Botany Genus & Family Terms and Definitions
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Complete list of Terms and Definitions for Botany Genus & Family Terms and Definitions

Terms Definitions
Campanulaceae Herbs rarely shrubs or small trees with showy, bisexual actinomorphic or zygomorphic, epigynous 5 merous flowers with epipetalous stamens and a capsular fruit
Lycopodium With Charaters of Lycopodiaceae
equisetaceae Rhizomatous perennials with upright annual or perennial stems Stems jointed and hollow overlaid with silica Leaves small, not photosynthetic, forming a sheath at each node Branches in whorls Sperm multiflagellate
Euphorbiaceae herbs, shrubs or trees often with milky sap and unisexual flowers bearing a superior, usually trilocular ovary
Ericaceae Mostly Woody shrubs, with evergreen or deciduous leaves and urceolate or campanuate flowers bearing distinct stamens often twice the number as the petals, the flowers are usually polypetalous, rarely sympetalous
Brassicaceae herbs with odorous, watery juice, 4 sepals and petals (frequently clawed) 6 stamens (tetradynamous)
Picea Needles square in cross section, stiff with sharp tips, attached singly, spirally arranged Branch rough when needles are removed Cones pendant, with persistent scales much exceeding the bracts; scales jagged, thin and hanging down
Taxus Leaves linear and flattened, usually spirally arranged Seed surrounded by a bright red aril
Rubiaceae Herbs, shrubs, trees or lianas with 4 or 5 merous flowers with as many stamens as corolla lobes and alternate with them on an inferior, bilocular ovary
Oxalidaceae herbs or shrubs with 5 merous flowers and 10 basal united stamens with 5 styles Leaves alternate or basal, generally palmately compound, estipulate or with very small stipules
Salicaceae Deciduous, dioecious, catkin bearing trees or shrubs with tufted seeds Leaves usually alternate, simple, stipules are frequentlyfragile
Urticaceae Trees or herbs occasionally with stinging hairs, cymose inflorescences on short axillary shoots of numerous flowers and a unilocular ovary with a single style
Cucurbitaceae Herbs with tendril-bearing vines, generally yellow, unisexual flowers and an inferior ovary Leaves alternate, often lobed, estipulate
Violaceae herbs, shrubs or small trees with zygomorphic 5-merous flowers bearing a spur and 5 stamens Leaves usually alternate, simple or compound, stipulate
Rhamnaceae Shrubs or trees with flowers in cymes, umbels, spikes. capitula, or panicles, frequently with a disc. In many of ours the petals are dipper shaped Leaves alternate or opposite, stipulate
Viscaceae Harbaceous or shrubby parasites with flowers in small cymes or spikes
Thuja Leaves small, almost scale-like, decussate Twigs and leaves occur in flattened sprigs that are typically aligned vertically Ovulate cones more or less rose-bud shaped (or bell-shaped), with flexible scales
Fumariaceae Herbs with watery sap, generally dissected leaves and zygomorphic flowers with deciduous sepals, paired petals and a compound ovary Leaves alternate or basal, simple or compound, estipulate CA2 COz2+2 A6 GS(2); fruits capsules or nuts
Chamaecyparis Leaves small, scale-like, sharp-pointed and decussate, in flattened, fan-like sprays Ovulate cones globose , with hard or leathery scales Leaves small and scale-like, flattened Branches flattened into fan-like sprays Ovulate cones duck-bill shaped ( urceolate ), stalked and at the end of lateral branches
Myricaceae Shrubs or trees with flowers in unisexual spikes Leaves alternate, punctate, aromatic usually estupilate
Caprifoliaceae Herbs, shrubs or sometimes lianas with 4 or 5 merous flowers, epigynous flowers and a multicarpellate inferior ovary
Juniperus Leaves scale-like or subulate , dimorphic Ovulate cone forming an indehiscent, usually colored berry-like “fruit” with 1-10 seeds
Abies Needles flat, single, not in fascicles, 2-ranked, sometime spirally arranged Attached directly to the twigs, leaving a round, smooth scar upon falling Ovulate cones erect
Oleaceae Ash Family Lianas with 4-merous flowers bearing 2 stamens and a 2 locular ovary with 2 seeds in each locule
Scrophulariaceae Herbs or shrubs (sometimes semiparasitic) with 5 merous, zygomorphic, bilabiate flowers bearing 2 or 4 functional stamens and a staminode a 2-locular ovary with a terminal style and numerous ovules
Betulaceae Deciduous trees or Shrubs with staminate flowers in catkins leaves alternate, simple, serrate
Aristolochiaceae Herbs, shrubs or woody vines Leaves alternate, simple, often cordate, estipulate CA or z 3 rarely 4 C0-0(3) A4-many GI(3-6); fruits capsules
Asteridae Most have sympetalous flowers and epipetalous stamens that alternate with and are the same number or fewer than the corolla lobes.
Polemoniaceae Herbs or shrubs with 5 merous flowers consisting of a united calyx and a united corolla bearing 5 stamens attached to the corolla lobes at various levels and 3 stigmas
Papaveraceae Herbs with milky or colored sap, bisexual flowers with deciduous sepals and numerous stamens in several whorls Leaves alternate or basal, simple or compound, estipulate CA2-4 C04or6(8, 12, 16, or 0) A-many GS(2-many); fruits capsules
Convolvulaceae Morning Glory herbs, shrubs with the sap somewhat milky 5 merous flowers and a contorted corolla (twisted in bud) with 5 epipetalous stamens ans a 2 carpellate ovary with 1-2 ovules
Hydrophyllaceae Herbs with 5 merous flowers in helicoid cymes, fused sepals and petals a bicarpellate unilocular ovary and typically exserted stamens Leaves alternate or basal (rarely opposite) entire or divided
Lycopodiaceae Lack true roots Leaves small, crowded homosporous with sporangia borne on sporophylls and frequently clustered in terminal strobili Gametophytes bisexual, subterranean and mycotrophic or above ground and photosynthetic sporophyls similar to the vegitative leaves or modified
Cornaceae Dog Wood Family Trees, shrubs or rarely perennial herbs with 4 or 5 merous flowers and the stamens alternating with the petals and an inferior ovary
Pseudotsuga Needles flat on short stalks that leave an oval scar on the branch when removed Cones pendulous near the ends of branches, with conspicuous 3-lobed bracts extending beyond the scales
Apiaceae Frequently odorous herbs often with hollow stems and 5 merous flowers born in generally compound umbels. Two one-seeded mericarps collectively form a schizocarp, these are often variously ribbed or winged
Fagaceae Trees or shrubs with unisexual flowers and the fruit subtended by a cupule Leaves alternate, simple, stipulate
Caryophyllidae plants with bitegmic, crassinucellarr ovules with either betalains instead of anthocyanins, or free central or basal placentation in compound ovary. Most are herbaceous and those that are woody have anomalous secondary growth.
Apocynaceae Trees, shrubs or herbs with milky sap and 5 merous flowers producing tufted seeds Leaves opposite or whorled, estipulate
Cupressaceae Low and spreading shrubs to small trees, evergreen, monoecious or dioecious Leaves decussate or in whorls, often needle-like in juvenile vegetation Cones small, solitary, axillary or terminal on short shoots, woody, leathery or berry-like, the cone-scales opposite or in whorls of 3s, the ovules usually several per scale; cotyledons usually 2.
Gentianaceae herbs, rarely shrubs, with 4 or 5 merous flowers bearing 4-5 stamens alternating with the petals and a bicarpellate superior ovary Leaves opposite, basally connate, estipulate
Clusiaceae St Johns Wort Herbs, shrubs or trees with yellow flowers and numerous stamens. Leaves opposite, often glandular - doted (punctate - can see holes)
Celastraceae Shrubs, lianas or trees with flowers typically in cymose clusters Leaves opposite or alternate, simple stipules small and deciduous or absent
Saxifragaceae perennial herbs with perigynous, 5 merous flowers Leaves alternate, simple or compound, usually estipulate
Malvaceae Herbs or shrubs with stellate pubescence, frequently showy flowers and stamens united by the filaments and a pistil of many carpels. Leaves alternate, palmately _ veined, usually stipulate
Lamiaceae Herbs or shrubs with 4 angled stems, 5 merous zygomorphic, typically bilabiate flowers with a deeply 4 lobed ovary bearing a basally attached style frequently arranged in verticillasters
Araliaceae Herbs, shrubs, vines or trees with small actinomorphic flowers arranged in simple umbels Leaves often large, simple and lobed or compound, alternate, stipules small
Magnoliidae Apocarpous Gynoecium and numerous stamens in a centripetal sequence (i.e., development from the outside toward the inside or from the apex to the base) Petals are free Some with vesselless wood, laminar stamens and more than two cotyledons Many have volatile oils
Polygonaceae herbs or sometimes shrubs or trees with swollen nodes, nodal pcrea or if not then with flowrs in involucreated heads, petaloid calyx segments and achenes Sheathing (ocrea)
Sarraceniaceae Insectivorous perennial herbs, with bisexual, actinomorphic flowers and a style forming and umbrella like structure Leaves basal, tubular or vaselike
Plantaginaceae Typically scapose herbs, rarely shrubs, with small flowers arranged in spicate or capitate inflorescences bearing 4 merous flowers with a membranous corolla and generally exserted stamens
Orobanchaceae Achlorophyllous, parasitic herbs with perfect flowers Leaves scale like, alternate, estipulate
Rosidae The stamens, when numerous, are usually initiated in a centripital sequence. Placentation s usually axile or marginal, seldom free-central or unilocular and basal
Pinus Needles fascicled in groups of 2-5 (sometimes 1) Female cones with scales exceeding bracts, woody and persistent
Taxaceae Low and spreading shrubs to small trees, evergreen, monoecious or dioecious Leaves linear, needle-like, spirally arranged Microsporangiophores small cones, scale-like or peltate with 2-8 pollen-sacs; megasporangiophores fleshy "cones" with decussate bracts and a single ovule, arillate ; cotyledons 2.
Anacardiaceae Resinous trees or shrubs with, 5 merous actinomorphic flowers and a unilocular ovary Leaves usually alternate, simple or compound with pinnate venation
Rosaceae Herbs, shrubs or trees with actinomorphis flowers with 5 sepals and petals and numerous stamsns typically with a hypanthium leaves usually alternate and stipulate, often serrate
Asclepiadaceae Milk weed herbs or shrubs with milky sap and 5 merous flowers with a distinct corona, pollinia, translators and corpuscula
Dilleniidae A more advanced group than the Mgnoliidae, its ovary is generally syncarpous, the stamens are numerous and arranged centrifugally. Some have parietal placentation and some are sympetalous and a few even with epiptalous stamens.
Berberidaceae Herbs or shrubs with biseriate stamens opposite the petals and anthers dehiscing by flaps Leaves alternate, simple or compound, generally estipulate CA6-9, usually 3+3 C06-9, usually 3+3 A6(4-18) GS(2-3); fruits berries
Portulaceae herbs with fleshy leaves, 2 typically persistent sepals, frequently deciduous petals and unilocular ovary bearing 2-5 styles Leaves alternate or opposite, simple estipulate or with mmbranous
Primulaceae Herbs with opposite, whorled or basal leaves, 5 merous flowers bearing united petals and 5 stamens opposite them, the numerous seeds with free central placentation
Chenopodiaceae Herbs or shrubs often succulent, halophytic and farinose with small greenish flowers not subtended by dry, scarious papery bracts
Pinaceae Short to tall, typically evergreen, resinous, monoecious trees with opposite or whorl branches Leaves linear and often needle-like, spirally arranged, typically in fascicles Male cones small, herbaceous Female cones usually woody with spirally arranged scales bearing 2 seeds per scale Seeds often winged; cotyledons several.
Boraginaceae Frequently hispid herbs, shrubs, vines or trees with 5 merous flowers in helicoid cymes, usully actinomorphic and bearing a 4 lobed, bicarpellate ovary with the style arising from among the lobes resulting in 4 nutlets and typically included stamens
Nymphaeaceae Aquatic herbs with long-petioled floating leaves arising from stout rhizomes and long-peduncled flowers bearing numerous parts
Fabaceae Trees, shrubs or herbs with papilionaceae flowers bearing 10 stamens Leaves pinnately or palmately compound or simple, alternate
Cuscutaceae Achlorophyllous thread like, leafless twining parasitic herbs with small flowers in stalked or sessile bractless clusters
Solanaceae Herbs, shrubs, vines or trees with actinomorphic 5 merous flowers with 5 stamens and a 2 locular ovary rarely pinnatisect Tomato, potato, chili and bell peppers
Caryophyllaceae herbs with swollen nodes and opposite leaves, the pistil free-central and the petals frequently "pinked"
Onagraceae herbs with 4 merous, rarely 2 merous flowers with a hypanthiuma nd an inferior ovary
Tsuga Needles flat, short petiolate , attached on opposite sides of the branches Twigs rough when leaves are removed Cones pendulous and terminal on the branches
Aceraceae Maple Trees and shrubs with actinomorphic flowers with a disc and a winged schizocarp Leaves opposite, simple or compound with palmate venation, esipulate
Lentibulariace Herbs mostly insectivorous with some aquatic Leaves alternate or basal often dimorphic and elaborate with air bladders
Viscaceae Herbaceous or shrubby parsites with flowers in small cymes or spikes Leaves opposite mostly green and photosynthetic, sometimes greatly reduced
Ranunculaceae Herbs with bisexual flowers of numerous spirally arranged parts Leaves usually alternate, simple or compound, estipulate CA3-many C00-many A-many GS3-many; fruits achenes follicles, berries, rarely capsules Ca 50 genera, 2000 species
Crassulaceae Succulent herbs or subshrubs with 4 or 5 merous flowers and carpels the same number as the petals
Geraniaceae Herbs or subshrubs with 5 merous flowers bearing stamens with basally united filaments and frequently clawed petals Leaves alternate or opposite, simple or compound, usually stipulate
Grossulariaceae shrubs or trees, often spiny, with 5 merous flowes a petaloid calyx and an inferior ovary often deeply lobed
Santalaceae herbs, shrubs or trees usually semiparasitic on root of hosts with flowers solitary or in variable cymes or racemes
Hamamelidae the smallest subclass and filled wiht isolated, reictual families. Flowers often unisexual and arranged in catkins. the seeds are never numerous or the placentation parietal. The pollen usually small, smooth and windborne.