Field Botany 2026 Lecture Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering plant phylogeny, morphological characteristics of main plant groups, and specific scientific/common names of species within the Field Botany 2026 syllabus.

Rhizome

A thick but often short stem, typically in ferns, that can be considered where the stems are often lacking.

Fern fronds

The 'leaves' of a fern plant.

Stipe

The attachment of a fern frond to the rest of the plant.

Pinna (plural: pinnae)

The more or less distinct segments into which fern fronds are divided along the edges.

Sorus (plural: sori)

Clustered groups of sporangia located on the lower surface of a fern frond, usually toward margins or on the sporophore.

Indusium

A membrane that often covers the sori of ferns.

Gymnosperms

Seed bearing plants with no ovary surrounding the seed (naked seeds).

Conifer leaves

Leaves that take the form of needles or scales.

Monocot embryo structure

Contains one cotyledon (seed leaf).

Dicot embryo structure

Contains two cotyledons (seed leaves).

Monocot flower parts

Flower parts typically occurring in multiples of $3$.

Dicot flower parts

Flower parts typically occurring in multiples of $4$ or $5$.

Monocot root system structure

Characterized by a fibrous root system.

Dicot root system structure

Characterized by a taproot system.

Monocot leaf venation

The veins in the leaf are arranged parallel to one another.

Dicot leaf venation

The veins in the leaf are reticulated (netlike).

Monocot pollen structure

Pollen grains containing one furrow.

Dicot pollen structure

Pollen grains containing three furrows.

Monocot vascular bundle arrangement

Vascular bundles are scattered throughout the stem.

Dicot vascular bundle arrangement

Vascular bundles are arranged in a ring within the stem.

Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn

Commonly known as bracken fern; belongs to family Dennstaedtiaceae.

Onoclea sensibilis L.

Commonly known as sensitive fern; belongs to family Onocleaceae.

Osmunda cinnamomea L.

Commonly known as cinnamon fern; belongs to family Osmundaceae.

Osmunda regalis L.

Commonly known as Royal fern; belongs to family Osmundaceae.

Thelypteris palustris Schott

Commonly known as marsh fern; belongs to family Thelypteridaceae.

Equisetum arvense L.

Commonly known as common horsetail; belongs to family Equisetaceae.

Dendrolycopodium obscurum (L.) A. Haines

Commonly known as ground-pine; belongs to family Lycopodiaceae.

Juniperus communis L.

Commonly known as common juniper; belongs to family Cupressaceae.

Thuja occidentalis L.

Commonly known as white cedar; belongs to family Cupressaceae.

Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.

Commonly known as balsam fir; belongs to family Pinaceae.

Larix laricina (Du Roi) K.Koch

Commonly known as tamrack; belongs to family Pinaceae.

Picea mariana (Mill.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb

Commonly known as black spruce; belongs to family Pinaceae.

Pinus banksiana Lamb

Commonly known as jack pine; belongs to family Pinaceae.

Pinus resinosa Aiton

Commonly known as red pine; belongs to family Pinaceae.

Pinus strobus L.

Commonly known as white pine; belongs to family Pinaceae.

Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière

Commonly known as hemlock; belongs to family Pinaceae.

Sagittaria latifolia Willd.

Commonly known as common arrowhead; belongs to family Alismataceae.

Arisaema triphyllum (L.) Schott

Commonly known as jack-in-the-pulpit; belongs to family Araceae.

Maianthemum racemosum (L.) Link

Commonly known as false Solomon-seal; belongs to family Asparagaceae.

Carex stricta Lam.

Commonly known as Sedge; belongs to family Cyperaceae.

Eleocharis elliptica Kunth

Commonly known as spike rush; belongs to family Cyperaceae (know genus only).

Scirpus cyperinus (L.) Kunth

Commonly known as wool-grass; belongs to family Cyperaceae (know genus only).

Iris versicolor L.

Commonly known as wild blue flag; belongs to family Iridaceae.

Juncus balticus Willd.

Commonly known as Baltic rush; belongs to family Juncaceae.

Lilium philadelphicum L.

Commonly known as wood lily; belongs to family Liliaceae.

Trillium grandiflorum (Michx.) Salisb.

Commonly known as common trillium; belongs to family Melanthiaceae.

Calopogon tuberosus (L.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.

Commonly known as grass-pink; belongs to family Orchidaceae.

Cypripedium parviflorum Salisb.

Commonly known as yellow ladyslipper; belongs to family Orchidaceae.

Cypripedium reginae Walter

Commonly known as showy ladyslipper; belongs to family Orchidaceae.

Platanthera blephariglottis (Willd.)

Commonly known as white fringed orchid; belongs to family Orchidaceae.

Ammophila breviligulata

Commonly known as Marram grass; belongs to family Poaceae.

Phleum pratense L.

Commonly known as Timothy; belongs to family Poaceae.

Poa compressa L.

Commonly known as Canada bluegrass; belongs to family Poaceae.

Potamogeton natans L.

Commonly known as pondweed; belongs to family Potamogetonaceae.

Typha latifolia L.

Commonly known as common cat-tail; belongs to family Typhaceae.

Daucus carota L.

Commonly known as Queen-Anne's-lace; belongs to family Apiaceae.

Osmorhiza claytonii (Michx.) C.B.Clarke

Commonly known as hairy sweet-cicely; belongs to family Apiaceae.

Asclepias syriaca L.

Commonly known as common milkweed; belongs to family Apocynaceae.

Achillea millefolium L.

Commonly known as yarrow or milfoil; belongs to family Asteraceae.

Cirsium pitcheri (Torr. ex Eaton) Torr. & A.Gray

Commonly known as dune thistle; belongs to family Asteraceae.

Hieracium aurantiacum L.

Commonly known as orange hawkweed; belongs to family Asteraceae.

Tanacetum bipinnatum (L.) Sch. Bip

Commonly known as dune tansy; belongs to family Asteraceae.

Taraxacum officinale F. H. Wigg.

Commonly known as common dandelion; belongs to family Asteraceae.

Alnus incana (L.) Moench

Commonly known as speckled alder; belongs to family Betulaceae.

Betula alleghaniensis Britton

Commonly known as yellow birch; belongs to family Betulaceae.

Betula papyrifera Marshall

Commonly known as paper birch; belongs to family Betulaceae.

Echium vulgare L.

Commonly known as blueweed; belongs to family Boraginaceae.

Lepidium campestre (L.) R.Br.

Commonly known as field cress; belongs to family Brassicaceae.

Lobelia kalmii L.

Commonly known as bog lobelia; belongs to family Campanulaceae.

Lonicera canadensis W.Bartram ex Marshall

Commonly known as Canadian fly honeysuckle; belongs to family Caprifoliaceae.

Gypsophila paniculata L.

Commonly known as baby's breath; belongs to family Caryophyllaceae.

Silene latifolia Poir.

Commonly known as white campion; belongs to family Caryophyllaceae.

Calystegia spithamaea (L.) Pursh

Commonly known as low bindweed; belongs to family Convolvulaceae.

Cornus canadensis L.

Commonly known as bunchberry or dwarf cornel; belongs to family Cornaceae.

Sedum acre L.

Commonly known as mossy stonecrop; belongs to family Crassulaceae.

Drosera intermedia Hayne

Commonly known as spatulate-leaved sundew; belongs to family Droseraceae.

Drosera rotundifolia L.

Commonly known as round-leaved sundew; belongs to family Droseraceae.

Chamaedaphne calyculata (L.) Moench

Commonly known as leatherleaf; belongs to family Ericaceae.

Vaccinium oxycoccos L.

Commonly known as small cranberry; belongs to family Ericaceae.

Euphorbia virgata Waldst. & Kit.

Commonly known as leafy spurge; belongs to family Euphorbiaceae.

Melilotus albus Medik.

Commonly known as white sweet-clover; belongs to family Fabaceae.

Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.

Commonly known as American beech; belongs to family Fagaceae.

Quercus alba L.

Commonly known as white oak; belongs to family Fagaceae.

Quercus rubra L.

Commonly known as red oak; belongs to family Fagaceae.

Geranium robertianum L.

Commonly known as Robert's geranium; belongs to family Geraniaceae.

Hypericum perforatum L.

Commonly known as common St. John's-wort; belongs to family Hypericaceae.

Lycopus americanus Muhl. ex W.P.C.Barton

Commonly known as common water horehound; belongs to family Lamiaceae.

Scutellaria galericulata L.

Commonly known as marsh skullcap; belongs to family Lamiaceae.

Utricularia vulgaris L.

Commonly known as common bladderwort; belongs to family Lentibulariaceae.

Tilia americana L.

Commonly known as basswood; belongs to family Malvaceae.

Nymphaea odorata Aiton

Commonly known as white water-lily; belongs to family Nymphaeaceae.

Fraxinus americana L.

Commonly known as white ash; belongs to family Oleaceae.

Oenothera biennis L.

Commonly known as common evening-primrose; belongs to family Onagraceae.

Castilleja coccinea (L.) Spreng.

Commonly known as Indian paintbrush; belongs to family Orobanchaceae.

Melampyrum lineare Desr.

Commonly known as cow-wheat; belongs to family Orobanchaceae.

Capnoides sempervirens (L.) Borkh.

Commonly known as pink corydalis; belongs to family Papaveraceae.

Plantago lanceolata L.

Commonly known as ribgrass; belongs to family Plantaginaceae.

Persicaria amphibia (L.) A. Gray

Commonly known as water smartweed; belongs to family Polygonaceae.

Rumex acetosella L.

Commonly known as sheep sorrel; belongs to family Polygonaceae.

Anemone canadensis L.

Commonly known as Canada anemone; belongs to family Ranunculaceae.