PLANTS AND PEOPLE Biology – 328 Lab 4 – Major Families I

Objective To familiarize you with vegetative and floral morphology of 8 flowering families  Asteraceae  Apiaceae  Brassicaceae  Cucurbitaceae  Lamiaceae  Liliaceae  Rosaceae  Solanaceae

Asteraceae/Compositae – Sunflower family Flower - Head inflorescences (inflorescence consists of florets arranged on a common receptacle)  Florets are composed of a perianth (calyx + corolla), androecium, and gynoecium  Pappus (calyx modified as bristles, awns, scales)  Sympetalous (fused corolla)  Phyllaries or involucral bracts- whorl of green bracts constituting involucre  Synantherous - anthers (5 stamens) united into a tube, bicarpellate (2 carpels) with one inferior ovary and a two-branched style. Florets may be  Disk florets- actinomorphic (regular); bisexual; ray or ligulate florets, situated in the center of a head  Ray florets- zygomorphic (irregular); unisexual-pistillate; with a ligule  Ligulate florets- zygomorphic (irregular); bisexual; with a ligule; Based on type of florets, a head inflorescence may be a  Discoid head- disk florets only (e.g., Cirsium- thistle)  Radiate head- disk florets in the center; ray florets around the margin (e.g., Helianthus- sunflower)  Ligulate head- ligulate florets only (e.g., Pyrrhopappus- false dandelion)

Asteraceae/Compositae – Sunflower family

Apiaceae/Umbelliferae- Carrot and Parsley family Leaves - Dissected and very fine Flowers - Umbellate inflorescence (pedicel arises from a common point) Fruits - Schizocarp (dry fruit that splits at maturity into two or more closed, one- seeded parts)  Fruits posses aromatic oils

Apiaceae/Umbelliferae- Carrot and Parsley family

Brassicaceae/Cruciferae - Mustard family Flowers  Tetradynamous anthers – Out of six stamens, four are long Fruit  Silique – Made of 2 fused carpels that separate when ripe  Silicle – Smaller and shorter version of silique  Replum - The framework of some pods that remains after the valves drop off

Brassicaceae/Cruciferae - Mustard family

Lamiaceae/Labiatae-Mint family Leaf – Opposite leaf arrangement Flower  Didynamous anthers - Out of four stamens, two are long Fruit – Cluster of 4 tiny nutlets

Lamiaceae/Labiatae-Mint family

Lilaceae – Onion family

Rosaceae – Rose family Flowers represent three subfamilies SubfamilyOvaryCarpelsFruitExamples PrunoideaeSuperior Simple pistil Drupecherries, peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots, pluots, almonds MaloideaeInferior2-5Pomeapples, pears, quinces. RosoideaeSuperiorMany simple pistil Drupelet /achene rose hip, blackberry or raspberry

Rosaceae – Rose family

Solanaceae – Nightshade, tomato, and pepper family Flower  Actinomorphic/regular  Connivent androecium (ends inclined toward each other)  Poricidal dehiscence (pollen released though pores)  Wandering placenta (Tomato)

Solanaceae – Nightshade, tomato, and pepper family

CUCURBITACEAE- Cucumber, melon, and squash family Flower  Monoecious (male and female in separate flowers but within the same plant)  Presence of nectary disks in both male and female flowers Fruit  Pepo  Parietal placentation

Summary Today’s Lab Familiarizing vegetative and floral morphology of 8 flowering families Next week’s lab Quiz Field Trip: Mid-valley cotton gin