Plant taxonomy- families

all the fams ya need to know

Ephedraceae

Xerophytic broom-like shrubs, Mormon tea

Welwitschiaceae

only 2 leaves from central meristem, long ragged leaves

Gnetaceae

Tropical vines, opposite arrangement, simple leaves

Ginkoaceae

Unique stomata, fan shaped leaves

Pinaceae

Evergreen trees, aromatic resin canals in leaves/stems, terminal wings 2 per scale, reproductive cone structures

Cupressaceae

Junipers and conifers, scale-like leaves, blue, winged ‘fruit’

Amborellaceae

Lacks vessels, evergreen shrubs, spiral perianth, unisexual flowers

Nymphaeaceae

Aquatic herbs, rooted stems, flowers floating on surface of water, round/oval and cordate/peltate leaves

Magnoliaceae

Trees/shrubs, simple 2 ranked leaves, stipules present, surround terminal bud, large solitary flowers

Proteaceae

Forest to xeric, unique uniseriate perianth of 4 sepals, raceme of globose heads, single or paired flowers.

Alismataceae

Aquatic/wetland, rhizomatous herbs, laticifers present, latex white, crumpled petals

Arecaceae

Monster, pothos, Wolffia, etc. Biggest and smallest flowers, diagnostic spathe/spadix, herbs/lianas, bisexual or unisexual

Lilaceae

Perennial, bulbous herbs, solitary raceme, no umbels, no onion smell

Asphodelaceae

Aloes. Raceme flowers. Leaves basal rosette, succulent with spines.

Asparagaceae

Scale-like leaves

Ruscoideae

broad leafed. Rhizomatous herb-trees, raceme flowers, free perianth

Agavoideae

Subshrubs, xeromorphic, fibrous/spiny leaves

Amaryllidiaceae

Herbs, simple alt. arrange. Diagnostic floral corona.

Fagaceae

Xeric evergreens, oaks. Leaves simple-undulate, iconic cupule subtends acorn. Male flowers string-like catkins, female flowers simple.

Rhamnaceae

Flower with hypanthium, diagnostic necatary disk, petals clawed and hooded around stamen.

Ericaceae

Evergreen shrubs, urn or funnelform flowers, stamen 2x petal #. Blueberries

Rosaceae

Apples, peaches, pears, plums, apricot, raspberries, strawberries, black berries, almonds, etc. Many stamen, attached to hypanthium

Lamiaceae

Bilabiate, bilateral symmetry. Didynamous (2 long stamen, 2 short). 4 sided square-rectangular stems. Opposite phyllotaxy. flower clusters sessile/occur in axils. Aromatic. Ovary superior.

Orobanchaceae

Holoparasitic; no chlorophyll, rely on host for nutrients. Sympetalous bilabiate, spike or raceme. Zygomorphic (bilateral) floral symm. Superior ovary. Stamen, 4, fused. “beak and pouch” flowers.

Solanaceae

Nightshades (tobacco, tomato, chilies, potatoes, etc.). Variably toxic. Synpetalous corolla defined tissue between lobes. Funnel, bell, or tubular shaped corolla. Distinct fold lines in corolla. Inward folded corolla margins (edges). Ovary superior.

Asteraceae

Largest flowering family. Laticifers & resin canals. Lack stipules. Flowers in heads or bilabiate. Valvate petals. Plunger pollen. Stamen connate tube surrounds style. Disk flowers AND ray flowers

Crassulaceae

Herbs, shrubs, rarely trees. Simple succulent leaves. CAM photosynthesis. Oft. basal. Free sexual parts. Scale-like gland at base of carpels. Stamen 2x petals. Usually 2 sets of stamen, one opposite petals, other opposite sepal.

Malvaceae

Herbs, shrubs, trees. Mucilaginous sap. Stellate trichomes. Simple leaves, palmately lobed. Monadelphous stamen (staminal tube). Epicalyx (modified 3-merous bract). Calyx valvate, meet at edges/don’t overlap. Convalvate corolla, rolled, margins overlap. Raised/dilated secondary growth.

Cotton, cacao, okra, durian, balsa wood, etc.

Fabaceae

legumes, peas. Herbs, shrubs, vines, trees. Stipules present. Often compound leaves. Conspicuous pulvinus on petiole. Single unicarpellate pistil w/ marginal placentation.

Caesalpinioidea

Fabaceae subfamily. Banner petals INTERIOR to wings. Leaves 2x pinnately compound. Distinct stamen.

Mimosoidea

Fabaceae subfamily. Actinomorphic (radial) symm. Stamen 12+. Spike inflorescence. Phyllodes (true leaves w/ aborted blades) present.

Faboidea

Fabaceae subfamily. Banner petals EXTERIOR to wing petals. 5-merous. Diadelphous stamen. Stipe supports gynoecium. Keel wraps around reproductive parts.

Cyperaceae

TRIANGULAR STEM. (Sedges have edges). Riparian environment. Perennial herbs. Closed leaf sheath. 3 ranked leaves. Sedge spikelet inflorescence. Distichous or spiral bracts. Reduced unisexual or bisexual flowers. Involucral leaf (modified bract, long leaf-like bract extends past infloresence). Bracts cover flowers, anther & stigma protrude out.

Poaceae

Round, hollow jointed stems. (grasses have hollow stems). Gen. herbaceous. Open leaf sheath; 2 ranked flat w/ ligule. Grass spikelet inflor., perfect or unisexual. Wind pollination. Caryopsis fruit.


Palea surrounds
Ovary and
Anthers are nested inside the
Lemma, which are interior to the
Glume, are just bracts.