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Dicotyledoneae Dicots; Dicotyledonae; Angiosperms; Flowering plants; Flowers; Fruits; Seeds; Vascular plants; Magnoliophyta; Magnoliopsida

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Higher taxa:  Life   Plantae   IDnature guides: Brassicaceae, Dicotyledoneae, Groups_Plantae, Hawaii_flora, Lauraceae, MYI, Neotropical_flora, North_American_Invasives, PA_BCI_Plantae, PA_BCI_Plantae_leaf, Plants_Chicago, Plants_Georgia_Clarke, POPA_USGA, Taiwan_Dicotyledoneae, Trees, Weeds, Wildflowers Overview Kinds in North America -- listed by family Identification Phylogeny Geographic distribution Links to other sites Acknowledgements Missouri Botanical Garden We parsed the following live from the Web into this page. Such content is managed by its original site and not cached on Discover Life. Please send feedback and corrections directly to the source. See original regarding copyrights and terms of use. Image, Flora.cyberia Ari Kornfeld

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© John Pickering, 2006-2009 azalea	© John Pickering, 2006-2009 Cercis canadensis
© John Pickering, 2006-2009 Halesia carolina	© John Pickering, 2006-2009 Hedyotis caerulea
© John Pickering, 2006-2009 Magnolia grandiflora

Kinds

Acanthaceae -- Acanthi, Acanthus Family, Acanthus Aceraceae -- Maples, Maple Family, Maple Achariaceae Achatocarpaceae Actinidiaceae -- Chinese Gooseberries Adoxaceae -- Moschatels, Moschatel Aextoxicaceae Aizoaceae -- Fig-marigolds, Fig-Marigolds, Fig marigold Akaniaceae Alangiaceae Alseuosmiaceae Alzateaceae -- Alzateas Amaranthaceae -- Amaranths, Pigweeds, Amaranth Amborellaceae Anacardiaceae -- Cashews, Sumacs, Cashews or Sumacs, Sumac Family, Cashew, Poison ivy Ancistrocladaceae Anisophylleaceae Annonaceae -- Annonas, Custard-apples, Custard Apples, Custard Apple, Pawpaws Aphloiaceae Apiaceae -- Carrots, Chervils, Goutweed, Nondolovage, Parslies, Rattlesnake-master, Water-hemlock, Carrot Family, Carrot Apocynaceae -- Dogbanes, Dogbane Family, Dogbane, Oleander, Periwinkle Aquifoliaceae -- Hollies, Holly Araliaceae -- Ginseng, Ginsengs, Ginseng Family Aristolochiaceae -- Birthworts, Dutchmans-pipe, Virginia snakefoot, Wild ginger, Birthwort Asclepiadaceae -- Milkweeds, Angle-pod, Milkweed Family, Milkweed Asteraceae -- Sunflowers, Asters, Composites, English daisy, Ox-eye daisy, Blazingstars, Blazing-stars, Sunflower Family, Aster Asteropeiaceae Austrobaileyaceae Balanopaceae Balanophoraceae -- Balanophora, Balanophoras Balsaminaceae -- Balsams, Impatiens, Touch-me-nots, Touch-me-not Barbeyaceae Barclayaceae Basellaceae -- Madeira vines, Libato, Basella, Spinach, Ulluco, Ullucus Bataceae -- Turtleweed, Saltworts, Saltwort Begoniaceae -- Begonias, Begonia Berberidaceae -- Barberries, Barberry Family, Barberry Betulaceae -- Birches, Birch, Alders Bignoniaceae -- Bignonias, Cross vines, Trumpet-creepers, Trumpet-flowers, Trumpet vines, Trumpet Creeper Family, Bignonia Bixaceae -- Lipstick-trees, Lipstick Trees, Lipstick Tree Bombacaceae -- Kapoks, Kapok Tree Boraginaceae -- Borages, Wild comfrey, Borage, Sandpaper tree Brassicaceae -- Mustards, Bittercresses, Garden-cress, Shepherds purse, Mustard or Crucifer Family, Mustard Bretschneideraceae Brunelliaceae -- Tall Trees Bruniaceae Brunoniaceae Buddlejaceae -- Butterfly bushes Burseraceae -- Frankincense, Frankincenses, Burseras Buxaceae -- Allegheny spurge, Box, Boxwood, Pachysandra, Boxwoods Byblidaceae Cabombaceae -- Water-Shields, Water Shield Family, Water-shields Cactaceae -- Cacti, Cactus Family, Cactus Caesalpiniaceae Callitrichaceae -- Water-starworts, Water starwort, Water starworts Calycanthaceae -- Spicebushes, Allspice, Sweetshrub, Strawberry Shrub Calyceraceae -- Acicarpha, Calycera, Madam gorgon Campanulaceae -- Bellflowers, Lobelias, Bellflower Canellaceae -- Chupa gallo, Pleodendron, Wild cinnamon, Canellas, Wild-Cinnamons, Canella Cannabaceae -- Hemps, Indian hemp Cannabidaceae Capparaceae -- Rocky mountain bee-plant, Capers, Caper Caprifoliaceae -- Honeysuckles, Honeysuckle Family, Honeysuckle, Elders, Viburnums Cardiopteridaceae Caricaceae -- Carica, Papaya, Pawpaw, Papayas Caryocaraceae -- Neotropical Evergreens Caryophyllaceae -- Pinks, Carnations, Pink Family, Pink Casuarinaceae -- She-oaks, Australian pines, Beefwood, Belah, She-Oaks, She Oak Family, She Oak, Casuarinas Cecropiaceae -- Cecropias, Cecropia Family Celastraceae -- Bittersweets, Running strawberry-bush, Staff trees, Spindle-trees, Staff-trees, Bittersweet Family, Bittersweet Celtidaceae Cephalotaceae Ceratophyllaceae -- Coontail, Hornwort, Hornworts Cercidiphyllaceae -- Katsuratree Chenopodiaceae -- Goosefeet, Goosefoot Family, Goosefoot, Goosefoots Chloranthaceae -- Chloranthi Chrysobalanaceae -- Cocoa-Plums, Coco plum Circaeasteraceae Cistaceae -- Rock-roses, Rockrose, Rockroses Clethraceae -- Clethras, Honey-sweet, Sweet pepperbush, White alders, Mangosteen Clusiaceae -- Garcinia, St johns-wort, Mangosteens, Mangosteen Family, Mangosteen, Maria Cneoraceae Cochlospermaceae -- Cochlospermum, Silk cottontree, Yellowshow, Tropical Trees Columelliaceae Combretaceae -- Indian-almonds, White mangroves, Indian almonds, Indian Almond, Combretum, Mangos Connaraceae -- Connari Convolvulaceae -- Morning-glories, Morning Glories, Morning Glory Family, Morning glory, Morning glories Coriariaceae -- Coriarias Cornaceae -- Dogwoods, Tupeloes, Dogwood, Silktassels Corynocarpaceae Crassulaceae -- Stonecrop, Orpines, Stonecrops Crossosomataceae -- Crossosomas, Apachebush, Apacheria, Greasebush, Rockflower, Crossosoma Crypteroniaceae Cucurbitaceae -- Pumpkins, Squashes, Gourds, Cucumber Cunoniaceae -- Cunonias Cuscutaceae -- Dodders Cynomoriaceae Cyrillaceae -- Buckwheat tree, Cliftonia, Titi, Cyrilla, Swamp cyrilla Daphniphyllaceae Datiscaceae -- Durango-roots, Akalbir, Datisca Davidsoniaceae Degeneriaceae Dialypetalanthaceae Diapensiaceae -- Oconee bells, Beetleweed, Diapensia, Galaxy, Littleleaf pixiemoss, Pincushion plant, Pyxidanthera, Shortia, Pixies Dichapetalaceae -- Dichapetalums Didiereaceae Didymelaceae Diegodendraceae Dilleniaceae -- Caskfruits, Chulta, Dillenia, Pinzona, Dillenias Dioncophyllaceae Dipentodontaceae Dipsacaceae -- Teasels, Pincushions, Scabiosa, Succisa, Succisella, Sweet scabious, Teasel Dipterocarpaceae Donatiaceae Droseraceae -- Sundews, Venus flytrap, Sundew Duckeodendraceae Ebenaceae -- Ebonys, Persimmon, Simmons tree, Trebizond date, Black apple, Black sapote, Diospryos, Elama, Mabolo, Plum, Zapote negro, Ebonies, Ebony, Persimmons Elaeagnaceae -- Oleasters, Nebraska currant, Autumn olive bush, Buffalo cherry, Buffaloberry, Elaegnus, Goumi, Gumi fruits, Olive, Sea berry, Sea buckthorn, Silverberry, Tree of paradise, Oleaster Family, Oleaster, Buffaloberries, Silverberries Elaeocarpaceae -- Bullwood, Elaecarpus, Kalia, Motillo, Elaeocarpi, Elaeocarpus Elatinaceae -- Bergia, Waterworts, Waterwort Empetraceae -- Crowberries, Crowberry Epacridaceae Eremolepidaceae -- Parasites Ericaceae -- Heathers, Heaths, Ericas, Rhododendrons, Heath, Manzanitas, Huckleberries, Laurels, Azaleas, Blueberries Erythroxylaceae -- Brisselet, Coca, False cocaine, Ratwood, Swamp-redwood, Cocas Eucommiaceae Eucryphiaceae Euphorbiaceae -- Spurges, Spurge Family, Spurge Eupomatiaceae Eupteleaceae Fabaceae -- Bushclovers, Legumes, Peas, Prairie-clovers, Tick-trefoils, Beans, Legume or Pea Family, Bean, Acacias, Locusts Fagaceae -- Beeches, Oaks, Beech, Chestnuts, Chinkapins Flacourtiaceae -- Brushholly, Caloncoba, Casearia, Chaulmoogra, Crackopen, Flacourtia, Gia verde, Guasimilla, Homalium, Hydnocarpus, Kei apple, Koshum, Laetia, Logwood, Lunania, Mendrina, Plums, Prockia, Rukam, Samyda, White cogwood, Wild honeytree, Xylosma, Flacourtias Fouquieriaceae -- Ocotillos, Ocotillo Frankeniaceae -- Seaheath, Frankenias, Frankenia Fumariaceae Garryaceae -- Silk-tassels Geissolomataceae Gelsemiaceae Gentianaceae -- Gentians, Gentian Geraniaceae -- Cranes-bill, Filarees, Geraniums, Herons-bill, Storks-bill, Geranium Family, Geranium Gesneriaceae -- Canterbury bells, Chrysothemis, Columnea, Cyrtandra, Episcia, Flame violet, Gesnerias, Gloxinia, Hahala, Mapele, Tibey parasito, Tibey-amarillo, Ulunahele, Gesneriad Globulariaceae Gomortegaceae Gonystylaceae Goodeniaceae -- Gullfeed, Naupaka, Goodenia Greyiaceae Grossulariaceae -- Gooseberries, Currants Grubbiaceae Gunneraceae -- Gunneras Gyrostemonaceae Haloragaceae -- Mermaidweed, Raspwort, Seaberry, Watermilfoils, Gunnera Family, Milfoil Hamamelidaceae -- Witch-hazels, Witch hazel, Witchalders, Witchhazels Haptanthaceae Hernandiaceae -- Hernandias Heteropyxidaceae Himantandraceae Hippocastanaceae -- Horse-chestnuts, Horse chestnut, Buckeyes Hippocrateaceae -- Pumpwood, Hippocrateas, Hippocratea Hippuridaceae Hoplestigmataceae Huaceae Hugoniaceae Humiriaceae -- Humirias Hydnoraceae -- Hydnoras Hydrangeaceae -- Hydrangeas, Hydrangea, Mockoranges Hydrophyllaceae -- Aunt-lucy, One-flowered hydrolea, Waterleaves, Waterleaf Hydrostachyaceae Icacinaceae -- False yam, Icacina, Mappia, Ottoschulzia, Icacinas Idiospermaceae Illiciaceae Irvingiaceae Ixonanthaceae Juglandaceae -- Walnuts, Walnut, Hickories Julianiaceae Kaliphoraceae Kiggelariaceae Kirkiaceae Koeberliniaceae -- Allthorn, Crown of thorns Krameriaceae -- Kramerias, White ratany Lacistemataceae -- Lacistemas Lactoridaceae Lamiaceae -- American dragonhead, Dittany, Dogmint, Horsebalm, Mints, Pennyroyals, Sages, Mint Family, Mint Lardizabalaceae -- Akebia fruit, Chocolate vine, Five-leaf akebia, Lardizabalas, Lardizabala Family, Lardizabala Lauraceae -- Laurels, Laurel Family, Laurel Lecythidaceae -- Brazil-nuts Leeaceae Leguminosae -- Yellow puff Leitneriaceae -- Corkwood Lennoaceae -- Desert christmas tree, Pholisma, Sandfood, Lennoas, Lennoa Lentibulariaceae -- Bladderworts, Bladderwort Lepidobotryaceae -- Lepidobotries Limnanthaceae -- False mermaidweed, Floerkea, March flower, Meadowfoams, Meadow foam Linaceae -- Allseed, Dwarf-flax, Flax, Radiola, Sclerolinon, Flaxes Lissocarpaceae Loasaceae -- Blazingstar, Poormans patch, Rock nettle, Sandpaper plant, Stingbush, Stinging serpent, Yellowcomet, Loasas, Loasa Loganiaceae -- Logania, Loganias, Jessamines Loranthaceae -- Showy mistletoes, Catkin-Mistletoes, Showy Mistletoe Lythraceae -- Crepe-myrtles, Loosestrife, Loosestrives, Loosestrife Family, Crapemyrtle Magnoliaceae -- Banana shrub, Magnolias, Tulip tree, Magnolia Malesherbiaceae Malpighiaceae -- Barbados-cherries, Malpighia, Malpigias, Barbados Cherry Family, Barbados cherry Malvaceae -- Hollyhock, Mallows, Rose-of-sharon, Mauves, Mallow Family, Malow Marcgraviaceae -- Marcgravia, Shingleplant, Shingle Plants, Shingle plant Martyniaceae -- Martynia, Unicorn plants, Unicorn Medusagynaceae Medusandraceae Melanophyllaceae Melastomataceae -- Meadow-beauties, Melastomes, Princess-flower, Melastomas, Melastome Family, Melastome Meliaceae -- Mahoganies, Chinaberry, Mahogany Family, Mahogany Melianthaceae Mendonciaceae Menispermaceae -- Moonseeds, Moonseed Menyanthaceae -- Buckbeans, Buckbean Family Mimosaceae -- Mimosas Misodendraceae Mitrastemonaceae Molluginaceae -- Carpet-weeds Monimiaceae -- Monimias Monotropaceae -- Indian pipe Montiniaceae Moraceae -- Mulberries, Figs, Fig Moringaceae -- Horseradish tree, Moringa, Horse-radish Tree Myoporaceae -- Bastard sandalwood, Bontia, Myoporum, Ngaio tree, White alling Myriaceae Myricaceae -- Bayberries, Wax-myrtles, Bayberry Family, Bayberry, Waxmyrtles Myristicaceae -- Nutmegs Myrothamnaceae Myrsinaceae -- Coral-berries, Marlberries, Myrsines, Myrsine Family, Myrsine Myrtaceae -- Bottlebrushes, Myrtles, Gums, Eucalyptus trees, Myrtle Familly, Myrtle Nelumbonaceae Nepenthaceae Neuradaceae Nolanaceae Nyctaginaceae -- Four-o-clocks, Hairy umbrella-wort, Sand-verbena, Scarlet musk-flower, Bougainvillea, Four-o-Clocks, Four Oclock Nymphaeaceae -- Spatterdock, Water-lilies, Water lily Nyssaceae Ochnaceae -- Mickey mouse plant, Amarillo, Birds-eye bush, Creole tea, Guanabanilla, Ochna, Ouratea, Sauvagesia, Ochnas Olacaceae -- Arana, Boleko nut, Gulf graytwig, Ongokea, Schoepfia, Tallow wood, White beefwood, Ximenia, Olaxes, Olax Oleaceae -- Fringe tree, Goldenbells, Lilacs, Olives, Privets, Ashes, Lilac, Olive Family, Olive Oliniaceae Onagraceae -- Evening-primroses, Ladys eardrops, Willowherbs, Fuchsias, Evening primroses, Evening Primrose Family, Evening Primrose Oncothecaceae Opiliaceae -- Opilia, Opilias Orobanchaceae -- Broomrapes, Broom-rapes, Broom Rape Family, Broomrape Oxalidaceae -- Irish shamrock, Oxalis, Sheep-sorrels, Wood-sorrels, Wood sorrel Oxydacae Paeoniaceae Pandaceae Papaveraceae -- Bleedingheart, Poppies, Poppy, Tree poppy Paracryphiaceae Passifloraceae -- Passion-flowers, Passionflowers, Passion flower Pedaliaceae -- Benne, Ceratotheca, Craniolaria, Devils claw, Doubleclaw, Elephant, Escorzonera, Gingili, Martynia, Proboscis plant, Rams horn, Sesame, Sesamum, Unicorn flower, Unicorn-plant, Wild foxglove, Sesames Pellicieraceae Penaeaceae Pentaphragmataceae Pentaphylacaceae Penthoraceae Peridiscaceae Phrymaceae -- Lopseed Phyllanthaceae Physenaceae Phytolaccaceae -- Bloodberry, Inkberry, Pokeweeds, Pokeweed Picramniaceae Piperaceae -- Peppers, Radiator plant, Pepper Pittosporaceae -- Japanese pittosporum, Victorian box, Bluebell creeper, Cheesewood, Mock orange, Sollya, Pittosporum Plantaginaceae -- Plantains, Shore-grass, Shoreweed, Plantain Platanaceae -- Lacewood, Plane trees, Sycamores, Plane tree Plumbaginaceae -- Thrifts, Leadworts, Leadwort Podostemaceae -- Riverweed, River-weeds Polemoniaceae -- Jacobs-ladder, Mexican-ivy, Phlox, Phloxes Polygalaceae -- Milkworts, Snakeroot, Milkwort Polygonaceae -- Buckwheats, Coral vine, Knotweeds, Polygonum, Rhubarb, Ribbon bush, Sorrels, Swartweeds, Buckwheat Family, Smartweed Portulacaceae -- Fameflower, Purslanes, Rose-moss, Purslane Premna Primulaceae -- Primroses, Primrose Proteaceae -- Silk-oak, Protea, Proteas Family Punicaceae -- Pomegranates, Pomegranate Pyrolaceae -- Spotted wintergreen, Princes pines, Pippsissewas, Shinleaf Quiinaceae -- Quiinas Rafflesiaceae -- Rafflesias, Stemsucker, Rafflesia Ranunculaceae -- Buttercups, Crowfeet, Hepatica, Larkspur, Liverleaf, Wolfbane, Clematis, Buttercup Family, Buttercup, Yellowroot, Virgins bower Resedaceae -- Mignonettes, Little darling, Mignonette Retziaceae Rhabdodendraceae Rhamnaceae -- Buckthorns, Buckthorn Family, Buckthorn, Ceonathus Rhizophoraceae -- Red mangroves, Mangroves, Red mangrove Rhoipteleaceae Rosaceae -- Avens, Hawthornes, Roses, Rose Family, Rose, Serviceberries, Mahoganies, Hawthorns, Apples, Plums, Cherries, Blackberries, Raspberries, Meadowsweets, Mountain-ashes Rubiaceae -- Bluets, Coffees, Madder, Quaker-ladies, Madders, Madder Family Rutaceae -- Boxthorn, Citruses, Rues, Rue, Citrus fruits, Limes, Lemons, Oranges, Grapefruits Sabiaceae -- Aguacatillo, Cacaillo, Meliosma, Sabias, Sabia Saccifoliaceae Salicaceae -- Aspens, Cottonwoods, Poplars, Willows, Willow Family, Willow Salvadoraceae Santalaceae -- Bastard toadflax, Sandalwoods, Sandalwood, Piratebush Sapindaceae -- Soapberries, Soapberry Family, Soapberry Sapotaceae -- Sapotes, Sopadillas, Sapodillas, Sapodilla, Bumelias Sarcolaenaceae Sargentodoxaceae Sarraceniaceae -- Pitcher plants, Pitcher Plant Saururaceae -- Water-dragon, Lizards-tails, Lizard Tail Saxifragaceae -- Alumroots, Saxifrages, Saxifrage, Currants, Gooseberries Schisandraceae Sciadopityaceae -- Umbrella pine Scrophulariaceae -- Figworts, Snapdragons, Figwort Family, Figwort, Dragon tree, Scarlet beardtongue Scyphostegiaceae Scytopetalaceae Simaroubaceae -- Simarouba, Quassias, Quassia Family, Quassia, Tree of heaven, Crucifixion thorn Simmondsiaceae Siparunaceae Solanaceae -- Henbane, Night-blooming-jessamine, Nightshades, Potatoes, Potato Family, Nightshade, Potato, Desert-thorns Sonneratiaceae Sphaerosepalaceae Sphenocleaceae Stachyuraceae Stackhousiaceae Staphyleaceae -- Bladdernuts, Muttonwood, Turpinia, Bladdernut Sterculiaceae -- Cacaoes, Kola nuts, Cacao, Fremontias, Parasoltree Strasburgeriaceae Stylidiaceae Styracaceae -- Storaxes, Siam benzoin, Benzoin gum, Silverbell, Snowbell, Styrax, Storax, Silverbells, Snowbells Surianaceae Symplocaceae -- Sweetleafs, Aceitunilla, Horse sugar, Nispero cimarron, Sweetleaves, Sweetleaf Tamaricaceae -- Tamarisks, Saltcedar, Tamarix Family, Tamarix Tepuianthaceae Tetracentraceae Tetrameristaceae Theaceae -- Gordoniaceae_homonym, Camelias, Teas, Tea, Camellia, Camelia, Loblolly bay Theligonaceae Theophrastaceae -- Theophrastas Thymelaeaceae -- Mezereums, Mezereum Family, Mezereum, Eastern leatherwood Ticodendraceae -- Ticodendrons Tiliaceae -- Jutes, Lindens, Linden, Basswoods Torricelliaceae Tovariaceae -- Tovarias Trapaceae -- Water Chestnut Family Tremandraceae Trigoniaceae -- Trigonias Trimeniaceae Trochodendraceae Tropaeolaceae -- Nasturtiums, Indian cress, Anu, Nasturtium Turneraceae -- Turnera, Turneras Ulmaceae -- Elms, Planer tree, Elm, Hackberries Urticaceae -- Banyans, Figs, Nettles, Nettle Valerianaceae -- Valerians, Centranthus, Cornsalad, Garden heliotrope, Longhorn plectritis, Seablush, Valerian Verbenaceae -- Queens-wreath, Verbena, Vervains, Verbenas, Verbena Family, Chaste trees, Black mangrove, American beautyberry Violaceae -- Pansies, Violets, Violet Viscaceae -- Christmas mistletoes, Oak mistletoe Vitaceae -- Boston-ivy, Grapes, Virginia-creeper, Woodbine, Grape Family, Grape, Creepers Vochysiaceae -- Vochysias Winteraceae -- Winteras Xanthophyllaceae Zygophyllaceae -- Caltrops, Caper-bean, Creosote bush, Creosote-bushes, Creosote Bush, Guayacan, Soapbush

Overview

Dicots comprise the group of flowering plants (angiosperms) having two cotyledons (embryonic leaves) in the seed which usually appear at germination. Unlike the conifers (gymnosperms), these broadleaved plants have ovules enclosed for protection, in an ovary. Following successful fertilization, the ovules develop into seeds. Most tropical trees are dicots.

Identification

IDnature guides are available for the following: North American Trees Other dicots

Phylogeny

Taxonomic Category Scientific Name Common Name Kingdom Plantae Green plants Division Dicotyledoneae Dicots Geographic distribution Checklists Vascular Plants, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina & Tennessee Flora, Oconee National Forest, Georgia Links to other sites International Plant Names Index -- database of plant names References Gauld, Ian D. and Barry Bolton (Eds.) 1988. The Hymenoptera. British Museum (Natural History). Oxford University Press, New York. ISBN 0-19-858521-7. Acknowledgements This page written and compiled by Robert Magill and Kay Yatskievych of the Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, with Irina Kim, and John Pickering of the University of Georgia, Athens. We thank Cassie Lloyd for technical support in developing this page. Following served from Flora.cyberia    Top | See original context Following modified from Ari Kornfeld    Top | See original Page 23 of 38 Natural Perspective The Plant Kingdom: Dicots Overview (Last modified: 21 July 1997) The class Dicotylodonea is large and diverse. Dicot plants range from tiny plants to tremendous trees; fleshy succulents to delicate herbs that dry out almost as soon as they're picked; large and complex flower heads to tiny flowers that barely deserve the name; annuals and perenials; deciduous and evergreen. Each plant can be described with 100 features including size, shape, color, and features of the entire plant, leaves, flowers, and fruit. Around 300 families of flowering plants are currently identified as Dicots. Learning the intricacies of the Subclasses, Superorders, and Orders is of limited value for the typical naturalist. Nevertheless, the Family groupings are quite helpful. Here are some of the most prominent herb and shrub families in our region and probably most temperate areas. Sunflower Family ( Asteraceae ) The Sunflower family contains the largest number of plant species in the San Francisco Bay Area and many other parts of the world. The Sunflower family includes shrubs such as Coyotebrush as well as herbs such as Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, Thistles, and Dandelions. All of these plants have compound flower heads. While it appears to be a single flower, closer examination reveals that the head is composed of many separate flowers: tiny five-petalled "disk flowers" in the center and/or single-petalled "ray flowers" around the outside. Dandelions have only ray flowers; Thistles and Coyotebrush have only disk flowers; Sunflowers and Daisies have both. While the compound flower feature makes Sunflower species easy to recognize, these plants are notoriously difficult to identify beyond the family level. Luckily not all Sunflower members are so difficult to distinguish -- the pretty Tidytips ( Layia platyglossa ) shown here are quite distinctive, for example. Pea Family ( Fabaceae ) Pea family members seem to be everywhere in San Francisco Bay Area grasslands. The family includes the Acacia trees found both in and out of cultivation; shrubs such as Lupine ( left ), Broom, and Gorse; as well as the herbacious Vetch and Clovers. Pea fruit grow in a their distinctive pod shape; the flowers of the Pea family are typically distinctive as well. The flower has a banner petal above, two wing petals on either side, and a keel consisting of two fused petals below. The keel is often hidden between the wing petals, as in the Lupine ( Lupinus nanus ) flower shown here, in which the wings of the flower to the left of the stem were pulled down to reveal the keel. Geranium Family ( Geraniaceae ) Although we have only a small number of wild Geranium species in the Bay Area, they make up in number what they lack in diversity. And then, of course, there is the Pelargonium genus from which our cultivated Geraniums derive. Geraniums typically have five petals, five or ten stamens and a pistil in five sections that split apart when the fruit matures. The Erodium genus uses this last feature in a most interesting way... Check it out! Pictured here is the Cinquefoil Geranium ( Geranium potentilloides ), a common springtime flower in our grassy hills. Carrot or Parsley Family ( Apiaceae ) The carrot family brings us many culinary herbs such as parsley, coriander, fennel, and dill; as well as roots such as parsnip and, of course, carrots. Poison Hemlock -- which earned its place in Western history when Socrates drank a cup-- is also a member of the carrot family. Many early Spring flowers -- such as the Footsteps-of-Spring ( Sanicula arctopoides ) displayed here -- are members of this family; Sanicle foliage lines shaded mountain paths starting in mid Winter. Carrot members are typified by dense clusters ( umbels ) of tiny five-petalled flowers. Rose Family ( Rosaceae ) The Rose family may well be the most important Dicot family, commercially. Roses themselves, of course, are cherished for their beauty, whether in a garden or a boquet. Many fleshy fruit such as strawberries and raspberries, apples, oranges, cherries and plums also belong to Rosaceae . In the wild, various other Rose species add beauty to the environment. In early Spring, wild Strawberry plants make a strong showing in our area; later in the Summer shrubs such as Blackberry, Thimbleberry, and Salmonberry provide tasty trailside treats. Chamise (Greasewood, Chapparal) dominates parts of our chapparal environment, while Toyon (Christmasberry) is common in more open areas. Rose flowers (its namesake Genus notwithstanding) are typically five-petalled with many stamens and sometimes many pistils as well -- such as in the Thimbleberry ( Rubus parviflorus ) pictured here. Purslane Family ( Portulacaceae ) While small in number of species, this family contains some of my favorite edibles including Miner's Lettuce and Common Purslane, as well as the very pretty Redmaid flowers. Purslane members are distinctive because they have only two sepals for their five-petalled flowers, as can be seen in this close-up of Miner's Lettuce (look carefully at the partially open flowers to see the sepals). Heath Family ( Ericaceae ) The Heath family includes trees such as Madrone (pictured left), shrubs such as Blueberry, Manzanita, and Rhododendrons/Azaleas as well as numerous herbacious plants. Many Heath species have beautiful urn-shaped flowers. All Heaths are dependent on fungi in order to survive. Adding the Buttercup, Snapdragon, Mustard, Poppy, and Evening-primrose families would round out this group to an even dozen: knowing them personally would be a most rewarding experience. And then there's the Mint, Mallow, Oak, Borage, Pink, Waterleaf, Phlox and many more families -- all equally enjoyable. But you have to start somewhere... Phylum: Angiospermophyta (flowering plants) Class: Dicotyledoneae (starting with two seed-leaves) Page 23 of 38 [ Home ] [ Contents ] [ Fungi ] [ Plantae ] [ Animalia ] [ Protoctista ] [ Species Index ] This site produced and maintained by Ari Kornfeld , email: (ari@perspective.com) Copyright © 1996-2007 All rights reserved. Please take a moment to provide your feedback on this site. Credits: Collaboration and inspiration thanks to Susan Kornfeld Early PhotoCD scans by Alpha CD Imaging , Menlo Park, CA Special thanks to Claire Doyle for scanning some early photos Internet service by Pair Networks Updated: 2009-11-22 13:03:24 gmt Discover Life | Top © Designed by The Polistes Corporation