Download Family, Genus, Species…What? Plant Identification

Family, Genus, Species…What?
Plant Identification
Scott Oneto & James Sigala
June 02, 2011
UC Master Gardener Conference, Santa Rosa
The World of Plants
321,212 recognized plant species in 462 different families!
The most diverse families of flowering plants, are:
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Asteraceae (sunflower family): 23,600 species
Orchidaceae (orchid family): 22,075 species
Fabaceae (pea family): 19,400
Rubiaceae (madder family): 13,150
Poaceae (grass family): 10,035
Lamiaceae (mint family): 7,173
Euphorbiaceae (spurge family): 5,735
Melastomataceae (melastome family): 5,005
Myrtaceae (myrtle family): 4,620
Apocynaceae (dogbane family): 4,555
Steps to Plant Identification
Determine the
type of Plant
Steps to Plant Identification
1. Determine gross morphology?
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Annual, biennial, perennial
Woody, herbaceous
Deciduous or evergreen
Steps to Plant Identification
2. Determine: monocot or dicot
Steps to Plant Identification
3. Identify the anatomical features of the leaves
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Composition: Simple vs Compound
Arrangement: Alternate, Opposite, Whorled
Shape
Margin
Tip/Base
Steps to Plant Identification
4. Identify the anatomical features flowers/fruit
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Flower parts: calyx, corolla
Male parts
Female parts
Ovary position
Flower symmetry
Type of Inflorescence
Fruit type
Asteraceae
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dandelion, chrysanthemum, yarrow, coreopsis, sunflower, dahlia, zinnia, goldenrod,
fleabane, aster, sneezeweed, groundsel, ageratum, thistle, cosmos, and Black-eyed Susan
Asteraceae
• leaves are alternate, opposite, or whorled
• simple to pinnately or palmately compound
• four to five stamens
Asteraceae
• Capitulum
• Florets may be
perfect, imperfect
• Ovary is inferior
Ray floret
Disc floret
Asteraceae
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Heads composed of only ray
flowers, as in dandelion, endive,
and wild lettuce.
Heads composed of only disk
flowers, as in ageratum, thistles.
Heads composed of both disk and
ray flowers, with disk flowers
tightly packed together in the
head's "eye," while enlarged ray
flowers function as petals radiating
outward from the eye. Species in
this group include sunflowers,
asters, Black-eyed Susans,
chrysanthemums, dahlias, zinnia
Ray floret
Disc floret
Asteraceae
• Modified leaves = bracts
• Bracts can be side to
side or overlapping
• Collection of bracts =
involucre
Key Asteraceae Characteristics
• Involucre
• Capitulum, with tens to hundreds of florets
(ray and/or disc)
Apiaceae
• Carrot, parsley, anise, dill, hemlock…
Apiaceae
• Often hollow stems
• The leaves are mostly
alternate and pinnately
or palmately compound
leaves. Clump at base
• Some have aromatic
foliage
Apiaceae
• Small flowers in umbels,
short flower stalks
(pedicels), spread from
a common point.
• 5 sepals, 5 petals and 5
stamens.
• White, yellow or pink
flowers
• Inferior ovary
Key Apiaceae Characteristics
• Mainly have hollow stems
• Small flowers in umbels
• Flowers with five petals, five sepals, five
stamens
• White, yellow or pink flowers
Malvaceae
• Hibiscus, okra, cotton
Malvaceae
• Kapok, cheese weed…
Malvaceae
Key Malvaceae Characteristics
• Alternate leaves, palmate, usually veined
• Five-lobed calyx, five fused petals forming a
tube.
• Many stamens fused into a tube surrounding
the pistil.
• Superior ovary
Fabaceae
• Legume or Pea Family
• Behind the Orchids and Sunflowers, the pea
family is the third largest.
– 18,000 species in 630 genera
Fabaceae
• Leaves range from pinnately or palmately
compound to simple
• Leaves are alternate, stipulate, and have a
pulvinus
• Ovary is superior and the fruit is usually a
legume
• Pea shaped flowers: 5 petals
• 10 stamens
Erythrina crista-galli
Lamiaceae
• Mint Family
• 3500 species in 180 genera
• Known for its spices; Oregano (Origanum vulgare),
spearmint (Mentha spicata), peppermint (Mentha
piperita) basil (Clinopodium vulgaris) and lavender
(Lavandula angustifolia)
Lamiaceae
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Leaves are simple
Opposite leaf arrangement
Square stems
Flowers parts in 5's
Petals fused (2 up, 3 down)
5 united sepals
Four stamens (2 long, 2 short)
Usually aromatic
Plant Identification
Unknown Sample #1
Online Resources
• Oregon State Woody Plant Identification
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/plant_ident
Unknown
Sample #2
Online Resources
• The Encyclopedia of Houseplants
http://www.gflora.com
Plant Family?
New Age of Plant Identification
Digital Field Guides Eliminate the Guesswork
Apps for iPhones, iPods, iPads
• TreeBook: guide to 100 of the most common trees in
North America
• Leafsnap: developed by Columbia University, the
University of Maryland, and the Smithsonian
Institution, uses visual recognition software to help
identify tree species from photographs of their
leaves.