RANUNCULACEAE (Butter cup family)

CLASSIFICATION
B&H (Bentham & hooker system): dicotyledonea - Polypetalae - Thalamiflorae
–Ranales - Ranunculaceae
E&P (engler & prantal system): Archichlamydeae – Ranales – Ranunculineae –
Ranunculaceae
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS
Habitat: A north temperate family, in India restricted to hill tops.
Habit: Annual or perennial herbs or climbing shrubs (Narvelia).Rarely aquatic
(R. aquatilis) or under trees (Paeonia). Plants usually have acrid juice.
Leaves: Alternate or rarely opposite, exstipulate (stipular lobes in Thalictrum),
radicle (Anemone) or cauline (Narvelia).Leaf base sheathing and twisted.
Leaves usually compound or lamina dissected (entire in R. ficaria).
Inflorescence: Cyme (Ranunculus) racemes (Delphinium) or solitary (Clematis,
Anemone).
Flowers:Fairly large, showy, ebractate, acylic or hemicyclic, regular,
actinomorphic or zygomorphic(Delphinium) usually bisexual and hypogynous
(rarely unisexual in Thalictrum).
Calyx (K): Generally 5, imbricate, polysepalous and deciduous often distinction
between calyx and corolla not clear. Posterior sepal spurred in Delphinium. In
Nigella epicalyx like structures are seen.
Corolla (C): Equal to calyx, polypetalous, imbricate often honey leaves are
present (Delphinium) and sometimes petals are spurred. Corolla absent in
Clematis, Nigella, Thalictrum.
Androecium (A): Infinite, free, acyclic, dithecous, extrose and protrandrous
(mature before gynoecium).
Gynoecium (G): 1- infinite carpels (one in Actaea). Apocarpous, acyclic, ovary
superior with one to many ovules, placentation basal or marginal, style often
feathery, persistent and long. In Nigella 5 carpels re united at base.
Fruit: Etaerio of achenes (Ranunculus), follicles(Aconitum) or may be a simple
berry (Actaea)or capsule(Nigella). Persistent long hairy style is seen in
Clematis.
Seeds: have copious fleshy oily endosperm and embryo is minute.
F.F.-
AFFINITIES AND SYSTEMATIC POSITION
Affinities with Magnoliaceae
In structure of essential organs having numerous free stamens and numerous
free acyclic carpels. Ranunculaceae resembles Magnoliaceae. But it is readily
distinguished for has distinct stipulate leaves & woody tree habits.
RESEMBLANCE TO ROSACEAE
Numerous free stamens and numerous free carpels, it tends resemble
rosaceae, but in rosaceae in differentiated in having perigynous flowers and
cyclic arrangement of stamens and carpels.
RESEMBLANCE TO MONOCOTYLEDONS
In general habit and apocarpous nature, the family resembles monocotyledons
orders Alismaceae (Saggittaria family) and hydrocharitacea (Hydrilla
vallisneria). Hutchinson is of opinion that the primitive monocotyledon family
Alismaceae and hydrocharitacea might have evolved from Ranalian stock such
as Ranunculaceae. The link and close relationship with monocotyledons have
been established by the following facts.
1. Occurrence of creeping sympodial rhizome in many plants of
Ranunculaceae.
2. Short lived tap root and development of tuberous adventitious roots.
3. Presence of sheathing leaf base in Ranunculaceae.
4. Scattered vascular bundles in Cimicifuga and Anemone. In vascular
bundles of Ranunculus xylem, vessels have ‘V’ like appearance.
5. Free carpels and resemblance of flowers with Alismaceae.
6. Copious endosperm and minute embryo.
7. The presence of tubular cotyledonary sheath and union of 2 cotyledons
in Ranunculus ficaria indicate a probable affinity to monocots. The
cotyledonary sheath is pierced laterally during germination by plumule.
 This is a feature characteristic of monocots. In this plant lamina is entire
and is not dissected as in other plants of Ranunculaceae

PHYLOGENY
According to Hutchinson Ranunculaceae is a primitive family having originated
from gymnospermous stock and shows parallel development with
Magnoliaceae. It shows evolutionary progress through herbaceous families like
Nymphaceae, Papaveraceae, Cruciferae etc. Hutchinson is of opinion that

GYMNOSPERMOUS STOCK

RANUCULACEAE MAGNOLIACEAE

HERBACEOUS
WOODY DICOT FAMILIES
FAMILIES(NYMPHACEAE)

PRIMITIVE
MONOCOTS(ALISMACEAE)
primitive monocotyledonous families like Alismaceae and hydrocharitacea hve
evolved from ranalian stock such as Ranunculaceae.
EXAMPLES
Many plants contain strong narcotics and are extremely poisonous
1. Clematis gowriana-old man’s breed
2. Clematis wightiana
3. C. paniculata (garden plant)
4. Narvelia zeylanica: traveller’s joy (vathakodi, vathamkolli)
5. Ranunculus scleratus (Indian butter cup)
6. R. aquatilis
7. R. sub-pinnatus
8. Delphinium ajacis -ornamental plant
9. Nigella sativa (black cumin- karinmgeerakam) - used as condiment, used in
the treatment of common cold.
10. Aconitum ferox (wolf’s bane) from tuberous roots. Vachhang drug is
extracted & used in treatment of leprosy and cholesterol
11. Anemone japonica (Wind flower)- ornamental
12. Thalictrum javanicum (Meadow rue)-Medicinal
13. Aquilegia vulgaris
14. Helleborus niger (Christmas rose) - ornamental
15. Cimicifuga racemosa-medicinal
16. Caltha paulstris (March mare gold)
17. Paeonia peregrina
18. Myosurus minimus(mouse tail)
19. Adonis annua
MAGNOLIACEAE (MAGNOLIA FAMILY)
Classification
Thalamiflorae-Ranales-Magnoliaceae
Archichlamydeae-Ranales-Magnolimeae-Magnoliaceae
Lignosae-Magnoliales-Magnoliaceae
1) Habitat-small, tropical & sub-tropical family. Well represented in
[Link] & [Link]. Particularly absent in Europe, Africa and Australia
2) Habit- woody trees some times scandant shrubs. Herbs absent,oil
passage present in parenchyma --------- stem and leaves so plants are
aromatic
3) Stem-erect, woody and branched
4) Leaves- Evergreen, simple, alternate, leathery entire or palmately lobed
leaves with large convolute & deciduous stipules acting as bud scales
and ---------leave circular stipular scars . Rarely extipulate in Schisandra ,
Illicium, and Kadsura
5) Inflorescence-Mostly solitary or rarely in cymes or racemes
6) Flower-Large, showy, scented, bisexual or rarely unisexual. In
Schisandra, regular, slightly zygomorphic in Zygozynum, hypogynous,
mostly acyclic.
7) Perianth-feebly differentiated, ----numerous –outer 3 large inner 3,6 or
infinit , [Link] spirally arranged in alternating whorls ,
imbricate aestivation and highly [Link] ------------is gamophyllous
and petals are irregular
8) Androecium - numerous, free, spirally arranged, dithecous introse,
anther lobes linear, sessile or have short filaments , connective slightly
prolonged . In Schisandra stamens are monadelphous.
9) Thalamus: very prominent . It is elongated and cylindrical in Magnolia
and in Michelia, button shaped in illicium and in Michelia gynophore is
present.
10) Gynoecium: multicarpellary, apocarpous, overy superior and
carpwls spirally arranged. In Illicium there are 6/10 carpels which are
basally connate and arranged in a whorl. In zygogynum G is syncarpous.
 Ovules 1 to infinity are present per carpel attached to ventral suture and
placentation marginal, style in each carpal short and stigma simple.
11) Fruit: aggregate of follicles, dehising by dorsal suture (never
achenial as in Ranunculaceae)or aggregate of samara in Liriocdendrum,
aggregate of ………… in Schisandra or simple berry in zygosynum where G
is syncarpous
12) Seeds : have copious watery fleshy non-ruminated endosperm
and small embyo. Funicle slender, silky thread like and seeds pendulous
MENISPERMACEAE (MENIS: Crescent moon,
SPERMA: seed)
Moon seed family – seed bent into a crescent or are in ring shape
CLASSIFICATION
B&H (Bentham & hooker system): dicotyledonea - Polypetalae - Thalamiflorae
–Ranales - Menispermaceae
E&P (engler & prantal system): Archichlamydeae – Ranales – Ranunculineae
Menispermaceae
Hutch: Herbaceae - Berberidales – Menispermaceae
[70G, 400sp Laurance; 65G 350sp Willis]
GENERAL CHARACTERS
1. Habitat: Small tropical family. None indigenous to Europe, but are seen in
tertiary beds of Europe.
2. Habit: Woody scandant herbs or shrubs, often lianes (Anamirta) very rarely
trees e.g;Cocculus laurifolius(small tree).
3. Roots: Bitter tasting , some times assimilatory roots present in Tinospora.
4. Leaves: Simple, alternate, exstipulate, ovate,triangular or cordate,
peltate,palminerved, axillary buds are serially arranged.
5. Inflorescence: Clustered axillary cymes or panicles often cauliflorous.
6. Flowers: Small, inconspicuous(mostly greenish) typically unisexual and
dioecious (raely monecious in albertisia). Flowers regular, actinomorphic
,cyclic, hypogynous(rarely irregular and zygomorphic) in pistillate flowers of
cissampelos where single sepal is lateral.
7. Calyx: In 2 whorls of 3+3 or 2+2. Sepals are large, greenish, polysepalous,
imbricate, it is gamosepalous in Cyclea and single sepal of the femle flower
is lateral in cissampelos.
8. Corolla: 2 whorls of 3+3 or 2+2. Petals are generally smaller than
[Link] in Anamirta
9. Androecium: Equal to and opposite the petals . Stamens fused or united
into astaminal column in male flowers of cissampelos. Anthers dithecious
and extrose.
[Link]: Superior, apocarpous, tricarpellary or more . Rarely carpel
reduced to 1 in cissampelos.
[Link] carpel has one or two ovules on ventral suture of which only one ovule
develops and other is aborted. Style terminal but becomes lateral due to
curvature of ovary.
12.11. FRUIT: Mostly aggregated of drupes or sometimes aggregate of
achenes.
13.12. SEEDS: Single, horse-shoe shaped. Embryo large and
[Link] fleshy, non-ruminate or ruminate.
15. FLORAL FORMULA: K3+3 C3+3 A3+3 G0
16. K3+3 C3+3 A0 G3
17. PHYLOGENY: It is considered to be one of the most primitive of dicot
families because of hypogynous flowers, free floral parts and apocarpous
gynoecium. But it is specialized in some characters like Unisexual flowers,
Cyclic arrangement, fewer number of androecium and gynoecium and
reduction in the number of ovules. So it is fairely advanced among Ranales.
[Link] WITH ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE:
19.1. Tinospora cordifolia - Aurvedic decoitions.
20.2. Tinospora sinensis - Used in indigenous medicine
21.3. Cocculus villosus /C. hirsutus - Roots a substitute of Sarasa parailla (
)
22.4. Cissampelos pareira -
23.5. Anamirta cocculus (syn) A. paniculata –
[Link] as fish poison, seeds yield oil used for skin diseases.
25.6. Tiliacora acuminata -
26.7. Cyclea peltata - Medicinal
27.8. Coscinium fenestratum (syn) Menispermum fenestratum -
28. Medicinal.
29.9. Pachygone ovata -
POLYGALACEAE (Milk Wort Family)

Poly=Many; gala=milk – the allusion is that it increases secretion of milk when

plants are eaten.
• Bentham & Hooker (B&H) classification: Dicotyledonae – Polypetalae –
Thalamiflorae – Polygalales – Polygalaceae.
• Engler &Prantle (E&P) classification: Archichlamydeae – Geraniales –
Polygalineae – Polygalaceae.

Diagnostic characters:
1. HABITAT: Cosmopolitan, except in NewZeland & Polar regions.
2. HABIT: Herbs, shrubs or small trees ( xanthophyllum).
3. LEAVES: Simple, Usually exstipulate, entire, alternate, opposite or whorled.
4. INFLORESCENCE: Solitary, axillary or terminal racemes, spikes or panicles.
5. FLOWERS: Small, bisexual ( ) , hypogynous, medianly zygomorphic.
6. CALYX: 5 Imbricate, persistant, polysepalous. Two posterio-lateral sepals are
petaloid and wing like, odd sepal is posterior (odd sepal is anterior in
leguminosae).
7. COROLLA: 3 Petals, 2 anterio- lateral petals are suppressed. The anterior
most petal is keel shaped and fringed. Polypetalous, Usually Imbricate ( in
Papilonaceae keel petal is double structure formed of fusion of 2 petals).
8. ANDROECIUM: 8 Stamens, median stamens of posterior and anterior sides
are suppressed. All stamens are fused to form a stamina tube and it open on
posterior side. Fusion of stamens is from centre to the base. Anthers
dithecous, pollen grains are ellipsoidal with coarse pitting at poles, have
longitudinal bands and an equatorial ring. According to
“pollen grains afford surest mark of distinction of this family”.
9. DISC: Disc with in staminal whorl annular disc is present.
10. GYNOECIUM: Ovary superior, bicarpellary (Monocarpellary in
Papilionaceae). Carpels medially placed, syncarpous, bilocular with solitary
pendulous ovules on axile placenta.
11. FRUITS: Capsule with persistant calyx.
12. SEEDS: Pilose (hairy) has micropylar caruncle functioning as an eliasome
(oil containing body). Embryo large and straight. Endosperm scanty or absent,
if present it is fleshy.

AFFINITIES
1. Shows superficial resemblance to Papilionaceae by having winged
sepals, keel petal and adelphous nature of stamens. But these structures
are not homologous. It is differentiated from Papilionaceae by the
following :
(a). Wings of Polygalaceae are only lateral sepals, where as they are petals
in Papilionaceae.
(b). Keel is anterior most petal, where as in Papilionaceae it is a double
structure formed by fusion of 2 anterior petals.
(c). Odd sepal is anterior in Papilionaceae and is posterior in Polygalaceae.
(d). pollen grains are peculiar in Polygalaceae (Explain).
(e). Ovary superior, Bicarpellary, Bilocular with axile placentation and have
solitary ovules per carpel. In Papilionaceae ovary is half inferior,
Monocarpellary, Unilocular with marginal placentation having numerous
ovules. Style bent and stigma feathery. Stigma of Polygalaceae is often
spoon shaped.
(f). Fruit is a legume in Papilionaceae and is a capsule in Polygalaceae.
(g). Seeds have caruncle in Polygalaceae.

EXAMPLES:
1. Polygala chinensis – Roots medicinal, leaves cooked.
2. Polygala elongata – Yellow flowers- Calicut University Campus.
3. Polygala senega – Senega snake root – medicinal.
4. Xanthophyllum flavescens – Common in our forest,
branches used by Mahouts. Leaves as manure.
5. Salomonia cilicata – Only 4 stamens present.
CARYOPHYLLACEAE or SILENACEAE
(Pink Family)
CLASSIFICATION :
B&H: Polypetalae – Thalamiflorae – Caryophyllineae –
Caryophyllaceae.
E&P: Archichlamydeae – Centrospermae – Caryophyllineae – Caryophyllaceae.
Hut: Dicotyledonae – Herbaceae – Caryophyllales – Caryophyllaceae.

IMPORTANT CHARACTERS
1. HABITAT: North temperate (chief centre Mediteranian). In India, restricted
to hill tops or during winter occurs in plains.
2. HABIT: Annual or perennial herbs, nodes are often swollen.
3. LEAVES: Simple, opposite, sessile, generally exstipulate leaves. Lamina
usually narrow , leaf base perfoliate (base winged and fused). Of the two
opposite leaves at a node often one develops earlier and more vigoursly than
the other and this leaf only bears axillary bud and develops a branch.
4. INFLORESCENCE: Axillary or terminal dichasial cymes ending in monochasial
cymes (Cincinnus or Caryophyllaceae type of inflorescence). Rarely flowers
solitary in Githago , Arenaria etc.
5. FLOWERS: Bisexual, regular, actinomorphic, hypogynous, bracteates,
dichlamydeous and typically pentamerous and flowers are often showy.
6. CALYX: 5, small, polysepalous or basally connate, persistant and often
quincuncial.
7. COROLLA: 5, polypetalous, sessile, small and non-clawed in Trib Alsinoideae
(open flower type) or 5 clawed and Caryophyllaceous in Tribe Silenoideae
(closed type). Petals are notched in Stellaria. It is apetalous in Sagina.
8. ANDROECIUM: 5 or 5+5 diplostemonous (outer whorl of stamen opposite to
sepals , inner whorl stamens opposite to the petals) or apparently
obdiplostemonous due to pushing out of upper region of inner antipetalous
whorl. In Alsinoideae (open type) there is only one whorl of stamens. Stamens
free or basally connate. Anthers dithecous.
9. GYNOECIUM: Ovary superior, usually penta carpellary, syncarpous,
Unilocular with numerous camphylotropous ovules arrange in 5 double rows
on free central placentum or basally 2-5 locular with axile placentation or
sometimes ovules are reduced to one and appears basilar. In Tribe Alsinoideae
style is equal to number of carpels and free. Stigma is along inner surface of
style.
10. FRUIT: Unilocular capsule with apical valves and persistant calyx.
11. SEEDS: Numerous with large peripheral curved embryo having
perisperm. Micropyle develop from inner integument.
FLORAL FORMULA: K5 C5 A5+5 G(5) Or(3)

EXAMPLES:
Only have very little economic importance. Some are grown for ornamental
purposes and few are medicinal.
1. Dianthus chinensis - China pink.
2. D. plumarius – Pink.
3. D. caryophyllus – Carnations.
4. D. barbatus - Sweet William.
5. Drymaria cordata – Weed.
6. Saponaria vaccaria – Cow cockle, a weed.
7. Saponaria officinalis – Soap wort. Roots, leaves contain saponin and
used as soap substitute. It yields lather when rubbed with water.
8. Stellaria media – Chic weed.
9. Spergula arvensis – Spurry, a weed.
10. Gypsophila elegans – Baby’s - breath. Ornamental.
11. Silene gallica – Catch fly
12. Cerastium vulgatum – Mouse ear.
13. Polycarpon lieflinge – a decumbent herb.r cross celled type of
GUTTIFERALES (6families)
Flower:regular, actinomorphic, k-5 imbricate. A-numerous,G:ovary usually 3to
numerous locular or rarely 2locular placentae on inner angles of loculi
Families :1Elatineae ,2hypercineae guttiferae, 3Ternstroemiaceae,
4Dipterocarpaceae, 5Chlaemaceae
GUTTIFERALES OR CLUSIACEAE
(Garcia family. Garcin a French botanist of 18th century)
CLASSIFICATION
B. H: Thalamiflorae-Guttiferales-Guttiferae
E. P:Archichlamydeae-Parietales-Theimeae-Guttiferae.
[Link]-mostly tropical, In heavy rainfall regions, poorly represented in
Africa, Hypericum occurs outside tropics.
[Link]-Woody erect shrubs or trees, clusia an Epiphone. Yellowish green
resinous juice very conspecious
[Link]:Large, simple, usually opposite, ex stipulate, entire, evergreen
glabrous, coriaceous and penni nerves leaves, Hypericimae leaves are often
pellucid punctate
[Link]:Panicles or in cymose fasicles.
[Link]:fairly large, bisexual or uni sexual, regular, actinomorphic,
hypogynous, bra cteate and bracteolate, bract eoles are close to sepals and is
difficult to distinguish them from sepals.
[Link]-6persistent, fairly large, valuation or imbricate aestivation
[Link]-12, imbricate or twisted, polypetals
[Link]:often numerous, free or Adolphus, another’s dithecous
dehiscence longitudinal, staminode sometime present among the stamens
[Link] to numerous carpels, syncarpous, ovules numerous,
placentation axile
Basal or sometime parietal, stigma sub—sessile or style distinct in
hypericoideae.
[Link]:capsules or barriers with hard find or drupes
[Link]:Large, embryo straight, endosperm scanty or absent
[Link]: +k4 c4 A8 G(8) -Garcinia
Examples: The family has considerable economic importance
[Link] indica :petals of fruit are used in cookery.
.Garcinia Cambogia:petals of fruit are used in cookery.
• Garcinia cowa., Garcinia xanthochymus.

Garcinia mengostama, mangosteen

Garcinia morella-Mysore sambosetree. A yellow pigment of commerce
called Gamboge is produced from this plant, recently an antibiotic
morellin in extracted from this and used in treating skin disease.

[Link] inophyllum (Alexandrian Laurel). Timber yielding, oil from seeds

in soap making
Calophyllum tomentosum, calophyllum brassiliense. Timber durable
[Link] ferrea- iron wood tree. Given fragrant flowers used in perfumery,
scented stamens used in stuffing pillows.
Fruits edible and used in medicine for treating piles also it in timber yield.
[Link] Americans. West Indies mgmmeys apple. Fruits edible and have
sub-acid quality.
[Link] butyracea. Butter tree or tallow tree. It is Vestable butter
yielding and is extracted from thick sap and is a fatty oil.

[Link] longifolius. Flower buds for dyeing silk. Wood is

moderately hard
[Link] japonicum. St. John’s work.
Hypericum mysorensis
Hypericum hookeriamum., Elusia sp. An epiphyte.
Position of hypericineae
The sub family hypericineae is considered as a separate family by
Bentham and Hooker and by many other taxonomists because of [Link]
herbaceous mature .
[Link] punctuate leaves

[Link] United in many bundles and are basally connate to corolla.

[Link] with often parietal placentation and
[Link] of free styles.
Enter wettsein and others view that the many
differences between Guttiferae and Hypericineae loose their force when many
resemblance of Hypericineae to other sub-families of Guttiferae like
clusioideae, Endodesmoideae etc. Are taken into account. So they consider it
as only a sub family of Guttiferae and insist in not separating it from
Guttiferae.. Because of herbaceous nature and Adolphus condition of
Androecium of Hypericineae. It is considered by Vestal(1937) as very highly
advanced among Guttiferae
 STERCULIACEAE (CACAO FAMILY)
CLASSIFICATION
Benth ; Polypetalae –Thalamiflorae –Malvales –Sterculiaceae
E&P ; Archichlamydeae –Malvales –Sterculiaceae
Habitat ;Tropical and subtropical family
Habit ;Soft wooded trees (Sterculia) shrubs or herbs (Melochia),plants are
usually covered with stellate hairs ,and have abundant mucilage ,wood soft
and fibrous.
Leaves ; simple ,alternate with caducous stipules ,lamina entire or sometimes
palmatey lobed or digitately compound (sterculia) often the tips of petioles are
Swollen.
Inflorescence ;Axillary or terminal cymose clusters or panicle ,sometimes
flowers are cauliflorous(Theobroma)
Flowers ;Bisexual,or rarely unisexual, regular ,actinomorphic ,pentamerous
and hypogynous.
Calyx ; 4-5 sepals united at the base,valavte aestivation,epicalyx absent.
Corolla ;4-5 petals, polypetalous with twisted aestivation .In Theobroma petals
are concave at the base, and then bend back abruptly into an [Link]
absent in Sterculia(apetalous).
Androecium ;Stamens 5 to many in one or two whorls,often outer antisepalous
(opposite to sepals).whorls are staminodial or suppressed and inner
antipetalous stamens are fertile .Anthers are always two celled .often inner
stamens are united by fusion of lower parts of [Link] and
gynoecium are often carried above its corolla for the development of
androphore of pterospermum.
Gynoecium ; ovary superior,4 or 5 carpellary ,usually syncarpous 4 or 5 locular
on axile placentation,sometimes carpals remain free(apocarpous ).
Fruits ;woody or leathery [Link] aggregate at follicles as in
[Link] Helicteres isora ,it is an aggregate of sepal follicles.
Seeds ;Have abundant fleshy endosperm,cotyledons [Link] may be
axillate.
Examples ;
1,Theobroma cacao –seeds are used after fermentation and are roasted cocao
powder is used in making beverages ,drinks and chocolate pastries.
2,Kleinhovia hospital
3,Sterculia foetida
4,Sterculia urens
5,Guazuma tomentosa
6,Pterospermum grandiflorum
7,Helicteres isora
8,Melochia chorchoriflora
9,Abroma angustia
10,Pentapetes phoenicea
11, Waltheria indica.
MELIACEAE(Margosa family)
Classification:
B&H :-polypetalae ,Disciflorae ,Geraniales ,Meliaceae
E&P:-Archichlamydeae,Geraniales,Meliaceae.
Important characters
Habitat -Exclusively tropical
Habit- Trees (swietenia),shrubs (Agalia),or herbs as in Narogamia
Wood is hard and scented
Leaves-Alternate,Exstipulate,mostly pinnately,compound,leaflets often oblique
at base and are without pellucid dots
Inflorescence- Axillary or terminal panicles
Flowers -Bisexual,regular,actinomorphic and hypogynous
Calyx- sepals 4 to 5,small,polypetalous or slightly fused at the Base imrbricate
in aestimation .
Corolla-Petals 4 to 5,polypetalous,imbricate or twisted in a estimation. In
Amoral Calyx and Corolla areTrimerous.
Androecium-8 to 10 stamens .stamens United to form a prominent staminal
tube and it is attached outside the base of [Link] sessile,dithecious
,introse and shows longitudinal dehiscence.
Anther generally occur at the mouth of the staminal [Link]
exceptionally remain free in cedrela.
Disc:- Disc is nectariferous and very prominent seen between stamens and
ovary and it may be annular or tubular .
Gynoecium-Ovary superior ,2 to 5 carpellary,syncarpous 2 to 5 locular with
one or two ovule per chamber in swieteinia,style simple and short ,stigma
capitate or disciform.
Fruit-A berry in Walsura,capsule in Swieteinia or drupe in Azadirachla.
Seeds-Usually [Link] [Link] flat and leaflike.
Seeds are sometimes winged as in swieteinis.
Examples
1. Melia azadirach (persian lilac).small ornamental tree
2. Melia azadirachta or Azadirachla indica (Neem tree or margose)
The leaves are medicinal having antiseptic [Link] are also
medicinal .twigs used as tooth brushes oil cake for manure
3. Naregamia alata fruits are medicinal for treating Rheumatism.
4. Cedrella tooma stem is used for making musical instruments .
5. Swieteinia mahagonii Timber yielding and avenue tree for decorative
wood work ,ship building,highly valued in America.
6. Walsura piscidia .
7. Aglaia roxburghiama
8. Cipadessa baccifera(common in sholaya)
9. Amoora rohituks
10. [Link] malabaricum wood for making oil and for house
construction
[Link] dufia wood for tea boxes,match boxes
 SAPINDACEAE(Soap nut or Litchi family)
Classification:
B&H :- polypetalae,disciflorae,sapindales,sapindaceae
E&P:-Archichlamydeae-sapindales-sapindaceae
Habitat:Tropical and subtropical
Habit:Trees ,large shrubs .Herbaceous climbers (cardiospermum where
Inflorescence axes are modified into hooks and are closely coiled like watch
spring)sometimes [Link] often with bitter principles and resinous.
Leaves:Alternate ,mostly exstipulate (minute stimulus seen in climbers
)pinnate lyrics compound or simple (acer)
Inflorescence:Clustered in panicles or dichotomous cymes.
Flower:Small ,mostly regular or sometimes irregular (Allophyllus)
[Link] or [Link] Pistillate flowers stamens are also
somewhat well developed and so are easily mistaken for Bisexual flowers,but
pollen is not viable and anthers do not [Link] mostly pentamerous
,actinomorphic or obliquely zygomorphic .
Calyx:4-5,polysepalous,imbricate,unequal and often persistent.
Corolla:4-5 ,free and shows basal scales or hairs,apetalous in Dodonea and
Schleichera.
Androecium:Twice the number of petals in two whorls ,free or basally
United,inserted between Disc and rudimentary pistil,filaments are hairy
,Pistillodes present in male flowers
Disc:Annular and glandular ,disc occurs between C and A:it may be oblique
or represented as glandular swellings opposite the petals
Gynoecium:Tricarpellary ,syncarpous ,trilocular ,placentation axile,ovary
superior,entire or lobed,ovules are ascending with ventral [Link] terminal
and staminodes are seen in pistillate flowers
Fruit: Drupe ,capsule,brittle nut or samara
Seeds: often axillate,non endospermous and embryo curved .
F:F-
Examples
1. Cardiospermum helicacabum : balloon vine ,the peduncle given 3
branches of which 2 are metamorphosed into watch spring like
tendrils and other end is a cymose Inflorescence .medicinal
2. Litchi chinesis -Litchi fleshy axile edible
3. Nephilium longa:(sym Eurphobia longa)Longworth axile edible
4. Nephilium happaceum:Rambutan .axile edible .
5. Schleichera trijuga: or [Link] :Timber tree and the tree is host to
lac [Link] yield oil.
6. Sapindus laurifolius:soap [Link] contain saponins which makes
lather with water .used for cleaning woollen clothes and for cleaning
gold ornaments.
7. Allophyllus serratus:shrubs. Allophyllus serrulatus
8. Dodonea viscosa: hedge plant ,Acer megundo:ooty,Acer saccharrum-
[Link]-extracted by boring holes into [Link]
collected and evaported.2-4 lbs of sugar from a tree used in making
maple syrup.
9. Aesculus hippocastanum: horse chest [Link] roasted and eaten
himalayans regions now separated into castanaceae
[Link] panduvana :ooty garden ,Paullinia cupana (Brazil) beverage
plant yield ‘Quarana’ a stimulating drink, Melianthus major:Honey
flower (ooty)
[Link] decisions : ornamental tree with fern like leaves
ROSACEAE

E&P-Archichlamydeae-Rosales-Rosaceae
Habitat Cosmopolitan but mainly restricted to North temperate regions.
In south India the family is represented in Nilgris and palani hill tops
Habit :-low growing herbs(fragaria potentilla)shrubs (Rubus)or trees
(pyrus malus).some are scramblers best with prickles as in Rose or beset
with thorns as in prinsepia which are metamorphused branches .many
plants of Rosaceae are vest atively proposated with rummers in
Fragaria,suckers in Rubus ,stem cuttings (Rose) or through grafting and
budding (pyrus malus)
Leaves:-Alternate. Simple or pinnately compound .stipulate and stipules
are often adnate with [Link] decidous in pyrus and it is
exstipulate in spiraea
Inflorescence:flowers solitary or grouped in racemes or in cymes. In
trees ,the family flowers generally apper before leaves.
Flowers:-large .Bisexual showy ,regular,pentamerous of
[Link] are variously perigynous or rarely epigynous in pyrus
malus (apple)
Thalamus:-The characteristic feature is the hollowed out torus and
depending upon the depth of the concavity various degrees of perigyny leading
to epigyny are exhibited by the flowers and Thalamus often forms a part of the
fruit.
i. Torus flat or slightly concave with 3-6 carpels in the middle in,Torus is
squeeze shaped eg:spiraea
ii. Torus fleshly and more or less flat but have a central spherical
protuberance on which numerous free carpets are placed eg:Fragaria
and Rubus. In potentilla Thalamus protuberance is slender and
elongated
iii. Torus deeply hollowed out in the form of a cup but without a
protuberance in the centre and a single carpel arises from the bottom of
cup shaped torus eg:prunus(Apricot)
iv. Torus deeply hollow having a narrow mouth that is ‘urn’ shaped and
numerous free carpels are attached to inner wall eg:Rosa
v. Torus deeply hollow and mouth is closed (flask shaped)and Torus get
fused with syncarpous pistil and flower becomes completely epigynous
(eg:pyrus)
 Calyx:-Gamosepalous,5 lobed,imbricate. In some like potentilla epicalyx are
present,representing stipules of sepals (in malvaceae they represent
bracteolus).calyx is often persistant and odd sepal is posterior.
Corolla:- polypetalous,5,imbricate,petals more or less rounded in shape
(rosaceous).some times petals absent in Alchemilla or numerous in garden
varieties of rose and this is due to transformation of some stamens into
[Link] are decidous
Androecium:-generally indefinite and is in one or more whorls stamens
bend inwards (ie: filaments are curved).stamens open by longitudinal
lateral slits. In Alchemillathere is only one stamen.
Disc:- often present between A and C in the form of a ring or cushion
shaped structure and is nectar secreting and easily accessible to insects.
Gynoecium:-1 carpel (pyrus) or of 2 carpel. The carpels may be
a. Numerous apocarpous,each with superior unilocular ovary,having 1 or 2
basal or pendulous ovules eg:Rosa
b. Carpels syncarpous with inferior multilocular ovary with axile
placentation eg: pyrus
Styles of carpets may be free or United and may be terminal or lateral.
stigma simple.
Fruit:-various types of fruits are seen
Page no :18
a) Drupe- in prunus it is a one seeded drupe
b) Aggregate of drupe-Rubus (black berry)
c) Aggregate of achenes- potentilla and geum. In geum styles are
persistant and hooked . In Rosa achenes are hony
d) Aggregate of follicles eg: spiraea
e) Pome-pyrus (apple)
Seeds:-Nonendospermous,germination is epigeal
F:F
Examples:
1. Pyrus malus (malus gulvestris)[Link] is a Pome-pyrus,used
fresh,dried or [Link] of fruit is used to make cider and vinegar
.wood as fire wood
2. Pyrus communis : pear. Fruit as table fruit. Used raw.A beverage called
Derry is made from juice of fruits
3. Prunus Armenica:Apricot .fresh or [Link] in jellies and canned seed
yield an oil used as almond oil substitute.
4. Prunus persica: peach. Edible fruit is the best for canning .peach stone
,charcol were used in gas masks during second world war.
5. Prunus domestica: plum. Fruit edible in alcoholic drinks and also act as
laxative
6. Prunus cerasus:[Link] fruit is making cherry brandy,it is an
ornamental.
7. Prunus amygdalus:True almond ,cotyledons are edible,lightly
nourishing,used as a nervine toxic
8. Eryobotrya japonica:Loguat .fruit edible,extensively exported from
[Link] grown in Nilgris.
9. Rubus idaeus:Red raps [Link] [Link] or used in jellies
[Link] fruiticosa:Black [Link] [Link] or used in jellies.
[Link] vesca:strawberry .canned or used in desert fruit
[Link] indica:wild strawberry
[Link] [Link] in Nilgris .
[Link] damseena : damark rose (bulgana)
[Link] centifolia:cabbage rose (france)
[Link] indica : gulab rose (india)
[Link] gigomtea :wild rose
[Link] corymbosa : ornamental shrub.
[Link] bulifolis : ornamental
[Link] vulgaris: edible fruit
[Link] supina
[Link] vtilis :hedge plant
VERBENACEAE
Classification
dicotyledons – gamopetalae – bicarpellatae – Lamiales – Verabenaceae
1. Habitat:- Tropical and Sub-tropical
2. Habit:- Erect herbs ( Verbena) Creeping herbs rooting at nodes (Lippia),
Erect Shrub ( Clerodendrum , Duranta) Straggling Shrubs (Lantana),
Climbing Shrubs Clerodendrum thomsoniae) Trees (Tectona) and
Seashore mangroves with breathing roots in Avicenia.
3. Stem:- Young stem is often quadrangular and may have prickles in
lantana.
4. Leaves:- Opposite decussate or whorled, exstipulate, simple or pinnately
compound.
5. Inflorescence:- may be racemes (Duranta) long spikes (stachytarpheta)
Condensed spikes(lantana) or cymose panickles (tectona) dichasial cyme
in clerodendrum.
6. Fowers:- ♂♀ , hypogynous, zygomorphic, pentamerous, diclamydeous,
Bracteate. Bracts often from an involucre in lantana and so are well
developed.
7. Calyx (K):- 4-5 Lobed, gamosepalous, sepals persistant and are often
enlarged in the fruit ,valvate Rarely calyx is 2 lipped (Vitex)
8. Corolla:-4-5 lobed,gamopetalous, tubular and tubular portion often
curved and shape y corolla may be slaver form (narrow tube and
expanded limb) or campanulate (is frequently 2 lipped) and aestivation –
Imbricate or quincuncial , limb y corolla is spreading
9. Androecium :- mostly, epipetalous, didynamous, anterior pair longer.
Anthers divergent , introrse, posterior, stamen suppressed or sometimes
staminoidial. In Stachyterpheta only 2 stamens present and in tectona
all 5 stamens are fertile.
10. Gynoecium:- Bicarpellary ,Ovary superior ,syncarpous, Bilocular, or
tetralocular by development of false septum. Ovules usually solitary per
chamber or sometimes 2 per chamber ,ovary rounded or slightly
lobed,placentation axile. Style simple , terminal, stigma often 2 lobed.
11. Disc :- often present at base of ovary
12. Fruit:- Drupacous with a hard endocarp . It may be a 4 chambered
pyrene with solitary seeds per chamber as in Tectona and vitex or 2
chambered pyrenes with 2 ovules per chamber as in Duranta or 2
undivided pyrene as in lantana .In verbena,fruit is a nutlet and in
avicennia, fruit is capsular . calyx persitant
 13. Seeds:- few seeded, ovate with straight embryo and is usually non
endospermous.

Examples with economic Importance

1. Lanatan camara-Trouble some weed. - ക ൊങ്കിണി
2. Clerodendrum infortunatum-കെണ്ട green manure
3. Clerodendrum fragram- െട്ടൊർ മുല്ല scented flowers
4. Clerodendrum thomsoniae- Bleeding heart – ornamental.
5. Clerodendrum inermi : medicinal
6. Vitex negundo: Medicinal . റിക ൊച്ചി increases growth of hairs
for baldness
7. Vitex altissima : മമകെള്ള് timber yieding
8. vitex trifolia:കെള്ളക ച്ചി
9. Tectona grandis : ത ക്ക് timber yielding house ans furniture
constrution ship building
[Link] volubilis: പൊരച്ചയൂട്ട് കെടി ornamental
[Link] nodiflora : നീർ ിപ്പെി
[Link] officinalis : mangrove plant
[Link] latifolia
[Link] officinalis . ornamental.
[Link] tomentosa:കെമത ക്ക്
[Link] plumieri hedge plant ornamental flowers
[Link] orborea ുമ്പിൾ medicinal
[Link] indica നീെ ിരികച്ചടി
[Link] subseratum പൊരിജൊ ം
[Link] sanguinea . cup & saucer plant
Peculiarities of avicennia

This is a mangrove small tree .Has breathing roots called pneumatophores.

young ovary shows parietal placentation,fruit is a capsule, seeds are
endospermous
SUB CLASS 3 APETALAE OR MONOCHLAMYDEAE OR INCOMPLETE 8 SERIES- 36
FAMILIES

Flowers usually with one whorl of perianth which is commonly sepaloid or

none. Flowers bisexual or unisexual . SERIES 1CURVEMBRYAE(7 Family)
Terrestrial plants .Usually with bisexual flowers, perianth in one whorl,stamens
generally equal to perianth segments or feuler ovules solitary. Embryo curved
round floury perisperm . FAMILIES : 1) Nuetagimeae
,2)Amaranthaceae,3)Chenopodiaceae,4)phytolaccaceae ,5)polygonaceae.

NYCTAGINACEAE 30G/300SP
CLASSIFICATION B & h ; Monochlamydeae - curvembryae - xlyctoginaceae. E &
p ; Archichlamydeae - centrospermae - phytolaecineae - Nyctaginaceae
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS
Habitat ; Tropical and sub tropical ,well represented in tropical America.
Habit : Herbs(boerhaavia),shrub or rarely trees (pisomia).Nodes often swollen
and raphids are very common in stem and leaves.
Leaves: Simple,opposite or alternate, estipulate entire leaves, often occur in
unequal pairs.
Inflorescence :Cyme ( dichasial cyme).
Flowers:Monochlamydeous, regular, actinomorphic ,bisexual or rarely
unisexual (pisonia),hypogynous at the base of flowers several bracts are seen
which are sometime mistaken for sepals.
Bracts: In Bougainvillaea there are 3 large conspecious bract enclosing a group
of 3 flowers which become adnate to bracts at the base .In mirabilis there is a
single flower and the involucral bracts numbering 5 resemble a calyx . In
Boerhaavia involucral bracts are reduced to scales. In Abronia there are
numerous bracts and numerous flowers.
Perianth :of 5 tepals, Gamophyllous pllcate, the persistent lower part of
perianth is called Anthocarp or false pericarp . Anthocarp sometimes develop
glandular hairs forms an umbrella like wing and serves in dispersal of seeds .
Androecium : 5 ,alternate With perianth,some times 1 to 30. Filaments
unequal , bisexual united , young stamens coiled ,anther often exerted with
longitudinal dehiscence .
Gynoecium : Ovary superior ,monocarpellary, unilocular ,with solitary basal
erect anatropous or campylotropous ovule .Micropyle faces downward . Style
long and slender.
Fruit :One seeded achene enclosed in false pericarp .Testa thin and adhered to
pericarp .Glandular hairs develop on antho carp.
Seeds :with large curved embryo with mealy perisperm ,cotyledons unequal
and broad ,radicle inferior .
Examples : only of slight economic value .
[Link] jalapa
[Link] spectabilis :ornamental .French navigator L.A .De Bougainville
brought it from Brazil in 1769 and introduced into India only in 1890. [Link]
umbellata : ornamental 4 .Pisomia aculeata : straggling shrub with axillary
recurved spines . 5 .Neea theifera :Leave used as tea and black dye. 6 .
Boerhaavia diffuse : Medicinal ; for opthalmia. 7 .Boerhaavia repanda
URTICACEAE (sp 1600)
CLASSIFICATION B & h : Dicotyledon, monochlamydeae -unisexuales -
urtricaceae. E & p: Dicotyledon ,Archichlamydeae-urticales-urticaceae
Bentham and hooker divided urticaceae into 7 tribes but Rendle raised
urticaceae to the status of an order and recognised 4 independent families in
urticaceae such as ulmaceae ,urticaceae ,muraceae ,cannabinaceae
ULMACEAE (130 sp)
HABITAT : Tropical and temperate (ulmus)
HABIT : Deciduous tree (Trema),Latex absent.
LEAVES : Simple ,alternate ,have paired caducous stipules ,lamina often
oblique ,cystoliths are clear .
INFLORESCENCE : Occur in clusters from axils of fallen leaves of previous
season .
FLOWRS :Small usually unisexual rarely bisexual in ulmus .flowers are regular
and hypogynous .
PERIANTH :4-8 sepaloid ,free or basally united ,persistent imbricate
ANDROECIUM : Equal to and opposite perianth segments ,filaments erect .
GYNOECIUM :Bicarpellary ,ovary superior but but only one carpel develop and
other is aborted .The posterior carpel has a unilocular ovary with solitary
ovules hanging from apex of ovary chamber .style 2
FRUIT : Drupe or Samara (ulmus) SEED :Non endospermous ,embryo curved .
EXAMPLE [Link] campestris : timber yielding tree ,furniture, shade tree . 2.
Trema orientalis : quick growing tree for fire wood . 3. Holoptelia integrifolia
:Timber yielding ,winged fruits .
URTICACEAE (Nettle family ) 600 sp, 41G
HABITAT: Tropical and subtropical.
HABIT :Herb or under shrub ,latex absent ,stinging hairs having irritating sap
very commonly present .They cause burning sensation due to histamines .
LEAVES :Simple ,extipulate,alternate (pauzolzia) or opposite (pilea).Cystoliths
common .
INFLORESCENCE :Axillary clustered cyme with panicle like appearance.
FLOWERS : Small, inconspicuous ,regular ,unisexual, hypogynous
,monochlamydeous .
PERIANTH :Sepaloid ,fleshy ,4-5 in1or2 whorls ,free or united ,imbricate
persistent.
ANDROECIUM :4Stamens ,opposite to perianth ,inflexed in bud and later is
reflexed .anthers explod suddenly and cloudy pollen grains escape .pistillodes
seen in male flowers.
GYNOECIUM :Monocarpellary ,ovary superior ,unilocular with solitary erect
basal ovule ,style simple or style absent .stigma plumose (brush like).
FRUITS :Achene or drupe ,enclosed in succulent fleshy persistent perianth .
SEEDS :Have oily endosperm .embryo straight.
EXAMPLE
1 .Pouzolzia indica [Link] indica - longest bast fibers ,Very silky and
used in making glass cloth . [Link] interupta [Link] macrophylla ; Pilea
microphylla [Link] indica -weed ; Villebrunea integrifolia -seen in forest.

AMARYLLIDACEAE
Series 2 Epigyneae (7familys)

Perianth mostly petaloid.,ovary usually inferior,endosperm

Abundant
[Link] [Link] [Link]
[Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]

AMRYLLIDACEAE (Tropical lily Century

plant family)
Clasification B&H: Epigynae-Amaryllidacae
E&P: Liliflorae-Lilineae-Amaryllidaceae
Important characters
Habitat: Tropical and sub tropical abundant in sunny dry
regions of South America and South Africa
Habit: Xerophytic,perennial bulbous or rhizomatous herbs
or shrubs
Leaves: radical, distichous or clustered narrow or lorate (
Strap shaped) simple parallel veined leaves ; which are
produced in rainy or spring season
Inflorescence: Scaposc inflorescence with umbellate
flowers subtended by spathaceous bracts. The apparent
umbels consist of short helicoid cymes. Rarly flowers
solitary ( Narcissus ) or have cymes of flowers in racemose
manner ( Agave )
Flowers: regular bisexual, Epigynous, trimerous flowers
Perianth: Six petaloid in 2 whorls of 3+3, mostly
gamophyllous or rarely [Link] mostly
imbricate
Corona: In many genera corona or para corolla present
at the mouth of perianth tube.
Androecium: 6 stamens in 2 whorls of 3+3, Antiphyllous,
Epiphyllous, Attached to base of perianth segnments or to
[Link] versatile, introse or open by terminal slits.
Gynoecium: Ovary inferior,
Tricarpellary,syncarpous,trilocular placentation axile with 2
rows of indefinite anatropous ovules on inner angles of
cells, style slender and simple, stigma captate or 3 lobed.
Fruits: Loculicidal or irregularly splitting capsules or rarely
berry.
Seeds: Have copious fleshy endosperm [ never
cartilaginous ] . Embryo small straight , radical turned
towards hilum .
Floral Formula: P3+3 A3+3 G(3) or P(3+3) A3+3 G(3)
Examples: 22 genera are monotypic. The family is
economically not very important. Several are ornamental
plants. Some yield fibers.
1. Crimum asiaticum - ornamental

2. Curculigo orchioids – rhizome medicinal in piles and

Jaundice

3. Curculigo capitulata –tropical Himalayas. Has palm like

corrusated leaves.

4. Furcrace gigantean – root fibers yield Mauritius hemp.

5. Furcrace longaeva – flower after a vegetative period of 400-

500 years

6. Agave rigida – fibre yielding

7. Agave Americana – century plant produces a large long

inflorescence of about 20ft or more and flowers after 50-100

years. Before inflorescence emerges a large quantity of

sugar sap is collected by cutting the young inflorescence

and fermented sap is distilled which yield ‘Pulque’ which is

the national drink of Mexico and is strong like ‘Gin’. After

 flowering entire shoot dies but subterranean lateral shoot

survive. The plant yield fibre .

8. Amaryllis belladoma –Easter lily or Belladima lily

9. Narcissus pseudo-narcissus

10. Pancratium verecundum- Spider lilly

11. Polyanthus tuberosa –Tube rose

12. Zephyranthus caudida-Zephyrn lily

13. Zephyranthus tubispatha

14. Galanthus nivalis-Snow drop

15. Haemanthus coccineus-pincushion lily

16. Hypoxis aurea-Stargrass(a small weed )

17. Leucojum aestivatum( snow flakes-bulbs cooked and

eaten )

Morphology of corona: Is much disrupted: (1)

According to Baill on it is only a development of floral
axis similar to neetarlferous disc of Rutaceae (2) Eichler
views this a ligular outgrowth of perianth comparable
to outgrowth on petals of Caryophyllacean members
of Silenoideae. Staminal nature of corona is manifested
in Pancratium where as perisomal nature of corona is
noted in Narcissus.

ANATOMICAL PECULIARITIES:
Anatomy of stem is interesting and peculiar. stem and
branches show ridges and furrows and due to
reduction of leaves. Photosynthesis is carried out by
branchlets (phylloclades).
➢ Stomata are sunken, situated in furrows and
protected by profuse hairy outgrowths.
➢ Hypodermis is sclerenchymatous
➢ Palisade cells are located in the ridges
➢ Vascular bundles are arranges in 2 rows, outer and
inner :those of outer are opposite the ridges and
are cortical (bundles of leaf trace mature and
inner vascular bundles are cauline and are
opposite furrows). Stem anatomy is definitely more
advanced than that of Ranales.

AFFINITIES:
Casuarina has almost similar habit as Ephedra and
shows following similarities,
• Branches with whorls of scale leaves which are
united to form sheath
• Male flowers of both Ephedra and Casuarina are
simple and reduced consisting of a single stamen
with rudimentary perianth in axil of a bract
• Female flowers are also simple and reduced in
both Ephedra and Casuarina. In casarina female
flowers are without perianth and shows 2
bracteoles. In Ephedra megasporophyll shows
rudiment perianth.
 • In Ephedra perianth on maturity becomes hard
and in casuarina bracteoles of female flower
become hard and protective
Casuarinaceae plays important role in
systems which postulate origin of angiosperms from
gymnospermous ancestors like Gnetales. So,
Wettstein suggests the theory of origin of
angiosperm flower from ephedra like ancestors.
Casuarina has been described as “AMPHIOXUS OF
PLANT KINGDOM”. ( amphioxus – connecting link
between chordata and non chordata )

SYSTEMATIC POSITION AND PHYLOGENY:

Because of very simple and anemophilous flowers
with catkin like staminate inflorescence , Engler
treated this as the most primitive dicot. (first order
of Archichlamydeae – series Verticillatae)
Rendle and Wettstein retained it under
Amentiferae and interpreted it as the most
primitive angiosperm , derived from Ephidraceae .
Bessy in 1915 considered it as a leaf-less representative
derived from Hamamelidaceae, within Rosales.

SERIES 3 CORONARIEAE (8 FAMILIES)

Terrestrial or aquatic herbs; leaves radical or cauline; flowers bisexual ,
perianth petaloid, ovary superior,seeds with endosperm.

COMMELINACEAE(SPIDER WORT FAMILY)

Classification:Bth: Monocotyledons, coronariae ,commelinaceae
Commelinieae, commelinaceae
Habitat: tropical and subtropical, occuring in damp or marshy [Link]
in Europe and temperate Asia.
Habit: Annual or perennial erect or creeping, somewhat succulent herb with
jointed nodous stem. Rarely climbers (streptolirion)a temperate Himalayan
plant or epiphytes (cochliostema).
Leaves: simple, alternate, with closed sheathing base protecting inter calary
meristem .lamina flat or through like, there is strong midrib and many slender
parallel veins.
Inflorescence: mostly on monochasial cyme, flowers develops from the axial of
cymbiform(boat shaped spathe.
Flowers: mostly bisexual,regular,hypogynous, flowers blue or violet,bracteole
often present.
Perianth:6 in 2 series of 3+3, generally polyphyllous,outer 3 colourless.
Transparent and persistent and inner 3 are coloured imbricate and
marcescent(remaining attached even after withering).
Androecium:6 in 2 whorl of 3+3, all perfect or some reduced to [Link]
rheo and cyanotis all 6 stamens are perfect where as in commelina only 3 are
perfect and others staminodial anthers 2 [Link] have
coloured moniliform staminal hairs showing protoplasmic movements of
circulation.
Gynoecium:ovary superior,tricarpellary,syncarpous,trilocular with few
orthotropous ovules per chamber on axial placentation, style terminal and
thread like, stigma capitate.
Fruit:Loculicidal capsule or indehiscent nut.
Seeds: few small ,angled with copious endosperm, embryo small,pulley
shaped , marginally placed and opposite to hilum position or embryo is located
on outside by a disc like callosity called embryotega.
(1), commelina bengalensis, weed , aerial subaerial flowers which are
cleistogamous
(2),commelina furskalii (3), commelina appendiculata(4), commelina
obliqua,(5) commelina kurzii
6), Rheo discolour (7), Tradescantia bicolor (8), cyanotis axilaris
9, cyanotis cristata (10),Aneilema spiratum (11)Zebrina pendula
12,Floscopa scandens (13) Tradescantia virginica, staminal hairs helps for the
protoplasmic current in cells.
ARACEAE OR AROIDEAE(ARUK FAMILY)
Classification: Bth;Monocotyledonae, xludiforae,aroideae
Habitat: mostly tropical,hygrophytes(growing in constantly moist and shady
places.)
Habit: glabrous, perennial herbs ( colocasia)or stout shrubs (monstera) , the
following are seen:
1, floating hygrophytes (pistia) 2,marshy plants (acorus) 3, terrestrial
hygrophytes (colocasia)4, climbers (pothos) 5, epiphytes (remusatia).
Most aroides contain Milky or watery juice and cause irritation ( calcium
oxalate crystal) mucilage is also of usual occurrence.
Stem: rhizome (acorus),corm(amorphophallus),stolon (colocasia), offset (pistia)
Leaves: simple, alternate, radical or cauline in climbers. Petiole long and
spongy (colocasia),winged in pothos ,leaf base sheathing lamina broad,
venation reticulate, rarely parallel venation,in acorus .
Inflorescence: fleshy unbranded spadix and flowers are covered by large white
or coloured spathe. The lower part of the spathe is tube and it covers flowers
and upper part called spathe limb and it is deeply coloured and is spreading
attracting insects for pollination. Female flowers occurs at the base of
peduncle, male flowers occupied at the upper part. In between these flowers
there are neutral flowers. The tip of peduncle is club [Link] fail like ,it is
called appendix. In acorus spathe stand erect and peduncle with flowers are
pushed to one side.
Flowers: small, inconspicuous,sessile, do not have individual bract, mostly
Naked (perianth absent) closely packed on fleshy peduncle (male flowers are
closely packed than female flowers) Flowers mostly unisexual (rarely bisexual
in pothos and acorus), plants may be monoecious or rarely dioecious in
Arisaema(cobra pant). Flowers are foul smelling and are protogynous
Perianth: mostly absent, but when flowers are bisexual 4-6free scaly perianth
are seen.
Androecium: Typically 6 stamens,but often reduced in [Link] perianth is
present stamens are opposite and these stamens remain free with shoot
[Link] perianth is absent stamens are united into synandrium anthers are
2 celled open by terminal pores or longitudinal slit.
Gynoecium: ovary superior,1-6 carpellary, syncarpous,unilocular with parietal,
basal or apical placentation (rarely ovary 2 or3 locular with axial placentation
in a acorus) ovules are one to numerous per chamber. Style. Usually absent,
stigma sessile and discoid.
Fruit: a berry , fruits are closely packed on peduncle and enclosed by spathe
tube.
Seeds: one to numerous seeded , mostly endospermous ( have mucilage pulp),
embryo straight.
(1) Colocasia antiquorum, tuberous rhizome is edible.(2)xanthosoma
alba,(3)Alocasia indica
(4)Amorphophallus companulatus,corm is edible (5) pistia stratiotes (6)
Pothos scandens
(7)Scindapsus aurens,money plants (8) Acorus calamus, medicine (9)
Monstera deliciosa, delicious fruit (10) caladium bicolor (11)Richardia
aethiopica(arum Lilly)(12)Arisaema jacquemontii,cobra plant(13) Anthurium
sp., ornamental, largest genus(500sps).

Pollination in aroideae: pollination is entemophilous, protogynous

(gynoecium matures before gynoecium), because of protogynous
nature,self pollination is prevented ( files and snails effect pollination.
Spadix is large, spathe, bract and appendix attractively coloured and
produce bad smell to attract carrion flies.

Pollination in arum:(trap or pitfalls mechanism)

Spathe for protection and attractions, the function of spathe tube and limb
constricted and has numerous stiff bristles which are pointing downwards.
Sticky disc like stigma first receives foreign pollen, hairs prevent escape.
Stigma secret honey and feed insects. Then male flowers mature and shed
pollen, hairs are shed, insects escape coated with pollen and repeat the
pollination.
 SERIES 5 XLUDIFORAE (5 FAMILIES)
Perianth none of represented by hairs or scales, ovary superior, carpel one or
if many [Link] one or numerous, endosperm usually present.
1,PANDANACEAE
2,TYPHACEAE
3,AROIDEAE
4,LEMNACEAE
 CYPERACEAE
GLUMACEAE (5 FAMILIES)
Flowers arranged in spikelets, flowers sessile in axils of bract (glumes), perianth
made of scales or none. Ovary usually unilocular and one
[Link].
(1)ERIOCAULACEAE (2)CYPERACEAE (3)GRAMINEAE

CYPERACEAE (Sedge family)

Classification:Bth;Glumaceae,cyperaceae E&P;Glumiflorae, cyperaceae
Habitat: cosmopolitan family of damp,swampy or riperian situations. Grows in
acidic soil which does not support growth of gramineae members. Well
represented in sub arctic regions.
Habit: Grass like annual or perennials herbs with creeping
[Link] is tree like, Woody with biforked branching stem,
attaining 3 meter in height.
Roots: fibrous, May be thin or spongy when growing in water logged area.
Culms:solid,triquetrous, glabrous or scabrid (sharp cutting )at angle.
Leaves: in basal tufts,3 ranked, lamina linear,ligules absent,leaf sheath forms
complete closed tube.
Inflorescence: internode below the inflorescence is very long, unit of
inflorescence is spikelets which may be clustered,in simple or compound
umbel or in spikelet head or panicles. Basal part of inflorescence is represented
by 3 leafy involucral bracts.
Flowers: very small, inconspicuous in axil of glumes or lemma,palea absent,
mostly bisexual or rarely unisexual.
Perianth: totally suppressed. Or represented as 3-6 bristles or hairs. Sometimes
perigynium present. Lodicules and palea absent.
Androecium: mostly of 3 free stamens, anthers 2 celled,basifixed,linear. And
open by vertical slit. If there are 3 stamens they represent outer whorl of
stamens and inner whorl is suppressed.
Gynoecium: ovary superior,2-3carpellary,syncarpous , unilocular with solitary
anatropous ovules from base of the ovary, style simple, slender, stigma
tripartite and feathery
Fruit: Hard compressed nut like Achebe, where testa is free from hard stony
pericarp . Fruit may be biconvex or triangular, basal part of style persist as a
beak.
Seeds: free from pericarp, have thin testa, embryo small, placed centrally
towards the base of the ovary and is completely surrounded by starchy
endosperm.
Their leaves are impregnated with silica, so they are not fodder, the edges of
stem and leaf are sharp at cutting. Example(1)Cyperus rotundus,treat
dysentery (2) Cyperus tegetum,mat Grass (3) Cyperus glternifolius, umbrella
plants. Ornamental(4) Cyperus stoloniferus, scented oil obtained (5) Cyperus
escuentus, earth almond, tuberose rhizome is edible and have plenty of fat
oils.(6)Cyperus tegetiformis( mat Grass)(7) Cyperus papyrus,paper Grass,
because of their pithy stem
MORACEAE (THE FIG OR MORUS
FAMILY)
HABIT: Tree (Atrocarpus)Shrubs(Morus)rarely herbs (Dorstenia) or starts with
epiphyte and srangles host to death. Milky latex is of usual occurence.
LEAVES: Simple,alternate,entire,or lobed,coriaceous have stipules,which may
be protective and leave,
HABITAT: Tropical and subtropical
INFLORESCENCE: Catkin(Atrocarpus), Coenathium(Dorstenia), Syconium(ficus).
FLOWERS: very small,regular,hypogynous,unisexual,plant monecious or
dioecious (morus)
PERIANTH: Calycine(greenish), 2 to 6 in one or two whorls,free,or [Link]
accresent (Atrocarous)and succulent.
ANDROECIUM: Stamens equal to the number of perianth or reduced to even
one ,are opposite the perianth,filaments straight or curved (morus) anthers
dithecous.
GYNOECIUM: Originally bicarpellary later only one develops and other is
[Link] one or two,filiform (slender) eccentric .stigma simple or 2
lobed,ovary superior one celled with solitary pendulous ovule._
FRUIT: Fleshy sorosis (multiple fruit in Atrocarpus,morus) or synconus (ficus).
SEEDS: Have fleshy endosperm,embryo [Link] often unequal.
EXAMPLES: ficus benghalensis, ficus religiose, ficus glomerata,ficus carica,ficus
hispida,atrocarpus hirsute,atrocapus incise,morus alba.

CANNABINACEAE (HEMP FAMILY)

HABITAT : Smalll tropical and temperate family.
HABIT: Aromatic hispid (hairy) under shrubs( cannabis) or twinners
(humulus).Latex absebt.
LEAVES : Alrenate or opposite .Palmately lobed or compound ,hispid and
stipulate.
INFLORESENCE: Male inflorescence is loose and many flowerd in axillary cymes
and female flowers are few in number and compact.
FLOWERS: Small uinsexul,regular,hypogynous,plants monoeicious(humulus)
dioecious (cannabis) bracts large and glandular.
PERIANTH: Calycine (greenish) in male flowers 5 lobed and imbricate and in
female flowers are entire ,cuplike and surrounds basal part of the ovary.
ANDROECIUM: Equal to and opposite to perianth ,filaments are erect,anthrs 2
celled .pistilloids seen in male flowers.
GYNOECIUM: Basically bicarpellary ,but only one carpel develops and other is
[Link] superior unilocular with solitary pendulous upcurved [Link]
2 ,stigma feathery.
FRUIT: Nut or achene.
SEEDS: Scanty endosperm which is fleshy .Embryo coiled in Humulus and
curved in [Link] broad and thick.
HUMULUS LUPULUS- an aromatic resin called ‘lupulin’of this plant is added to
beer ,gives bitter taste and this prevents growth of bacteria in beer.
CANNABIS SATIVA- pericyclic fibres used in making ropes, bags [Link] yield
oil used in soap industry and [Link] of female flowers gives “ganja.‘ which
is a narcotic and is mixed with tobacco are widely used.

Verbenaceae
Classifications -Bentham and Hooker classification- Dicotyledons, Gamopetalae,
Bicarpellatae, ,Lamiales, verbinacea.
1. Habitat-tropical and subtropical.
2. Habit errect herbs (verbena) creeping herbs routing at nodes (Lipiya), erect shrub
(Clerodendrum and Duranta), struggling shrubs (Lantana), Climbing shrubs (Clerodendrum
thomsoniae), trees (Tectona) and seashore mangroves with breathing roots in Avicenia.
3. Stem - young stem is often quadrangular and may have prickles in Lantana.
4. Leaves opposite decussate or world, exstipulate, simple or pinnately compounds.
5. Inflorescence- maybe racemes (Duranta) the long spikes (starchytarpheta) condensed
spikes ( Lantana) Cymose panicles ( Tectona) dichasial cyme in Clerodendon.
6. Flowers- bi sexual hypogynous, zygomorphic, pentamerous, dichlamydeous,
brackcteate. Bract often form an involucre in Lantana and so are well-developed.
7 . Calyx 4 -5 lobed, gamosepalous sepals persistence and often enlarged in the the fruit,
valvate rarely calyx is two lipped (Vitex)
8 Corolla -4-5 lobed, gamopetalous, tubular and tubular portion often curved and shape of
corolla may be Salver form (narrow tube and expanded limp) or Campanulate Corolla is
frequently two lipped and aestivation imbricate or quincuncial, limb of Corolla is spreading.
[Link]- mostly 4 epipetalous, didynamous, interior, pair longer, Anthers divergent.
Introrse, posterior staman supperssedor some time staminoidial . In in starchytarpheta only
two stamens present and in Tectona all 5 Siemens fertile.
10. Gynoecium- bicarpellary, ovary superior, syncarpous, bilocular or water tetralocular by
development of false septum. Ovules usually solitary per chamber or sometimes 2 per
chamber. Ovary rounded or slightly 4 lowbed placentation axile. Style simple terminal,
stigma often 2 lobed.
11. Disc -often present at base of ovary .
12. Fruit- Drupaceous with hard endocarp. It may be a 4 chambered pyrene with solitary
seeds per chamber as in Tectona and vitex , or 2 chambered pyrenes with 2 ovules per
chamber in Priva or four chambered pyrenes with two ovules per chamber as in Duranta or
two undivided pyrenes as in lantana. In Verbena fruit is a nutlet and in Avicenia fruit is a
capsular. Calyx persistent.
13. Seeds-few seeded, ovate with straight embryo and is usually non endospermous.

Examples with economic importance

1. Lantana camara
2. Clerodendrum infortunatum
3. Clerodendrum fragrance
4. Clerodendrum thomsoniae
5. Clerodendrum inermi
6. Vitex negundo
7. Vitex altissima
8. Vitex trifolia
9. Tectona grandis
10. Petrea volubilis
11. Lippia nodiflora
12. Avicenia officinalis
13. Avicenialatifolia
14. Verbena officinalis
15. Duranta plumieri
16. Gmelina arborea
17. Stachytarpheta indica
18. Citharexylum subseratum
19. Holmskioldia Sanuinea
Peculiarities of Avicenia
This is a mangrove, small tree has breathing roots called Pneumatophores. young ovary
shows parietal placentation. Fruit is a capsule. seeds are endospermous.

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