Flower Types & Major Families What you need to know to identify plants REM 252
Flower Types & Major
Families
What you need to know
to identify plants
REM 252
What are Flowers?
Reproductive Organs
2Molinodosanto.com
How do Flowers Reproduce?
Flowers produce fruit Fruits Contain Seeds
3
Require Pollination
zombiehunters.com
Seeds Get Dispersed
4aristeos.com
How do Flowers Reproduce?
Plants germinate and grow into adults
5
paghat.com
How do Flowers Reproduce?
Conifers or gymnosperms Produce seeds on cones (no ovary)
6
Dendro.cnrt.vt.gov
Plants Without Flowers
Welovemrsparishandmrwhitete.weebly.com.com
Structure of Flowers
7
Flowers are Simple or Complex
Flower Inflorescence
Structure of Flowers Inflorescence - Group of flowers
9
Flowers are on main stalk
(without pedicels sessile)
10
Spike
* You do not need to memorize the terms pedicel or sessile
Invasive.org
Inflorescence
Flowers attached to main stalk
with pedicels
11
Raceme
* You do not need to memorize the terms pedicel or pediculate
Inflorescence
Compound Raceme
12
PanicleInflorescence
All pedicles appx. same length
connect to stalk at same location
Family Apiaceae (carrot family)
13
Umbel
Bio.utexas.edu
Inflorescence
Raceme with longer (uneven) pedicles at
bottom of inflorescence
Flowers appear to be at the same height
14
CorymbInflorescence
Ray and Disk flowers
Family Asteraceae (daisy/sunflower family)
15
Composite/HeadInflorescence
Ray flowers
Disk flowers
Flowers
Composite Heads
Ray Flowers Disk Flowers Ray and Disk Flowers
Plant Families & Tribes
Some plant families that will be covered
in REM 252
Asteraceae Tribes
Anthemideae
Heliantheae
Astereae
Anthemideae of Asteraceae
The “fragrant” tribe
Flowers not showey
Yarrow and sage
Composite/Head flowers
Heliantheae of Asteraceae
The “sunflower” tribe
Flowers showy
Composite/Head flowers
Prominent ray flowers
Astereae of Asteraceae The “aster” tribe
Small, indistinct flowers
Snakeweed
Missouri goldenrod
Grass Family and Tribes Poaceae = Grass Family
Variable inflorescence types
= Panicle
Grass Family and Tribes
Poaceae = Grass Family
Variable inflorescence types
= Spilke
Chenopodiacea
The Goosefoot Family
Flowers not showy
Often with separate
male & female flowers
Usually gray
No petals
Leaves variable
Fireflyforest.com
Chenopodiaceae Variable: spike/raceme/panicle
25
Fireflyforest.com
Rosaceae
The Rose Family
Showy flowers
Five sepals
Many petals, stamen and
pistils
Often bears fruit
throughout
fall and winter
Rosaceae Single flower (not inflorescence)
27
Rosaceae Panicle (compound raceme)
28
Fireflyforest.com
Fabaceae
Legume or Bean Family
Often elongate/tubular
Various inflorescence types
Nitrogen-fixing
Bilateral symmetry
Fabaceae
Spike
Fireflyforest.com
Brassicaceae Mustard (or caper) Family
Four sepals and four petals
Often yellow or white
Variable inflorescence
Raceme
Salicaceae Cottonwood and Willow Family
Often white bark
Cottony fruit
Not showy flowers
Catkins
Questions?