dicots

• Magnoliaceae

  • Considered the oldest family of angiosperms
• Magnoliaceae flowers

  • Typically have tepals, are bisexual, showy, fragrant, and exhibit radial symmetry
• Magnoliaceae inflorescence

  • Solitary, showy flower with indistinguishable petals and sepals
• Magnoliaceae seeds

  • Have a fleshy coat, color ranges from red to orange
• Magnolia flowers

  • Beetle-pollinated, carpels are thick to avoid damage by beetles
• Magnolioideae seeds

  • Bird-dispersed
• Liriodendron seeds

  • Wind-dispersed
• Inflorescence types


  • Raceme
  • Corymb
  • Umbel
  • Capitulum or head
  • Spike
  • Panicle
  • Cyme
  • Catkin
• Fruit types

  • Achene
  • Pome
  • Drupe
  • Follicle
  • Berry
  • Legume
  • Capsule
  • Nut
• Ranunculaceae plants

  • Mostly herbaceous, either annuals or perennials, some woody climbers
• Ranunculaceae flowers

  • Bisexual, some showy
• Ranunculaceae perennials

  • Form rhizomes that develop new roots each year, some develop root tubers
• Ranunculaceae pollination

  • Anemophily (wind pollination) and entomophily (insect pollination)
• Ranunculaceae chemical characteristic

  • All contain alkaloids, making them toxic
• Ranunculaceae plants

  • Yellow woodland anemone, Pilewort, Meadow buttercup
• Asteraceae inflorescence

  • In dense heads (capitula), name refers to star-like form
• Asteraceae crops and herbs

  • Lettuce, artichoke, sunflower, chamomile, Echinacea
• Chamomile use

  • Used in herbal teas and potpourri
• Echinacea use


  • Used as a medicinal tea
• Asteraceae ornamental and invasive plants

  • Daisies, chrysanthemums, dahlias, ragweeds, thistles, dandelion
• Fagaceae trees

  • Beeches and oaks
• Fagaceae flowers

  • Unisexual, in the form of catkins, wind-pollinated
• Fagaceae fruits

  • Cup-like nuts with a cupule
• Fagaceae leaves

  • Often lobed
• Oak fruits

  • Acorns, usually containing one seed, with a husk forming a cup
• Fagaceae significance

  • Serve as wildlife fodder
• Fagaceae trees

  • Oak, sweet chestnut, beech
• Betulaceae plants

  • Deciduous nut-bearing trees and shrubs
• Betulaceae flowers

  • Catkins, often appear before leaves
• Common hazel


  • Edible nuts, valuable food source
• Betulaceae trees

  • Popular ornamental trees, planted in parks and gardens
• Betulaceae wood

  • Hard, tough, and heavy, used for water wheels, cog wheels, tool handles, chopping boards, and wooden pegs
• Betulaceae trees

  • Birches, alders, hazels, hornbeams
• Salicaceae

  The willow family of flowering plants
• Salicaceae plants

  • Willows, poplar, aspen, cottonwoods
• Caryophyllaceae

  Also known as the "pink family" or "carnation family"
• Caryophyllaceae flowers

  • Hermaphroditic (bisexual), often monoecious, located terminally
• Caryophyllaceae plants

  • Include both ornamental plants and widespread weeds
• Caryophyllaceae ornamental plants

  • Carnations, silene
• Papaveraceae plants

  • Lactiferous, producing latex