Alliaceae (onion family)
biennial or perennial herbs
often bulb at base
inflorescence a terminal umbel
simple narrow leaves in basal rosette
6 tepals, 6 anthers
fruit a capsule
e.g. garlic, onion, leek, chives
Amaranthaceae (amaranth family)
herbs or shrubs
often reddish
many halophytes
leaves simple, alternate
flowers small, actinomorphic
seeds strongly curved
e.g. beet, amaranth, quinoa, lamb's quarters, spinach, cock's comb
Apiaceae (carrot and ginseng family)
mostly herbaceous
aromatic, some very poisonous (oils, resins)
stems hollow
leaves alternate, often dissected or lobed
flowers in umbels or double umbels
flowers small, white or yellow
5 petals, not fused
e.g. parsley, dill, hemlock, cilantro, celery, que
Apocynaceae (Milkweed and Dogbane Family)
*Asclepiadaceae is now included in Apocynaceae
leaves opposite, simple with pinnate venation
smooth leaf margin
stipules absent
latex (milky sap) in all branches and leaves
5 sepals, 5 petals, sometimes fused
pollen in pollinia in some species
seeds often
Araceae (Arum Family)
rhizomes, corms, tubers common
simple leaves with reticulate or parallel venation
inflorescence a terminal spadix of tiny flowers, subtended by a colored leaf/bract (spathe)
fruits usually berries
e.g. taro, arum, elephant's ears, duckweeds, jack-in-the-p
Asteraceae (Aster and Sunflower Family)
usually herbaceous
inflorescence a head with many flowers with involucral bracts surrounding it
flowers small, either tubular or ligulate (tongue-shaped)
petals fused, usually with 5 small lobes
fruit a dry nut (achene), often with hairs on top (pappus)
e
Betulaceae (Birch Family)
unisexual inflorescences - male and female catkins
flowers unisexual, wind-pollinated
fruit a nut, or 2-winged samara
e.g. birch, alder, hazelnuts and filberts (Corylus), ironwood (Carpinus)
Brassicaceae (Mustard Family)
leaves simple, alternate, often lobed, with pinnate venation
leaf edge often dentate or lobed
inflorescence a raceme
4 petals, not fused, forming a cross from above, white, yellow, or pink
6 stamens
fruit a dry capsule with inner wall (silique)
e.g. dame'
Boraginaceae (Borage Family)
herbs with stiff hairs
leaves alternate, simple
inflorescence a scorpiod or helicoid cyme
corolla often pink as young, then blue or purple
anthers attached to corolla
1 style, attached to base of ovary, in center
fruit a schizocarp with 4 nutlets
e.g. bor
Campanulaceae (Bluebell Family)
e.g. bell flower, lobelia, cardinal flower
Caryophyllaceae (Carnation and Pink Family)
e.g. carnation, corncockle, chickweed, soapwort, campion (Silene), baby's breath
Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)
Fabaceae (Bean Family)
e.g. beans, peas, licorice, chickpeas, peanuts, lentil, alfalfa, clover
Fagaceae (Oak Family)
e.g. oak, chestnut (Castanea), beech (Fagus)
Juglandacea (Walnut Family)
e.g. hickory and walnut (Juglans), pecan (Carya)
Lamiaceae (Mint Family)
- Leaves opposite, simple, arranged at 90 degrees to each other
- Flowers bilaterally symmetrical
- Flowers in groups (verticillasters) in leaf axils or in terminal spikes
- corolla of 5 fused petals, 2-lipped
- fruit = 4 nutlets
e.g. basil, mint, thyme,
Liliaceae (Lily Family)
Perennial herbs
Bulbs or rhizomes
Does not smell like onion
Leaves alternate (rarely whorled), often basal, sheathing at base, parallel-veined
Inflorescence terminal, raceme, or solitary flower
6 tepals, free, often spotted or striped, with nectaries at b
Plantaginaceae (Plantain Family)
*Many species previously part of Scrophulariaceae
hairy plants, often aromatic
leaves alternate or opposite
flowers bilateral (often 2-lipped)
fruit a dry capsule
seeds numerous
e.g. plantain, speedwell, snapdragon, foxglove, turtlehead, butter-and-eggs,
Poaceae (Grass Family)
e.g. maize (Zea), wheat (Triticum), barley (Hordeum), rye (Secale), oats (Avena), rice (Oryza), bamboo, reed (Phragmites), sugarcane (Saccharum), fescue (Festuca), bentgrass (Agrostis), bluegrass (poa)
Polygonaceae (buckwheat family)
Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)
Rosaceae (Rose and Apple Family)
e.g. rose (Rosa), apple (Malus) , pear (Pyrus), blackberry/raspberry (Rubus), hawthorn (Crataegeus), strawberries (Fragaria), plum/almond/peach/apricot (Prunus), spiraea (Spiraea)
Salicaceae (Willow Family)
inflorescences as unisexual catkins
fruit a capsule with many seeds
seeds with long hairs (wind-dispersed)
e.g. willow (Salix), poplar, cottonwood, aspen (Populus)
Scrophulariaceae (Mullein and Figwort Family)
*Many genera of "old" Scrophulariaceae were recategorized as Plantaginaceae.
e.g. figwort, mullein, butterfly bush
Solanaceae (Tomato, Pepper, Potato Family)
e.g. potato/tomato (solanum), chili pepper/sweet pepper (Capsicum), tobacco (Nicotiana), petunia, tomatillo (Physalis), jimsonweed (Datura)