Eudicots Also known as “tricolpates” because of the unifying synapomorphy of pollen with three pores. 4 main groups “Basal Tricolpates” Caryophyllids Rosids Asterids The last two of these are enormous groups, containing well over half of the flowering plants.
Basal Tricolpates Familiar families include Ranunculaceae Berberidaceae Papaveraceae Platanaceae
Ranunculaceae – Buttercup family (47/2000) Ranunculus sp.
Ranunculaceae – diversity of flower shapes
Papaveraceae – Poppy family Bloodroot – Sanguinaria canadensis Fruit of opium poppy, Papaver somniferum
Other families of Basal Tricolpates Berberidaceae: Podophyllum peltatum Other families of Basal Tricolpates Platanaceae: Platanus occidentalis (sycamore)
Caryophyllid Clade Two large orders: Caryophyllales and Polygonales Long recognized as a close-knit group (Englerian order Centrospermae) Embryo curved around periphery of seed Betalain pigments in many families Important families include Caryophyllaceae Amaranthaceae Cactaceae Polygonaceae Droseraceae (sundews & Venus flytrap)
Caryophyllaceae – Pink family (70/2200) Herbs with opposite leaves, swollen nodes 5 sepals, 5 notched/jagged petals Free-central placentation; capsule Anthocyanins, not betalains
Amaranthaceae – Amaranth family (169/2360) Small inconspicuous flowers (bracts may be showy) Fruit an achene Includes: Weeds (pigweed, goosefoot) Edible plants (beet, spinach, grain amaranth) Ornamentals (Celosia, Gomphrena) Many salt-tolerant species (Salicornia)
Amaranthaceae Celosia sp. Amaranthus sp. (pigweed) Salicornia virginica (Glasswort)
Cactaceae – Cactus family (93/1400) Succulent stems, leaves reduced to spines Inferior ovary Classified in Caryophyllales based on embryo, betalains, many other characters. Native distribution in N & S America only.
Polygonaceae – Knotweed family (43/1100) Flowers uniseriate, often inconspicuous but sepals sometimes petaloid Stipule forming a tubular sheath (ocrea) above the node Includes: Weeds (Rumex) Crops (Buckwheat, rhubarb) Some shrubs or trees (Coccoloba)
Polygonaceae
Droseraceae