BOTANY Chapter 7

88CHAPTER 7: DIVERSITY AND 88CHAPTER 7: DIVERSITY AND CLASSIFICATION OF FLOWERING CLASSIFICATION OF FLOWERING PLANTS

PLANTS

MAJOR ANGIOSPERM CLADES MAJOR ANGIOSPERM CLADES



 APG III system-APG III system- is based on is based on published cladistic analyses published cladistic analyses

primarily utilizing molecular data or primarily utilizing molecular data or a combination of morphological and a combination of morphological and molecular.

molecular. 

 Classifies one toClassifies one to several families into orders ( Ending several families into orders ( Ending in “

in “--ales”).ales”). 

 OrdersOrders can be can be viewed simply as convenient viewed simply as convenient placeholders for one or more placeholders for one or more

families that appear to compromise families that appear to compromise a monophyletic group.

a monophyletic group. 

 Great bulk of Angiosperms in termsGreat bulk of Angiosperms in terms of species are contained within the

of species are contained within the monocots and eudicots.

monocots and eudicots. 

 Monocotyledon- 22% of allMonocotyledon- 22% of all angiosperms

angiosperms 

 Eudicots- 75% of all angiospermsEudicots- 75% of all angiosperms FAMILY DESCRIPTIONS

FAMILY DESCRIPTIONS 

 11stst paragraph contains description paragraph contains description about plant characteristics of the about plant characteristics of the family members (

family members ( root,stem and root,stem and leaf; inflorescence, flower, leaf; inflorescence, flower, perianth)

perianth) 

 22ndnd paragraph lists familial paragraph lists familial classification, distribution and classification, distribution and economically important members economically important members 

 33rdrd paragraph contains the paragraph contains the diagnostic features of the family, diagnostic features of the family, most important diagnostic features most important diagnostic features are shown in

are shown in boldfaboldface ce italitalicic ..



 Floral formulas-Floral formulas- used to used to

summarize the number and fusion summarize the number and fusion of floral parts.

of floral parts. 

 “P”“P”-- refers to perianth parts refers to perianth parts 

 “K”“K”-- represents the represents the numbers of sepal or calyx numbers of sepal or calyx



 “C” –“C” – number of petals or number of petals or corolla lobes

corolla lobes 

 “A”“A”-- Androecium and Androecium and number of stamens

number of stamens 

 “G”“G”-- denotes the denotes the

gynoecium and number of carpels, gynoecium and number of carpels, followed by superior and inferior followed by superior and inferior denoting ovary position

denoting ovary position



“()”“()”-- denotes fusion of floral denotes fusion of floral parts

parts 

“+”“+”-- denotes separation of denotes separation of floral parts

floral parts 

“[]”“[]”-- denotes a less denotes a less common or rare condition common or rare condition

 ““ parts parts AMBORELLALES AMBORELLALES 

 Most basal angiosperm groupMost basal angiosperm group 

 Absence of vessels,Absence of vessels, as an as an ancestral condition

ancestral condition 

 Absence of aromatic oil cellsAbsence of aromatic oil cells AMBORELLACEAE

AMBORELLACEAE 

 Amborella familyAmborella family 

 Single specie,Single specie, Amborella Amborella trichopoda

trichopoda 

 DioeciousDioecious 

 Leaves:Leaves: alternate, spiral to alternate, spiral to distichous, evergreen distichous, evergreen 

 Inflorescence:Inflorescence: axillary cymeaxillary cyme 

 Flowers:Flowers: unisexual, unisexual, actinomorphic actinomorphic 

 Perianth:Perianth: 5-8, spiral, distinct 5-8, spiral, distinct 

 Stamens:Stamens: are numerous in are numerous in males

males 

 Anthers:Anthers: longitudinal longitudinal dehiscence

dehiscence 

 Gynoecium-Gynoecium- 5-6, superior 5-6, superior 

 Placentation:Placentation: marginal marginal 

 Ovule:Ovule: solitary solitary 



*The Amborellaceae are *The Amborellaceae are distinctive in being

distinctive in being vessellessvesselless,,

evergreen

evergreen shrubs withshrubs with

unisexual

unisexual flowers having anflowers having an

undifferentiated 

undifferentiated ,, s s pirpir alal

perianth,

perianth,numerousnumerous,,laminarlaminar

stamens, and an

stamens, and an apocarpousapocarpous,,

apically-open

apically-open gynoecium, withgynoecium, with

1-ovuled

1-ovuledcarpels.carpels. Male flowers: Male flowers: PP 55 – –88 AA ∞.∞. Female flowers: Female flowers: PP 55 – –88 GG 55 – –6,6, superior. superior. NYMPHALES NYMPHALES NYMPHACEAE NYMPHACEAE ”



Water lily familyWater lily family 

Aquatic with a milky latex oftenAquatic with a milky latex often present

present 

Stems:Stems: underground, rhizomatousunderground, rhizomatous 

Leaves:Leaves: simple, often peltate,, simple, often peltate,, floating

floating 

Inflorescence:Inflorescence: solitary, emergent solitary, emergent flower

flower 

Flowers:Flowers: bisexual, actinomorphic bisexual, actinomorphic with long peduncles arising from the with long peduncles arising from the underground stem

underground stem 

Perianth:Perianth: differentiated into calyx or differentiated into calyx or corolla

corolla 

Calyx-Calyx- 4-6 separate sepals 4-6 separate sepals 

Corolla-Corolla- 8-many separate petals 8-many separate petals 

Stamens:Stamens: numerous, spiral, numerous, spiral, apostemonous

apostemonous 

Gynoecium-Gynoecium- is syncarpous with is syncarpous with either superior

either superior or inferior or inferior ovaryovary 

Fruit-Fruit- berry berry

*The Nymphaeaceae are *The Nymphaeaceae are

distinguished from related families in distinguished from related families in being

beingaquaticaquatic herbs withherbs with floating floating

leaves and

leaves and s s olitary olitary ,, floating  floating toto emergent

emergent flowers with mostlyflowers with mostly s s pirpir alal

floral parts and petals

floral parts and petals g g radirading ng inintoto us

us ualually laly laminarminarstamens.stamens.

K K 44 – –6 [6 [ – –14]14] CC 88 –∞ [0] –∞ [0]AA ∞∞GG (3(3 –∞), –∞), superior or inferior. superior or inferior. AUSTROBAILEYALES AUSTROBAILEYALES IILICIACEAE IILICIACEAE 

 Star anise familyStar anise family 

 Consist of trees and shrubs withConsist of trees and shrubs with aromatic oil cells

aromatic oil cells 

 Leaves:Leaves: simple, spiral, evergreensimple, spiral, evergreen and glabrous

and glabrous 

 Inflorescence:Inflorescence: axillary or supra- axillary or supra-axillary,solitary flower or group of axillary,solitary flower or group of 2 or 3 flowers

2 or 3 flowers 

 Flowers:Flowers: small, bisexual small, bisexual 

 Perianth:Perianth: distinct tepals (7-33) distinct tepals (7-33) 

 Stamens:Stamens: few to numerous (4- few to numerous (4-50)

50) 

 Anthers:Anthers: longitudinal dehiscence longitudinal dehiscence 

 Gynoecium:Gynoecium: separate (5- separate (5-21),superior ovary

21),superior ovary 

 Style:Style: open open 

 Placentation:Placentation: Ventrally subbasal Ventrally subbasal



 Ovules:Ovules: anatropous anatropous 

 Fruit:Fruit: aggregate of follicles aggregate of follicles 

 Seeds:Seeds: endospermous endospermous

The Illiciaceae are distinctive in The Illiciaceae are distinctive in being

beingevergreenevergreen trees or shrubstrees or shrubs having

havingaromaaromatic tic oil coil c ellellss, with, with glabrous, spiral,

glabrous, spiral, pelluci pellucid- d- punc

 punc tattatee,,exstipulateexstipulateleaves,leaves, the flowers with

the flowers withnumerousnumerous,,

 s

 s pirpir alaltepals (outer sepal-like,tepals (outer sepal-like, inner petal-like), few-numerous inner petal-like), few-numerous stamens, and few-numerous, stamens, and few-numerous,

one-seeded 

one-seeded ,,apocarpousapocarpouspistilspistils

in a sing

in a sing le le whorlwhorl, the fruit a, the fruit a

 follic  follicetumetum.. P P ∞ [7–∞ [7–33]33] AA ∞ [4–∞ [4–50]50] GG ∞ [5–∞ [5– 21], superior. 21], superior. MAGNOLIIDS MAGNOLIIDS LAURALES LAURALES LAURACEAE LAURACEAE 

 Laurel familyLaurel family 

 Tree or shrubs withTree or shrubs with aromatic oil glands aromatic oil glands 

 Leaves:Leaves: evergreen,evergreen, simple,

simple, 

 Inflorescence:Inflorescence: axillary axillary cyme, rarely a solitary cyme, rarely a solitary flower

flower 

 Flowers:Flowers: small, bisexual small, bisexual or unisexual

or unisexual 

 Perianth:Perianth: 1-3 whorled 1-3 whorled 

 Stamens:Stamens: 3-12 or more 3-12 or more 

 Gynoecium:Gynoecium: single single superior

superior 

 Fruit:Fruit:berry, drupeberry, drupe The Lauraceae are The Lauraceae are distinguished in being distinguished in being

 perenn

 perennial trees orial trees or  s

 s hrhrubsubs [rarely vines] with[rarely vines] with

aroma

aromatic oitic oi l gl g lalandsnds,,

eve

evergrg reenereeneaavesves , , aann undifferentiated undifferentiated  peri

 perianth, valvularanth, valvular ant

anther dehisher dehis - cence,- cence, a

and a singnd a sing lele, s, s upeuperiorrior ova

ovary ry hahaving ving one ovuleone ovule  per carpel with apic  per carpel with apic alal  placentat

 placentationion, s, s eedseeds la

P

P 3+3 [6, 2+2, or 3+3+3]3+3 [6, 2+2, or 3+3+3] A

A 33 – –12+12+ GG 1 [1 [ – –(3)],(3)], superior, rarely inferior, superior, rarely inferior, hypanthium present. hypanthium present. PIPERALES PIPERALES ARISTOLOCHIACEAE ARISTOLOCHIACEAE 

 Birthwort familyBirthwort family 

 Hermaphroditic shrubs, vinesHermaphroditic shrubs, vines 

 Leaves:Leaves: simplesimple 

 Inflorescence:Inflorescence: solitary flower solitary flower or terminal or lateral racemes or terminal or lateral racemes 

 Flowers:Flowers: bisexual, bisexual, actinomorphic actinomorphic 

 Perianth:Perianth: three lobed, three lobed, synsepalous

synsepalous 

 Coralla:Coralla: absent, of 3 petals absent, of 3 petals 

 Stamen:Stamen: 6-40 free or fused 6-40 free or fused 

 Gynoecium:Gynoecium: syncarpous, syncarpous, inferior or half-inferior inferior or half-inferior The Aristolochiaceae are The Aristolochiaceae are distinguished in being usually distinguished in being usually

climbing

climbing plants, having anplants, having an

enlarged 

enlarged ,, peta petaloidloidcalyx, ancalyx, an

ab

abss ent to reducedent to reducedcorolla,corolla, often adnate stamens (forming often adnate stamens (forming a

a g g ynoynoss temiumtemium), and an), and an

inferior to s

inferior to s upeuperior rior ,, 3 3 – –6- 6-carpeled and loculed

carpeled and loculed ovary.ovary.

K K (3)(3) CC 0 [3]0 [3] AA 66 –∞, usu. –∞, usu. adnate to style adnate to style GG (3(3 – –6),6), inferior, half-inferior, or inferior, half-inferior, or superior. superior. PIPERACEAE PIPERACEAE 

 Pepper familyPepper family 

 Herbs, shrubs, vines and treesHerbs, shrubs, vines and trees 

 Leaves:Leaves: spiral,simple, stipulatespiral,simple, stipulate 

 Inflorescence:Inflorescence: spike or spadix spike or spadix 

 Flowers:Flowers: very small, bisexual or very small, bisexual or unisexual

unisexual 

 Perianth:Perianth: absent absent 

 Stamens:Stamens: 3+3 [1-10] 3+3 [1-10] 

 Anthers:Anthers: longitudinally dehiscent, longitudinally dehiscent, dithecal

dithecal 

 Gynoecium:Gynoecium: single pistil with single pistil with superior ovary

superior ovary



 Style:Style: absent or solitary absent or solitary 

 Stigmas:Stigmas: 1 or 3-4 1 or 3-4 

 Placentation:Placentation: basal basal 

 Ovules:Ovules: orthotropous orthotropous 

 Fruit:Fruit: 1-seeded berry or drupe 1-seeded berry or drupe 

 Seeds:Seeds: starchy perisperm starchy perisperm

The Piperaceae are distinctive in The Piperaceae are distinctive in having an

having anatactostelicatactostelicstem, astem, a

 s

 s pikpik e or se or spadixpadix withwithnumerousnumerous,,

very s

very s mamallll,,unisexual orunisexual or bisexual

bisexual flowersflowerslackinglacking aa

perianth, the ovary solitary, perianth, the ovary solitary, 1-ovu-late, the fruit a

late, the fruit a 1-s1-s eeeeded beded berrrr y ory or drupe drupe.. P P 00 AA 3+3 [13+3 [1 – –10]10] GG 1 or (3,4),1 or (3,4), superior. superior. SAURURACEAE SAURURACEAE 

 Lizard’s tail familyLizard’s tail family 

 Perennial herbsPerennial herbs 

 Leaves:Leaves: simple, spiral and stipulatesimple, spiral and stipulate 

 Inflorescence:Inflorescence: bracteates spike or bracteates spike or raceme

raceme 

 Flowers:Flowers: bisexual bisexual 

 Perianth:Perianth: absent absent 

 Stamens:Stamens: 3, 3+3, or 4+4, separate 3, 3+3, or 4+4, separate 

 Gynoecium:Gynoecium:  syncarpous  syncarpous 

 Styles:Styles: 3-5 3-5 

 Placentation:Placentation: parietal parietal 

 Ovules:Ovules: orthotropous orthotropous 

 Fruit:Fruit: apically dehiscent capsule apically dehiscent capsule 

 Seeds:Seeds: perispermous perispermous

MONOCOTYLEDONS MONOCOTYLEDONS

MONOCOT APOMORPHIES: MONOCOT APOMORPHIES:

1.

1. Sieve tube plastidsSieve tube plastids proteinaceous/ proteinaceous/ cuneate-unknown adaptive significance unknown adaptive significance 2.

2. Vasculature atactostelic-Vasculature atactostelic-consists of two or more rings consists of two or more rings appear to be randomly organized appear to be randomly organized but are actually highly complex, but are actually highly complex, NO MONOCOT HAS A TRUE NO MONOCOT HAS A TRUE VASCULAR CAMBIUM

VASCULAR CAMBIUM 3.

3. Leaf venation parallelLeaf venation parallel 4.

ACORALES ACORALES

ACORACEAE ACORACEAE



 Most basal monocotMost basal monocot 

 Sweet flag familySweet flag family 

 Stems:Stems: rhizomatousrhizomatous 

 Leaves:Leaves: ensiform ensiform 

 Inflorescence:Inflorescence: terminal spadix terminal spadix borne on a leaf like peduncle borne on a leaf like peduncle 

 Flower:Flower: bisexual, bisexual, actinomorphic, sessile actinomorphic, sessile 

 Perianth:Perianth: biseriate, 3+3 biseriate, 3+3 distinct petals

distinct petals 

 Stamens:Stamens: biseriate, 3+3 biseriate, 3+3 apostemonous

apostemonous 

 Anthers:Anthers: longitudinal and longitudinal and introse

introse 

 Gynoecium:Gynoecium: syncarpous, syncarpous, superior ovary, 3 carpels , superior ovary, 3 carpels , 2-3 locules

3 locules 

 Placentation:Placentation: apical-axile apical-axile 

 Ovules:Ovules: are numerous per are numerous per carpel

carpel 

 Fruit:Fruit: 1-5 [-9] seeded berry 1-5 [-9] seeded berry The Acoraceae are distinctive The Acoraceae are distinctive in being

in beingmarshmarsh plants with aplants with a

 s

 s padixpadix andand s s pathepathe

(resembling Araceae) but (resembling Araceae) but having

havingdistichousdistichous,,ensiformensiform,,

unifacial

unifacial leaves,leaves,

 peri

 periss permous permous andand endospermous

endospermous seeds, andseeds, and

ethereal oil cells

ethereal oil cells, and in, and in

la

lackicki ng ng raphide raphide crycry ss tatalsls..

P P 3+33+3 AA 3+33+3 GG (2(2 – –3) superior.3) superior. ALISMATALES ALISMATALES ARACEAE ARACEAE 

 Arum familyArum family 

 Terrestrial or aquatic shrubsTerrestrial or aquatic shrubs 

 Roots:Roots: mycorrhizal, without rootmycorrhizal, without root hairs

hairs 

 Stems:Stems: rhizomatous, cormose, rhizomatous, cormose, tuberous

tuberous 

 Leaves:Leaves: simple, bifacial simple, bifacial 

 Inflorescence:Inflorescence: terminal, many terminal, many flowered spadix

flowered spadix



 FlowersFlowers: small, bisexual or: small, bisexual or unisexual, sessile

unisexual, sessile 

 PerianthPerianth: biseriate and 2+2 or: biseriate and 2+2 or 3+3 [4+4]

3+3 [4+4] 

 Stamens:Stamens: 4,6 or 8[1-12]4,6 or 8[1-12] 

 Gynoecium:Gynoecium: syncarpous, syncarpous, superior ovary

superior ovary 

 Fruit:Fruit: multiple of berriesmultiple of berries 

 Seeds:Seeds:oily, endospermous,oily, endospermous, fleshy seed coat

fleshy seed coat

The Araceae are distinguished The Araceae are distinguished from related families in having from related families in having

bifacial

bifacialleaves withleaves with paralle parallel orl or netted

nettedvenation, usu- ally avenation, usu- ally a

 s

 s padixpadix of numerous, smallof numerous, small flowers with a subtending

flowers with a subtending s s pathepathe,,

endospermous

endospermous seeds, andseeds, and

raphide

raphide crycry ss tatalsls

P P 2+2,3+3,(2+2),(3+3) or 02+2,3+3,(2+2),(3+3) or 0 [4+4,(4+4)] [4+4,(4+4)] AA 4,6,8 or (4,6,8) [14,6,8 or (4,6,8) [1 – – 12] 12] GG (3) [1(3) [1 –(∞)] superior. –(∞)] superior. LILIALES LILIALES LILIACEAE LILIACEAE 

 Lily familyLily family 

 Perennial herbsPerennial herbs 

 Roots:Roots: ContractileContractile 

 Stems:Stems: Bulbous, rhizomatousBulbous, rhizomatous 

 Leaves:Leaves: basal or cauline basal or cauline 

 Inflorescence:Inflorescence: terminal raceme, ofterminal raceme, of a solitary flower

a solitary flower 

 Flowers:Flowers: bisexual, actinomorphic bisexual, actinomorphic 

 Perianth:Perianth: biseriate and 3+3, biseriate and 3+3, homochlamydeous

homochlamydeous 

 Stamens:Stamens: 3+3, whorled 3+3, whorled 

 Anthers:Anthers: peltately attached to thepeltately attached to the filament

filament 

 GynoeciumGynoecium: syncarpous, superior: syncarpous, superior ovary

ovary 

 StyleStyle: solitary: solitary 

 Stigmas:Stigmas: are 3-lobed or 3-crest are 3-lobed or 3-crest 

 Placentation:Placentation: axile axile 

 Fruit:Fruit: loculicidal loculicidal 

 Seeds:Seeds: flat discoid or ellipsoid flat discoid or ellipsoid The Liliaceae are characterized in The Liliaceae are characterized in being

being perenn perennialial,, usus ualually bulbly bulbousous herbs

herbs,,lalackck ing ing an oan onion-like odor nion-like odor ,, with basal or cau- line leaves, the with basal or cau- line leaves, the inflorescence a

inflorescence aracemeraceme,,umbel orumbel or of s

of s olitolitary flary flowersowers with awith a superiorsuperior ovary

P

P 3+33+3 AA 33 GG (3),(3), s s uperiuperi or or  . .

ASPARAGALES ASPARAGALES AGAVECEAE AGAVECEAE



 Agave familyAgave family 

 Perennial shrubs or subshrubsPerennial shrubs or subshrubs 

 Stems:Stems: are a acaulescent caudexare a acaulescent caudex 

 Leaves:Leaves: parallelveined, parallelveined, xeromorphic

xeromorphic 

 Inflorescence:Inflorescence: panicle, raceme panicle, raceme 

 Flowers:Flowers: bisexual bisexual 

 Perianth:Perianth: biseriate of 3+3 tepals biseriate of 3+3 tepals 

 Stamens:Stamens: 6, distinct, filaments 6, distinct, filaments long and thin to short and thick long and thin to short and thick 

 Anthers:Anthers: dorsifixed, versatile dorsifixed, versatile 

 Gynoecium:Gynoecium: syncarpous with syncarpous with superior or inferior ovary superior or inferior ovary 

 Style:Style: solitary solitary 

 Stigmas:Stigmas: solitary or 3 lobed solitary or 3 lobed 

 Placentation:Placentation: axile axile 

 Ovules:Ovules: anatropous, bitegmic anatropous, bitegmic 

 Nectaries:Nectaries: present present

The Agavaceae are distinctive in The Agavaceae are distinctive in being

being perenn perennialialsub- shrubs tosub- shrubs to branched trees with spiral, branched trees with spiral,

 x

 xeromoreromorphiphi c c ,, g g enerally fibrenerally fibr ousous

leaves, trimerous

leaves, trimerous hypogynous hypogynous toto epigynous

epigynousflowers, and possiblyflowers, and possibly apomorphic

apomorphicdimorphicdimorphic chromosomes

chromosomes(base number(base number with 5 long and 25 short with 5 long and 25 short chromosomes).

chromosomes). P

P 3+33+3 AA 66 GG (3), superior or(3), superior or inferior, hypanthium in some. inferior, hypanthium in some. ALLIACEAE

ALLIACEAE 

 Onion familyOnion family 

 Biennial or perennial herbsBiennial or perennial herbs 

 Stems:Stems: acaulescent and usually a acaulescent and usually a bulb

bulb 

 Leaves:Leaves: simple, basal, spiral\ simple, basal, spiral\ 

 Inflorescence:Inflorescence: terminal, scapose terminal, scapose umbel

umbel 

 Flowers:Flowers: bisexual, actinomorphic, bisexual, actinomorphic, pedicellate

pedicellate 

 Perianth:Perianth: biseriate, distinct to biseriate, distinct to connate tepals, a corona connate tepals, a corona sometimes present sometimes present



 Stamens:Stamens: 3+3 [rarely 3 or 2 with 3+3 [rarely 3 or 2 with staminodes]

staminodes] 

 Anthers:Anthers: versatile, longitudinal versatile, longitudinal and introrose

and introrose 

 Gynoecium:Gynoecium: syncarpous, syncarpous, superior ovary

superior ovary 

 Style:Style: solitary, terminal solitary, terminal 

 Stigma:Stigma: solitary, trilobedsolitary, trilobed 

 Placentation:Placentation: axile axile 

 Ovules:Ovules: campylotropous to campylotropous to anatropous

anatropous 

 Septal nectaries:Septal nectaries: present present 

 Fruit:Fruit: loculicidal capsule loculicidal capsule 

 Seeds:Seeds: black, ovoid, ellipsoid black, ovoid, ellipsoid The Alliaceae are distinctive in The Alliaceae are distinctive in being generally

being generally bulbulbous bous herbsherbs,, with

withbasalbasal, usually, usuallynarrownarrow

leaves, an

leaves, an umbellateumbellateinflo- inflo-rescence, and a usually

rescence, and a usually s s uperuperiorior ovary  ovary .. P P 3+33+3 AA 3+3 [3,2]3+3 [3,2] GG (3), superior(3), superior [rarely half-inferior]. [rarely half-inferior]. ASPHODELACEAE ASPHODELACEAE 

 Aloe familyAloe family 

 HerbsHerbs 

 Roots:Roots: succulent, with velamen succulent, with velamen 

 Stems:Stems: anomalous secondary anomalous secondary growth

growth 

 Leaves:Leaves: succulent, simple, spiral succulent, simple, spiral 

 Inflorescence:Inflorescence: raceme or panicle raceme or panicle 

 Flowers:Flowers: bisexual, actinomorphic, bisexual, actinomorphic, pedicellate

pedicellate 

 Perianth:Perianth: biseriate biseriate 

 Stamens:Stamens: 3+3, distinct 3+3, distinct 

 Anthers:Anthers: dorsifixed to basifixed dorsifixed to basifixed 

 Gynoecium:Gynoecium: syncarpous, superior syncarpous, superior ovary, 3 carpels and 3 locules ovary, 3 carpels and 3 locules 

 Placentation:Placentation: axile axile 

 Ovules:Ovules: 2 to numerous per carpel 2 to numerous per carpel 

 Septal nectaries:Septal nectaries: present present 

 Fruit:Fruit: loculicidal capsule loculicidal capsule 

 Seeds:Seeds: aril present aril present The Asphodelaceae are The Asphodelaceae are

distinguished from related taxa in distinguished from related taxa in being

beingherbsherbs oror pachy pachycaulouscaulous trees

trees with leaves usuallywith leaves usually

 s

 s uccucc ulent ulent , flowers trimerous with a, flowers trimerous with a superior ovary, and the seeds superior ovary, and the seeds

arillate arillate..

P P 3+3 or (3+3)3+3 or (3+3) AA 3+33+3 GG (3),(3), superior. superior. ORHCIDACEAE ORHCIDACEAE 

 Orchid familyOrchid family 

 Terrestrial or epiphyticTerrestrial or epiphytic perennial herbs

perennial herbs 

 Roots:Roots: tuberous or aerial, tuberous or aerial, multilayered velamen multilayered velamen 

 Stems:Stems: rhizomatous in rhizomatous in

terrestrial species, the epiphytic terrestrial species, the epiphytic species with

species with pseudobulbspseudobulbs 

 Inflorescence:Inflorescence: raceme,raceme, panicle,spike or solitary panicle,spike or solitary 

 Flowers:Flowers: bisexual, rarely bisexual, rarely unisexual

unisexual 

 Perianth:Perianth: biseriate, 3+3, biseriate, 3+3, apotepalous or basally apotepalous or basally syntepalous, with enlarge syntepalous, with enlarge saclike tepal.

saclike tepal. 

 Labellum-Labellum- inner median, inner median, anterior tepal

anterior tepal 

 Stamen:Stamen: solitary solitary 

 Gynostemium-Gynostemium- androecium is androecium is fused with the style and stigma fused with the style and stigma 

 Anthers:Anthers: longitudinally or longitudinally or modified in dehiscence modified in dehiscence 

 Pollen:Pollen: tetrad units but may be tetrad units but may be monads

monads 

 Gynoecium:Gynoecium: syncarpous, syncarpous, inferior ovary

inferior ovary 

 Rostellum-Rostellum- single enlarged single enlarged lobed, component of the lobed, component of the gynostemium

gynostemium 

 Placentation:Placentation: parietal or axileparietal or axile 

 Ovules:Ovules: anatropous, bitegmic, anatropous, bitegmic, numerous per carpel

numerous per carpel 

 Nectaries:Nectaries: present present 

 Fruit:Fruit: loculicidal capsule rarely loculicidal capsule rarely a berry

a berry 

 Seeds:Seeds: membranous-winged membranous-winged 

 Pollination:Pollination: insect and birds, insect and birds, also wind pollination

also wind pollination

The Orchidaceae are distinctive The Orchidaceae are distinctive in consisting of

in consisting ofmycorrhizalmycorrhizal,, mostly perennial,

mostly perennial,terrestriterrestri al al oror epiphytic

epiphyticherbs havingherbs having trimerous, often

trimerous, oftenresupinateresupinate

flowers with a showy

flowers with a showy labellumlabellum,, the

theandroecium andandroecium and  g

 g ynoynoeciecium aum adnatednate(termed a(termed a

column

column,, g g ynynosos tegtegiuiumm, or, or

 g

 g ynynosos temiumtemium), the pollen), the pollen grains often fused into 1 grains often fused into 1 – – several masses (

several masses ( pollini pollini aa),), bearing a sticky-tipped stalk, bearing a sticky-tipped stalk, pollinia and stalk termed a pollinia and stalk termed a

 pollinar

 pollinariuiumm, which is the unit, which is the unit of pollen dispersal during of pollen dispersal during pollination.

pollination.

P

P (3+3)(3+3) AA 11 – –3, when 1 a3, when 1 a pollinarium

pollinarium GG (3), inferior, with(3), inferior, with gynostemium.

gynostemium.

COMMELINIDS COMMELINIDS



 Monophyletic assemblage ofMonophyletic assemblage of monocots

monocots 

 Characterized by an apparentCharacterized by an apparent chemical apomorphy, the presence chemical apomorphy, the presence of

of organic acidsorganic acids that impregnate that impregnate the cell walls.

the cell walls. 

 These acids are UV-fluorescentThese acids are UV-fluorescent ARECALES

ARECALES ARACEAE ARACEAE



 Palm familyPalm family 

 Perennial treesPerennial trees 

 Plant sex is variablePlant sex is variable 

 Secondary growth is absentSecondary growth is absent 

 Roots:Roots: mycorrhizal, lacks rootmycorrhizal, lacks root hairs

hairs 

 Stem:Stem: Arborescent, singleArborescent, single unbranced trunk

unbranced trunk 

 Leaves:Leaves: typically large, generally typically large, generally terminal, spiral, pseudopetiole terminal, spiral, pseudopetiole 

 Inflorescence:Inflorescence: axillary, axillary, bracteates panicle or spike bracteates panicle or spike 

 Flowers:Flowers: unisexual or bisexual, unisexual or bisexual, sessile

sessile 

 Perianth:Perianth: biseriate, biseriate,

homochlamydous, 3+3 [0,2+2, homochlamydous, 3+3 [0,2+2, numerous]

numerous] 

 Stamens:Stamens: 3+3 [3 or numerous] 3+3 [3 or numerous] 

 Anthers:Anthers: longitudinal, rarely longitudinal, rarely poricidal in dehiscence poricidal in dehiscence 

 Gynoecium:Gynoecium: syncarpous or syncarpous or apocarpous, with superior ovary apocarpous, with superior ovary 

 Placentation:Placentation: variable; ovules variable; ovules are variable in type, bitegmic and are variable in type, bitegmic and 1 per locule



 Fruit:Fruit: fleshy or fibrous, usually a fleshy or fibrous, usually a drupe or berry [rarely dehiscent or drupe or berry [rarely dehiscent or pyrene]

pyrene] 

 Seeds:Seeds: 1 [-10] 1 [-10]

The Arecaceae are distinctive in The Arecaceae are distinctive in having a rhizomatous, lianous, or having a rhizomatous, lianous, or usually

usuallyarborescentarborescent stem, withstem, with large, sheathing,

large, sheathing, plic plic ateateleaves, aleaves, a

 fles

 fles hy hy ,,usus ualually drupaly drupaceousceous fruit,fruit, and seeds lacking starch. The and seeds lacking starch. The plicate leaf posture and

plicate leaf posture and drupaceous fruit are likely drupaceous fruit are likely apomorphies for the family. apomorphies for the family.

P

P 3+3 [0,2+2,∞]3+3 [0,2+2,∞] AA 3+3 or (3+3)3+3 or (3+3) [3,∞; 0 in female flowers]

[3,∞; 0 in female flowers] GG 3 or3 or (3) [1,2,4

(3) [1,2,4 –∞; 0 –∞; 0 in male flowers], in male flowers], superior.

superior.

ZINGIBERALES ZINGIBERALES



 Commonly called gingers andCommonly called gingers and banana

banana 

 Monophyletic group of 8 familiesMonophyletic group of 8 families APOMORPHIES OF ZINGIBERALES: APOMORPHIES OF ZINGIBERALES:

1.

1. Leaves penni-parallel, with airLeaves penni-parallel, with air chambers

chambers 2.

2. Superovulate ptyxisSuperovulate ptyxis 3.

3. Silica cellsSilica cells 4.

4. Inferior ovaryInferior ovary MUSACEAE

MUSACEAE 

 Banana familyBanana family 

 Monoecious, perennial herbsMonoecious, perennial herbs 

 Stems:Stems: subterraneansubterranean 

 Leaves:Leaves: large, basal, spiral, large, basal, spiral,

sheathing, petiole (lacks in Ensete) sheathing, petiole (lacks in Ensete) 

 Inflorescence:Inflorescence: Terminal thyrseTerminal thyrse 

 Flowers:Flowers: ebracteate, unisexual ebracteate, unisexual 

 Perianth:Perianth: biseriate and biseriate and homochlamydeous, 3+3, homochlamydeous, 3+3, syntepalous

syntepalous 

 Stamens:Stamens: apostemonous apostemonous 

 Gynoecium:Gynoecium: Syncarpous, inferiorSyncarpous, inferior ovary

ovary 

 Fruit:Fruit: berry berry 

 Seeds:Seeds: endospermous endospermous

The Musaceae are distinguished The Musaceae are distinguished from related families of the from related families of the

Zingiberales in having a

Zingiberales in having a s s pirpir alalleafleaf arrangement and

arrangement and monoeciousmonoecious

plant sex. plant sex. P P (3+3)(3+3) AA 5-65-6 GG (3), inferior.(3), inferior. ZINGIBERACEAE ZINGIBERACEAE 

 Ginger familyGinger family 

 Perennial herbsPerennial herbs 

 Stems:Stems: rhizomatous andrhizomatous and sympodial

sympodial 

 Leaves:Leaves: distichous, simple, distichous, simple, sheathing

sheathing 

 Inflorescence:Inflorescence: bracteates spike, bracteates spike, raceme

raceme 

 Flowers:Flowers: bisexual, zygomorphic bisexual, zygomorphic 

 Perianth:Perianth: biseriate and biseriate and homochlamydeous homochlamydeous 

 Stamens:Stamens: 1 fertile 1 fertile 

 Gynoecium:Gynoecium: syncarpous, inferior syncarpous, inferior ovary, 3 carpels

ovary, 3 carpels 

 Ovules:Ovules: anatropous, bitegmic, anatropous, bitegmic, numerous per carpel

numerous per carpel 

 Fruit:Fruit: dry or fleshy dry or fleshy 

 Seed:Seed: arillate, starch rich arillate, starch rich The Zingiberaceae are The Zingiberaceae are

distinguished from related families distinguished from related families of the Zingiberales in having of the Zingiberales in having

distichous

distichous,,usually ligulateusually ligulate

leaves with a

leaves with a s in singg lele,,dithecaldithecal

stamen and a

stamen and a petal petaloid labelloid labellumum derived fr

derived fr om tom two swo s tataminodesminodes.. P P (3+3)(3+3) AA 1 fertile + 2 + (2)1 fertile + 2 + (2) petaloid staminodes petaloid staminodes GG (3),(3), inferior. inferior. CANNACEAE CANNACEAE 

 Canna-Lily familyCanna-Lily family 

 Perennial herbsPerennial herbs 

 Stems:Stems: rhizomatous andrhizomatous and sympodial

sympodial 

 Leaves:Leaves: distichous distichous 

 Inflorescence:Inflorescence: bracteates thyrse bracteates thyrse 

 Flowers:Flowers: bisexual, asymmetric, bisexual, asymmetric, epigynous

epigynous 

 Perianth:Perianth: biseriate biseriate 

 Stamens:Stamens: 1 fertile 1 fertile 

 Gynoecium:Gynoecium: Syncarpous, inferior Syncarpous, inferior ovary

ovary 

 Fruit:Fruit: capsule capsule 

The Cannaceae are distinguished The Cannaceae are distinguished from related families of the

from related families of the Zingiberales in having usually Zingiberales in having usually

distichous

distichousleaves and flowersleaves and flowers with

withone petaloid one petaloid ,,monothecalmonothecal

stamen associated with

stamen associated with 11 – –4 [5]4 [5]  peta

 petaloid sloid s tamtamininodesodes.. P

P 3+33+3 AA 1, petaloid & monothecal1, petaloid & monothecal + 1

+ 1 – –4 petaloid stamin- odes4 petaloid stamin- odes GG (3),(3), inferior.