Botany Index

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Family Cephalotaxaceae (Plum-yews)

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Evolved during or before the Cretaceous, before insects were important, this allowed a wide variety of pollination mechanisms to arise

Many families with few species, mostly tropical, with simple leaves, monosulcate pollen (one furrow) grains, numerous stamens, separate floral parts.

Austral, found in New Zealand and South America

Two species from Fiji, discovered 1940, most primitive family in the Class

One genus, tree species, aromatic trees

One genus, two species, Eastern Australia and New Guinea

One genus, two species, Australian

Twelve genera, 220 species, has stipules, Asia, southern U.S.A., Peru (1 sp.)

One genus, one species, endemic to Juan Fernandez Isl., Chile, South America

120 genera, 2300+ genera, largest family in the order, lots of stamens, edible fruit, 1 seed from a large pistol, areomatic

380 species, southeast Asia and Neotropics

Five genera, 16-17 species, Caribbean basin

Many areomatic

Monotypic, Australia and New Guinea

Family Trimeniaceae

Two genera, Pacific and Africa

Family Monimiaceae

27 genera, 450 species, tropical America, Asia and Africa, second largest family in order

Family Gomortegaceae

Monotypic, from near Santiago, Chile, possibly extinct

Family Calycanthaceae (Spicebushes)

Two genera, 8 species, southeastern U. S., California and China

Family Idiospermaceae

Monotypic

Family Lauraceae (Laurels)

Approx. 2000 species

Family Hernandiaceae

Four genera, 76 species, tropical America, Samoa

65 species, tropical upland

5 genera, 7 species

Approx. 3000 species

7 genera, 625 species, chemically similar to Magnoliales, woody vines, worldwide distribution

40 species, New World, China

Two genera, 50 species, New World, genera incl. Schisandra which is cultivated

With or without odor, mostly aquatic plants

Two species, aggregate fruit, long lived seeds, North America and China

7 genera, 100+ species

One genus, 4 species, mostly asiatic, himilayan

One genus, 1+ species, New World

One genus, 2-30 species (not a typo)

Generally herbaceous, many small, mostly holarctic distribution

50 genera, 1500 species, primarily temparate, but ranging from arctic to tropics

13-16 genera, 600 species, mostly shrubby, temperate to Chile in North America, Asia

65 genera, 350 species, generally have alcohol based poisons, includes the source plant of curare and arrow poisons

One genera, 8 species, pantropical, primarily at higher elevations

"Garbage bag family," South America and southeast Asia

Zygomorphic flowers, all have alkaloids, laking in mustard oils

26 genera, 256 species

16 genera, 400 species

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60,000 species, 3/4 of species are in Fabales, Rosales, Euphobiales, Myrtales and Sapindales. Only 15,000 species in remaining 19 orders. Most diverse orders in the kingdom Plantae.

6600 species, mostly woody, mostly tropical

Asian

Brazil, Bolivia, Peru

Hawaii and southern hemisphere

Formerly part of Saxifragaceae

Formerly part of Saxifragaceae, includes Ribes

3000 species, economically very important, many cultivated for ornamentals or food

Some authors give familial rank to three subfamilies. Some authors list 18,000 species, but probably there are only 12,000. Very important economically.

"Fabaceae" group primarily temperate
• Subfamily Mimosoideae
3000 species, arid habitats, tropical
• Subfamily Caesalpinioideae
2000 species, primarily rain forest in Africa and Amazon basin
• Subfamily Papilionoideae

Approx. 50 species

Over 1000 species, southern Africa, Australia, cultivated in California

Modified stem and thaloid, most reduced plant

45 genera, 200 + species, tropical and warm temperate

Fewer than 200 species

Primarily wetland species, some aquatic, mostly tropical

Huge palmate leaves, southern hemisphere

9000 species. Myrtaceae, Onagraceae and Melastomataceae have all but 60 species

Many aquatic

3000 species, from south Florida, tropical American and (Eucalytus) Australia

400-600 species

4000 species, primarily tropical

16 genera, 120 species, biologically exteremely important, tidal flat habitat, Florida through tropics

1150 species

3 genera, 8 species, North America, Asia

Fewer than 100 species, tropical, warm temperate

2000 species

250 species

400 species

35 genera, 900 species, parasitic, seeds primarily bird dispersed, many toxic to mammals

300 species

18 genera, 120 species, saprophytic, many resemble fungi, pantropical

60 species, saprophytic, named in honor of same Raffles as hotel in Singapore

Rafflesia of Sumatra has largest flower in world

Approx. 2000 species

Monotypic

55 genera, 850 species

1300 species

20-25 species

12 species

400 species, Ilex is the largest genus, mostly tropical

400 species

Monotypic

3 species

200 species

8000 species

46 genera, 106 species

300 genera, 5000+ species, Euphorbia has 1500 species

1700 species

58 genera, 900 species, cosmopolitan

12 genera, woody vines, tropical, subtropical and warm temperate

550 species

200 species, including Erythroxia cocum, the source of cocaine

13 genera, 300 species, linen, linseed

2300 species, primarily tropical

1200+ species

200 species

17 genera, 750 species, legume-like, cosmopolitan from tropics to arctic

Sometimes lumped with Leguminoceae, drier tropics

5400 species

60 species

Family Sapindaceae (Soapberries)

150 genera, 2000 species, tropical and subtropical

Family Hippocastanaceae (Horse-chestnut, Buckeyes)

2 genera, 15 species

Family Aceraceae (Maples)

Two genera, 100 species

Family Burseraceae

200 species

Family Anacardiaceae (Sumacs, Cashew)

600 species, some toxic

Family Simaroubaceae

150 species, tree of heaven

Family Meliaceae (Mahoganys)

550 species, many with insect anti-feeding compounds

Family Rutaceae (Citrus)

Many economically important species

Family Zygophyllaceae (Caltrops)

250 species, many thorny

2600 species, some woody

3 genera, 900 species, many with oxalic acid, tropical and temperate

Family Geraniaceae (Geraniums)

11 genera, 750 species, including Geranium and Pelagonium

Family Balsaminaceae (Touch-me-nots)

4 genera, 900 species

3700 species

55 genera, 700 species, primarily woody, mostly tropical, old and new world

Family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) (Carrots)

300 genera, 2500-3000 species, cosmopolitan, few in the wet tropics

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30 genera, 600 species, largely tropicals

Family Gentianaceae (Gentians)

80 genera, 900 species, including a few saprophytes, primarily temperate, and higher altitudes in tropics, including Amazon basin

Family Saccifoliaceae

Monotypic

Family Apocynaceae (Dogbanes)

180 genera, 1500 species, woody, a few herbaceous, 1 vine, milky sap, wet tropics

Family Asclepiadaceae (Milkweeds)

250 genera, 1800-2000 species, milky sap, temparate areas and arid tropics. Some authors combine this family with Apocynaceae

Tropical, lower Amazon

Family Nolanaceae (Nolana)

Some authors combine with Solanaceae

Family Solanaceae (Potatos, tomato, peppers)

90 genera, 2000-3000 species, possibly many more species, New World and Africa

Family Convolvulaceae (Morning-glories)

50 genera, 1800 species, mostly with alternate leaves, cosmopolitan

Family Cuscutaceae (Dodders)

Parasitic vines

Family Polemoniaceae (Phlox)

18 genera, 300 species

Family Hydrophyllaceae (Waterleafs)

Many in deserts, New World

7800 species

4 species, arid areas, parasitic

Family Boraginaceae (Borages)

2000 species, woody or herbaceous, primarily tropical

Family Verbenaceae (Vervains)

2600 species, woody or herbaceous, primarily tropical

Family Lamiaceae (Labiatae) (Mints)

3200 species, primarily herbaceous in temperate species, primarily woody in tropical species

Family Callitrichaceae (Water Starworts)

Aquatic, very small

3 genera, 250 species, including Plantain psillum the source of "dietary" fiber

More than 11,000 species

woody

Family Scrophulariaceae (Figworts)

4000 species, primarily herbs, some look like mints

Family Orobancaceae (Broomrapes)

Saprophytes

Family Gesneriaceae (Gesnerias)

2500 species, including the African violet, tropical

Family Acanthaceae (Acanthus¹)

2500 species, temperate and tropical

Family Pedaliaceae

herbs, including sesame

Family Lentibulariaceae (Bladderworts)

insectivorous, Lentibularia, Utricularia

milky sap

Family Campanulaceae (Bellflowers)

Largest family in order, 4/5 of the species in the order

Family Stylidiaceae

Insectivorous

Family Donatiaceae

2 species

Family Goodeniaceae

Mostly Old World, Australia, Florida Keys

500 genera, 7000 species, opposite leaves, stipules, primarily woody, primarily tropical

Family Theligonaceae

3 species

60 species, not quite a composite

Approx 1000 genera, 20,000-25,000 species, the most specious family of plant, worldwide, variable habit and structure but all remarkably similar

Subfamily Cichorioideae

• Tribe Lactuceae (Cichorieae) (Lettuces)
  
• Tribe Mutisieae (Mutisias)
  
• Tribe Vernonieae (Ironweeds)
  
• Tribe Liabeae (Liabums)
  
• Tribe Cardueae (Cynareae) (Thistles)
  
  
  • Subtribe Echinopeae
    
  • Subtribe Carlineae
    
  • Subtribe Cardueae
  
  
• Tribe Arctoteae (Arctotidae) (Arctotis¹)

Subfamily Asteroideae

• Tribe Eupatorieae (Eupatoriums)
  
• Tribe Heliantheae (incl. Helenieae & Tageteae) (Sunflowers)
  
• Tribe Astereae (Asters)
  
• Tribe Inuleae (Everlastings)
  
• Tribe Calenduleae (Calendulas)
  
• Tribe Senecioneae (Senecios)

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Largely tropical Asia and New World

Asia

Family Paeoniaceae (Peonys)

Asia

Family Dipterocarpaceae (Dipterocarps)

Most important timber in Asia, Asia and South America

Family Marcgraviaceae

Wasp pollinated

Worldwide except arctic

Tropical

Family Tiliaceae (Linden)

41 genera, 400 species

Family Sterculiaceae (Cacaoss)

60 genera, 700 species, includes Cacao, the chocolate tree

Family Bombacaceae (Kapok)

200 species, tropical

Family Malvaceae (Mallows)

Includes cotton

20 genera, 450 species, primarily tropical South America, 1 or 2 species occur in both Brazil and Africa, large seeded, disperse by water, includes Cannonball Tree

Insectivorous plants

3 genera, 13-17 species, primarily in southeastern U.S., one species in Guianan highlands (tepuis)

Family Nepenthaceae (Old World Pitcher Plants)

Asia to Madagascar

Family Droseraceae (Sundews and Venus Flytrap)

4 genera, 83 species, grow in acid bogs, New World

Family Violaceae (Violets)

22 genera, 900 species, some are trees (tropical), worldwide

Family Passifloraceae (Passion-flowers)

20 genera, 600 species, vines to trees, tropical to warm temperate

Family Fouquieriaceae (Ocotillos)

Fouquieria splendens the Ocotillo, southwest U.S., northern Mexico

Family Cucurbitaceae (Cucumbers, Gourds, Watermelon)

90 genera, 700 species, tropical to warm temperate

3-4 genera, 435 species, diverse and numerous in arctic with up to 20 species per acre, many species are circumboreal, holarctic to tropics

Approx. 4000 species

Family Capparaceae (Capers)

45 genera, 675 species, woody, lives in arid areas, similare to Brassicaceae, tropical

Family Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) (Mustards)

380 genera, 3000 species, mostly temperate, but worldwide

Family Moringaceae

Moringa of south Africa

Family Resedaceae (Mignonettes)

herbs, Mediterranian and Africa

6 genera, 19 species, seashore plants

Family Bataceae (Saltworts)

Monotypic, Batis meridima, Gulf coast of U.S.

4000 species

Family Clethraceae (Clethras)

1-2 genera, 64 species, tropical Americas and Asia

Family Grubbiaceae

One genus, 3 species, Ericoid shrubs, derivitives of Ericaceae, south African Cape area

Family Empetraceae (Crowberries)

Includes Empetrum, an arctic and antarctic genus

Family Epacridaceae

31 genera, 400 species, southern hemisphere australasian

Family Ericaceae (Heaths, Heathers)

103 genera, 3500 species, largest family in order, rare in Amazon basin, otherwise cosmpolitant, includes Rhododendron

Family Pyrolaceae (Wintergreens)

Woody or herbaceous

Family Monotropaceae (Indian Pipes)

Saprophytes, lacking chlorophyls

18 species in northern hemisphere, from temperate to arctic areas

Approx. 2000 species, primarily tropical

One genus, 1100 species, largest family in order

Family Ebenaceae (Ebonys, Persimmon)

450 species

Family Styracaceae (Storaxes)

Warm temperate to tropical

Family Symplocaceae (Sweetleafs)

Accumulate aluminum in leaves, primarily tropical in higher elevations

1900 species

100 species, often have spines on leaf tips, tropical

Family Myrsinaceae

Tropical

Family Primulaceae (Primroses)

22 genera, 800 species, one aquatic

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Orders separated on basis of seive tube plastid structure, similar rust infects all three orders

Betalains (pigment) present, except in Aizoaceae, Molluginaceae and Caryophyllaceae

20 genera, 120 species, North and South America

Family Nyctaginaceae (Four O¹Clock)

30 genera, 290 species

Family Aizoaceae (Ice Plants)

Primarily succulents, southern Africa

Family Didiereaceae

4 genera, 11 species, trees similar ot Euphorbia, with or without spines, can be grafted onto Pereskia (in Cactaceae), endemic to Madagascar

Family Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoots)

100 genera, 1500 species, occur in alkaline areas and cold deserts including the North American Great Basin, and the Gobi Desert

Family Amaranthaceae (Amaranths)

65 genera, 900 species, herbs and woody plants, worldwide

Family Portulacaceae (Purslanes)

19 genera, 500 species, mostly succulent, worldwide

Family Basellaceae (Madeira Vines)

4 genera, 15 species, mostly vines, New Zealand

Family Caryophyllaceae (Pinks)

80 genera, 2000 species, worldwide

30 genera, 750 species, herb to tree, worldwide

10 genera, 560 species, worldwide

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Many with tannins, reduced flowers (unisexual), catkins, etc.

Vesselless wood, asiatic

Monotypic

Family Trochodendraceae

Monotypic

Woody, mostly wind pollenated, a few are insect pollinated

One genus, two species, tropical Africa, Madagascar, Japan, southcentral China

Family Eupteleaceae

One genus, two species, tropical Africa, Madagascar, Japan, southcentral China

Family Platanaceae (Sycamores)

One genus, 10 species, North America, Europe (2 sp.), Asia Minor

Family Hamamelidaceae (Witch-Hazels)

23 genera, 100 species, includes sweet gum, witch-hazel, subtropical and temperate

Family Myrothamnaceae

Tropical Africa and Madagascar

One genus, 10 species, southeast Asia, east Asia, Malaysia

Endemic to Madagascar

One genus, two species, catcus-like spiny trees

Monotypic, montane, from western China

Inflorecence in fasicles or racemes, mostly widespread

Middle East

Family Ulmaceae (Elms)

16 genera, 200 species, includes Ulmus, Trema (tropical)

Family Moraceae (Mulberrys)

75 genera, 3000 species, including Ficus which has over 1000 species itself

Family Cecropiaceae

3 genera, 100 species, confined to tropics

Family Urticaceae (Nettles)

45 genera, 1000+ species, have irritating hairs on stems and/or leaves, worldwide

Monotypic, Leitneria floridana, in terrace lands, dioecious shrub of southeastern U.S.: in Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas (disjunct distribution)

Antipherous, with compound leaves

California, Arizona, southeastern U.S., southeastern Europe, Asia

Three genera, 50 species, worldwide, one species confined to New Caledonia

One genus, 9 species, Ballanops, found at high altitudes in Queensland, Australia, New Caledonia, Fiji

Family Fagaceae (Oaks)

8 genera, 1000 species, family dates at least back to Eocene, primarily in northern hemisphere, though occur worldwide - in western hemispher to the Columbian Andes (Trigonobalanus). One genus, Nothofagus occurs in Tierra del Fuego (southern South America), New Guinea and New Zealand and some consider it a separage family, Nothogagaceae

Family Betulaceae (Birches, alders)

6 genera, 170 species, mostly north temperate, Ulnus occurs into southern hemisphere

Two genera, 65 species (some consider it to have 4 genera with 7 species), whorled leaves, twigs similar to Equisetum (horsetails), endemic to Australia

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More uniform than dicots

400 species, similar to Ranunculaceae

Aquatic

One genus, one species, cultivated, European

Family Limnocharitacae (Water-poppies)

Monotypic, tropical

Family Alismataceae (Water Plantains)

12 genera, 75 species

Primarily aquatic

15 genera, 100 species, two genera are marine

Primarily aquatic

Many aquarium plants, including lace plants, Old World tropics

Family Scheuchzeriaceae (Scheuchzerias)

Monotypic

Family Juncaginaceae (Arrow-grasses)

5 genera, 20 species, some in salt marsh

Family Potamogetonaceae (Pondweeds)

100 species, cosmopolitan, boreal

Family Ruppiaceae (Ditch-grasses)

Monotypic, Ruppia meridima brakish

Family Zannichelliaceae (Horned-pondweeds)

One genus, 78 species, some species with very restricted ranges, cosmopolitan

Family Posidoniaceae

Marine, Mediteranian, Australia

Saprophytes, some growing on termite mounds, leafless, non-photosynthetic, tropical

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All very similar

200+ genera, 3000 species, tropical and warm temperate (north to French Coast

• The North American and Caribbean Palms, Arecaceae (Palmae) by Robert B. Hole, Jr., USA.

11 genera, 180 species, some differ from palms only in flower details, palm-like palmately divided leaves, terrestrial or epiphytic, New World tropics

3 genera, 500-600 species (may be fewer), mostly coastal, somewhat yucca-like, Old World tropics, Phillippines, Hawaii

110 genera, 1000 species, herbs and epiphytes, some tree-like

Family Lemnaceae (Duckweeds)

6 genera, 28 species, aquatic

Generally banana-like

45 genera, 2000 species, wind dispersed seeds, New World except Pitcarnia from Mt. Nimba in Africa

Banana-like, herbaceous

3 genera, 17 species, up to 50 feet tall, New and Old World

Family Heliconiaceae (Heliconias)

One genus, 100+ species, New World and south Pacific

Family Musaceae (Bananas)

Many species, Musa paradisiaca is sterile triploid with seedless fruit, Old World

Family Lowiaceae

One genus, 7 species, Archsantha, China, Malaysia, Pacific Islands

Family Zingiberaceae (Gingers)

47 genera, 1000 species, mostly Old World

Family Costaceae

4 genera, 150 species, pantropical but primarily neotropics

Family Cannaceae (Cannas)

One genus, 50 species, some edible, tropical and subtropical Americas

Family Marantaceae (Arrowroots)

30 genera, 400 species, pantropical, mostly neotropical

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Small family

Family Pontederiaceae (Water-hyacinth)

9 genera, 30 species, tropical and subtropical to warm temperate

Family Haemodoraceae

Red or orange sap

Family Cyanastraceae

Small family

Family Liliaceae (Lilies)

280 genera, 4000 species

Family Iridaceae (Irises)

80 genera, 1500 species, fan-like equitant leaves (in one plane), southern Africa, southern South America

Family Velloziaceae

6 genera, 250 species, mostly woody, southern hemisphere

Family Aloeaceae (Aloes)

5 genera, 700 species, primarily Africa

Family Agavaceae (Agaves)

18 genera, 1600 species, all with same chromosome number

Family Xanthorrhoeaceae

Small family

Family Stemonaceae

3 genera, 30 species, Asia, North America

Family Smilacaceae (Green-briers)

12 genera, 500+ species, Smilax itself has over 300 species, mostly woody, leaves with net veination, often included in Liliaceae but if Aloes and Agaves are given familial rank this family should be recognized as well

Family Dioscoreaceae (Yams)

6 genera, 630 species, vines, dioeceous, fruit a winged capsule, source of estrogen precursers used in birth control, related to Smilacaceae, though never (to my knowledge) lumped

"The epitome of specialization"

Montypic, Geosiris, endemic to Madagascar

Family Burmanniaceae

20 genera, 130 species, mostly small saprophytes, tropical

Family Corsiaceae

Two genera, 26 species, saprophytes, Chile and western Pacific

Family Orchidaceae (Orchids)

1000 genera, 15-20-30,000 species, tiny seeds, easily wind or bird disseminated, but if appropriate pollenating organism isn't in the new habitat it can't reproduce, intergeneric hybrids are a regular occurence, species may be "behaviorally" isolated but are not genetically isolated, endotrophic microrhysae, the most successful monocot group

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Mostly grass-like

16 genera, 100 species, primarily tropical South America, one species in western Africa

Family Xyridaceae (Yellow-eyed Grasses)

4 genera, 200 species, high elevations and tropical savanas, strong represented in southeastern U.S., southern Brazil and western Africa

Family Mayacaceae

One genus, 2 or 1 species, pink flowered aquatic "moss," tropical to warm temperate wetlands, Neotropics and western Africa

Family Commelinaceae (Spiderworts)

50 genera, 700 species, largest family in order, tropics to warm temperate areas

13 genera, 1200 species, one aquatic species in tropical South America, tropical, subtropical and warm temperate, southeastern U.S. southern Brazil and western Africa

Mostly Australia, but Pacific and south Brazil well represented

Family Centrolepidaceae

Only one in New World in southern Brazil

Heads small and compact

8 genera, 300 species, a couple woody members in southern hemisphere - Tierra del Fuego, Cosmopolitan

Family Thurniaceae

One genus, 3 species, eastern Amazon

Heads larger than Juncales

70 genera, 4000 species, Carex has 1000 species and is cosmopolitan itself

Family Poaceae (Gramineae) (Grasses)

785 genera, 10,000 species, 5 subfamilies

One genus, 13 species, Sparganium, monoeceous, aquatic, north temperate

Family Typhaceae (Cattails)

One genus, 10 species, rare in wet tropics, otherwise cosmopolitan