Family
Magnoliid Clade
Magnoliaceae
Foliage
Calyx
Corolla
Androecium
Gynoecium
Fruit
Trees/shrubs blade
with pellucid dots
containing ethereal
oils (aromatic
terpenoids)
Tepals distinct
Tepals distinct
Many
undifferentiated
stamens
Numerous
distinct, superior
aggregate of
follicles, seed red,
dangles
Myristicaceae
bark exudes reddish
sap; blades with
pellucid dots
containing ethereal
oils; contains
myristicin
(=hallucinogen
Three connate
tepals
Three connate
tepals
filaments connate
into a solid
column; stamens
2 to numerous
one ovule, ovary
superior
leathery follicle,
large seed,
colorful aril
Lauraceae
contain ethereal
oils (made from 5
carbon fragment
called terpenoid)
contains ethereal
oils
Usually 6 tepals
Usually 6 tepals
one carpel, ovary
superior
Drupe or one
seeded berry
No perianth!
Spikes of thick,
minute flowers
No perianth!
Spikes of thick,
minute flowers
filaments with
nectar producing
appendages;
stamens 3-12
filaments distinct;
stamens 1-10
1 ovule per
gynoecium,
superior
drupe
Aristolochiaceae
ethereal oils with
pellucid dots and
aristolochic acids,
bitter yellow
nitrogenous
compounds
connate, showy,
dull red, mottled
missing
filaments adnate
to style; stamens
6-12
4-6 carpels,
inferior ovary
Septicidal capsule
Saururaceae
with ethereal oils
Absent-- Flowers
with a single
petaloid bract
Absent-- Flowers
with a single
petaloid bract
3-8 distinct
stamens
3-4 carpels united
at the base;
superior
capsule
Piperaceae
Family
Monocots (nonCommelinoid
Clade)
Liliaceae
Foliage
Calyx
Corolla
Androecium
Gynoecium
Fruit
bulbs or rhizomes,
parallel venation
Six distinct tepals
Six distinct tepals
Stamens 6,
filaments distinct
3 connate carpels,
ovary superior
Loculicidal capsule
Melanthiaceae
poisonous
alkaloids often
present (hence
the “Death Camas
Family”!)
leaves smooth
with marginal
fibers in Yucca;
leaves toothed in
Agave
Equitant (&
conduplicate)
6 mostly distinct
tepals
6 mostly distinct
tepals
usually 6 distinct
stamens
capsule
6 distinct tepals
6 distinct tepals
6 distinct stamens
3-10 connate
carpels, usually 3
distinct styles;
superior to slightly
inferior
3 connate carpels;
ovary superior in
Yucca, inferior in
Agave
6 tepals, inner
somewhat
differentiated
from outer
6 tepals, inner
somewhat
differentiated
from outer
Three connate
carpels, inferior
ovary
Loculicidal capsule
Roots strongly
mycorrhizal,
parallel venation
and sheathing at
the base
6 Tepals, inner 3
and outer 3
somewhat
differentiated,
one of the inner
ones forming the
labellum
6 Tepals, inner 3
and outer 3
somewhat
differentiated,
one of the inner
ones forming the
labellum
Three distinct
filaments,
specialized
pollination
anatomy
stamens fused to
stigma forming a
column; pollen
forming masses
called pollinia
ovary inferior, 3
carpels, stigma
highly modified
capsule/minute
seeds; seeds
lacking
endosperm
Agavaceae
Iridaceae
Orchidaceae
loculicidal
capsule, seeds
with black
phytomelan crust
Family
Basal Eudicots
(NOT a clade)
Ranunculaceae
Foliage
Calyx
Corolla
Androecium
Gynoecium
Fruit
variable (simple or Usually 4 or 5
compound, but
distinct sepals
usually pinnate or
palmate venation)
Usually 4 or 5
distinct petals
stamens
numerous with
distinct filaments
carpels distinct, 5
to numerous
achene (berry or
follicle in other
genera than
Ranunculus)
Papaveraceae
lobed/dissected
2 quickly
deciduous sepals
(caducous)
6 petals
many stamens,
can be distinct or
connate
superior ovary, 2
connate carpels
(syncarpous
gynoecium)
capsule
Berberidaceae
Leaves spinoseserrate
6 distinct sepals
6; anthers
opening by flaps
that open from
the base
Superior ovary,
one carpel,
capitate stigma
Berry
Platanaceae
Trees, lobed
leaves, toothed
stamens 3-7,
filaments very
short
superior ovary
with 5-9 distinct
carpels
multiple of
achenes (follicles,
drupes or others
in other genera
that Platanus)
6 outer petals and
6 inner petals that
are probably
really petal-like
staminodes
(staminode=
sterile stamen)
Flowerheads
Flowerheads
unisexual, flowers unisexual, flowers
very reduced, in
very reduced, in
globose heads, 3- globose heads, 37 minute petals
7 minute petals
and sepals
and sepals
Family
Caryophyllales
Cactaceae
Nyctaginaceae
Foliage
Calyx
Corolla
Androecium
Gynoecium
Fruit
succulent, spiny
stems, leaves reduced
and falling quickly;
Tepals numerous,
distinct and petallike
Tepals numerous,
distinct and petallike
numerous
distinct touch
sensitive stamens
ovary becoming
inferior with 3 to
numerous
connate carpels
Berry; seeds
arillate
Tepals (usually 5)
connate into
distinct tube with
proximal green and
distal petal like
portions.
Tepals (usually 5)
connate into
distinct tube with
proximal green and
distal petal like
portions.
Usually five
distinct stamens
Ovary superior,
but looks inferior;
one carpel
achene, enclosed
in persistant
perianth tube– a
situation called an
“anthocarp”
Flowers often
densely clustered
and small. 3-5
distinct to slightly
connate tepals
5 or 6 distinct
tepals, usually
small flowers
Flowers often
densely clustered
and small. 3-5
distinct to slightly
connate tepals
5 or 6 distinct
tepals, usually
small flowers
3-5 stamens, can
be distinct or
connate
Carpels usually 2
or 3 connate,
ovary superior
5-9 stamens with
distinct filaments
ovary superior, 2
or 3 carpels
connate
Utricle in
Amaranthus (but
achene or capsule
in other
Amaranthaceae)
nutlet (small seed
covered by a hard
layer), indehiscent
and dry
Tepals 4-5
appearing to be
sepals.
“True petals lacking,
but outer whorl of 4-5
stamens very often
petal-like, here called
“petals”, these
frequently bilobed..”
4-10 stamens,
adnate to “petals”
ovary superior, 25 connate carpels
and glochids;
betalains present
leaves opposite,
betalains present,
hairy, involucres
sepal-like with one or
more flowers per
involucre
Amaranthaceae
betalains present,
very bracteate
inflorescence
Polygonaceae
easily
recognizable by
distinctive ocrea;
anthocyanins and
not betalains
betalains lost,
anthocyanins
present, leaves
opposite, nodes
swollen
Caryophyllaceae
loculicidal capsule
Family
Monocots
(Commelinoid
Clade)
Commelinaceae
Poaceae
Foliage
Calyx
Corolla
Androecium
Gynoecium
Fruit
Grass like,
sheathing at the
base; flowers
enclosed in
spathe sometimes
Divided into blade
and sheath; ligule
at junction;
sometimes with
auricle;
stem=culm
Three, distinct
Three distinct,
usually clawed
3 or 6 stamens,
sometimes with
conspicuous hairs
(Tradescantia)
Ovary superior, 3
connate carpels
Special flower
anatomy c/o
flower, floret,
lemma, palea,
glumes, lodicule,
etc.
Special flower
anatomy c/o
flower, floret,
lemma, palea,
glumes, lodicule,
etc.
3 distinct stamens
3 superior carpels
that appear as
two but only
produce one grain
Loculicidal
capsule; seeds
with conspicuous
conical cap, bullet
shaped
Grain= caryopsis
Family
Core Eudicots—
Rosid Clade
Euphorbiaceae
Foliage
Calyx
Corolla
Androecium
Gynoecium
Fruit
Trees, shrubs, or
herbs, ours usually
small and
herbaceous,
elsewhere can be
cactus-like
compound toothed
leaves (but not in all
Rosaceae), stipules
obvious (most
Rosaceae)
False flower:
cyathium
False flower:
cyathium
Several distinct
stamens (usually)
Three connate
carpels
Schizocarp (but
sometimes
referred to as
capsule)
Usually 5 sepals
Usually 5 petals
fused onto
hypanthium
Many stamens
fused onto
hypanthium
inferior with
epigynous insertion
in Rosa, but
superior in other
Rosaceae with
perigynous insertion
aggregate of achenes
enclosed within
hypanthium in
Rosa…specialized
fleshy fruits of other
Rosaceae (e.g. apples,
pears) called a
“pome.”
Brassicaceae
basal rosette
common, leaves
entire to lobed or
dissected
4 sepals, distinct
(aposepalous)
4 petals, distinct
(apopetalous)
Tetradynamous to
+/- same length
2 connate carpels,
ovary superior,
stigma capitate
silicle or silique
(special type of
capsule)
Malvaceae
stellate hairs
5 distinct sepals
5 distinct petals
monadelphous
stamens (many)
Many connate
carpels, ovary
superior
loculicidal capsule
or schizocarp
Fabaceae
pinnately
compound in
Vicia, also
commonly
trifoliolate
5 sepals connate
papilionaceous
diadelphous 9+1
frequently
one carpel, ovary
superior
Legume (dry,
elongate fruit from
a single carpel that
opens along two
longitudinal
sutures)
Rosaceae
Family
Core Eudicots—
Asterid Clade
Polemoniaceae
Foliage
Calyx
Corolla
Androecium
Gynoecium
Fruit
Very variable
5 connate sepals
5 petals connate
and often forming
a narrow tube
5 distinct stamens
3 connate carpels,
superior ovary
Loculidical capsule
Solanaceae
alkaloids present
usually 5 sepals,
connate
usually 5 petals,
connate and
plicate
usually 5 stamens
adnate to corolla,
anthers opening
by slits or pores
carpels connate,
ovary superior
berry or capsule
Lamiaceae
stems often (but not
always) square in
cross section; hairs
gland-headed with
ethereal oils; leaves
usually opposite
5 connate sepals
5 connate petals
usually 4 stamens,
adnate to corolla
schizocarp with 4
nutlets
Apiaceae
usually
compound;
pinnately
compound in
Ligusticum
various
Umbels; 5 distinct
but reduced
sepals
5 distinct,
frequently
inflexed
5 distinct stamens
2 connate carpels
(each carpel with
a false septum so
appearing as 4
locules
2 connate carpels,
ovary inferior
modified into
pappus of scales,
awns, bristles, etc
5 connate petals
forming a tube
5 distinct
filaments with
anthers connate
(syngenesious)
2 connate carpels,
inferior
achene crowned
by pappus
Asteraceae
schizocarp with 2
mericarps