 locules.

  -Style 1, gynobasic.

  -Fruit of 4 nutlets.

Plantaginaceae

• Mostly herbs, leaves alternate,

  opposite or whorled, simple to deeply

  divided or compound.

  -Flowers zygomorphic.

  -5 Sepals, 5 Petals. Stamens 2 or 4.

  - One pistil of 2 carpels, connate,

  ovary superior with 2 locules.

  -Fruit a many-seeded capsule

Convolvulaceae

morning glory family

• Mostly (for us) twining herbs or vines

  • Leaves alternate

  • Flowers actinomorphic

  • Petals connate into trumpet-like tube

  • Much like Solanaceae, but usually with

  milky sap and only 4 ovules/seeds

Asteraceae

aster or daisy family

• Herbs or shrubs with alternate or opposite leaves lacking stipules.

  -Inflorescence of involucrate heads often compounded into clusters.

  -Flowers perfect or imperfect, actinomorphic or zygomorphic.

  -Sepals absent or modified into a pappus of bristles or scales.

  -Petals 5, connate, corolla sometimes with a single lip (ray flowers).

  -Stamens 5, filaments free but anthers connate into a tube around

  the style.

  -Ovary inferior

  with one locule and 1 ovule.

  -Fruit an achene.

Rubiaceae

coffee family

• Trees, shrubs, or herbs.

  • The leaves are simple and entire, opposite or

  sometimes whorled; stipules are present and

  fused between the petioles.

  • The flowers are nearly always bisexual and

  actinomorphic.

  • The fused corolla is mostly 4-5-lobed. The

  androecium consists of as many stamens as corolla

  lobes.

  • The gynoecium consists of a single compound

  pistil of 2 carpels, a single style, and inferior

  ovary

Alismataceae

• Primitive monocots (much like primitive

  “dicots” [magnoliids]...)

  • Aquatic herbs with milky sap and rhizome

  • 3 sepals, 3 petals, usually numerous

  stamens, all free

  • Apocarpous gynoecium of 6 to

  many pistils

  • Fruit an aggregate of achenes

Potamogetonaceae

aquatic

• rhizomatous herbs.

  • Leaves sometimes heteromorphic, with

  submerged and floating leaves of two

  different forms.

  • Inflorescences spikes.

  • Stamens 4, with appendages at the base that

  look like a 4-merous fleshy perianth.

  • Pistils 4.

Araceae

philodendron family

• Terrestrial to aquatic herbs, often with rhizomes or

  corms.

  • Inflorescence composed of a spike of

  numerous small flowers packed onto

  a fleshy axis (=spadix), subtended by

  a large bract (=spathe).

  • Plants often monoecious.

  • Tepals 4-6, stamens 1-6, ovary

  superior or embedded in spadix.

  • Fruit usually a berry

Palmae

palm family

• Leaves often crowded into a terminal

  crown, pinnate or palmate

  • Inflorescences panicles of spikes

  • Regular monocot flowers: 3-3-(3-6-∞)-1

  • Fruit a drupe (think: coconut)

  • Economically important: thatch, fruit, oil

Liliaceae

lily family

• Perennial herbs typically with bulbs

  • Flowers actinomorphic, ovaries usually

  superior

  • Usually 6 tepals, free or basally fused

  • Six free stamens, 1 pistil

  made of 3 carpels

  • Fruit is a capsule or berry

Amaryllidaceae

daffodils/onions

• Bulbous herbs

• Umbellate inflorescences

• Ovaries superior (e.g., Allium) or inferior

(e.g., Amaryllis, Narcissus, Crinum, and

Hymenocallis)

Smilacaceae

• Herbaceous or woody vines with thick

  tuber-like rhizomes and prickles

  • Palmate, dicot-like venation

  • Stipular tendrils

  • Usually dioecious; inflorescences umbels

Melanthiaceae

• Inflorescences terminal, indeterminate

  (racemes, spikes)

  • The two parts of the anther fused and

  releasing pollen from one slit

  • Sometimes have nectaries near base of

  tepals

Iridaceae

iris family

• Perennial herbs usually with rhizomes

  • Leaves are have a sheathing, equitant base and a

  generally linear blade with parallel venation.

  • Flowers are actinomorphic or zygomorphic.

  • Perianth consists of 6 petaloid

  tepals.

  • The androecium consists of

  3 stamens.

  • The gynoecium consists of an

  inferior ovary of 3 carpels.

  • The fruit is a capsule

Orchidaceae

orchid family

• Perennial herbs, often epiphytic, sometimes

  lacking chlorophyll

  • Flowers strikingly zygomorphic

  • 3 sepals, 3 petals (the middle petal often larger and

  differentiated, sometimes spurred)

  • Androecium of 1 or rarely 2 stamens,

  adnate to style and stigma (forming

  a column)

  • Ovary inferior; pollen in pollinia

  • Smallest known seeds

Juncaceae

the rushes

• Herbs, grass-like

  • Stems are typically round, often hollow or

  spongy in the center.

  • Flowers with 6 normal tepals, brown or

  translucent; 6 stamens; 1 superior ovary.

  • Fruit is a dry capsule.

Cyperaceae

the sedges

• Grass-like herbs

  • Stems solid in internodes, triangular in cross-

  section: “Sedges have edges.”

  • Leaves 3-ranked

  • Flowers aggregated in spikelets.

  • No obvious tepals; tepals usually in

  the form of hairs, scales, or bristles;

  stamens usually 1-3; a bract subtends

  the flower.

  • Fruit is an achene.

Carex

• Usually monoecious with

  upper male spikelets and

  lower female spikelets.

  • Perigynium (sack or bag)

  around ovary.

  • Most speciose genus in MS

  (ca. 98 spp.)

Gramineae

the grasses

• Mostly herbs (occasionally “woody” like bamboos)

  • Stems mostly round in cross-section and hollow at

  internodes

  • Leaves 2-ranked.

  • Flowers in very reduced inflorescences

  with accessory structures

  – Glumes (bracts), lemma (bract),

  palea (bract)

  • 3 stamens, 2 stigmas

  (but reduced to only one ovule)

  • Fruit is a caryopsis or grain

  (achene with fruit wall fused to seed)