“Plant Families” Acanthaceae to Araceae INTERIOR PLANTS “Plant Families” Acanthaceae to Araceae

ACANTHACEAE Tender Perennials Simple, opposite leaves Irregular, bilabate flowers on spikes or in clusters; obvious bracts Royal Plant Family for tropicals 240 genera; 2200 sp

Acanthaceae Pachystachy is an example of the spike flowers with obvious bracts, opposite leaves, and bilabate flowers.

AIZOACEAE Carpet-Weed Family or Mesembryanthus Family Leaves alt or opp, succulent and rock-like or scales Desert and seashore environs Leaves reduced and fleshy Daisy-like, stemless flower 100 genera, 600 species

AIZOACEAE Aptenia illustrates the daisy-like flower, fleshy leaves

AMARANTHACEAE Distributed widely in warm countries Brightly colored foliage Opposite or Alternate leaves Flowers are not usually important Easy culture, tend to be weedy

AMARANTHACEAE Iresine demonstrates the highly colored foliage and opposite leaf attachment as well as lack of attractive flowers.

AMARYLLIDACEAE Perennial herbs that have umbellate, paniculate or single flowers Fiberous root system or specialized such as corms, bulbs,rhizomes, etc Inferior ovary rather than the superior ovary in Liliaceae Six-merous, 90 genera, 1300 species

AMARALLIDACEAE Clivia illustrates the characteristics of a specialized root system and an umble flower

ARACEAE Aroid or Calla family; economically important Path and spadix flowers Calcium oxalate crystals are poisonous Flowers may be inconspicuous or very attractive

ARACEAE Spathyphyllum presents a creamy white flower which is an attractive version of the spathe and spadix flower. Low light levels and attractive foliage complete the look.

“Plant Families” Araliaceae to Asclepiadaceae INTERIOR PLANTS “Plant Families” Araliaceae to Asclepiadaceae

ARALIACEAE Herbs, shrubs, trees and vines, some with thorns Insignificant flowers Palmately lobed foliage Grown for medicinal and ornamental uses

ARALIACEAE This schefflera demonstrates palmately lobed foliage

ARAUCARIACEAE Evergreen trees with awl-like foliage, resinous Whorled branches with leathery leaves Deciduous cone Grown outdoors in Southern US

ARAUCARIACEAE This Norfolk Island Pine is very representative of this family.

ASCLEPIADACEAE Waxy flowers frequently on a vine Milky juice Opposite leaves, simple and entire Milky sap may be toxic

ASCLEPIADACEAE Hoya demonstrates both the waxy flowers and stiff foliage of this family.

“Plant Families” Begoniaceae to Bromeliaceae INTERIOR PLANTS “Plant Families” Begoniaceae to Bromeliaceae

BEGONIACEAE Palmately lobed leaves Alternate with a lopsided shape Swollen nodes with red color Succulent Attractive flowers Fiberous, rhizomatous, or tuberous

BEGONIACEAE This Angel Wing Begonia illustrates the succulent nature and swollen nodes of the family.

BIGNONIACEAE Opposite leaves which may be compound Showy flowers Small family including trees and shrubs

BIGNONIACEAE This China Doll illustrates the compound leaves

BROMELIACEAE Epiphytic Stiff or succulent leaves in rosettes, often spiney May hold water in a cup-like structure Showy bracts may persist

BROMELIACEAE The bracts on this Silver Vase provide color for several months after the small flowers are gone.

“Plant Families” Cactaceae to Cyperaceae INTERIOR PLANTS “Plant Families” Cactaceae to Cyperaceae

CACTACEAE Showy flowers Spines, areoles, glochids, and fleshy stems to conserve water Many native to demanding environments in the Americas 120 genera and 3 subfamilies

CACTACEAE Christmas Cactus illustrates the reduced leaves and stems.

COMMELINACEAE Alternate, clasping leaves with purple and olive colors Mucilaginous sap and flowers that may or may not be attractive 3-merous with knotty stems

COMMELINACEAE Wandering Jew is an excellent example of the highly colored leaves of the family.

COMPOSITAE (ASTERACEAE) Classic ray and disk flowers forming a thistle head Highly variable foliage Milky sap may be present Largest plant family with over 950 genera and 20,000 species

COMPOSITAE (ASTERACEAE) The purple pubescence on the Purple Passion Plant illustrates the variability of foliage.

CRASSULACEAE Succulent, fleshy leaves with a waxy bloom Insignificant flowers Simple, entire leaves Constant full sun for best growth

CRASSULACEAE Panda Paws is an example of the succulent foliage of this family.

CYCADACEAE Palm-like, pinnate leaves that are stiff and in rosettes Primative Heat tolerant Slow growing Ancient, dinosaur vintage

CYCADACEAE The cone-like fruiting structure demon-strates how primative cycads are.

CYPERACEAE Sedge-like plant with solid 3-angled culms Parallel veins Wet areas Flowers are inconspicuous and in terminal umbels

“Plant Families” Euphorbiaceae to Gesneriaceae INTERIOR PLANTS “Plant Families” Euphorbiaceae to Gesneriaceae

EUPHORBIACEAE Herbs, shrubs, and fleshy cactus-like succulents Flowers are inconspicuous and may have colorful bracts Milky juice Medicinal and ornamental uses

EUPHORBIACEAE The bright color foliage of the Croton is very indicative of this family.

GENTIANACEAE Temperate plants with variable leaves Flowers frequently blue and showy in terminal or axilary clusters 70 genera and 800 species Fruit is a capsule

GENTIANACEAE The Persian Violet is an excellent example of the blue flowers and attractive foliage of this family.

GESNERIACEAE Terrestrial and epiphytic plants Leaves simple and often covered with soft velvety hair Flowers are 5-merous and tubular to bell-shaped Stems are watery Rhizomatous, tuberous or prostrate

GESNERIACEAE African Violets display the velvety hair and watery stems of this family.