Poaceae
Stems round or flat, jointed, and usually hollow between nodes; leaves narrow and with parallel venation.
Cyperaceae
Grass-like; triangular stems; 3-ranked leaves.
Caryophyllaceae
Opposite leaves; swollen leaf nodes; 5 notched petals.
Chenopodiaceae
Flowers usually small, inconspicuous and green; plants often salt/drought tolerant.
Amaranthaceae
Often red-pigmented; flowers subtended by persistent bracts.
Polygonaceae
Ocrea; seeds triangular or flattened; stems often red-pigmented.
Malvaceae
Leaves usually have palmate venation; flowers 5-petaled; fruit often resembles a button.
Brassicaceae
Cross-shaped flower with 4 sepals, 4 petals, and 4+2 stamens; fruit a silicle or silique; often have basal rosette of leaves.
Rosaceae
Large, diverse family; usually 5 sepals, 5 petals, numerous stamens; leaves often toothed and compound.
Fabaceae
Trifoliate or otherwise compound leaves, often with large stipules; roots are nodulated; flowers conspicuous (insect pollinated) and often yellow or pink.
Euphorbiaceae
Leaves and stems contain milky, often poisonous, sap; leaves often opposite but may be alternate; fruit is usually 3-lobed.
Apiaceae
Sheathing leaf bases; leaves often compound and divided; umbel inflorescence; aromatic and often poisonous.
Asclepiadaceae
Milky sap; opposite leaves; cyme or umbel inflorescence.
Solanaceae
Flowers have 5 sepals, petals, and stamens; fruits are berries or capsules.
Convolvulaceae
Often twining herbs; funnel-shaped flowers; cotyledons may be deeply indented.
Lamiaceae
Square stems; opposite leaves; bilabiate flowers; aromatic.
Plantaginaceae
Basal leaves with a spike inflorescence containing numerous, crowded flowers; short but tough taproot.
Scrophulariaceae
Usually have conspicuous and snapdragon-like flowers; leaves alternate or opposite; stem round or square.
Asteraceae
Largest dicot family, head inflorescence with ray and/or disk flowers.