Key to Flowering Families

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