HCS 2204 Midterm Plant Families

Extra Stuff To Know

Apiaceae

Characteristics 

• Aromatic 

• Hollow stems 

• alternate leaves 

• Umbel flowering

Examples: parsley, cilantro 

Asteraceae

Characteristics

• Composite flower heads (florets)  

• Bracts (leaf-like structures)

• white sap (latex) 

• Non-woody stem 

Examples: daisy, dandelion

Brassicaceae

Characteristics

• Leaves are simple and alternately arranged 

• peppery-flavored 

• 4-petal flowers (cross-shaped = crux)  

• fruit that is two-parted pod silique

Examples: mustard and cabbage

Fabaceae

Characteristics

• most are nitrogen fixing 

• many have trifoliate leaves 

• symmetric flowers 

• seed pods

Examples: soybeans and beans

Lamiaceae

Characteristics

• Leaves are typically simple and oppositely arranged 

• square stems 

• aromatic, leaves are fragrant and contain volatile oil 

• symmetrical flowers

Examples: mint and basil

Poaceae

Characteristics

• monocots 

• hollow stems (culms) plugged at intervals by solid leaf-bearing nodes 

• Parallel leaf venation 

• wind-pollinated

Examples: rice and corn

Rosaceae

Characteristics

• Five sepals 

• Five petals 

• spirally arranged stamens 

• woody stems 

Examples: rose and apple

Solanaceae

Characteristics 

• 5-part flowers 

• leaves are alternate but often unequal pairs  

• Five fused petals 

• Five sepals

Examples: tomato and potato