Plant Families

Rosaceae

Rose Family

• Moderately large, cosmopolitan, plant family (4,500+ species, ~90 genera)

• Predominantly perennial herbs, woody shrubs, and trees, rarely annuals

• Ornamentals, Food, Timber, Fragrances

• Ex. roses, apples, pears

Asteraceae

Sunflower family

• The largest flowering plant family (32,000+ species, 1,900+ genera)

• The inflorescence is a capitulum of florets that produce achenes.

• Annual or perennial herbs, vines, lianas, shrubs, and trees

• Major component of local flora in many
  locations

• Food, oils, ornamentals, medicinals

• Ex. lettuce, sunflower

Iridaceae

• Smallish family with 92 genera with about
  2500 species.

• It includes a number of economically ornamental plants (Freesia, Gladiolus, and Crocus) as well as saffron.

• Perennial herbs, with a bulb, corm or rhizome, grow erect and have grass-like leaves that often fold around the stem.

• Considered as one of the most important horticultural families

• Ex. iris, gladiolus

Solanaceae

Nightshade Family

• many toxic plants (but not all)

• ex. tomatoes, potatoes

Fabaceae

Legume/pea/bean family

• Cosmopolitan family with trees, shrubs, lianas, vines and perennial or annual herbaceous plants.

• 3rd largest plant family (19,000 species, 7% of flowering plants)

• Fruit a legume

• Ornamentals, foods, timber, medicines, dyes, weeds

• Ex. peanut, lentil, chickpea

Liliaceae

Lily family

• A small but mighty monocot family with ~700 species and 15 genera

• Perennial, monocot herbs typically with bulbs or corms (geophytes) and rhizomes.

• Characteristic flowers have 6 tepals in two whorls, six stamens, and a superior ovary of three carpels.

• Linear leaves common.

• Fruit a capsule or berry

• Ex. lily, tulip

Poaceae (Gramineae)

The Grass Family

• Cosmopolitan

• #5 for size: 775 genera, 12,000 species

• Immense ecological value covering over 40% of Earth’s surface, present in all terrestrial. biomes.

• Majority of human caloric intake

• Diversity of growth forms and biomes

• Ex. rice, wheat, corn

Brassicaceae

The Mustard Family

• Cosmopolitan Family of aromatic herbs

• 370 genera, 4,000 species

• Cruciferous crops originated in Indus Valley ~4,500-5,000 years ago

• Four flower petals arranged in a cross.

• Six stamen: 2 short, 4 long-

• Fruits = siliques or silicles

• All produce pungent watery juice.

• Many cultivated edible plants

• Ex. cauliflower, radish, canola

Amaryllidaceae

Amaryllis Family

• Ex. onion, leek, garlic, chive

Cucurbitaceae

Squash Family (Cucumber or Gourd Family)

• Ex. squash

Linaceae

Flax Family

• Ex. flax

Malvaceae

Marshmallow Family

• Ex. cacao

Moraceae

Mulberry Family

• Ex. fig

Musaceae

Banana Family

• ex. banana

Rutaceae

Citrus Family (hesperidium)

• Ex. lemon, lime, grapefruit

Lamiaceae

• Mint Family

• Cosmopolitan Family of aromatic herbs •

• 40 genera, 7,200+ species

• Aromatic oils from terpenoids

• Angular stems that are square in cross section, opposite leaves, and bilaterally symmetrical flowers

• Weeds, ornamentals, culinary herbs

Apiaceae

• Celery, Parsley family

• Cosmopolitan Family widely distributed in Northern Hemisphere.

• Dissected leaves, and petiole bases that form sheaths around stem

• 430 genera, 3,800 species

• Savory-aromatic herbs

• Mixture of compounds produce flavors

• Flavorings and some antimicrobial activity