This document summarizes key characteristics of several families within the asterid order, including Apocynaceae, Rubiaceae, Acanthaceae, Lamiaceae, Solanaceae, and Asteraceae. It provides diagnostic traits for each family such as flower morphology, ovary position, and economic importance. For example, it notes that Apocynaceae are distinguished by their 5-merous perianth and usually 2 carpels, while Asteraceae are characterized by their heads of flowers subtended by involucral bracts. It also frequently includes examples of economically important genera within each family.

1. Diversity And Classification of
Flowering Plants:
Eudicots: Asterids
Michael G. Simpson

4. Asterids
• Very large, diverse group
• 10 orders, many families
• Putative apomorphies:
– iridoid compounds
– sympetalous corolla
– ovules: unitegmic (one integument),
tenuinucellate (megasporangium 1-cell thick)

5. Ovules unitegmic, tenuinucellate

12. Apocynaceae, s.l. - Dogbane/Milkweed
family (Greek for "away from dog," in reference to past use
of some taxa as a dog poison). 411 genera / 4,650 species.
The Apocynaceae, s.l. are distinctive in being lianas, trees,
shrubs, or herbs with a 5-merous perianth/androecium, the
gynoecium usually with 2 carpels, the ovaries distinct in
some taxa with styles connate (in Asclepiadoids
androecium adnate to single stigma forming a
gynostegium and pollen fused to form pollinia, each half
derived from an adjacent anther), the fruits variable, but a
schizocarp of follicles in the Asclepiadoids.
K (5) C (5) A 5 or (5) G (2) [(-8)], superior, rarely
half-inferior.

18. retinaculum

19. pollinium

21. 2 ovaries,
2 styles,
1 stigma

22. Rubiaceae — Coffee family
(after rubia, name used by Pliny for madder)
630 genera / 10,200 species.
The Rubiaceae are distinctive in being trees, shrubs,
lianas, or herbs with simple, entire, usually
decussate leaves and connate stipules, the
stipules often with mucilage-secreting colleters, the
inflorescence usually a cyme, flowers usually
bisexual, the perianth dichlamydeous, perianth and
androecium often 4 –5-merous (calyx absent in
some), the ovary usually inferior (rarely superior),
often with an apical nectariferous disk, ovules with
a funicular obturator, the fruit a berry, capsule,
drupe, or schizocarp.
K (4-5) [0] C (4-5) [(3,8-10)] A 4-5 [3,8-10] G (2) [(3-
5+)], usually inferior, rarely superior.

23. Rubiaceae — Coffee family
(after rubia, name used by Pliny for madder)
630 genera / 10,200 species.
The Rubiaceae have a mostly worldwide distribution,
more concentrated in tropical regions. Economic
importance includes Cinchona, the source of quinine
used to treat malaria, Coffea arabica and other
species, the source of coffee, Pausinystalia johimbe,
the source of the sexual stimulant yohimbine, some
timber trees, fruiting plants, dye plants (such as
Rubia, madder), and ornamental cultivars (e.g.,
Pentas, among others).

28. Acanthaceae — Acanthus family
(from Acanthus, prickly-one).
229 genera / 3450 species.
The Acanthaceae are distinctive in having simple,
opposite leaves with zygomorphic, bracteate,
usually bilabiate flowers, the fruit an explosively
dehiscent, loculicidal capsule with distinctive
funicular retinacula ( jaculators) that function in
seed dispersal, the funicular retinacula a presumed
apomorphy of the family.
K (5) [(4,6)] C (4-5) A 2,4,or 5 G (2), superior.

29. Acanthaceae — Acanthus family
(from Acanthus, prickly-one).
229 genera / 3450 species.
Members of the Acanthaceae are distributed from the
tropics to temperate regions. Economic importance
includes several cultivated ornamentals, such as
Acanthus mollis, Aphelandra, and Justicia [including
Beloperone]

32. Lamiaceae (=Labiatae) - Mint family
(Lamium, gullet, after the shape of the corolla tube or old Latin name
used by Pliny). 251 genera / 6,700 species.
The Lamiaceae are distinctive in being herbs or shrubs,
often aromatic with ethereal oils, with usually 4-sided stems,
opposite [or whorled] leaves, a verticillaster or thyrse
inflorescence [flowers solitary and axillary in some], and
zygomorphic [rarely actinomorphic], usually bilabiate flowers
having a superior, deeply 4-lobed ovary (by formation of "false
septa") and gynobasic style, the fruit a schizocarp of usually 4
nutlets.
K (5) C (5) [(4)] A 4 or 2 [+2 staminodes] G (2), superior,
hypanthium absent.

33. Economic importance includes medicinals, herbs (e.g., Mentha,
mint; Ocimum, basal; Rosmarinus, rosemary; Salvia, sage;
Thymus, thyme), fragrance plants (e.g., Lavandula, lavender;
Pogostemon, patchouli), and a number or cultivated
ornamentals.

34. Leaves opposite; stems 4-sided

35. Inflorescence a thyrse or verticillaster (usu.)

36. Flowers zygomorphic; corolla sympetalous, bilabiate

37. carpels 2; style gynobasic

38. Fruit a schizocarp of nutlets

39. Ocimum basilicum BASIL

40. Rosmarinus officinalis ROSEMARY

41. Salvia apiana
WHITE SAGE
enantiostylous flowers

42. Pogogyne abramsii MESA MINT
Fed/Cal. endangered species

43. Salvia columbariae CHIA

46. Solanaceae - Nightshade family
(Latin for sleeping or comforter, after narcotic properties of
some). 94 genera / 2,950 species.
The Solanaceae are distinctive in being herbs,
shrubs, trees, or lianas with internal phloem, spiral
leaves, a usually actinomorphic, 5-merous perianth
and androecium (corolla plicate in bud), a usually
bicarpellate, syncarpous gynoecium, and usually
numerous ovules per carpel, the fruit a berry, drupe,
or capsule.
K (5) C (5) [(4),(6)] A 5 [4 or 2+2 staminodes]
G (2) [(3-5)], superior, hypanthium absent.

47. Members of the family have mostly worldwide
distributions, concentrated in South America.
Economic importance includes many edible plants,
such as Capsicum (peppers), Lycopersicon esculentum
(tomato), Physalis philadelphica (tomatillo), Solanum
tuberosum (potato), Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco);
alkaloids from various taxa have medicinal properties
(e.g., atropine from Atropa belladona), hallucinogenic
properties (e.g., Datura, Jimson weed), or are deadly
poisons (e.g., Datura, Solanum spp.) or known
carcinogens (e.g., Nicotiana tabacum); some used as
ornamental cultivars, others are noxious weeds.

48. Flowers actinomorphic,
plicate (in bud)

49. Flowers actinomorphic,
plicate (in bud)

52. Fruit a berry or capsule

53. Physalis ixocarpa Tomatillo

57. Asteraceae (Compositae)
Characteristics:
Vegetatively variable.
Inflorescence a head (capitulum): (usu.) many flowers
arising from a compound receptacle, subtended by
inflorescence bracts: involucral bracts or phyllaries,
collectively termed the involucre.
Calyx modified as pappus.
Stamens syngenesious.
K pappus C 5 A (5) G(2), inferior, 1 basal ovule
Fruit an achene.

58. Asteraceae (=Compositae) -
Sunflower family
(after Aster, meaning star). 1,528 genera / 22,750 species.
The Asteraceae are distinctive in being herbs, shrubs, vines, or
trees, the inflorescence a head (capitulum) subtended by an
involucre of phyllaries, flowers either bilabiate, disk, or
ray/ligulate, (heads of many taxa a mixture of central disk
flowers and peripheral ray flowers), with the calyx, termed a
pappus, modified as scales, awns, or capillary bristles (or
absent), the androecium syngenesious, and with an inferior
ovary with a single, basal ovule, the fruit a multiple of achenes.

59. Asteraceae (=Compositae) -
Sunflower family
(after Aster, meaning star). 1,528 genera / 22,750 species.
Economic importance includes some food plants
(e.g., Cynara scolymus, artichoke, and
Helianthus annuus, sunflower), a number of
ornamental cultivars, and various species used
locally or industrially; the prickly fruits of
Arctium lappa (burdock) are purported to have
been the model for invention of velcro.

60. Argyroxiphium sandwicense, Silversword
Maui

61. Argyroxiphium sandwicense, Silversword
Maui

62. Asteraceae (=Compositae) -
Sunflower family
(after Aster, meaning star). 1,528 genera / 22,750 species.
K 0-∞ (pappus)
C (5) [(4)] or (3) in some ray flowers
A (5) [(4)]
G (2), inferior, hypanthium absent.

63. Asteraceae: floral variation
Three types of flowers:
1) Bilabiate: zygomorphic (bilateral) with 2 lips
2) Ray (ligulate): zygomorphic (bilateral) with 1
lobe
3) Disk: actinomorphic (radial), usu. 5-lobed

64. Five types of heads:
1) discoid, with only disk flowers;
2) disciform, with central disk flowers and
marginal, eligulate female flowers;
3) radiate, with central (bisexual or male) disk
flowers and peripheral (female or sterile) ray
flowers;
4) ligulate, with all ray flowers (typically with
5-toothed corolla apices);
5) bilabiate, with all bilabiate flowers.

65. Bilabiate flower
Acourtia microcephala Trixis californica
posterior lip
anterior lip

66. ligulate / raydisk

67. syngenesious
anthers
connate

68. Ray flowers (heads ligulate = all rays)
Rafinesquia neomexicana Malacothrix californica
ligulate corolla

69. Disk flower: heads discoid
Palafoxia arida
Psathyrotes ramosissima
disk corolla
Chaenactis gabriuscula

70. Disk flowers: heads disciform
(2 types of disk fls.,
same or different heads)
male heads
Ambrosia chamissonis
female heads

71. Xylorhiza orcuttiiEncelia farinosa
Heads radiate: inner disk & outer ray fls.
ray flowersdisk flowers

72. Encelia californica
ovary
Some heads are "chaffy"
chaff :
bracts
subtending
flowers
disk flower

73. Involucre morphology
one whorl two whorls many whorls
Senecio vulgaris Coreopsis maritima Encelia californica

74. Circium vulgare Silybum marianum
Phyllaries spiny
Involucre morphology
Phyllaries spiny & squarrose

75. Pappus:
modified calyx
capillary bristles:
barbellate
capillary bristles:
plumose
beak
capillary bristles,
borne atop "beak"

76. Pappus: modified calyx