Habit herbs, shrubs, or trees often with stellate pubescence, and mucilaginous sap

1
Malvaceae -- the mallow family (100/1,500
Cosmopolitan, most diverse in Neotropics)
Dilleniidae
Habit herbs, shrubs, or trees often with
stellate pubescence, and mucilaginous sap Leaves
alternate, simple, stipulate, often
palmately-veined Inflorescences various, usually
determinate Special floral characteristics
flowers actinomorphic, often showy
monadelphous stamens anthers unilocular Calyx
5 sepals, distinct or connate often subtended by
an epicalyx Corolla 5 petals, distinct,
individually adnate to stamen column Androecium
many stamens, filaments connate into tube
(monadelphous) around pistil anthers
unilocular Gynoecium 4-many carpels, connate
ovary superior with 4-many locules and 1-many
axile ovules style 1, often divided Fruit
schizocarp (breaking into1-2-seeded mericarps) or
a capsule (berry) (Floral formula Ca 5 Co 5
A ? G 3-? )
2
Cucurbitaceae -- the gourd family (90/700,
Distribution Widespread tropical, subtropical,
and a few temperate)
Dilleniidae
Habit vines, herbs climbing with tendrils with
coarse pubescence Leaves alternate, simple to
deeply lobed, estipulate, mostly palmately-veined
Inflorescences solitary or variously cymose,
sometimes paniculate or racemose Special floral
characteristics flowers imperfect generally
yellow male flowers have variously connate
stamens (often appear as 3 stamens two pairs
fused, one free) nectary disk usually
present Calyx 5 sepals, distinct or variously
connate or very reduced Corolla 5 petals,
connate regular (can be deeply lobed and appear
distinct) Androecium 5 stamens. distinct or
variously connate Gynoecium 2-5 carpels, connate
ovary inferior with 1 locule many parietal
ovules or 2-5 locules and 1-many axile ovules
style 1, simple or lobed Fruit berry, pepo,
capsule or achene (Floral formula Ca 5 Co 5
A 5 G 0 // Ca 5 Co 5 A 0 G 3
)
3
Cucurbitaceae -- comments
Dilleniidae
Some members Cayaponia, Cucumis, Cucurbita,
Cyclanthera, Gurania, Luffa, Sechium, Sicyos,
Marah, etc. Comments Although many are
inedible, we commonly eat members of Cucumis
(cucumber and melons) and Cucurbita (squash and
pumpkin). Several members display the CAM
metabolism we find more common in members of the
Caryophyllidae. Male flowers often develop
earlier than females, leading to an increase in
outcrossing.
4
Brassicaceae -- the mustard family (350/3000,
Distribution Huge family in the temperate areas
of the Northern Hemisphere)
Dilleniidae
Habit herbs (sometimes woody or even
shrubby) Leaves alternate, simple to pinnately
lobed to compound, estipulate Inflorescences
racemes Special floral characteristics flowers
extremely distinctive with 4 cruciform petals
and sepals, tetradynamous stamens, fruit a
peculiar capsule (silique if 3 X longer than
wide OR silicle) Calyx 4 sepals, distinct
Corolla 4 petals, distinct Androecium 6 stamens
4 with long filaments and 2 with short filaments
(tetradynamous), distinct Gynoecium 2
carpels, connate ovary superior with 2 locules
1-many parietal ovules, false membranous septum
(replum) divides ovary style 1 Fruit silicle,
silique, sometimes indehiscent (Floral formula
Ca 4 Co 4 A 42 G 2 )
5
Dilleniidae
Brassicaceae -- comments Some members Caramine,
Draba, Arabis, Brassica, Sinapis, Lunaria,
Alyssum, Nasturium, Amoracia, Thalaspi, Hesperis,
etc, etc. Comments A large taxonomically
complex and confusing family which appears to
comprise a well marked natural lineage. Despite
the clear monophyly of the group, relationships
within the family are difficult primarily due to
the apparent lack of morphological characters and
homoplasy among these characters. The many
economically important species include Amoracia
(horseradish), Brassica (cabbage, cauliflower,
ale, white and black mustard, Brussels sprouts,
broccoli, turnip, etc.), Raphanus (radish),
Nasturium (water cress)
6
Rosidae II
Aceraceae -- the maple family (2/120 Mostly New
and Old World temperates, plus tropics of s.e.
Asia)
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 )
7
Rosidae II
Aceraceae -- comments
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.
8
Hamamelidae
Betulaceae -- the birch or alder family
(6/120-170 mostly cool-temperate regions of
Northern Hemisphere but extending southward in
montane habitats to the Andes)
Habit shrubs or trees Leaves alternate, simple,
stipulate Inflorescences both staminate (with 2-3
flowers) and pistillate (with 1-3 flowers)
inflorescences as cymules subtended by
scale-like bractlets in catkins pistillate
catkins not as elongate and pendulous as
staminate catkins Special floral characters
flowers always imperfect and always in catkins,
when the calyx fused to the extent that it is
not visible, the pistillate flower is called
nude and appears superior, but is actually
inferior Calyx of pistillate flowers 2-4 (0)
sepals very reduced connate and adnate to ovary
Calyx of staminate flowers 2-4 (-6) sepals
distinct Corolla absent Androecium 2-6 (-8)
stamens, distinct or filaments basally
connate Gynoecium 2 carpels connate superior
(appears that way in nude flowers) to inferior
1-loculed above, 2-loculed below with 1 axile
ovule/locule 2 styles Fruit achene, nut or
samara (Floral formulas Ca 2-6 A 2-20 AND
G 2 OR A 2-8 AND Ca 2-6
G 2 )
9
Hamamelidae
Betulaceae -- comments
Comments A fun family of trees and shrubs of the
cold temperates to subartic regions of northern
hemisphere. Often associated with streams, lakes
or poorly drained areas. Distinguished from
others in the Hamamelidae by possessing
pistillate flowers in catkins. Well-known
members include Betula (birch flavoring for
birchbeer), Alnus (alder), Carpinus (horn-beam,
ironwood), Ostrya (hop-hornbeam), Corylus
(hazelnut, filbert). Wood of some birches
valuable for furniture, flooring and cabinetry.
Bark of B. papyrifera was used by some N.
American natives to make canoes. This papery bark
makes getting fires started on camping trips alot
easier too.
10
Hamamelidae
Fagaceae -- the beech and oak family (9/1000
Worldwide temperate with a few tropical
important member of northern temperate habitats
and some montane tropical habitats)
Habit shrubs or trees Leaves alternate, simple,
stipulate with caducous stipules Inflorescences
staminate inflorescence an erect or pendulous
spike or head pistillate inflorecence of 1-3
(-7) flowers subtended by a cupule of numerous
connate bractlets Special floral characters
flowers always imperfect, staminate
inflorescences in catkins or spikes, pistillate
flowers (or flower) subtended by a cupule Calyx
of pistillate flowers 2-8 sepals very reduced
connate and adnate to ovary Calyx of staminate
flowers 2-7 sepals connate Corolla
absent Androecium 4-many stamens
distinct Gynoecium 3-7 carpels connate
inferior 3-7 locules with 2 axile ovules/locule
styles as many as carpels Fruit nut subtended
or surrounded by a woody cup-like or bur-like
cupule (Floral formula Ca 2-7 A 4-? AND
Ca 2-8 G 3-7 )
11
Hamamelidae
Fagaceae -- comments
Comments Some claim that the family contains
the most biomass of any dicot group, hinting at
the dominance this group displays in many
temperate and montane tropical habitats. The
wood is extremely valuable as lumber, firewood,
etc. Edible nuts come from Castanea, Fagus, and
Quercus (if leached of tannins). Lithocarpus and
some others are commercial sources of
tannins. The cupule, found subtending or
enveloping the pistillate flower or flowers in
all members of this family, is a very unique
characteristic of this family. The latest theory
is that this structure is a highly reduced
branching system, and is all that remains of a
much larger pistillate inflorescence.
Involucres are composed of bracts that are
modified leaves (remember the family
Asteraceae?). Because the bracts that subtend
or surround the pistillate inflorescence in the
Fagaceae are interpreted to be part of a reduced
branching system, it is more accurate to call
this structure a cupule.
12
Onagraceae -- the evening primrose family
(17/675 cosmopolitan)
Rosanae II
Plants flowering, synoecious Habit usually herbs,
sometimes shrubs or trees Leaves alternate,
opposite or whorled, simple entire, serrate or
lobed stipulate or exstipulate Inflorescences
various, indeterminate Flowers usually
actinomorphic usually perfect, epigynous with
well-developed tubular to campanulate
hypanthium often showy mostly 4-merous Calyx
usually 4 sepals, distinct Corolla usually 4
petals, distinct, often clawed Androecium 4-8
stamens distinct but adnate to hypanthium and
arising from or near the hypanthium
rim Gynoecium inferior 1 pistil of 4 carpels 1
locule/carpel few to many ovules/carpel, axile
placentation 1 style, stigma usually
conspicuously 4-notched or 4-lobed Fruit usually
a capsule, sometimes a berry or nutlet Floral
formula Ca 4-5 Co 4-5 A 4-8 G 4