Plant Identification

Why do we identify plants?

MONOCOT DICOT Leaves with parallel veins Petals in multiples of three Vascular bundles in stems scattered Leaves with net-like veins Petals in multiples of four or five Vascular bundles form rings in stems

Plant Parts Important: Shoot Root Node Internode Leaf parts (more on those next)

Compound Leaves OR PINNATE

Leaf Monster

Grass Leaf Part Names

HEAD Inflorescence Types CYME CORYMB

Taxonomy LevelExample KingdomPlantae PhylumMagnoliaphyta ClassMagnoliopsida OrderSapindales FamilyAnacardiaceae GenusTaxicodendron Speciesradicans Scientific name

Scientific Names: Genus species Capitalized lower case Italics or Underlined

Plant Families You Need to Know LatinCommon TyphaceaeCattails JuncaceaeRushes CyperaceaeSedges PoaceaeGrasses FabaceaeLegumes AsteraceaeAsters AnacardiaceaeSumac

Typhaceae Typha angustifolia Narrow-leafed cattail Typha latifolia Broad-leafed cattail INVASIVE Leaves: - Strap-like - Helical twist Flowers: - Unisexual - Staminate above carpellate

Juncaceae Stems: - Round Leaves: - Usually only at the base -Two-ranked - Ligules absent, Auricle present Flowers: - Appear to come from the side of the stem (floral bract sticks up) Juncus effusus Common reed

Cyperaceae Stems: - Triangular (trigonous) Leaves: -Three-ranked - No Ligules Cyperus esculentus Yellow nutsedge

Poaceae Stems: - Round or oval Leaves: - Alternate - Open tubular sheaths - Usually have ligules Flowers: - Spikelets Leersia oryzoides Rice cutgrass

Fabaceae Leaves: -Compound - Stipulate - Margins entire Flowers: - Bilateral symmetry - “Banner” petals & “wing” petals Amorpha fruticosa False indigo Sweet Pea Flower- Example of a typical “fab” flower

Asteraceae Leaves: - Highly variable Flowers: - Compound “heads” - Ray flowers & Disc flowers Helianthus angustifolius Swamp sunflower

Aster Flowers

Anacardiaceae Leaves: - Usually alternate - No stipules - Simple, trifoliate, or oddly pinnate Toxicodendron radicans Poison ivy Toxicodendron vernix Poison sumac

Leaf Shapes

Margins

Grass

Life Cycles Annual Biennial Perennial