Estimated 620 plant families

Classification Domain Kingdom Phylum Class Order Families Genus Species

Our first family is one of the more common and most prevalent of the plant families.

Asteraceae Family Sunflower Family Characteristics Used to be called the composite family because of the flower heads Center is made of small disk flowers Seed gets papus

Asteraceae Family Sunflower Family Characteristics Leaves are alternate or opposite Leaves are Usually toothed, Lobed or divided

Brassicaceae family Mustard Family Characteristics Flower has 4 petals, not fused, making a cross from above, usually pink, white or yellow Leaf simple, alternate, often lobed, with pinnate venation (base of leaf clump)

Brassicaceae family Mustard Family Seed pod contains pith and splits in two Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale

Rosaceae family (Rose family) 5 petals and 5 sepals Base of flower is fused together to form a cup-like structure. Showy flowers with noticeable stamen

Rosaceae family Leaves have serrate edges Alternate or spiral on the stem with a stipule at the base

Example Plants Rose Hawthorn Apple, pear Blackberry, raspberry Strawberry, cherry

Fabaceae family Bean or pea family Symbiotic with nitrogen fixing bacteria 5 petals each with a specific name Flowers usually on stock with many flowers

Leaves are alternate or compound Often leaves end in tendrils Fruit is usually in a pod, like a pea pod

Fabaceae family Example plants Peas, beans Vetch Lupine Clover Lotus

Lamiaceae Family Mint Family Opposite Leaves symmetrical along central axis of stem Usually aromatic Flowers kind of look like little dragons Usually squared stems

Lamiaceae Family Mint Family Example Plants Peppermint Sage Basil Thyme Rosemary Lamium Lemon Balm

Apiaceae Family Carrot/Ginsing Family Hollow stems Alternate leaves, often dissected or lobed, with pinnate venation Flowers arranged in umbels or double umbels

Apiaceae Family Carrot/Ginsing Family 5 petals not fused Sepals reduced or absent Often poisonous Example plants: Queen Anne’s Lace, Carrot, Parsley, poison hemlock