Angiosperms 3

Flashcards summarizing key concepts about eudicots, fruits, and human uses of angiosperms.

Eudicots

70% of all angiosperm species, includes Asteraceae (daisies) with ~30,000 species.

Asteraceae

A family of eudicots with ~30,000 species, also known as daisies.

Eudicot Flower Structure

Have 4-5 parts to the flower (most eudicots = Pentapetalae = 5 petals).

Asterids

A clade of eudicots that includes Asterales and Asteraceae, with over 120,000 species.

Asteraceae crops

includes sunflowers (Helianthus annuus).

Solanaceae Crop Examples

Includes potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), tomatoes, aubergines, peppers (Capsicum spp.).

Asteraceae inflorescence

Composite inflorescence; each 'flower' is many flowers clustered to look like one larger flower to increase reproductive efficiency.

Mandragora officinarum

A plant in the Solanaceae family with common names like Satan’s Testicles and used traditionally for medicinal purposes; high in alkaloids.

Rosids

A clade of eudicots that includes Rosales and Rosaceae, with about 90,000 species.

Rosaceae Crop Examples

Roses (Rosa) and fruit crops like apples (Malus), pears, peaches, cherries.

Fabaceae

Leguminosae/legumes; another of the largest families, very important bean crops, nitrogen fixing in root nodules with Rhizobia.

Mimosa pudica

The sensitive plant, a Mimusoid Fabaceae, sensitive to touch, leaves fold up when jostled as a defensive mechanism against herbivory.

Fruit

A structure that aids in seed dispersal and may consist of the mature ovary and seeds, or other parts of the flower or associated structures.

Simple fruit

Develops from one carpel (plum).

Aggregate fruit

Develops from several carpels (raspberry).

Multiple fruit

Forms from a cluster of flowers (pineapple, fig).

Accessory fruit

Develops from parts other than carpels (apple, strawberry).

Berry Definition

Fruit developed from a single ovary with a thin endocarp, fleshy pericarp, and relatively thin exocarp.

Ecosystem services of plants

Produce O2, remove CO2, contribute to soil formation, water filtration, prevent erosion, and moderate local climate.

Medicines from plants

Many medicines are derived from seed plants; the structure of the active ingredient is often based on substances isolated from plants.

Taxol

Isolated from the bark of Pacific yew and approved for treating several types of cancer.

Quinine

Active ingredient in the bark of Cinchona trees used to treat fevers and malaria.

Primary food source

Twelve species account for most of our food: rice, coconut, wheat, corn (maize), potato, sweet potato, cassava, sugarcane, beet, soybean, bean, and banana.

Rice (Oryza sativa)

Provides most of the food energy for half the world’s population, cultivated for more than 8,000 years.