SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGY VIRIDIPLANTAE-ICON.gif (52045 bytes)

THE VIRIDIPLANTAE 

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PHYLUM ANGIOSPERMOPHYTA

INTRODUCTION TO THE ANGIOSPERMOPHYTA

Angiospermophyta (an-ghe-o-sper-MA-fa-ta) is made of three Greek roots that mean a box (angos -ανγοσ); seed (sperma -σπέρμα); and plant (phyto -φυτό).   The reference is to the enclosed seeds of the flowering plants.

The flowering plants include the most successful members of the Viridiplantae.  Their success can be measured by their occurrences and dominance in almost all of the terrestrial and freshwater environments.  Also, the flowering plants contain most of the species in the kingdom (more than 250,0000 species have been defined in this group).  Although these plants vary in size from the almost microscopic watermeal (Wolffia) to oaks and other enormous arborescent forms, all flowering plants are united by the synapomorphy of the flower (and its derivative, the fruit).  

The basic flower is a compound strobilus in which the floral parts are arranged in whorls that emerge from the receptacle.  Likely, all of the floral parts developed from modifications of sporophylls and sterile leaves on the outside.  The whole organ almost certainly coevolved to entice and facilitate the movement of pollen from one flower to the next by animals, particularly insects.  Many modern and very successful groups (e.g. the grasses, Poaceae) have reverted to wind pollination, a mechanism that sees to have evolved many times in the flowering plants.

The outermost whorl of the flower is the perianth.  When all of the perianth segments are similar, they are called tepals.  When they are differentiated into an outer whorl and an inner whorl, they are called the calyx (sepals) and corolla (petals), respectively.  Within that whorl are the stamens, collectively called the androecium.  The pollen-bearing portion of the stamen is the anther that may or may not be borne by a differentiated filament.  The gynoecium (the pistil) is the center-most floral part, which typically has a pollen-receptive region called a stigma borne by the style from an ovulary which bears ovules.  

The fundamental life history of flowering plants [See the Life History of an Angiosperm] differs from those of the gymnosperms in several important ways.  First, the microspores become pollen only with the division of the microspore nucleus.  Angiosperm pollen does not have prothallial cells.  Also, pollination occurs when the pollen lands on a stigma; pollen cannot enter the micropyle because the ovule is completely encased in the pistil.  So, the pollen tube must grow down the style and enter the micropyle, grow through the nucellus and enter the megagametophyte (called the embryo sac).  One sperm nucleus fertilizes the egg to form the zygote, and the other sperm nucleus fertilizes the double fusion nucleus in the middle of the megagametophyte, which matures into the endosperm (see the description below).

The development of the ovule (called embryo sac development) can occur in many different ways.  However, there are two major developmental types: the Polygonum type and the Lilium type.  The Polygonum megagaspore mother cell produces a linear tetrad of megaspores, three of which are aborted, a process that is similar to most of the gymnosperms.  The single megaspore nucleus divides three times to make eight nuclei which arrange themselves such that there are three at the at the base of the embryo sac (called the antipodals), two in the middle (called the double fusion nuclei) and three under the micropyle, two are the synergids and one is the egg.  One sperm nucleus fertilizes the egg to form the zygote and, ultimately, the embryo.  The second sperm nucleus fertilizes the double fusion nucleus to make a triploid endosperm nucleus.  It is this tissue into which the parent plant first stores food to nurture the developing embryo.

The Lilium type of embryo sac development is more complex.  The megaspore mother cell nucleus divides by meiosis without cytokinesis and the four nuclei arrange themselves so that three are at the antipodal end and one is at the micropylar end.  During the following mitosis, the micropylar cell divides to form two haploid cells, but the three haploid antipodals align themselves such that all three divide together and make two triploid daughter nuclei.  After a second division and the migration of the polar cells to the center, the embryo sac has two haploid synergids, a haploid egg, a pair of polar nuclei (one haploid and one triploid), and three triploid antipodal cells.  After double fertilization, the embryo is diploid, but the endosperm is pentaploid.

The seed usually matures as the embryo matures.  It may have two cotyledons or one (a synapomorphy of the monocots).  The food stored in the endosperm may remain there until germination begins (e.g. coconuts), or all of the food can be tranferred to the embryo where it usually is stored in the cotyledons (e.g. peanuts).

The types and structures of flowers may vary considerably.  Many groups have flowers that have lost one of the sexes and become unisexual (imperfect).  In this situation angiosperm taxa may be monoecious (both staminate and pistilate flowers on the same plant) or dioecious (the sexes are separate).  So, an angiosperm taxon may be one of three sexual types: perfect, monoecious, or dioecious.

Flowers that have all of the four components (calyx, corolla, androecium, and gynoecium) are perfect and those that lack one or more  floral whorls are incomplete.  Thus, a plant may be incomplete and perfect.  This is the case for many of the grasses like wheat in which their flowers have lost the corolla but retain both sexual whorls.

Floral symmetry is variable but mainly between actinomorphic and zygomorphic orientations.  Likely, the actinomorphic flower is the ancestral condition and the zygomorphic flower is more derived.  However, the zygomorphic condition has evolved independently many times, often within the same family.

The receptacle is elongate in the center of the more primitive angiosperm flowers (e.g. Magnolia), but short and wide in the more derived taxa.  The receptacle may also encase part or most of the flower.  Generally, the perianth surrounds the center two whorls (as in the case of banana; the petals become the banana peel).  In this case, the flower is said to be epigynous.  If the flower sits atop the receptacle (as in Lilium), the flower is said to be hypogynous (See Ovulary Position).  

Many flowers occur singly, but most emerge in groups called inflorescences (See Inflorescence Types).  In some cases, the inflorescence type defines the family (e.g. umbels in the Apiaceae, formerly called the Umbelliferae).  The two major types of inflorescences are determinate and indeterminate and can be distinguished by the development or age of the flowers on the peduncle, the main stem of the inflorescence.  A cyme is a determinate inflorescence, but most inflorescence types are indeterminate (e.g. spike or raceme).

The bract is a specialized leaf that subtends a flower.  That is, the flower grows from the axil of the bract.  In some cases, a specialized bract can subtend a whole inflorescence.  Consider the inflorescence of Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Figure E).  The spike has staminate flowers at the top and pistilate flowers at the bottom, and the bisexual spike is subtended by a bract called a spathe.  Some "flowers" like those of poinsettia (Figure O) are inflorescences of tiny green imperfect flowers surrounded by showy bracts.  Thus, the petal-like structures are not petals at all.

The fruit is a matured ovulary, and, therefore, a derivitive of the flower, and thus contains seeds.  The most primitive fruits are derived from simple pistils with unfused ovularies (e.g. a pea legume or a magnolia follicle).   Fruits may be fleshy or dry.  The dry fruits may be indehiscent (e.g. a a sunflower "seed", really an achene) or dehiscent (e.g. a cotton capsule).  All fruits, particularly fleshy fruits, of epigynous flowers have an outer component that is derived from the receptacle or other floral parts (I have already mentioned the banana in this regard). An apple is another fruit that grows from an epigynous flower such that the fleshy component is the receptacle and the core is the derivative of the ovulary (See Figure of Fruit Types).

If the flowers are borne in clusters, the fruits also occur in clustered form.  Some simple fruits like strawberries are formed from a fleshy receptacle covered by many small indehiscent dry fruits (achenes).  Such fruits are called aggregate fruits.   Some fruits are derived from an inflorescence and thus develop from many flowers into a structure that looks like a single fruits (e.g. pineapple which is derived from a spike).  Such inflorescence-derived fruits are called multiple fruits).  

Figures A-AG illustrate species in all of the families described in the taxonomy below.  For more detailed descriptions of the families, please click on the picture  

Concepts and terms for the Flowering Plants

nymphaea.jpg (109382 bytes)

A. Nymphaea (Water Lily) in flower.

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B. Detail of a Magnolia in flower.  These flowers are pollinated by beetles and have many free floral parts on an elongate receptacle.

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C. Ceratophyllum (Coontail), an aquatic plant, photographed to show its growth habit.

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D. Details of the flowers of Echinodorus (Burhead or Sword Plant), a cultivated ornamental aquatic plant.

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E. The inflorescence of Arisaema (Jack-in-the-Pulpit) is a spadix, a bisexual spike subtended by a bract.

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F. Lilium produces solitary flowers of 6 tepals.

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G. Habenaria is a native orchid that produces a spike of many small zygomorphic flowers.

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H. Habit photograph of Cocos, the coconut palm.  Note the fruits at the crown of the plant.

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I. A habit photograph of Ananas (Pineapple) showing its multiple fruit.

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J. Details of the spikelets of Uniola, a grass known as Fish-on-a-Fishing-Pole. 

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K. Habit photograph of Musa (Banana) as an ornamental plant in a temperate garden.

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L. Detail of the flowers of Rannunculus (Buttercup) with multiple free floral parts.

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M. Chelidonium (Celandine Poppy) floral details.  Celandine is a common weedy species throughout Eurasia.

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N. Opuntia (Prickly Pear) in flower also with developing buds and fruits on the margins of the pads.

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O. Euphorbia (Poinsettia) has inflorescences of multiple imperfect flowers in the center of brightly colored petaloid bracts.

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P. The showy flowers of Viola (Violet) are zygomorphic with a landing platform for a pollinator (a bee) and a spur-like nectary at the base of the flower.

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Q. Salix (Willow) makes pendant spikes (Catkins) of imperfect flowers.

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R. Photograph of Vigna (Mung Bean) showing flowers and characteristic vining habit and compound leaves.

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S. Detail of the flowers of Rosa (Rose) showing the characteristic 5 petals and numerous stamens.  Also, note the compound leaves.

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T. Ficus (Fig) bearing multiple fruits called synconia at the tip od a beanch. 

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U. A staminate flower of Cucurbita (Squash).  Note the connate corolla that is fused at the base.

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V. Quercus (Oak) showing characteristic lobed leaves and staminate catkins.

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W. Carya (Hickory) with staminate catkins and pinnately compound leaves.

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X. Flowers and buds of Eugenia (relative of Clove).

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Y. Characteristic cross-shaped petals of Raphanus (Radish).

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Z. Characteristic connate corolla of 5 fused petals and numerous stamens that appear to emerge from the style of Hibiscus (Rose of Sharon).

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AA. Samaras, characteristic fruits of Acer (Maple, Box Elder in this case).

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AB. The flowers of Citrus (Lemon) with a typical pollinator.

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AC. The epigynous flowers of Vaccinum (Blueberry) showing fused petals.

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AD. A photograph of Nicotiana (Tobacco) in flower.  Note the actinomorphic, trumpet-shaped flowers of 5 fused petals and 5 fused sepals.

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AE. A habit photograph of Mentha (Peppermint) in flower.

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AF. Cicuta (Water Hemlock) in flower.  The inflorescence is an umbel.

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AG. The flower-like inflorescence of Helianthus (Sunflower) is a head.  The outer petaloid flowers are typically imperfect and called ray flowers.  The inner flowers are perfect and are called disk flowers.

Images taken from:

K: The Systematic Biology Biodiversity Collection

All others: Judd et al. (2002).

SYNOPTIC DESCRIPTION OF THE ANGIOSPERMOPHYTA

The following description of the phylum comes from Cronquist (1981),  Dahlgren and Clifford (1982), and Jones and Luchsinger (1986), Taktajian (1997), and Judd et al. (2002).

I.  SYNONYMS: flowering plants, angiosperms

II. NUMBER: >250,000 extant species

III. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CLASS

A. Structure

Habit: They grow as herbs, shrubs, trees, and vines.  They range from annuals to very long-lived perennials. The angiosperms are seed plants which bear flowers and fruits . The embryos are monocotyledonous or dicotyledonous.

Flowers: The floral parts are arranged in whorls.  The outermost whorl is the perianth.  When all of the perianth segments are similar, they are called tepals.  When they are differentiated into an outer whorl and an inner whorl, they are called the calyx (sepals) and corolla (petals), respectively.  Within that whorl are the stamens, collectively called the androecium.  The pollen-bearing portion of the stamen is the anther that may or may not be borne by a differentiated filament.  The gynoecium (the pistil) is the center-most floral part, which typically has a pollen-receptive region called a stigma borne by the style from an ovulary which bears ovules.  Flowers may be unisexual (imperfect), or otherwise incomplete.  They may be actinomorphic or zygomorphic.  They may be epigynous, hypogynous, or perigynous (see Figure).  Flowers may occur singly or in groups called inflorescences (see Figure).  Many flowers are adapted to having an animal carry pollen from one flower to the next.  Others have reverted to wind-pollination, which seems to have evolved many times in the angiosperms.

Fruit:  The fruit is a matured ovulary.  Fruits may be fleshy or dry.  The dry fruits may be indehiscent or dehiscent.  Fruits may occur singly or in clusters (multiple and aggregate fruits).  (See Figure of Fruit Types).

Pollen: Pollen walls are variable, but they usually have 1 or 3 apertures (monosulcate and trisucalte, respectively). The microgametophyte has no prothallial cells or stalk cells and contains only 2 nonflagellate sperms, which are derived from a generative cell, and a tube cell.

Seeds: Ovules borne in a fruit (matured ovulary). Thus, the pollen tube must grow to the micropyle. The megagametophyte is greatly reduced, often of only 7 cells. Double fertilization produces the embryo and the endosperm. The mature seed may contain copious endosperm or have transferred the food to the embryo in which case, the food usually is stored in the cotyledons.

Stems: Generally eustelic, but the monocots tend to be atactostelic. Xylem contains vessels in most taxa.

Leaves: Quite variable; most are pinnately-veined, but may be palmately veined and parallel-veined (particularly in the monocots).  Some leaves have a sheathing leaf base (monocots), but generally are differentiated into a petiole and blade.  The base of the petiole may or may not have stipules.  The leaves may be simple, entire, lobed, toothed, pinnately compound and palmately compound.

Roots: Quite variable, they range from a tap root system to adventitious roots.

The General Life History of an Angiosperm

B. Ecology: Very abundant, the flowering plants have exploited almost every terrestrial and aquatic (not marine) habitat on this planet. Their fossil history dates back to the end of the Cretaceous period.

SYSTEMATICS OF THE ANGIOSPERMOPHYTA

Traditional taxonomic systems divide the flowering plants into monocots and dicots, based on anatomical details of their vegetative and reproductive structures (go to monocot and dicot for classical descriptions of the groups based on the system of Cronquist, 1981).  The classical system and the phylogeny (see Pearson, 1995) that supports it have come under fire during the last decade.  Bremer et al. (1998), a large group known as the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, generated a taxonomic system based on cladistic analyses of rbcL, atpB, and 18S rDNA (see APG phylogeny).  Their consensus view was that the monocots and eudicots were monophyletic groups, but arose from a paraphyletic collection of basal taxa.  In addition, they identified the commelinoids as a natural group within the monocots and the rosids, eurosids I, eurosids II, asterids, euasterids I, and euasterids II as natural groups within the eudicots.  Then, Qiu et al. (1999 & 2000), Barkman et al. (2000), Soltis et al. (2000), and Zanis et al. (2002) produced analyses that established the basal nature of the Nymphiales (water lilies and their relatives).  These analyses also questioned the primitive nature of the Magnoliales (see my summary of the Tree of Life Project for a synopsis of this view).

APG II (2003) strengthened the relationships between the major taxa of flowering plants and established the basal nature of the Amborellaceae, Nymphaeaceae, and the Austrobaileyales.  It also supported the monophyly of the magnoliids + monocots.  The eudicots also form a monophyletic group with the Ceratophyllales basal to the eudicots.  Otherwise, the APG II (2003) phylogeny for the eudicots is almost unchanged from that of APG (1998).

The origin of the flowering plants is one of the great questions of biology, and almost every group of seed-bearing plants has been considered as their sister group.  See Brenner et al. (2003) for a good review of this problem.  Even Darwin (1879 in a letter to J.D. Hooker, cited in Davies et al., 2004) said the the origin of the flowering plants was an abominable mystery, though much less so now.  Converging evidence from molecular and paleontological studies (so-called clocks and rocks) places the origin of the flowering plants in the Triassic Period (e.g. Wang, et al., 2007; and Davies et al., 2004) followed by repeated radiation events.

The zenith of the premolecular systematic treatments of the flowering plants can be seen in Cronquist (1981) and Takhtajian (1997).  Molecular-based systems of the flowering plants (as given by APG (1998), APG II (2003), and the Tree of Life Project) are not compatible.  Also, they are hard to use because the molecular differences are not manifest in clear anatomical synapomorphies.  Judd et al. (2002) have produced the best systematic treatment to date in which they have attempted to place the taxa in the traditional hierarchical form and have given morphological synapomorphies whenever possible.  I interpreted the systems of Judd et al. (2002) in light of APG II (2003).  In this system the angiosperms make up a phylum of plants with four classes and an additional monotypic class (Ceratophyllidopsida) which is basal to the eudicots. The difference between this system and the traditional system of Cronquist (1981) may appear to be subtle, but is profound in its juxtaposition of many different taxa.

The cladistic hierarchical classification of Judd et al. (2002) modified by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group II (2003) is:

BASAL ANGIOSPERM FAMILIES

MAGNOLIIDS

MONOCOTS

NON-COMMELINIDS

COMMELINIDS

BASAL DICOTS

EUDICOTS

PERIPHERAL EUDICOTS

CORE EUDICOTS

CARYOPHYLLIDS

ROSIDS

BASAL ROSIDS

EUROSIDS I

EUROSIDS II

ASTERIDS

BASAL ASTERIDS

EUASTERIDS I

EUASTERIDS 2

HIERARCHICAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE ANGIOSPERMOPHYTA

The following taxonomy is a modification and interpretation of Judd et al. (2002) and the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group.  The descriptions came from Judd et al. (2002), Cronquist (1981), Takhtajian (1997), and Jones and Luchsinger.  I have provided descriptions of orders only when they contain a family that is described (All such taxa are indicated in bold letters).  Almost all families are given with their primary genera (those that are most diverse, are native to North America, or are economically important).  The images in this table are used and referenced in the table above.  An abbreviated taxonomy of the flowering plants includes only those taxa that are highlighted in the system below.

CLASS NYMPHAEOPSIDA: BASAL ANGIOSPERM FAMILIES (3 ORDERS; 5-7 FAMILIES)

Carpel margins sealed by a secretion; carpels develop like a tube; elongate stigma with a short style; stamens show poor differentiation between the filament and anther; pollen monosulcate; generally insect-pollinated; flowers actinomorphic with free floral parts; perianth of tepals; fruits variable; usually without vessels. This group, as are most basal groups, is paraphyletic.  3 orders

ORDER AMBORELLALES

Amborellaceae: 

Amborella

ORDER AUSTROBAILEYALES

Illiciaceae (Star Anise family):

Illicium.

Schisandraceae:

Schisandra, Kadsura.

Chloranthaceae:

ORDER NYMPHAEALES

Rhizomatous aquatic herbaceous plants; vascular bundles scattered with large canals.  Flowers perfect and actinomorphic with four to twelve tepals, whorls intergrading from peltaloid to stamenoid; stamens 3-many; pollen monosulcate or without apertures.  Carpels three to many; stigmas elongate and radiate on an expanded disk; one to many ovules; no nectaries.  Fruits variable: berries, capsules, nuts.  Seeds operculate, endosperm present or absent; abundant perisperm.  1 family

NYMPHAEACEAE (includes Barclayaceae and Cabobombaceae; Water Lily family): 

Nymphaea, Nuphar, Cabomba, Brasenia, Barclayea, Ondinea, Victoria, Euryale.
nymphaea.jpg (109382 bytes) Nymphaea.

CLASS MAGNOLIOPSIDA: MAGNOLIID COMPLEX (5 ORDERS; 18 FAMILIES)

Flowers usually with numerous spirally-arranged parts (or in whorls of three); stamens laminar in the woody magnoliids, but well-differentiated in the herbaceous taxa. 4 orders

ORDER MAGNOLIALES

Trees, shrubs or vines. No vessels. Leaves simple with stipules. Perianth of free tepals. Stamens many and petaloid. Fruits usually follicles. This order contains 4 families, of which Magnoliaceae is the representative family.

MAGNOLIACEAE (Magnolia family): Plants stipulate; inflorescence a solitary terminal flower which has an elongate receptacleFruit an aggregate of follicles.

Elmerrillia, Kmeria, Liriodendron, Magnolia, Manglietia, Michelia, PachylarnaxMagnolia.jpg (83064 bytes) Magnolia.

Annonaceae (Pawpaw family):

Afroguatteria, Alphonsea, Ambavia, Anaxagorea, Ancana, Annickia, Annona, Anomianthus, Anonidium, Artabotrys, Asimina, Asteranthe, Balonga, Bocagea, Bocageopsis, Boutiquea, Cananga, Cardiopetalum, Chieniodendron, Cleistochlamys, Cleistopholis, Cremastosperma, Cyathocalyx, Cyathostemma, Cymbopetalum, Dasoclema, Dasymaschalon, Deeringothamnus, Dendrokingstonia, Dennettia, Desmopsis, Desmos, Diclinanona, Dielsiothamnus, Disepalum, Duckeanthus, Duguetia, Ellipeia, Ellipeiopsis, Enicosanthum, Ephedranthus, Exellia, Fissistigma, Fitzalania, Friesodielsia, Froesiodendron, Fusaea, Gilbertiella, Goniothalamus, Greenwayodendron, Guamia, Guatteria, Guatteriella, Guatteriopsis, Haplostichanthus, Heteropetalum, Hexalobus, Hornschuchia, Isolona, Letestudoxa, Lettowianthus, Malmea, Marsypopetalum, Meiocarpidium, Meiogyne, Melodorum, Mezzettia, Mezzettiopsis, Miliusa, Mischogyne, Mitrella, Mitrephora, Mkilua, Monanthotaxis, Monocarpia, Monocyclanthus, Monodora, Neostenanthera, Neo-uvaria, Oncodostigma, Onychopetalum, Ophrypetalum, Oreomitra,Orophea, Oxandra, Pachypodanthium, Papualthia, Petalolophus, Phaeanthus, Phoenicanthus, Piptostigma, Platymitra, Polyalthia, Polyaulax, Polyceratocarpus, Popowia, Porcelia, Pseudartabotrys, Pseudephedranthus, Pseudoxandra, Pseuduvaria, Pyramidanthe, Raimondia, Reedrollinsia, Richella, Rollinia, Ruizodendron, Sageraea, Sapranthus, Schefferomitra, Sphaerocoryne, Stelechocarpus, Stenanona, Tetrameranthus, Tetrapetalum, Toussaintia, Tridimeris, Trigynaea, Trivalvaria, Unonopsis, Uvaria, Uvariastrum, Uvariodendron, Uvariopsis, Woodiellantha, Xylopia.

Myristicaceae (Nutmeg family):

Bicniba, Brochoneura, Cephalosphaera, Coelocaryon, Compsoneura, Endocomia, Gymnacranthera, Haematodendron, Horsfieldia, Iryanthera, Knema, Mauloutchia, Myristica, Osteophloeum, Otoba, Pycnanthus, Scyphocephalium, Staudtia, Virola.

Degeneriaceae:

Degeneria.

ORDER LAURALES

Lauraceae (Laurel family):

Actinodaphne, Adenodaphne, Aiouea, Alseodaphne, Anaueria, Aniba, Apollonias, Aspidostemon, Beilschmiedia, Brassiodendron, Caryodaphnopsis, Chlorocardium, Cinnadenia, Cinnamomum, Clinostemon, Cryptocarya, Dehaasia, Dicypellium, Dodecadenia, Endiandra, Endlicheria, Eusideroxylon, Gamanthera, Hexapora, Hypodaphnis, Iteadaphne, Kubitzkia, Laurus, Licaria, Lindera, Litsea, Mezilaurus, Nectandra, Neocinnamomum, Neolitsea, Nothaphoebe, Ocotea, Paraia, Persea, Phoebe, Phyllostemonodaphne, Pleurothyrium, Potameia, Potoxylon, Povedadaphne, Ravensara, Rhodostemonodaphne, Sassafras, Syndiclis, Triadodaphne, Umbellularia, Urbanodendron, Williamodendron.

Calycanthaceae:

Calycanthus, Chimonanthus, Sinocalycanthus

Hernandiaceae:

Hernandia, Illigera, Sparttanthelium, Gyrocarpus, Hazomalania.

Monimiaceae:

Austromatthaea, Decarydendron, Dryadodaphne, Ephippiandra, Faikea, Hedycarya, Hennecartia, Hortonia, Kairoa, Kibara, Kibaropsis, Lauterbachia, Levieria, Macropeplus, Macrotorus, Matthaea, Mollinedia, Monimia, Palmeria, Parakibara, Peumus, Steganthera, Tambourissa (Ambora), Tetrasynandra, Wilkiea, Xymalos.

Siparunaceae

Siparuna, Bracteanthus, Glossocalyx.

ORDER CANELLALES

Winteraceae (Winter's Bark family):

Drimys, Belliolum, Bubbia, Exospermum, Pseudowintera, Takhtajania, Tasmannia, Tetrathalamus, Zygogynum.

Canellaceae:

Canella, Capiscodendron, Cinnamodendron, Cinnamosma, Pleiodendron, Warburgia.

ORDER PIPERALES

Piperaceae (Pepper family):

Circaeocarpus (= Zippelia), Lindeniopiper, Ottonia, Piper, Pothomorphe, Sarcorhachis, Trianaeopiper, Zippelia (~ Piper).

Aristolochiaceae (Dutchman's Pipe family):

Apama, Aristolochia, Asarum, Euglypha, Holostylis, Saruma, Thottea.

Lactoridaceae:

Lactoris.

Saururaceae:

Anemopsis, Gymnotheca, Houttuynia, Saururus.

Hydnoraceae:

Hydnora, Prosopanche.

CLASS LILIOPSIDA: MONOCOTS (10 ORDERS; 61-70 FAMILIES)

Leaves with parallel veins; monocot condition in the seed; monosulcate pollen; three-merous flowers in two whorls.  Atactostelic stems.

  THE NON-COMMELINOIDS

ORDER ACORALES

Acoraceae

Acorus.

ORDER ALISMATALES

This order is well defined by molecular analyses; however, morphological synapomorphies are unclear.  A synapomorphy may be the occurrence of stems with small scales; glandular hairs within the sheathing leaf bases; extrorse anthers; and large embryo within the seed.  

ALISMATACEAE (includes Limnocharitaceae; Water Plantain family): Perennial aquatic or semi-aquatic herbs. Much aerenchyma. Xylem sparsely lignified; vessels confined to roots. Vascular bundles scattered or in 2 concentric rings. Leaves alternate and clustered at the tip of the rhizome; somewhat ensheathing at the base; sometimes differentiated into petiole and blade. Inflorescence usually cymes or racemes (rarely solitary). Flowers actinomorphic and 3-merous (3 green sepals and 3 white petals); stamens 3-many. Pollen usually with many pores. Gynoecium of 3-20 apocarpous (separate or unfused) pistils, each with 1-many ovules

Alisma, Baldellia, Burnatia, Caldesia, Damasonium, Echinodorus, Limnophyton, Luronium, Ranalisma, Sagittaria, Wiesneria.
Echinodorus.jpg (61325 bytes) Echinodorus.

ARACEAE (Arum family): Usually herbs, rarely vines or shrubs. Leaves alternate, basal. Petiole sheathing and the leaf blade expanded with reticulate or net veins. Inflorescence a spadix subtended by a spathe (a bract) with tiny perfect or imperfect flowers. Perianth often tiny or missing. Pollen grains 2-3 nucleate and usually 1 aperture. Gynoecium of 3 fused carpels. Fruit a berry or a multiple. Embryo large in copious oily endosperm

Aglaodorum, Aglaonema, Alloschemone, Alocasia, Ambrosina, Amorphophallus, Amydrium, Anadendrum, Anaphyllopsis, Anaphyllum, Anchomanes, Anthurium, Anubias, Aridarum, Ariopsis, Arisaema, Arisarum, Arophyton, Arum, Asterostigma, Biarum, Bognera, Bucephalandra, Caladium, Calla, Callopsis, Carlephyton, Cercestis, Chlorospatha, Colletogyne, Colocasia, Cryptocoryne, Culcasia, Cyrtosperma, Dieffenbachia, Dracontioides, Dracontium, Dracunculus, Eminium, Epipremnum, Filarum, Furtodoa, Gearum, Gonatanthus, Gonatopus, Gorgonidium, Gymnostachys, Hapaline, Helicodiceros, Heteroaridarum, Heteropsis, Holochlamys, Homalomena, Hottarum, Jasarum, Lagenandra, Lasia, Lasimorpha, Lysichiton, Mangonia, Monstera, Montrichardia, Nephthytis, Orontium, Pedicellarum, Peltandra, Philodendron, Phymatarum, Pinellia, Piptospatha, Pistia, Podolasia, Pothoidium, Pothos, Protarum, Pseudodracontium, Pseudohydrosme, Pycnospatha, Remusatia, Raphidophora, Rhodospatha, Sauromatum, Scaphispatha, Schismatoglottis, Scindapsus, Spathantheum, Spathicarpa, Spathiphyllum, Stenospermation, Steudnera, Stylochaeton, Symplocarpus, Synandrospadix, Syngonium, Taccarum, Theriophonum, Typhonium, Typhonodorum, Ulearum, Urospatha, Urospathella, Xanthosoma, Zamiculcas, Zantedeschia, Zomicarpa, Zomicarpella.
arisaema.jpg (106581 bytes) Arisaema.

Lemnaceae

Lemna, Spirodela, Wolffia, Wolffiella, Wolffiopsis.

Hydrocharitaceae (includes Najadaceae; Frog's Bit family):

Apalanthe, Appertiella, Blyxa, Egeria, Elodea, Enhalus, Halophila, Hydrilla, Hydrocharis, Lagarosiphon, Limnobium, Maidenia, Nechamandra, Ottelia, Stratiotes, Thalassia, Vallisneria.

Najadaceae

Najas.

Potomogetonaceae (Pondweed family):

Groenlandia, Potamogeton, Ruppia, Stukenia.

Butomaceae:

Butomus.

Cymodoceaceae:

Cymodocea, Halodule, Syringodium, Amphibolis, Thalassodendron.

Posidoniaceae:

Posidonia.

Melanthiaceae:

Aletris, Amianthium, Chamaelirium, Chionographis, Harperocallis, Helonias, Heloniopsis, Japonolirion, Lophiola, Melanthium, Metanarthecium, Narthecium, Nietneria, Petrosavia, Pleea, Protolirion, Schoenocaulon, Stenanthium, Tofieldia, Veratrum, Xerophyllum, Ypsilandra, Zigadenus.

Zannichelliaceae:

Althenia, Lepilaena, Pseudalthenia, Vleisia, Zannichellia.

Zosteraceae:

Heterozostera, Phyllospadix, Zostera.

ORDER LILIALES

Usually geophytic perennial herbs growing by bulbs or corms. Vessels confined to the roots. Leaves usually simple and entire. Tepals in 2 series of 3. Nectaries at the base of the tepals and filaments; no septal nectaries. Usually as many stamens as tepals; pollen binucleate. Gynoecium epigynous or hypogynous; usually of 3 fused carpels. Fruit usually a capsule but often a berry or drupe. Seeds with abundant endosperm (hemicellulose, oil and protein). This order has 8 families, of which Liliaceae is the representative family.

LILIACEAE (Lily family): Geophyte herbs that grow from bulbs with contractile roots; megagametophyte develops from 4 megaspores such that the endosperm is pentaploid. 

Cardiocrinum, Erythronium, Fritillaria, Gagea, Lilium, Lloydia, Medeola(?), Nomocharis, Notholirion(?), Tulipa.
lilium.jpg (100243 bytes) Lilium.

Uvulariaceae (Bellflower family):

Clintonia, Disporum, Kreysigia, Kuntheria, Medeola(?), Prosartes, Schelhammera, Scoliopus(?), Streptopus, Tricyrtis, Tripladenia, Uvularia.

Colchicaceae:

Androcymbium, Anguillaria, Baeometra, Burchardia (? — lacking colchicine and related compounds), Colchicum, Gloriosa, Hexacyrtis, Iphigenia, Littonia, Neodregea, Onixotis, Ornithoglossum, Sandersonia, Wurmbea, etc. (Dahlgren et al., 1985).

Smilacaceae (Catbrier family):

Heterosmilax, Pseudosmilax, Smilax.

Melanthiaceae (Death Camas family):

Toxicoscordion (?), Anticlea (?), Aletris, Amianthium, Chamaelirium, Chionographis, Harperocallis, Helonias, Heloniopsis, Japonolirion, Lophiola, Melanthium, Metanarthecium, Narthecium, Nietneria, Petrosavia, Pleea, Protolirion, Schoenocaulon, Stenanthium, Tofieldia, Veratrum, Xerophyllum, Ypsilandra, Zigadenus.

Geosiridaceae

Geosiris

Trilliaceae (Trillium family):

Trillium.

Alstroemeriaceae:

Alistroemeria, Bomarea, Leontochir, Schickendantzia.

Calochortaceae:

Calichortus.

Ripogonaceae

Ripogonum

ORDER NARTHECIALES

Nartheciaceae:

Narthecium, Nietneria, Aletris, Metanarthecium, Lophiola.

ORDER ASPARAGALES 

This order has characteristic seeds in which the outer integument is missing or reduced to a black phytomelan crust (a character that is lost in the orchids),  Tepals are often without spots; nectaries are part of the ovulary (not at the base of the tepal).  This order has 25 families and 26,800 species.

ORCHIDACEAE (Orchid family): Usually epiphytic, geophytic ot terrestrial herbs. They are strongly mycotrophic. Leaves usually with an ensheathing leaf base; but sometimes the leaf is highly modified. Flowers usually strongly zygomorphic, epigynous; 3-merous; often with only 1-2 stamens. Pollen binucleate and monosulcate (or exine lacking entirely). Gynoecium of 3 fused carpels; the fruit is capsular. Seeds are very numerous and tiny, without endosperm; embryo usually of only a few cells (thus, usually cotyledon undifferentiated).  Orchidaceae is a very large and diverse family (~775 genera and >21,950 species).  Thus, I have organized the following representative genera according to subfamily groupings.

Apostasia, Neuwiedia, Apostasia.

Cypripedium, Phragmipedium, Selenipedium, Paphiopedilum.

Epipactis, Cephalanthera, Sinorchis, Tangtsinia, Limodorum, Epipogium, Neottia, Diplandrorchis, Goodyera, Listera, Ludisia, Anoectochilus, Zeuxine, Spiranthes, Cranichis, Ponthieva.

Arethusa, Sobralia, Elleanthus, Phaius, Calanthe, Bletia, Vanilla, Galeola, Nervilia, Gastrodia, Epipogium, Stereosandra, Coelogyne, Pleione, Liparis, Malaxis, Hammarbya, Oberonia, Calypso, Yoania, Epidendrum, Encyclia, Laelia, Cattleya, Eria, Pleurothallus, Stelis, Masdevallia, Restrepia, Dracula, Dendrobium, Flickingeria, Bulbophyllum, Polystachya, Eulophia, Ansellia, Cymbidium, Grammatophyllum, Catasetum, Stanhopea, Gongora, Oncidium, Odontoglossum, Miltonia, Brassia, Corallorhiza, Zygopetalum, Lycaste, Maxillaria, Phalaenopsis, Aerides, Vanda, Arachnis, Renanthera, Cleistostoma, Aerangis, Taeniophyllum, Microcoelia, Angraecum.

Bipinnula, Chloraea, Gavilea, Caladenia, Pterostylis, Corybas, Diuris, Thelymitra, Rhizanthella, Prasophyllum,, Habenaria, Orchis, Dactylorhiza, Ophrys, Anacamptis, Plantanthera, Gymnadenia, Cynorkis, Peristylus, Disa, Satyrium, Disperis.
habenaria.jpg (85559 bytes) Habenaria.

Calopogon, Cleistes Isotria, Pogonia, Liparis, Malaxis, Aplectrum, Tipularia.

Asparagaceae (Asparagus family):

Asparagus, Hemiphylacus, Myrsiphyllum, Protasparagus.

Rusaceae (includes Convallariaceae, Nolinaceae, Dracaenaceae; Butcher's Broom family):

Dracaena, Polygonatum, Sansevieria, Maianthemum, Ophiopogon, Nolina, Convallaria, Dasylirion, Liriope.

Agavaceae (Agave family):

Hosta, Camassia, Chlorogalum, Hastingsia, Hesperoyucca, Schoenolirion, Agave, Beschorneria, Furcraea, Hesperaloë, Littaea, Manfreda, Polianthes, Prochnyanthes, Yucca.

Hostaceae (=Funkiaceae)

Hosta, Leucocrinum (or Anthericaceae), Hesperocallis

Hyacinthaceae (Hyacinth family):

Albuca, Alrawia, Amphisiphon, Androsiphon, Barnardia, Battandiera, Bellevalia, Brimeura, Bowiea, Camassia, Chionodoxa, Chlorogalum, Daubenya, Dipcadi, Drimia, Drimiopsis, Eliokarmos, Eucomis, Fortunatia, Galtonia, Hyacynthella, Hyacynthoides (= Endymion), Hyacynthus, Lachenalia, Ledebouria, Leopoldia, Litanthus, Massonia, Muscari, Muscarimia, Neobakeria, Neopatersonia, Ornithogalum, Periboea, Paradisea (or Asphodelaceae?), Polyxena, Pseudogaltonia, Puschkinia, Resnova, Rhadamanthus, Rhodocodon, Schizobasis, Schizocarphus, Schoenolirion, Scilla, Tenicroa, Thuranthos, Urginea, Veltheimia, Whiteheadia.

Alliaceae (Onion family):

Agapanthus, Allium, Ancrumia, Androstephium, Behria, Bessera, Bloomeria, Brodiaea, Dandya, Dichellostemma, Diphalangium, Erinna, Garaventia, Gethyum, Gilliesia, Ipheion, Leucocoryne, Miersia, Milla, Milula, Nectaroscordum, Nothoscordum, Milla, Muilla, Pabellonia, Petronymphe, Schickendantziella, Solaria, Speea, Trichlora, Tristagma, Triteleia, Triteleiopsis, Tulbaghia, Zoellnerallium.

Amaryllidaceae (Amaryllis or Daffodil family):

Amaryllis, Ammocharis, Apodolirion, Bokkeveldia, Boophone, Bravoa, Brunsvigia, Caliphruria, Calostemma, Carpolyza, Chlidanthus, Choananthus, Clivia, Cooperia, Crinum, Cryptostephanus, Cybistetes, Cyrtanthus, Eucharis, Eucrosia, Eustephia, Galanthus, Gemmaria, Gethyllis, Griffinia, Habranthus, Haemanthus, Hannonia, Hessea, Hieronymiella, Hippeastrum, Hymenocallis, Ismene, Lapiedra, Leptochiton, Leucojum, Lycoris, Namaquanula, Narcissus, Nerine, Pamianthe, Pancratium, Paramongaia Phaedranassa, Phycella, Placea, Proiphys (Eurycles), Pucara, Pyrolirion, Rauhia, Rhodophiala, Scadoxus, Sprekelia, Stenomesson, Sternbergia, Strumaria, Tapeinanthus, Tedingea, Traubia, Ungernia, Urceolina, Vagaria, Vallota, Worsleya, Zephyranthes

Asphodelaceae (Aloe family):

Aloe, Hawthoria, Gasteria, Kniphofia, Bulbine.

Iridaceae (Iris family):

Ainea, Alophia, Anomatheca, Aristea, Babiana, Barnardiella, Belamcanda, Bobartia, Calydorea, Cardenanthus, Chasmanthe, Cipura, Cobana, Crocosmia, Crocus, Cypella, Devia, Dierama, Dietes, Diplarrhena, Duthiastrum, Eleutherine, Ennealophus, Ferraria, Fosteria, Freesia, Galaxia, Geissorhiza, Gelasine, Geosiris, Gladiolus, Gynandriris, Herbertia, Hermodactylus, Hesperantha, Hesperoxiphion, Hexaglottis, Homeria, Homoglossum, Iris, Isophysis, Ixia, Kelissa, Klattia, Lapeirousia, Lethia, Libertia, Mastigostyla, Melasphaerula, Micranthus, Moraea, Nemastylis, Neomarica, Nivenia, Olsynium, Onira, Orthrosanthus, Pardanthopsis, Patersonia, Pillansia, Pseudotrimezia, Radinosiphon, Rheome, Roggeveldia, Romulea, Savannosiphon, Schizostylis, Sessilanthera, Sisyrinchium, Solenomelus, Sparaxis, Sympa, Syringodea, Tapeina, Thereianthus, Tigridia, Trimezia, Tritonia, Tritoniopsis, Tucma, Watsonia, Wisenia, Zygotritonia.

Agapanthaceae:

Agapanthus.

Hypoxidaceae:

Hypoxis, Spiloxene, Curculigo, Molineria, Hypoxidia, Empodium, Rhodohypoxis, Pauridia, Saniella.

Themidaceae:

Themida.

Xanthorrhoeaceae:

Xanthorrhoea.

ORDER DIOCORIALES

Dioscoriaceae (Yam family):

Borderea, Dioscorea, Epipetrum, Rajania, Tamus.

Burmanniaceae:

Hexapterella, Campylosiphon, Burmannia, Cymbocarpa, Gymnosiphon, Miersiella, Marthella, Apteria, Dictyostega.

Taccaceae:

Schizocapsa, Tacca.

  COMMELINOID CLADE

ORDER ARECALES

Mostly slender trees or stout shrubs with an unbranched trunk covered by persistent leaf bases. Leaves evergreen, alternate and very large with a basal sheath, a petiole and an expanded pinnately parallel blade. The blade may be either pinnately or palmately compound, no axillary buds. Inflorescenses large, paniculate and subtended by 1 or more spathes. Flowers perfect or imperfect; monoecious or dioecious. Flowers actinomorphic; 3 sepals and 3 petals; 6 stamens in 2 series of 3. Gynoecium a compound pistil of 3 fused carpels. Fruits berries or drupes. Endosperm large and embryo very small. This order has only 1 family.

ARECACEAE (Palmae; Palm family):

Trithrinax, Thrinax, Trachycarpus, Rhaphidophyllum, Chamaerops, Rhaphis, Livistona, Licuala, Pritchardia, Copernicia, Washingtonia, Corypha, Sabal.

Borassodendron, Latania, Borassus, Lodoicea, Hyphaene, Medemia, Bismarckia.

Eremospatha, Eugeissona, Metroxylon, Salacca, Daemonorops, Calamus, Plectocomia, Rhaphia, Oncocalamus, Mauritia, Lepidocaryum.

Nypa.

Pseudophoenix, Ceroxylon, Juania, Ravenea, Hyophorbe, Chamaedorea.

Arenga, Caryota, Wallichia, Iriartella, Wettinia, Podococcus, Orania, Manicaria, Leopoldinia, Rheinhardtia, Phloga, Dypsis, Euterpe, Roystonea, Archotopphoenix, Cyrtostachys, Linospadix, Howea, Ptychosperma, Pinanga, Areca, Alsmithia, Iguanura, Oncosperma, Butia, Jubaea, Cocos, Elaeis, Bactris, Geonoma.
cocos.jpg (146077 bytes) Cocos.

Palandra, Phytelephas, Ammandra, Phoenix, Serenoa, Coccothrinax, Roystonea.

ORDER COMMELINALES

Commelinaceae (Spiderwort family):

Tradescantia, Calisia, Tripogandra, Coelotrype, Amischotolype, Cyanotis, Dichorisandra, Streptolirion, Commelina, Aneilema, Murdannia, Floscopa, Pollia. Cartonema, Triceratella.

Haemodoraceae (Bloodwort family):

Haemodorum, Lachnanthes, Dilatris, Schiekia, Pyrorhiza, Xiphidium, Barberetta, Wachendorfia.

Pontederiaceae (Water Hyacinth family):

Eichornia, Monochoria, Scholleropsis, Heteranthera, Hydrothrix, Pontederia.

Philydraceae:

Helmholtzia, Philydrum, Philydrella.

ORDER POALES 

The monophyly of this group is well supported.  Morphological synapomorphies include silica bodies in the epidermis, styles separate or strongly branched, no septal nectaries or raphide crystals.  This order has 18 families and 14,500 species.

BROMELIACEAE (Bromeliad family): Usually epiphytic herbs (sometimes terrestrial). Leaves alternate and forming a rosette, many of which are adapted to collecting rain water. Flowers perfect, well adapted to insect pollination. Pollen with 2-3 pores. Fruit usually fleshy (a berry) or a capsule. Embryo variable, small to large; with copious, mealy endosperm

Pitcairnia, Navia, Puya, Lindmania, Abromeitella, Hechtia, Brocchinia,

Tillandsia, Vriesea, Guzmania, Catopsis, Glomeropitcairnia.

Neoregelia, Greigia, Nidularium, Cryptanthus, Bromelia, Acanthostachys, Fascicularia, Canistrum, Hohenbergia, Aechemia, Bilbergia, Neoglaziovia, Pseudoananas, Ananas.
ananas.jpg (158327 bytes) Ananas.

POACEAE (Gramineae; Grass family):  Perennial herbs (rarely annual); sometimes woody, but always without secondary growth. Cell walls often contain silica. Leaves in 2 ranks with a basal sheath and a narrow parallel-veined blade; an adaxial ligule is usually present at the junction of the sheath and blade. Flowers very small and organized into spikes or spikelets which are organized into secondary inflorescences. Flowers perfect or imperfect; enclosed between a pair of scales. Pollen grains trinucleate and with one aperture.  This is an enormous family that includes the most economically important food species (sugar cane and almost all of the grains).  The family is so large that I have listed the following genera according to subfamily according to the Grass Phylogeny Working Group (2001).

Anomochlooideae: Anomochloa, Streptochaeta

Pharoideae: Pharus

Puelioideae: Guaduella, Puelia

BEP Clade

Bambusoideae: Arundinaria, Bambusa, Chusquea, Phyllostachys, Sasa, Schizostachyum, Pharus.

Ehrhartoideae: Oryza, Leersia, Zizania, Zizaniopsis, Luziola, Hydrochloa.

Pooideae: Agropyron, Agrostis, Aira, Alopecurus, Ampelodesmos, Anisopogon, Anthoxanthum, Avena, Brachyelytrum, Brachypodium, Briza, Bromus, Calamagrostis, Catabrosa, Cinna, Dactylis, Deschampsia, Diarrhena, Elymus, Festuca, Glyceria, Holcus, Hordeum, Hystrix, Limnodea, Lolium, Lygeum, Melica, Monerma, Nardus, Nassella, Oryzopsis,Parapholis, Phaenosperma, Phalaris, Phleum, Piptatherum, Piptochaetium, Poa, Polypogon, Schizachne, Secale, Sitanion, Sphenopholis, Stipa, Trisetum, Triticum, Vulpia  

PACCAD Clade

Panicoidea: Amphicarpum, Andropogon, Anthaenantia, Arthraxon, Axonopus, Bothriochloa, Brachiaria, Cenchrus, Coelorachis, Coix, Cymbopogon, Dicanthium, Dichanthelium, Digitaria, Echinochloa, Echinolochia, Elyonurus, Eremochloa, Erianthus, Eriochloa, Heteropogon, Hyparrhenia, Imperata, Lasiacus, Leptoloma, Manisurus, Melinis, Miscanthus, Opilsmenus, Panicum, Paspalidium, Paspalum, Pennisetum, Reimarochloa, Rhynchelytrum, Saccharum, Sacciolepis, Schizachyrium, Setaria, Sorgastrum, Sorghastrum, Sorghum, Stenotaphorum, Stenotaphrum, Tripsacum, Urochloa, Zea 

Arundinoideae: Arundo, Phragmites, Cortaderia, 

Chloridoideae: Chloris, Ctenium, Cynodon, Dactyloctenium, Distichlis, Eleusine, Eragrostis, Gymnopogon, Leptochloa, Muhlenbergia, Neyraudia, Spartina, Sporobolus, Tridens, Triplasis, Uniola, Zoysia

  uniola.jpg (86361 bytes) Uniola.

Ctenothecoideae: Chasmanthium.

Aristidoideae:  Erioneuron, Munroa, Redfeldia, Calamovilfa, Lycurus, Blepharoneuron, Tripogon,  Hilaria, Schedonardus, Trichloris, Bouteloua, Buchloe, Cathestecum, Aegopogon, Tragus, Distichlis, Allolepis, Monanthochloe, Pappophorum, Enneapogon, Cottea, Orcuttia, Neostapfia, Aristida, Stipagrostis

Danthonioideae: Merxmuellera, Karroochloa, Astrodanthonia, Danthonia

Incertae Sedis: Micaria, Molinia, Schismus, 

Typhaceae (includes Sparganiaceae; Cattail family):

Sparganium, Typha.

Eriocaulaceae (Pipewort family):

Paepalanthus, Eriocaulon, Syngonanthus, Leiothrix, Lachnocaulon.

Xyridaceae (Yellow-Eyed Grass family):

Xyris, Achlyphila, Abolboda, Orectanthe, Aratitiyopea.

Juncaceae (Rush family):

Juncus, Luzula, Prionium, Rostkovia, Marsippospermum, Oxychloe, Patosia, Distichia.

CYPERACEAE (Sedge family):These plants are herbs, usually of wetlands.  Stems typically triangular in cross section (the mnemonic that I learned as an undergraduate was Sedges have wedges); leaves are alternate and 3-ranked; the base of the leaf is a closed sheath around the stem and continues with a free blade (as in the grasses).  The inflorescence is a spikelet (as in the grasses).  The flowers may be perfect or imperfect, in which case the plant is monoecious.  The flowers are subtended by bracts and the tepals are reduced to scales, if present.  The androecium is usually of 1-3 stamens.  The gynoecium is of 2-3 fused pistils.  The fruit is an achene or nutlet.  The family has 104 genera and 4,500 species.

Scirpodendron, Diplasia, Hylytrum, Mapania, Exocarya, Lepironia, Chrysitrix.  

Dulichium, Scirpus, Ficinia, Ascolepis, Eleocharis, Fimbristylis, Cyperus, Cladium, Lepidosperma, Trichostularia, Machaerina, Mesomelaena, Gymnoshoenus, Cyathochaeta, Tetraria, Caustis, Evandra, Gahnia, Reedia, Arthrostylis, Schoenus, Oreobolus, Carpha, Rhynchospora, Scleria, Lagenocarpus, Coleochloa, Trilepis.

Schoenixiphium, Uncinia, Kobresia, Carex, Cymphyllus.

Restionaceae:

Restio, Isochyrolepis, Thamnochortus.

ORDER ZINGIBERALES

Perennial herbs from large, often starchy rhizomes. Leaves opposite or spiraled; usually parallel-pinnate with a distinct petiole. Inflorescences subtended by bracts; perfect or imperfect. Stamens 6, although rarely are all 6 functional. Gynoecium often of 3 fused pistils. Fruit variable; dry or fleshy; dehiscent or indehiscent. Seeds with endosperm and copious, starchy perisperm. 7 families

MUSACEAE (Banana family): Bananas and plantains, this family grows as rosette trees which terminate in a bisexual inflorescence that can be up to 2 meters long.

Musa, Ensete, Musella..
musa.jpg (102049 bytes) Musa.

Zingiberaceae (Ginger family):

Hedychium, Kaempferia, Boesenbergia, Hitchenia, Camptandra, Curcuma, Roscoea, Cautleya, Zingiber.

Aframomum, Eltingera, Amomum, Elettariopsis, Elettaria, Geostachys, Burbidgea, Renealmia, Alpinia, Riedelia, Plagiostachys, Hemiorchis, Gagnepainia, Globba, Mantisia.

Marantaceae (Prayer Plant family):

Schumannianthus, Donax, Sarcophrynium, Thaumatococcus, Hypselodelphys, Trachyphrynium, Stachyphrynium, Halopegia, Afrocalathea, Phrynium, Cominsia, Marantochloa, Monophrynium, Calathea, Phacelophrynium, Maranta, Myrosma, Stromanthe, Ctenanthe, Ischnosiphon, Thalia.

Cannaceae (Canna family):

Canna.

Costaceae:

Dimerocostus, Tapeinochilos, Costus, Monocostus.

Heliconiaceae:

Heliconia.

Strelitziaceae:

Ravenala, Phenakospermum, Strelitzia.

CLASS CERATOPHYLLOPSIDA: BASAL DICOTS, A CLADE OF UNCERTAIN POSITION THAT APPEARS TO BE SISTER TO THE DICOTS

Aquatic herbs; without roots; stems with single vascular bundle and a central air canal; leaves whorled, often dichotomously segmented.  No stomates or cuticle.  Flowers solitary and axial.  Flowers imperfect (monoecious); actinomorphic and inconspicuous, subtended by a whorl of seven to many bracts (maybe modified tepals).  Stamens 10-many, distinct.  Pollen without apertures, exine reduced.  One carpel, hypogynous, stigma extending along one side of the styleFruit and achene; no endosperm. Class with a single genus.

ORDER CERATOPHYLLALES

CERATOPHYLLACEAE (Hornwort or Coon Tail family) with characters of the class.

Ceratophyllum ceratophyllum.jpg (96306 bytes)

ASTEROPSIDA: EUDICOTS (TRICOLPATES; 30 ORDERS; 163-200 FAMILIES)

Monophyletic group that has tricolpate pollen; characterized by cyclic flowers; parts in whorls with members of individual whorls alternating; staminate filaments usually slender.

  BASAL TRICOLPATES: THE PERIPHERAL EUDICOTS

ORDER RANNUNCULALES 

This order is defined well by molecular analyses; however, morphological synapomorphies are problematic.  Plants in this order contain distinctive alkaloids, particularly the alkaloid berberine.  They tend to be herbaceous with toothed, lobed, or even-compound leaves.  Their flowers are hypogynous with floral parts distinct and free.  The seeds are tiny with copious endosperm.

RANUNCULACEAE (Buttercup family): Herbs, vines, shrubs. Simple vessels. Leaves usually alternate, simple or compound; stipules either inconspicuous or absent. Flowers variable but hypogynous; usually with distinct sepals and petals; stamens usually many. Fruits variable: follicles, achenes, berries

Aconitum, Delphinium, Actaea, Aquilegia, Caltha, Coptis, Helleborus, Isopyrum, Anemone, Barneoudia, Hepatica, Adonis, Myosurus, Ranunculus, Thalictrum, Clematis, Clematopsis.
Rannunculus.jpg (112171 bytes) Rannunculus.

PAPAVERACEAE (includes Fumariaceae; Poppy family): Herbs or shrubs. Simple vessels. Plants with milky latex. Leaves alternate or often in a basal rosette, usually compound or dissected; no stipules. Flowers usually large and showy, perfect, and hypogynous. Many stamens; pollen usually triaperturate. Fruits usually capsules which open by pores. 

Papaver, Eschscholzia, Sanguinaria, Argemone, Chelodium, Chelidonium.
Chelidonium.jpg (162816 bytes) Chelidonium.

Menispermaceae (Moonseed family):

Abuta, Cyclea, Stephania, Tinospora, Cissampelos, Calycocarpum, Cocculus, Menispermum.

Berberidaceae (Barberry family):

Berberis, Achlys, Caulophyllum, Diphyllea, Jeffersonia, Nandina, Podophyllum, Vancouveria.

Lardizabalaceae:

Decaisnea, Akebia, Holboellia, Stauntonia, Parvatia, Boquila, Lardizabala, Sinofranchetia.

ORDER PROTEALES

Platanaceae (Sycamore family):

Platanus.

Proteaceae:

Grevillea, Hakea, Protea, Helicia, Leucadendron, Banksia, Leucospermum, Embothrium, Telopea, Macadamia.

Nelumbonaceae:

Nelumbo

Trochodendraceae (includes Tetracentraceae):

Trochodendron, Tetracentron.

Buxaceae:

Styloceras, Sarcococca, Pachysandra, Buxus, Notobuxus.

  CORE EUDICOTS

      CARYOPHYLLID CLADE

ORDER CARYOPHYLLALES

Clear molecular and morphological synapomorphies define this order.  Their phloem has sieve tubes that contain plastids and a peripheral ring of proteinaceous filaments and a central protein crystal.  Betalains form red-yellow pigments.  The flower with a single whorl of tepals; embryo curved around the seed.  This order has 18 families and 8600 species.

CACTACEAE (Cactus family): Herbs or shrubs with anomalous secondary growth. Vessels simple. Leaves alternate, opposite or whorled; simple, entire and often reduced to a spine. Flowers usually perfect, stamens usually numerous (generally 2X as many as there are perianth segments). Fruit variable, embryo large. 

Pereskia, Maihuenia, Pereskiopsis, Quiabentia, Tacinga, Opuntia, Pterocactus.
Opuntia.jpg (237209 bytes) Opuntia.

Leptocereus, Harrisia, Acanthocereus, Peniocereus, Cereus, Echinocereus, Hylocereus, Selenicereus, Epiphyllum, Melocactus, Cleistocactus, Echinopsis, Rebutia, Gymnocalycium, Corryocactus, Copiapoa, Parodia, Lepismium, Rhipsalis, Armatocereus, Browningia, Pachycereus, Carneigiea, Stenocereus, Echinocactus, Mammillaria,  Ferocactus, Lophophora, Astrophytum, Zygocactus.

Caryophyllaceae (Carnation or Pink family):

Silene, Dianthus, Arenaria, Gypsophila, Minuartia, Stellaria, Paronychia, Cerastium, Agrostemma, Drymaria, Geocarpon, Sagina, Saponaria, Spergula, Stipulicida.

Phytolaccaceae (Pokeweed family):

Phytolacca.

Nyctaginaceae (Four O'Clock family):

Neea, Guapira, Mirabilis, Pisonia, Abronia, Boerhavia, Acleisanthes, Anulocaulis, Okenia, Selinocarpus.

Amaranthaceae (includes Chenopodiaceae; Amaranth family):

Atriplex, Gomphrena, Salsola, Alternanthera, Chenopodium, Ptilotus, Sueda, Iresine, Amaranthus, Corispermum, Celosia, Blutaparon, Froelichia, Grayia, Monolepis, Nitrophila, Salicornia.

Aizoaceae (Stoneplant family):

Conophytum, Delosperma, Lampranthus, Drosanthemum, Antimima, Lithrops, Mesembryanthemum, Carpobrotus, Dorotheanthus, Ruschia, Tetragonia.

Portulacaceae (Purselane family):

Calandrinia, Portulaca, Claytonia, Talinum, Montia, Lewisia.

Petiveriaceae:

Lophiocarpus, Rivina, Trichostigma, Schindleria, Hilleria, Ledenbergia, Petiveria, Monococcus, Gallesia, Seguieria.

Simmondsiaceae:

Simmondsia.

ORDER POLYGONALES

Droceraceae (Sundew family):

Drosera, Dionaea.

Polygonaceae (Knotweed family):

Eriogonum, Rumex, Polygonum, Coccoloba, Antigonon, Chorizanthe, Nemacaulis, Oxytheca, Oxyria, Polygonella, Stenogonum.

Plumbaginaceae:

Ceratostigma, Dyerophytum, Plumbagella, Plumbago, Aegialitis, Acantholimon, Neogontscharovia, Gladiolimon, Ghaznianthus, Dictyolimon, Cephalorhizum, Bamiania, Popoviolimon, Chaetolimon, Vassilczenkoa, Limoniopsis, Ikonnikova, Goniolimon, Bukiniczia, Afrolimon, Bakerolimon, Muellerolimon, Limoniastrum, Limonium, Eremolimon, Armeria, Psylliostachys.

Nepenthaceae:

Netenthes.

ORDER SANTALALES

Loranthaceae (Mistletoe family):

Amyema, Agelanthus, Phithirusa, Psittacanthus, Struthanthus, Helixanthera, Tapinanthus, Scurrula

Viscaceae (Christmas Mistletoe family):

Phoradendron, Dendrophthora, Viscum, Arceuthobium.

Olacanthaceae:

Coula, Ochanostachys, Heisteria, Ximenia, Sorodocarpus, Cathedra, Anacolosa, Strombosia, Ethryopalum, Dulacea.

Santalaceae:

Phacellaria, Okubaka, Dendrotrophe, Scleropyrum, Jodina, Buckleya, Nestronia, Pyrularia, Osyris, Geocaulon, Comandra, Nanodea, Acanthosyris, Santalum, Mida, Osyridocarpos, Thesidium, Thesium, Arjona, Quinchamalium, Anthobolus, Exocarpos.

Misodendraceae:

Misodendrum.

Opiliaceae:

Lepionurus, Cansjera, Melientha, Champeriea, Opilia, Urobotrya, Rhopalopilia, Pentarhopalopilia, Gjellerupia, Agonandra.

Schoepfiaceae:

Schoepfia.

ORDER SAXIFRAGALES

Saxifragaceae (Saxifrage family):

Saxifraga, Heuchera, Chrysoplenium, Mitella, Astilbe, Boykinia, Leptarrhena, Sullivantia, Tellima, Tolmeia, Tiarella.

Crassulaceae (Stonecrop family):

Sedum, Crassula, Echeveria, Kalanchoe, Diamorpha, Dudleya, Graptopetalum, Lenophylum, Villadia.

Hamamelidaceae (Witch Hazel family):

Corylopsis, Distylium, Hamamelis, Fothergilla, Loropetalum, Rhodoleia

Altingiaceae (Sweet Gum family):

Altingia, Liquidambar.

Cercidiphyllaceae:

Cercidiphyllum.

Grossulariaceae:

Ribes, Grossularia, 

Haloragaceae:

Haloragis, Haloragodendron, Glishrocaryon, Meziella, Gonocarpus, Laurembergia, Proserpinaca, Myriophyllum.

Iteaceae:

Itea, Choristylis.

Paeoniaceae:

Paeonia.

ROSID CLADE

BASAL ROSIDS

ORDER VITALES:

Vitaceae (Grape family):

Cissua, Nothocissus, Cyphostemma, Acereosperma, Caryratia, Vitis, Ampelocissus, Ampelopsis, Parthenocissus, Yua, Pterisanthes, Clematicissus, Tetrastigma, Rhoicissus, Pterocissus..

Leeaceae:

Leea.

ORDER GERANIALES

Geraniaceae (Geranium or Crane's Bill family):

Geranium, Pelargonium, Erodium.

ORDER MYRTALES (INCERTAE SEDIS; EITHER EUROSIDS I OR II)

Synapomorphies include vessel elements with fringed pits, stems with internal phloem, stamens incurved in the bud, a single style, carpels connate; usually with entire, opposite leaves.  Though well-supported as a monophyletic group, this order has weak support in association either with the Eurosid I or Eurosid II clade.  This order has 14 families and 9,000 species.

MYRTACEAE (Myrtle family): Shrubs to large trees; leaves glandular, usually opposite, simple, evergreen, entire, no stipules. Flowers perfect, actinomorphic, epigynous; 4-5 sepals; 4-5 petals; many stamens, gynoecium of 2-3 carpels; style long and simple.  Inflorescence mostly cymose.  Fruit usually a fleshy berrySeed with no endosperm.

Eucalyptus, Callistemon, Pimenta, Myrtus, Eugenia, Myrcia, Syzygium, Melaleuca, Psidium, Calyptranthes, Rhodomyrtus, Myrcianthes.
Eugenia.jpg (268203 bytes) Eugenia.

Lythaceae (includes Sonneratiaceae, Trapaceae, Punicaceae; Loosestrife family):

Cuphea, Diplusodon, Lagerstroemia, Nesaea, Rotala, Lythrum, Ammannia, Decodon, Didiplis, Heimia, Nesaea, Peplis, Trapa.

Onagraceae (Evening Primrose family):

Epilobium, Oenothera, Fuchsia, Ludwigia, Camisonia, Clarkia, Chamaenerion, Circaea.

Combretaceae (White Mangrove family):

Combretum, Terminalia, Bucida, Conocarpus, Laguncularia.

Melastomataceae (Meadow Beauty family):

Dissotis, Medinilla, Rhexia, Tibouchina.

Memecylaceae:

Memecyclon, Warneckia, Lijndenia, Spathandra, Mouriri, Votomita.

Vochysiacaceae:

Euphronia, Salvertia, Callisthene, Qualea, Erisma, Erismadelphus, Ruizterania, Vochysia.

 EUROSIDS I

ORDER ZYGOPHYLLALES

Zygophyllaceae (Creosote Bush family):

Seetzenia, Sisyndite, Sericodes, Zygophyllum, Milianthus, Bulnesia, Pintoa, Plectrocarpa, Metharme, Fagonia, Balanites, Tribulus, Guaiacum, Kallstroemia, Larrea, Porlieria, Morkillia, Viscainoa, Tetraena, Kelleronia, Kallistroemia, Tribulopsis, Tribulus, Neoluederitzia, Augea, 

Kameriaceae:

Kameria

ORDER OXALIDALES

Oxalidaceae (Wood Sorrel family):

Oxalis, Biophytum.

Cephalotaceae:

Cephalotus.

Cunoniaceae:

Spiraeanthemum, Acsmithia, Aistopetalum, Gilbeea, Acrophyllum, Callicoma, Pullea, Caldcluvia, Vesselowskya, Cunonia, Weinmannia, Pancheria, Lamanonia, Geissois, Pseudoweinmannia, Platylophus, Codia, Anodopetalum, Ceratopetalum, Schizomeria, Baueria, Aphanopetalum.

ORDER CELASTRALES

Celastraceae (includes Hippocrateaceae; Bittersweet family):

Monimopetalum, Euonymus, Microtropis, Glyptopetalum, Cleastrus, Maytenus, Catha, Polycardia, Bhesa, Paxistima, Lophopetalum, Kokoona, Peripterygia, Ptelidium, Zinoweiwia, Plenckia, Tripterygium, Wimmeria, Cassine, Elaeodendron, Pleurostylia, Gyminda, Crossopetalum, Myginda, Acanthothamnus, Canotia, Mortonia, Schaefferia, Perrottetia.

Campylostemon, Tristemonanthus, Hippocratea, Salacighia, Thyrsosalacia, Salacia.  Siphonodon.

Parnassiaceae:

Parnassia.

ORDER MALPIGHIALES  

Although molecular analyses indicate a strong monophyletic relationship among the members of this order, clear morphological synapomorphies are lacking.  Characters that occur in many but not all of the families are: dry stigmas, fibrous exotegmen, and trilacunar nodes.  This order has 35 families and 13,100 species.

EUPHORBIACEAE (Spurge family): Usually woody; often with latex. Leaves usually simple; with or without stipules. Flowers hypogynous, imperfect; perianth absent or reduced. Carpels united with as many styles as carpels. Fruit often a capsular schizocarp; seed with oily endosperm

Savia, Wielandia, Pentabrachion, Amanoa, Bridelia, Cleistanthus, Meineckia, Securinega, Andrachne, Phyllanthus, Sauropus, Breynia, Glochidion, Spondianthus, Uapaca, Baccaurea, Aporusa, Antidesma, Hyeronima, Poranthera, Hymenocardia, Bischofia.

Clutia, Pogonophora, Chaetocarpus, Trigonopleura, Pera, Cheilosa, Neoscortechinia,Erismanthus, Moultonianthus, Syndyophyllum, Diocoelia, Amperea, Monotaxis, Agrostistachys, Speranskia, Caperonia, Ditaxis, Argythamnia, Chiropetalum, Chrozophora, Caryodendron, Bernardia, Pycnocoma, Argomuelleria, Blumeodendron, Epiprinus, Koilodepas, Adelia, Leucocroton, Alchornea, Bocquillonia, Conceveiba, Ricinus, Adriana, Mercurialis, Dysopsis, Cleidion, Macaranga, Claoxylon, Mallotus, Trewia, Acalypha, Plukentia, Tragia, Dalechampia, Omphalea.

Micrandra, Micrandropsis, Hevea, Manihot, Cnidoscolus, Adenocline, Endospermum, Suregada, Elateriospermum, Jatropha, Joannesia, Codiaeum, Acidocroton, Bailiospermum, Trigonostemum, Ricinocarpos, Alphandia, Beyeria, Bertya, Croton, Givotia, Ricinodendron, Schinziophyton, Aleutites, Grossera.

Pimelodendron, Mabea, Hippomane, Stillingia, Excoecaria, Sapium, Pachystroma, Hura, Anthostema, Dichostemma, Neoguillauminia, Calycopeplus, Euphorbia, Chamaesyce, Cubanthus, Monadenium, Synadenium, Endadenium, Pedilanthus, Poinsettia.
Euphorbia.jpg (278724 bytes) Euphorbia (Poinsettia).

VIOLACEAE (Violet family):  Trees, shrubs or herbs. Vessels with simple perforations. Leaves variable; alternate, opposite; rosette, spiral, or two-ranked; usually simple; with or without stipules. Flowers with 5 sepals and 5 petals; perfect and zygomorphic. Stamens usually 5 in ring around gynoecium. Gynoecium often of 3 fused pistils. Fruit a loculicidal capsule.

Rinorea, Allexis, Gloeospermum, Melicytus, Hymenanthera, Isodendrion, Amphirrhox, Paypayrola, Hybanthus, Agatea, Anchietea, Corynostylis, Schweiggeria, Noisettia, Viola, Leonia.
Viola.jpg (234781 bytes) Viola.

SALICACEAE (Willow family): Trees or shrubs. Vessels with simple perforations. Leaves alternate, simple, and stipulate. Flowers very reduced (no corolla and a reduced calyx), imperfect and borne in unisexual catkins. Seeds tiny and dispersed by means of seed hairs. No endosperm

Salix, Populus, Chosenia, Caesaria, Homalium, Xylosma, Flacourtia, Oncoba, Idesia, Samyda, Dovyalis.
Salix.jpg (272541 bytes) Salix.

Malpigiaceae (Barbados Cherry family):

Byrsonima, Heteropterys, Banisteriopsis, Tetrapterys, Stigmaphyllon, Bunchosia, Aspicarpa, Galphimia, Janusia, Malpighia.

Phyllanthaceae:

Phyllanthus, Glochidion, Antidesma, Cleistanthus, Andrachne, Bischofia, Savia.

Clusiaceae (St-John's-Wort family):

Hypericum, Calophyllum, Garcinia, Clusia, Mammea, Triadenum.

Rhizophoraceae (Red Mangrove family):

Cassipourea, Rhizophora, Bruguiera.

Passifloraceae (Passionflower family):

Passiflora, Adenia, Smeanthmannia, Soyauxia, Barteria, Paropsiopsis, Androsiphonia, Viridivia, Nacistrothyrsus, Hollrungia, Tetrapathaea, Mitostemma, Dilkea, Tryphostemma, Crossostemma, Deidamia, Abatia, Aphaerema.

Achariaceae:

Acharia, Ceratosicyos, Guthriea.

Chrysobalanaceae:

Chrysobalanus, Grangeria, Licania, Parastemon, Bafodeya, Exellodendron, Hunga, Neocarya, Parinari, Acioa, Couepia, Maranthes, Atuna, Dactyladenia, Hirtella, Kostermanthus, Magnistipula.

Picrodendraceae:

Picrodendron, Oldfieldia, Androstachys, Croizatia, Podocalyx, Tetracoccus, Parandrypetes, Hyaenanche, Austrobuxus, Petalostigma, Scagea, Pseudanthus.

Podostemaceae:

Weddellina, Indotristicha, Dalzellia, Tristicha.

Mourera, Tulasneantha, Lonchostephus, Apinagia, Maranthrum, Rhyncholacis, Jenmaniella, Lophogyne, Hydrobryum, Hydrobryopsis, Leiothylax, Crenias, Cladopus, Zeylanidium, Podostemum, Castelnavia, Farmeria.

Putranjivaceae:

Drypetes, Putranjiva.

ORDER FABALES

The monophyly of the order is well-supported by molecular analyses.  Morphological synapomorphies include: vessel elements with single perforations, a large, green embryo, and the presence of ellagic acid.  This order has 4 families and 18,860 species.

FABACEAE (Leguminosae; Legume or Bean family): Trees, shrubs, herbs or vines; very often with root nodules. Vessels simple. Leaves usually alternate and pinnately compound; stipulate. Flowers mostly in racemes, corymbs, spikes or heads. Strongly zygomorphic; 5 sepals; 5 petals. Gynoecium usually a single carpel. Fruit usually dry and dehiscent (a legume). Embryo large and no endosperm

Acacia, Albizia, Calliandra, Inga, Leucaena, Mimosa, Parkia, Pithecellobium, Prosopis, Schrankia.

Bauhinia, Caesalpinia, Chamycrista, Cassia, Cercis, Delonix, Gledistia, Parkinsonia, Senna, Tamarindus, Gymnocladus.

Cladrastis, Sophora, Baptisia, Crotalaria, Lupinus, Medicago, Melilotus, Trifolium, Lotus, Astragalus, Oxytropis, Robinia, Tephrosia, Dalea, Psoralea, Indigofera, Arachis, Desmodium, Lespedeza, Dlabergia, Lathyrus, Lens, Faba, Pisum, Vicia, Glycine, Phaseolus, Pueraria, Rhynchosia, Vigna, Meliotus, Wisteria.
Vigna.jpg (318488 bytes) Vigna.

Polygalaceae (Milkwort family):

Polygala, Monnina, Muraltia, Securidaca.

Surianaceae:

Suriana, Cadellia,Guilfoylia, Stylobasium, Recchia.

ORDER ROSALES 

The monophyly of this group is well-supported by molecular analyses.  Despite its morphological variability, the order may be defined by the following synapomorphies: lack of endosperm, the presence of a hypanthium which was lost in those with highly reduced flowers.  This order has 11 families and 6,300 species.

ROSACEAE (Rose family): Woody or herbaceous. Leaves variable; alternate or opposite; simple or compound; with or without stipules. Stamens numerous. Gynoecium variable; apocarpous or syncarpous. Fruit variable. 

Physocarpus, Neillia, Stephanandra, Spiraea, Pentactina, Sibiraea, Petrophytum, Kelseya, Luetkea, Aruncus, Gillenia, Spiraeanthus, Sorbaria, Chamaebatiaria, Adenostoma, 

Lyonothamnus. Quillaja. Filipendula. Rhodotypos, Kerria, Neviusia. Coelogyne. Rubus. Rosa, Hulthemia. Holodiscus.
Rosa.jpg (336071 bytes) Rosa.

Kageneckia, Vauquelinia, Lindleya, Photinia, Heteromeles, Eriobotrya, Rhaphiolepis, Pyrus, Malus, Sorbus, Chamaemespilus, Cormus, Torminalis, Aronia, Amelanchier, Docyniopsis, Eriolobus, Peraphyllum, Docynia, Cydonia, Pseudocydonia, Chaenomeles, Cotoneaster, Malacomeles, Chamaemeles, Pyrachantha, Crategus, Mespilus, Hesperomeles, Osteomeles.

Adenostoma, Agrimonia, Alchemilla, Dryas, Fallugia, Chamaebatia, Cowania, Purshia, Taihangia, Novosieversia, Sieversia, Waldsteinia, Coluria, Cercocarpus, Frageria, Geum, Kerria, Rhodotypos, Rosa, Rubus, Potentilla, Comarium, Chamaerhodos, Duchesnea, Horkelia, Horkelliella, Ivesia, Sibbaldia, Aphanes, Aremonia, Spenceria, Hagenia, Leucosidea, Sanguisorba, Sarcopoterium, Margyricarpus, Tetraglochin, Acaena, Polylepis, Cliffortia, Bencomia, Potaninia.  Dichotomanthes..

Prunus, Oemleria, Exochorda, Maddenia, Pygeum, Laurocerasus, Padus, Cerasus, Armeniaca, Amygdalus, Prinsepia.

MORACEAE (Mulberry or Fig family): Trees, shrubs, vines or herbs with lactifers in all parenchymatous tissue. Vessels simple. Leaves usually alternate, 2-ranked or spiral; usually simple and stipulate. Flowers unisexual (imperfect).  Sepals (4-5) and an equal number of stamens. Ovulary epigynous or hypogynous, with a single locule. Fruits variable but usually achenes, drupes or nuts as part of a multiple fruit

Morus, Broussonetia, Milicia,  Maclura, Trophis, Streblus, Bleekrodea, Fatoua, Ficus, Artocarpus, Parartocarpus, Treculia, Prainea, Hullettia, Antiaropsis, Sparattosyce, Batocarpus, Bagassa, Sorocea, Clarisia, Poulsenia, Perebea, Maquira,Castilla, Helicostylis, Pseudolmedia, Naucleopsis, Antiaris, Mesogyne, Utsetela, Bosqueiopsis, Helianthostylis, Trymatococcus, Brosimum, Trilepisium,Scyphosyce, Dorstenia.
Ficus.jpg (225922 bytes) Ficus.

Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn family):

Rhamnus, Phylica, Zizyphus, Gouania, Ceanothus, Aldophia, Colubrina, Krugiodendron, Reynosia, Sageretia.

Ulmaceae (Elm family):

Ulmus, Planera.

Celtidaceae (Hackberry or Sugarberry family):

Celtis, Trema.

Urticaceae (Nettle family):

Urtica, Pilea, Elatostema, Boehmeria, Hesperocnide, Laportea, Parietaria, Soleirolia.

Cannabanaceae (Hemp or Hop family):

Cannabis, Humulus.

Cecropiaceae:

Myrianthus, Pourouma, Cecropia, Musanga, Coussapoa, Poikilospermum.

ORDER CUCURBITALES

The members of this order share the characters of epigynous and imperfect flowers, parietal placentation, cucurbitoid tooth type, cucurbitacins (oxidized triterpenes), and separate vascular bundles in the stem.  This order has three families with four more possibly indicated by molecular analyses.

CUCURBITACEAE (Cucumber family): Generally vines with tendrils that coil and arise from the nodes; no stipules; petals fused into a cone. Monoecious or dioecious.  Fruit is a berry, usually modified to a hard outer rind in which case it becomes a pepo.

Citrullus, Ecballium, Lagenaria, Luffa, Momordica, Echinocystis, Cyclanthera, Sicyos, Cucurbita, Cayaponia, Gurania, Sechium, Lagenaria, Ibervillea, Marah, Melothria, Cucumis, Pepo, Fevillea.
Cucurbita.jpg (334574 bytes) Cucurbita.

Begoniaceae (Begonia family):

Begonia, Hilebrandia.

Datiscaceae:

Datisca.

ORDER FAGALES 

The morphological synapomorphies for this order are: imperfect flowers with tepals reduced or missing; usually epigynousStaminate flowers in catkins; plants wind-pollinated. Fruits indehiscent with one seed (usually a nut).

FAGACEAE (Oak or Beech family): Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, simple and pinnately veined. Flowers small and imperfect. Often the staminate flowers are in catkins. Pistillate flowers subtended by an involucre of many