Aceraceae -- the maple family (2/120; Mostly New and Old World temperates, plus tropics of s.e. Asia)

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Aceraceae -- the maple family (2/120 Mostly New
and Old World temperates, plus tropics of s.e.
Asia)
Rosidae II
Habit shrubs or trees Leaves palmately-veined,
simple or palmately or pinnately compound leaves,
opposite estipulate Inflorescence panicle,
raceme, corymb, or umbel-like axillary
cluster Special floral characters nectary disc,
carpels winged Calyx 5 (4, 6-9) sepals, distinct
or basally connate Corolla 5 (0, 4, 6-9) petals,
distinct Androecium 8 (4-12) stamens,
distinct Gynoecium 2 (3) carpels, connate,
winged superior 2 styles or 1 style deeply
divided Fruit samaroid schizocarp with 1 seed
maturing per locule (Floral formula Ca 5 Co 5 A
8 G 2 )
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Aceraceae -- comments
Rosidae II
The genera Acer (maple) is common to both the
Old and New Worlds. The other, Dipteronia,
occurs only in China. Notes Acer is the source
of maple syrup and many species are valuable
timber trees and their wood are used to make
furniture. Also used as street and other
landscaping trees/shrubs. In the field, the
opposite, palmately-veined, simple leaves (except
things like A. negundo), opposite branching, and
the two-winged samaroid schizocarps should
diagnose the family.
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Anacardiaceae -- the sumac family (75/600
predominately tropical, extends up into the
temperate zones of North America and Eurasia)
b-family Rosidae II
Habit shrubs, trees, woody vines Leaves simple
to pinnate to trifoliolate, alternate
estipulate Inflorescence panicle Special floral
characters nectary disc, hypanthium sometimes
present, flowers often imperfect, resinous
compounds or volatile substances with strong odor
in stems and leaves Calyx 5 (3-7) sepals,
connate Corolla 5 (3-7) petals,
distinct Androecium 5-10 (1, many) stamens,
distinct or weakly connate at base Gynoecium 3
(2-12) carpels, connate superior 3 (1 or 4-5)
styles, distinct Fruit drupe or berry (Floral
formula Ca 5 Co 5 A 5-10 G 3 )
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Vitaceae -- the grape family (11-14/700 Mostly
tropical and subtropical with a few widespread
temperate spp.)
b-family Rosidae II
Habit woody vines with tendrils, less common as
shrubs, trees Leaves simple and palmately lobed
or veined, or pinnately or palmately compound,
alternate estipulate or stipulate Inflorescence
cymose, variable Special floral characters
nectary disc Calyx 4-5 (3-7) sepals,
connate Corolla 4-5 (3-7, 0) petals, distinct
(connate) or apically coherent Androecium 4-5
(3-7) stamens, distinct or anthers connate
opposite petals Gynoecium 2 (3-6) carpels,
connate superior 1 style or sessile
stigma Fruit berry (Floral formula Ca 4-5 Co
4-5 A 4-5 G 2 )
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Rutaceae -- the citrus family (150/900-1500
cosmopolitan tropical and temperate)
Rosidae II
Habit shrubs or trees Leaves simple to pinnately
compound, alternate estipulate vegetation
usually punctate with oil glands and often
strongly scented Inflorescence various Special
floral characters nectary disc, punctate glands
often present (even in flowers) Calyx 4-5 (2-3)
sepals, connate Corolla 4-5 petals, distinct
(connate) Androecium 4-10 stamens,
distinct Gynoecium 2-5 (1, many) carpels,
connate superior 1 style Fruit capsule, berry,
hesperidium, samara, schizocarp, or cluster of
follicles (Floral formula Ca 4-5 Co 4-5 A 4-10 G
4-5 )
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Euphorbiaceae -- the spurge family (320/7500 pan
tropical, poorly represented in temperate areas)
Rosidae II
Habit herbs, shrubs, trees, stem succulents often
with milky sap Leaves simple, alternate or
opposite stipulate Inflorescence various,
sometimes very condensed forming a
cyathium Special floral characters imperfect
flowers, typically apetalous, Calyx 4-5 (0)
sepals, distinct or connate Corolla 0 (4-5)
petals, distinct or basally connate can be
adnate to stamens Androecium 1-many stamens,
distinct or variously connate Gynoecium 3 (1-20)
carpels, connate superior 3 (1-20) styles often
forked Fruitschizocarpic capsule (rarely a
drupe, berry, pod, or samara) (Floral formula
Ca4-5 (0) Co 0 (4-5) A 0 G 3 // Ca4-5 (0) Co
0 (4-5) A 1-many G 0 )
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Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) -- the carrot family
(428/3000 cosmopolitan, greatest diversity in
north temperate zone)
Rosidae II
Habit herbs (rarely shrubs or trees) Leaves
simple to variously lobed or compound, alternate
estipulate with petioles sheathing with
internal oil glands and often strongly
scented Inflorescence compound umbels (rarely
simple umbels, heads, or axillary) Special floral
characters small flowers, sepals may be highly
reduced Calyx 5 sepals, distinct Corolla 5 (0)
petals, distinct Androecium 5 stamens, distinct,
alternate to petals Gynoecium 2 carpels, connate
inferior 2 styles often subtended by bulging
stylopodia Fruit schizocarp with 2 mericarps,
often strongly ribbed, sometimes winged,
samaraoid or covered with tubercles or
prickles (Floral formula Ca 5 (0) Co 5 A 5 G 2
)