12 required plant families

plant families and their basics

Ranunculaceae (buttercups)

herbaceous, no stipules, perianth parts 5, many stamens, apocarpous, hypogynous, fruit achene or follicle

Caryophyllaceae (carnations)

opp leaves, swollen nodes, 5 deeply loped petals, 10 stamens, 3-5 fused carpels, capsule fruit

Polygonaceae (buckwheats)

nodes with fused stipules (Ochrea), 4-6 “tepals”, 3-9 stamens, 2-3 fused carpels, achene fruit

Rosaceae (rose, duh)

herbs or woody, stipules, perianth 5, many stamens, flower peri or epigynous, fruit various

Fabaceae (legumes)

stipules, compound leaves, perianth 5, zygomorphic corollas, 10 stamens in 2 groups, unicarpellate, legume fruits

Brassicaceae (mustard/cabbages)

perianth 4, 6 stamens (4 long 2 short), bicarpellate, silicle fruits

Lamiaceae (mints)

opp leaves, fragrant, square stems, fused zygomorphic corollas, styles rise from the base of the ovary, nutlets

Apiaceae (carrots)

Hollow stems, compound leaves with sheaths, umbels, inferior ovary, extra structure at base of flowers, schizocarp fruit

Asteraceae (sunflowers)

capitulum inflor, inferior ovary, 2 carpels, achene fruit

Asparagaceae (asparagus, duh)

6 unspotted tepals, superior ovary, seeds often black

Cyperaceae (sedges)

stems triangular, leaf sheaths closed, flowers uni or bisexual, bristled perianth, many bracts, 2 stamens, achene frutis

Poaceae (grasses)

stems round, leaf sheaths open, absent perianth, 3 stamens, grain fruit

Basal angiosperm

flower parts many or in 3’s, broad leaves, aromatic plants, woody, if herbs then leaves cordate

Eudicot

flower parts in 4’s or 5’s, broad net-veined leaves

Monocot

flower parts in 3’s, and linear parallel-veined leaves

Rosid

distinct petals, numerous stamens more than petals

Asterid

fused petals, stamens same or less than petals and attached to corolla tube