FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS

Transcription

1 Introduction to Wetland Plant Identification: FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS D. A. DeBerry, PhD, PWS, PWD 1 Family Characteristics Quick review: Why do we focus on families? Family tends to be the highest taxonomic level at which characters useful to genus and species identification are conserved For this reason, most plant manuals are arranged by family, with a key to the families in the front getting used to using the big key is important, but it can be fraught with wrong turns and dead ends Starting to think in terms of family characteristics will cut down on the time investment needed to become proficient at species identification, while still allowing the researcher to make the most of the effort This is essentially the definition of being efficient! 2 Divisions Recall also that we are interested in phylogeny, so the earliest ancestors come first, their evolutionary descendants next, and so on From most primitive to most advanced, the order that we now recognize is: Fern Allies Ferns Conifers (Gymnosperms) Magnoliids Monocots (True) Dicots FERNS AND FERN ALLIES Division: Equisetophyta, Lycopodiophyta, Pteridophyta 3 4

2 Equisetaceae Equisetaceae Horsetail Family (Scouring Rush) One of our most ancient lineages Rhizomatous (blackish) Stems upright, dark green, tubular with prominent siliceous ridges Unbranched, or more often branching Leaves whorled, scale like Sporangia in terminal cone like strobili 5 6 Lycopodiaceae Lycopodiaceae Clubmoss Family Trailing plants with lateral stems either underground or on the surface Leaves small, scale like, no veins (midrib only), evergreen Spores on leaf like structures or terminal strobili running pine 7 8

3 Ferns (Pteridophyta) Ferns (Pteridophyta) Ferns (Pteridophyta) Ferns (Pteridophyta) Aspleniaceae (Spleenwort Family) Athyriaceae (Lady Fern Family) Blechnaceae (Deer fern Family) Dennstaedtiaceae (Bracken Family) Dryopteridaceae (Wood fern Family) Onocleaceae (Sensitive Fern Family) Ophioglossaceae (Adder s Tongue Family) Osmundaceae (Royal Fern Family) Thelypteridaceae (Marsh Fern Family) 11 12

4 CONIFERS (Gymnosperms) Major Plant Divisions General Characteristics Division: Coniferophyta 13 Cupressaceae (Cedar Family)

5 Pinaceae (Pine Family) Monocots and Dicots Recall the major differences between monocots and dicots Pinus palustris (Longleaf pine) 18 Phylogeny Also recall that we have a group of dicots that are primitive that is, they evolved early in the evolutionary lineage MAGNOLIIDS Subclass: Magnoliidae 19 20

6 Key Characteristics of Magnoliidae The Magnoliids are dicots with some monocot like characteristics, including: Flowers in 3 s Pollen grains with one pore Other characteristics include: Trees and shrubs 2 cotyledons Flowers with spirally arranged tepals Leaves are net veined Magnolia Family Flowers in 3 s Magnoliaceae Petals and sepals difficult to differentiate tepals Fruit an aggregate that resembles a cone Stipule scars encircling the twig Typical species: Magnolia virginiana sweet bay Magnolia grandiflora southern magnolia Liriodendron tulipifera tulip tree Magnoliaceae Lauraceae Laurel Family Flowers with 6 tepals Fruit is a drupe (like cherry) with a pit or stone Leaves and other plant parts are aromatic when crushed Typical species: Sassafras albidum sassafras Lindera benzoin spicebush Persea palustris red bay 23 24

7 Lauraceae Annonaceae Custard Apple Family Flowers in 3s Fruit an aggregate, sometimes appearing as a single syncarp (like paw paw) Plants usually aromatic Typical species Asimina triloba paw paw Annonaceae MONOCOTOLYDONS Class: Liliopsida 27 28

8 Alismataceae Alismataceae Arrowhead Family Herbaceous Aquatic and marsh species Basal leaves Flowers white, in 3s, in a cyme like inflorescence with flowers in whorls at the nodes Typical species: Alisma subcordatum water plantain Sagittaria latifolia arrowhead Sagittaria lancifolia bulltongue Smilacaceae Smilacaceae Greenbrier Family Herbaceous or woody climbing vines, from thick rhizomes Stems often armed with prickles Fruit a berry Plants dioecious One genus (Smilax) in our region with 13 species (+/ ) in Virginia Typical species Smilax rotundifolia roundleaf greenbrier Smilax bona nox saw greenbrier Smilax glauca catbrier Smilax laurifolia laurel leaf greenbrier 31 32

9 Liliaceae Liliaceae Lily Family Perennial herbaceous plants, usually from bulbs, corms, or tubers Flowers often showy Leaves linear or sword shaped Fruit a capsule or berry Typical species Allium vineale wild garlic Lilium superbum turk scap lily Medeola virginiana Indian cucumber Trillium pusillum var. virginianum least trillium Erythronium americanum trout lily Orchidaceae Orchid Family Extremely diverse group (most diverse in the world with 19,500 species) Zygomorphic flowers highly variable and highly specialized Two ranked leaves, often basal Typical species Cypripedium acaule pink lady slipper Goodyera pubescens rattlesnake plantain Tipularia discolor cranefly orchid Platanthera lacera green fringed orchid Isotria medeoloides small whorled pogonia 35 Flower structure Orchidaceae 36

10 Orchidaceae Iridaceae 37 Iris Family Perennial herbaceous plants from rhizomes, bulbs, or corms Leaves equitant (fan like) Flower parts all look like petals, very showy Fruit a capsule Typical species Iris virginica blue flag Iris pseudacorus yellow flag Sisyrinchium mucronatum blue eyed grass 38 Iridaceae Commelinaceae Spiderwort Family Alternate, succulent herbaceous plants with mucilaginous stems Leaf sheath tubular and closed around the stem 3 petals, often blue, flowers subtended by a boat shaped spathe or leafy bracts Typical species Commelina communis Asiatic dayflower Commelina virginica Virginia dayflower Murdannia keisak marsh dewflower 39 40

11 Commelinaceae Pontederiaceae Pickerel weed Family Perennial, aquatic herbs with thick rootstocks Perianth petaloid Typical species Pontederia cordata pickerelweed Heteranthera dubia grassleaf mudplaintain Eichhornia crassipes water hyacinth Pontederiaceae Juncaceae: General Characteristics Stems: solid, mostly round ( rushes are round ) Leaves: few leaves, mostly basal or reduced to sheaths (bracts can appear as leaves), some leaves cylindrical and chambered (septate) Flowers: regular, 3 sepals and 3 petals very similar in appearance so often called tepals, 3 or 6 stamens Fruits: capsule with several minute seeds 43

12 Juncaceae: Structure Inflorescence Cymose Ovary Tepals Capsule Seed Culm (Stem) Round Septate leaves Roots Rhizomes Fibrous Juncaceae: Structure Juncaceae: Structure Juncaceae: Structure

13 Cyperaceae: General Characteristics Stems: solid, triangular ( sedges have edges ) Leaves: 3 ranked, closed sheaths, ligule usually absent Flowers: inconspicuous in axils of overlapping scales, arranged in spikelets, perfect or imperfect, spikelets organized into spikes, 2 or 3 stamens,1 pistil with 2 or 3 stigmas Fruits: lens shaped (lenticular) or triangular (trigonous) nutlet (achene) Cyperaceae: Structure Inflorescence Spikelet Scales Spikes Nutlet (Achene) Perigynium (Carex) Bristles Culm (Stem) Triangular, basal leaves Roots Rhizomes Fibrous Cyperaceae: Structure Cyperaceae: Structure

14 Cyperaceae: Structure Poaceae: General Characteristics Stems: jointed at swollen nodes, hollow, round Leaves: 2 ranked, ligule, sheaths split down the stem Flowers: inconspicuous with 2 3 small scales (lodicules), usu. 3 stamens and 1 pistil, 2 bracts (lemma and palea), floret (all of above), spikelet [2 glumes (sterile bracts) + floret(s)] Fruits: caryopsis ( seed, or more appropriately grain ) Poaceae: Structure Inflorescence Panicle Raceme Spike Poaceae: Structure Culm (Stem) nodes + internodes Blade and sheath Ligule Roots Rhizomes Fibrous Stolons

15 Poaceae: Structure Poaceae: Structure Poaceae: Structure Poaceae: Structure

16 Poaceae: Structure DICOTOLYDONS (in part) Class: Magnoliopsida 62 Apiaceae Apiaceae Parsley Family Herbs with stout, often hollow stems and compound, often dissected leaves Leaf bases have enlarged sheaths Inflorescense arranged in umbels, flowers with 5 petals Foliage often aromatic Inferior ovary Cicuta (water hemlock) Conium (poison hemlock) Daucus (Queen Anne s lace) Eryngium (eryngo) Foeniculum (fennel) Hydrocotyle (water penny) Sanicula (snakeroot) 63 64

17 Asteraceae Asteraceae Aster Family Second most diverse group (19,000 species worldwide) Also called the composites due to flower structure Herbs or occasionally shrubs Leaves simple, often dissected, often in basal rosettes 5 merous flowers borne in heads surrounded by involucres of bracts, flowers can be tubular or strap shaped (ray) Fruit an achene (dry seed) Ovary inferior, the calyx modified into a pappus of bristles, hairs, or scales Numerous species in Virginia Asteraceae Brassicaceae Mustard Family 4 merous flowers with erect, uniquely shaped fruits Silique elongated, slender fruit Silicle flat, rounded or heart shaped fruit Inflorescence racemose Foliage often with a mustard odor Superior ovary Alliaria (garlic mustard) Arabidopsis (mouse ear cress) Barbarea (yellow rocket) Capsella (shepherd s purse) Cardamine (field cress) Lepidium (pepperweed) Nasturtium (watercress) Thlaspi (pennycress) 67 68

18 Brassicaceae Caprifoliaceae Honeysuckle Family Opposite leaved shrubs or vines with flexible stems due to the pith (spongy) Flowers typically with 4 5 petals united at the base and forming a tube; inflorescence a cyme Inferior ovary Lonicera (honeysuckle) Sambucus (elderberry) Triosteum (feverwort) Viburnum (viburnum) Caprifoliaceae 71 Ericaceae Heath Family Shrubs, typically in acidic soils Leaves coriaceous, sometimes evergreen, alternate, simple Flowers sympetalous (petals fused at least partly), 4 or 5 merous, urceolate (urn shaped) or campanulate (bell shaped), mostly white (sometimes shades of red) Inflorescence often racemose Fruit a capsule or berry (sometimes a drupe) Vaccinium (blueberry) Gaylussacia (huckleberry) Kalmia (mountain laurel) Lyonia (maleberry) Oxydendrum (sourwood) Rhododendron (azalea) Leucothoe (fetterbush) 72

19 Ericaceae Fabaceae Legume or Pea Family Herbs, shrubs, or trees Bacterial nodes on the roots (N fixing) Alternate, stipulate, compound leaves with entire margins Leaves either pinnate, palmate, or trifoliate compound Flowers generally zygomorphic (some actinomorphic), halfinferior (perigynous), sepals united, with 5 petals forming a distinctive banner, wings, and keel Stamens can be distinct or more often joined in a column (monodelphous or diadelphous) Fruit a legume (pea pod) or loment (tick trefoil) 73 Apios (groundnut) Cercis (redbud) Desmodium (ticktrefoil) Vicia (vetch) Trifolium (clover) Lespedeza (hop clover) Albizia (mimosa) Wisteria (wisteria) Chamaecrista (partridge pea) Lathyrus (beach pea) Medicago (black medic) Aeschynomene (joint vetch) Pueraria (kudzu) Aeschynomene virginica (Sensitive 74 Joint-vetch) Fabaceae Fabaceae 75 76

20 Lamiaceae Lamiaceae Mint Family Aromatic herbaceous to woody plants with square stems and opposite leaves Inflorescense cymose, sometimes congested into false whorls at the nodes Corolla sympetalous, with 2 lips ( bilabiate), the upper often with 2 lobes, the lower with 3 lobes Superior ovary Lamium (dead nettle Lycopus (bugleweed) Pycnanthemum (mountain mint) Salvia (sage) Scutellaria (skullcap) Mentha (peppermint) Glechoma (ground ivy) Ranunculaceae Ranunculaceae Buttercup Family Herbaceous plants (sometimes shrubs or vines), often with rhizomes or tuberous roots Leaves compound or dissected with sheaths at base of petiole Flowers with 5 parts Stamens numerous Fruit an aggregate Aquilegia (columbine) Caltha (marsh marigold) Clematis (clematis) Ficaria (lesser celandine) Hepatica (liverwort) Ranunculus (buttercup) Thalictrum (meadow rue) 79 80

21 Rosaceae Rosaceae Rose Family Herbaceous to woody plants often armed with thorns or prickles Alternate leaves, with stipules Flowers regular, with 5 parts Many stamens, usually in multiples of 5 Rosa (rose Rubus (blackberry) Prunus (cherry) Malus (apple) Crataegus (hawthorn) Geum (avens) Spiraea (meadowsweet) Potentilla (cinquefoil) Photinia (chokecherry) Rosaceae 83 Scrophulariaceae Figwort Family Mostly herbaceous (some woody) Flowers with a 5 parted, united corolla, zygomorphic and 2 lipped, calyx with 5 united sepals Corolla usually attractive, of various shapes Fruit a capsule Chelone (turtlehead) Mimulus (monkey flower) Penstemon (beardtongue) Verbascum (mullien) Paulownia (princess tree) 84

22 DICOTOLYDONS (in part) Tree Families OPPOSITE Only 4 tree families in our area that are opposite Aceraceae (Maple) Oleaceae (Ash) Cornaceae (Dogwood) Hippocastanaceae (Buckeye) ALTERNATE Trees found in many families (e.g., Fabaceae, Rosaceae, etc.) We ll focus on tree families with catkins Fagaceae (Oak) Juglandaceae (Walnut) Betulaceae (Birch) 85 Maple Family Aceraceae Trees or shrubs with opposite, simple, palmately lobed/veined (compound in some) Fruit a samara ( helicopter ) One genus Acer (maple) 86 Buckey Family Hippocastanaceae Trees with opposite, palmately compound, serrate leaves One genus Aesculus (buckeye) yellow buckeye (A. flava) painted buckeye (A. sylvatica) 87 Cornaceae Dogwood Family Shrubs and trees with opposite leaves (occasionally alternate) Leaves with curving veins Flowers 4 to 5 merous, stamens alternating with the petals Several have showy white bracts that look like petals (flowering dogwood) Inferior ovary, fruit a drupe or berry One genus Cornus (dogwood) 88

23 Oleaceae Olive (Ash) Family Shrubs and trees with opposite leaves, simple or pinnately compound (ash) Flowers 4 merous Twigs stout Fruit a samara (winged) Chionanthus (fringetree) Forsythia (forsythia) Fraxinus (ash) Ligustrum (privet) Syringa (lilac) Fagaceae Beech/Oak Family Leaves alternate, simple, with pinnate venation Monoecious; staminate flowers in catkins Fruit a nut with a cupule (like an acorn) Castanea (chestnut) Fagus (beech) Quercus (oak) Walnut Family Juglandaceae Trees with stout twigs Leaves aromatic, alternate, and pinnately compound Staminate flowers in catkins Fruit a nut surrounded by leathery husk Juglans (walnut) Carya (hickory) 91 Betulaceae Birch Family Trees and shrubs with alternate, simple, serrate leaves Twigs slender and often zigzag Staminate flowers in catkins Alnus (alder) Betula (birch) Carpinus (ironwood) Corylus (hazelnut) Ostrya (hornbeam) 92