Plant Biodiversity and Ecology: Eudicots: Asterids Ericaceae Asclepidaceae Boraginaceae Lamiaceae

Ericaceae – Heath Family Mostly red or white bell-shaped flowers Parts in 4’s or 5’s Evergreen leaves Many are shrubs or sub-shrubs Sympetalous corolla Usually poricidal stamens 106 genera / ca. 3,355 species

Ericaceae

Ericaceae anther development

Rhododendron

Arbutus unedo Strawberry Tree

Ceratiola ericoides

Corema conradii

Epacris longifloraErica centranthoides

Kalmia latifolia

Monotropa uniflora mycotrophic – obtaining nutrition from mycorrhizal fungi

Pyrola rotundifolia

Rhododendron maximum

Rhododendron occidentale

Vaccinium corymbosum L. - highbush blueberry

Vaccinium erythrocarpum

Vaccinium macrocarpon -Large Cranberry

Xylococcus bicolor

Asclepidaceae – Milkweed Family Milky sap Opposite leaves Big follicle fruits Irregular crown-like flowers 5 stamen, petals, sepals, 2 carpels

Asclepidaceae

Asclepias speciosa – showy milkweed

Asclepidaceae flowers

Asclepidaceae fruit - follicle

Monarchs feed on milkweeds Produce cardiac glycosides Monarch larvae is unaffected and incorporates into its tissue

Boraginaceae Hairy plants Flower parts in 5’s Fruit is schizocarp of 4 nutlets Herbs with simple, spiral leaves Helicoid or scorpioid cyme infloresences

Helicoid cyme

Scorpioid cyme

Echium

Lamiaceae Square stems Opposite leaves Usually aromatic herbs Thyrse inflorescence [flowers solitary and axillary in some] Bilabiate flowers Fruit a schizocarp of usually 4 nutlets

Lamiaceae Economic Plants Mentha, mint Ocimum, basal Rosmarinus, rosemary Salvia, sage Thymus, thyme Lavandula, lavender Pogostemon, patchouli

Leaves opposite; stems 4-sided

Lamiaceae

Inflorescence a thyrse or verticillaster (usu.)

Flowers zygomorphic; corolla sympetalous, bilabiate

Lamiaceae – Bilabiate corolla

Lamiaceae- Four Nutlets

Lamiaceae – Didynamous Stament

Lamiaceae in fruit

Fruit a schizocarp of usually 4 nutlets

Ocimum basilicum BASIL

Rosmarinus officinalis - rosemary

Salvia apiana White sage

Scrophulariaceae Irregular flowers w/ 3 lobes up and 2 lobes down Capsules with numerous seeds Usually opposite leaves Usually 5 merous flowers Fruit is a capsule, berry, or schizocarp

Scrophulariaceae

Digitalis purpurea

Zygomorphic flowers

Side view of Scrophulariaceae flower

Fruits - Capsules

Castilleja coccinea

Castilleja flowers

Linaria vulgaris – Butter and Eggs and the related Dalmatian Toadflax Invasive Plant

Pedicularis groenlandica

Verbascum thapsus – Common mullein