Monocots Notes for Plant Taxonomy (Bio 4420) at Utah State University

Origin and Characteristics Monophyletic Somewhere among Magnoliids and Palaeherbs Characteristics –Parallel venation (some have reticulate venation, ?reversals) –Single cotyledon –Scattered vascular bundles (also in Nymphaeaceae, Piperaceae) –Sieve cell plastids with several cuneate protein crystals (also in paleoherbs) –Adventitious roots –Leaves from basal primordium –Monosulcate pollen

Lineages within monocots Alismatales –Wetland and aquatic habitats Lilianae –Liliales –Asparagales Commelinanae –Arecales (Palms) –Bromeliales (Pineapples) –Juncales –Typhales –Commelinales –Phylidrales –Zingiberales (Ginger)

Lilianae Liliales –Nectaries at base of tepals or filaments –Extrorse anthers –Spots on tepals –Lack of phytomelanin Asparagales –Nectaries in septa of ovaries –Unspotted petals –Phytomelanin –Sometimes anomalous secondary growth

Liliales Liliaceae NEW –Bulbs or corms, contractile roots –Inflorescence terminal, determinate –Flowers conspicuous –Tepals often lined or spotted –Nectaries at base of tepals –Loculidal capsules –T6,A6,G(3) capsule or berry –Fritillaria, Erythronium, Lilium Melianthaceae (Death Camas) –Bulblike rhizomes –Toxic alkaloids –Inflorescence terminal, indeterminate –Flowers small –Anther sacs confluent, opening by single slit –Ventricidal capsules –Seeds winged or appendaged –T6,A6,G(3) capsules (T sometimes connate at base)

Liliales (cont). Calochortaceae –Bulbs/corms present –Flowers large –Capsules septicidal Other families –Trilliaceae –Colchicaceae “Uvulariaceae” –Rhizomes –Leaves sheathing at base –Inflorescence indeterminate –Tepals sometimes spotted –Nectaries at base of tepals –Filaments sometimes connate –Stigmas elongate –Capsules septicidal or loculicidal or berry Prosartes [=Disporum],

Asparagales Convallariaceae New Asphodelaceae New Agavaceae Alliaceae New Hyacinthaceae New Asparagaceae New Hemerocallidaceae New Amaryllidaceae Iridaceae Orchidaceae Convallariaceae