Families
Key to Flowering Families
1. Leaf Venation ____ Parallel …………………………………………………Monocots
A. Ovary Superior:
i. Monocarpellary, Styles two and Stigmas feathery …………………………………………………Poaceae.
ii. Tricarpellary
a. Leaves large, fan-like or pinnately compound
Stigmas not feathery …………………………………………………Palmae.
b. Leaves long narrow,
Perianth colored or white …………………………………………………Liliaceae
B. Ovary Inferior:
i. Stamens with colored (non-green) filaments
Anthers monothecous …………………………………………………Canaceae
ii. Stamens not Colored
Anthers bithecous …………………………………………………Amarylliadaceae
2. Leaf Venation ____ Reticulate …………………………………………………Dicots
A. Flowers with perianth either not prominent or nor differentiated into calyx and corolla.
Bicarpellary (carpels 2) …………………………………………………Chenopodiaceae
Tricarpellary (carpels 3)
B. Flowers with perianth differentiated into calyx and corolla.
1. Polypetalous
One or more free carpels (Apocarpous)
i. Leaves exstipulate …………………………………………………Ranunculaceae
ii. Leaves stipulate
a. Ovary equal to or longer than style
Fruit a legume …………………………………………………Fabaceae
b. Ovary shorter than style
Fruit not a legume …………………………………………………Rosaceae
Carpel united (Syncarpous)
i. Stamens united to form staminal tube …………………………………………………Malvaceae
ii. Stamens united but nor forming staminal tube
a. Ovary superior:
Petals 4 …………………………………………………Crucifera
Petals 5 …………………………………………………Rutaceae
b. Ovary Superior:
Plants climbing herbs …………………………………………………Cucurbitaceae
Plants not climbing herbs …………………………………………………Umbelliferae
Gamopetalous
i. Ovary Superior:
a. Corolla bilabiate …………………………………………………Lamiaceae
b. Corolla not bilabiate …………………………………………………Solanaceae
ii. Ovary Superior:
a. Inflorescence a capitulum …………………………………………………Asteraceae
b. Inflorescence not a capitulum …………………………………………………Caryophyllaceae