Flowering Plants Collective

Who authored the book 'Origin of Cultivated Plants' in the 1880s?

Alphonse de Candolle.

Where did Alphonse de Candolle say cultivated plants originated?

In areas where their wild relatives grow.

Who identified dispersal centers of cultivated plants in 1916?

N. I. Vavilov.

What characterizes the dispersal centers of cultivated plants according to Vavilov?

Presence of dominant genes.

How many centers of diversity did Vavilov identify?

Eight.

Who associated crop origins with specific regions in the 1950s?

Jack Harlan and students.

What are some key crops from the Near-Eastern region?

Barley, wheat, peas, lentils, asparagus, beets, carrots, olives, apples.

Which region is known for bamboo, peach, and soybean cultivation?

Chinese region.

List some crops from the African region of origin.

Yams, sorghum, okra, coffee.

What crops originate from South Asia & the Pacific Islands?

Sugar cane, mango, banana, rice.

Name some crops from North America.

Sunflower, cranberry, blueberry, tobacco.

What crops are associated with South & Central America?

Corn, beans, peanut, potato, tomato.

How many species are in the Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae)?

About 1,500 species.

Are most Buttercup species herbaceous or woody?

Nearly all are herbaceous.

In which regions are Buttercups mostly concentrated?

North temperate and arctic regions.

What is the characteristic number of petals in Buttercups?

Petals vary in number.

How many stamens and pistils do Buttercups typically have?

Numerous stamens, several to many pistils.

What type of ovary do Buttercups have?

Superior ovary.

Are most Buttercup species poisonous?

Most are at least slightly poisonous.

Which plant yields aconite?

Monkshood (wolfsbane).

What was aconite used to treat?

Rheumatism and neuralgia.

Why is it called wolfsbane?

Wolf hunters used it to poison wolves.

How many species are in the Laurel Family (Lauraceae)?

About 1,000 species.

What kind of plants are in the Laurel Family?

Tropical evergreen shrubs and trees.

Do Laurels have petals?

No, but sepals are sometimes petal-like.

How are stamens arranged in the Laurel Family?

In three or four whorls.

How do the anthers of Laurels open?

By flaps that lift up.

What spice comes from pulverized bark?

Cinnamon.

What related spice comes from another tree?

Cassia.

What are camphor's uses?

Cold remedies and insecticides.

Which tree is native to the eastern U.S.?

Sassafras.

What is sweet bay used for?

Flavoring meat dishes.

Which fruit is edible from the Laurel Family?

Avocado.

In which regions do poppies grow?

Temperate and subtropical regions.

Do poppies have one or many pistils?

A single pistil.

What type of sap do poppies contain?

Milky or colored sap.

What do all poppies produce?

Alkaloidal drugs.

What is opium derived from?

The white fluid from capsules of opium poppy.

Which drugs are obtained from opium?

Morphine, codeine, heroin.

What are some other alkaloids derived from poppy?

Papaverine and noscapine.

For what purpose are poppy seeds used?

As food.

How many species are in the Mustard Family (Brassicaceae)?

About 2,500 species.

Where are Mustard Family plants mostly found?

Temperate and cooler regions of North America.

What is the flower petal arrangement in the Mustard Family?

Four petals in a cross.

How many stamens do Mustard Family plants have?

Six – two short and four long.

What type of fruit do Mustard Family plants produce?

Siliques or silicles.

What kind of juice do Mustard Family plants produce?

Pungent watery juice.

List some edible cultivated plants from the Mustard Family.

Cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, radish.

What condiment is made from ground seeds of Brassica species?

Mustard.

What is the approximate number of species in the Rose Family (Rosaceae)?

Over 3,000 species of trees, shrubs, and herbs.

What is the flower structure of the Rose Family?

Basal parts fused into a cup with petals, sepals, and many stamens attached to the rim.

How is the Rose Family subdivided?

By flower structure and fruit type.

What are some economically important plants in the Rose Family?

Stone fruits (cherries, peaches, plums), pome fruits (apples, pears), aggregate fruits (strawberries, raspberries), ornamentals (roses).

Which vitamin is found in rose hips?

Vitamin C.

What rank does the Legume Family (Fabaceae) hold in size among flowering plants?

It is the third largest, with about 13,000 species.

What is the distribution of the Legume Family?

Cosmopolitan (worldwide).

What type of flower symmetry do legumes have?

Radial to bilateral.

How are stamens arranged in the Legume Family?

Fused into a tube around the ovary.

What is the fruit type of the Legume Family?

Legume.

Name some important crops from the Legume Family.

Peas, beans, soybeans, peanuts, alfalfa, sweet clover, licorice, carob.

Where are Spurge Family plants found?

Tropical and temperate regions.

What are two economically important plants from the Spurge Family?

Cassava (staple food), Para rubber tree (rubber latex).

What is unique about the flower structure of the Spurge Family?

Stamens and pistils are in separate flowers; often lack corolla.

What is the name of the inflorescence in the Spurge Family?

Cyathium.

Describe the structure of a cyathium.

Female flower elevated on stalk (gynophore) surrounded by male flowers on a cup of fused bracts, sometimes with glands or colored bracts (poinsettia).

How many species are there in the Cactus Family (Cactaceae)?

Over 1,500 species.

Where are cacti native?

Only to the Americas, in dry subtropical regions.

What are the leaves of cacti like?

Reduced, often spines.

What structure in cacti stores water?

Fleshy stems.

Describe cactus flowers.

Showy, numerous petals, sepals, and stamens, with an inferior ovary forming a berry.

Do cacti produce edible fruit?

Yes, e.g., prickly pear fruits.

How many species are in the Mint Family (Lamiaceae)?

About 3,000.

What are some unique traits of Mint Family plants?

Square stems, opposite leaves, bilaterally symmetrical flowers.

What type of ovary do mint plants have?

Superior and four-parted, forming four nutlets.

What do mint plants produce and what are they used for?

Mint oils used medicinally and antiseptically.

Name some species in the Mint Family.

Rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, basil, lavender, catnip, peppermint, spearmint.

What compound is found in mint oils and what are its uses?

Menthol – in toothpaste, candy, gum, liqueurs, cigarettes.

How many species are in the Nightshade Family (Solanaceae)?

About 3,000.

Where are Nightshade Family plants concentrated?

Tropics of Central and South America.

Describe the flower traits of the Nightshade Family.

Fused petals; stamens fused to corolla; superior ovary becomes berry or capsule.

What are some common crops in the Nightshade Family?

Tomato, potato, eggplant, pepper, tobacco, petunia.

Why are some Nightshade Family plants dangerous?

Many are poisonous; some contain drugs like atropine, scopolamine, and capsicum.

What plant was historically used for asthma?

Jimson weed.

Approximately how many species are in the Carrot Family (Apiaceae)?

About 2,000.

Where is the Carrot Family distributed?

Northern Hemisphere.

What are some characteristic features of Carrot Family plants?

Aromatic herbs with dissected leaves, sheathing petioles, and umbels of small flowers.

What type of ovary do Carrot Family plants have?

Inferior with a two-lobed stigma.

Name some edible or spice plants from the Carrot Family.

Dill, celery, carrot, parsley, coriander, fennel, anise, caraway, parsnip.

What is an example of a poisonous member of the Carrot Family?

Water hemlock – the poison that killed Socrates.

How many species are in the Pumpkin Family (Cucurbitaceae)?

About 700.

What is the growth form of the Pumpkin Family?

Prostrate or climbing herbaceous vines.

What type of flowers do members of the Pumpkin Family have?

Unisexual, fused petals.

What is the female flower ovary like in the Pumpkin Family?

Inferior, made of three carpels.

Name some common crops from the Pumpkin Family.

Pumpkins, squashes, cucumbers, cantaloupes, gourds.

Are there any members of the Pumpkin Family that are no longer found in the wild?

Yes, due to long cultivation.

What is the rank of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae) in size?

Second largest flowering plant family (~20,000 species).

Name some common members of the Sunflower Family.

Dandelion, lettuce, chicory, artichoke, chrysanthemum, marigold, sunflower, thistle.

What is a spice derived from the Sunflower Family?

Tarragon.

What is a single 'sunflower' composed of?

Many florets arranged in a compact inflorescence that resembles a single flower.

What is the pollination method in the Grass Family (Poaceae)?

Wind-pollinated.