(c) Ms. Melanie Medecilo

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

3. Monocotyledons
(Monocotyledonae, Monocots)
• Monophyletic group
• Comprise 22% of all angiosperms
• Relationships to other “basal” angiosperms
unclear at present

4. Apomorphies of the Monocots
• sieve tube plastids with cuneate (wedge-
shaped) proteinaceous inclusions
• atactostele stem vasculature
• parallel leaf venation
• single cotyledon
• NOTE: a trimerous flower merosity is not a
Monocot apomorphy

5. Apomorphies of the Monocots
• sieve tube plastids with cuneate (wedge-shaped)
proteinaceous inclusions

6. Apomorphies of the Monocots
• atactostele stem vasculature

7. Apomorphies of the Monocots
• parallel leaf venation (penni-parallel in some)

8. Apomorphies of the Monocots
• single cotyledon

10. ACORALES
Acoraceae - Sweet Flag family
(Acorus, meaning "without pupil," originally in reference to a
species of Iris used to treat cataracts). 1 genus/2-3 species
- marsh plants
- spadix and spathe (resembling Araceae)
- distichous, ensiform, unifacial leaves
- perispermous, endospermous seeds
- ethereal oil cells
- raphide crystals absent
P 3+3 A 3+3 G (2–3) superior.

11. Acoraceae - Sweet Flag family
Economic importance includes Acorus calamus used
medicinally (e.g., as “calamus oil”), in religious
rituals, as an insecticide, and as a perfume and
flavoring plant (e.g., in liqueurs).
Stevens, P. 2001, onwards. http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/Research/APweb

12. Acorus calamus
Acoraceae

14. ALISMATALES
Alismataceae (incl. Limnocharitaceae)
Aponogetonaceae
Araceae (including Lemnaceae)
Butomaceae
Cymodoceaceae
Hydrocharitaceae
Juncaginaceae
Posidoniaceae
Potamogetonaceae
Ruppiaceae
Scheuchzeriaceae
Tofieldiaceae
Zosteraceae

15. ALISMATALES
Alismataceae - Water-Plantain family
(Alisma, a name used by Dioscorides for plantain-leaved aquatic plant).
15 genera / 88 species
- aquatic or marsh herbs
- flowers solitary or often whorled
- flowers dichlamydeous
- gynoecium apocarpous
- placentation basal
- fruit an aggregate of achenes or follicles
K 3 C 3 A 6,9– [3]∞ G 3– , superior∞

16. Alismataceae - Water-Plantain family
Economic importance includes taxa used as food by
indigenous people, others used as aquatic, cultivated
ornamentals.
Stevens, P. 2001, onwards. http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/Research/APweb

17. Sagittaria sp.

18. Sagittaria montevidensis

20. Echinodorus berteroi

21. ALISMATALES
Araceae - Arum family
(Arum, a name used by Theophrastus).
111 genera / 2980 species
- leaves bifacial
- venation parallel or netted
- inflorescence a spadix of numerous, small flowers
with a subtending spathe
- seeds endospermous
- raphide crystals present
P 2+2,3+3,(2+2),(3+3) or 0 [4+4,(4+4)]
A 4,6,8 or (4,6,8) [1–12] G (3) [1–( )] superior.∞

22. Araceae - Arum family
Members of the family have a worldwide distribution in mostly
tropical and subtropical regions.
Economic importance includes many taxa important food sources
(rootstocks, leaves, or fruits) in the tropics, e.g., Alocasia,
Colocasia esculenta (taro), Monstera; some species are
cultivated ornamentals, e.g., Aglaonema, Anthurium, Caladium
(elephant’s ear), Dieffenbachia (dumb cane), Epipremnum,
Monstera, Philodendron, Spathiphyllum, Syngonium, and
Zantedeschia (calla-lily).
Amorphophallus titanum is unique in having the largest
inflorescences of any flowering plant.
Wolffia spp. are unique in having the smallest flowers.

23. Aglaonema modestum

24. Amorphophallus titanum
Largest inflorescence in world

25. Arisaema triphyllum Jack-in-the-pulpit

26. Lemna minuscula
Duckweed

27. Wolffia sp. Watermeal
Smallest flower in world

28. Pistia stratiotes Water-lettuce

29. Monstera deliciosa

30. Monstera deliciosa

31. Monstera deliciosa

32. Pothos sp.

33. Symplocarpus foetidus Skunkweed

34. Xanthosoma sagittifolium

35. Xanthosoma sagittifolium

36. Zantedeschia aethiopica Calla-lily

37. Zantedeschia aethiopica Calla-lily

39. LILIALES
Alstroemeriaceae (incl. Luzuriagaceae)
Campynemaceae
Colchicaceae
Corsiaceae
Liliaceae
Luzuriagaceae
Melanthiacaeae
Philesiaceae
Ripogonaceae
Smilacaceae

40. Liliaceae - Lily family
(after Lilium, a name used in Virgil's writings). ca. 16 genera / ca. 600 species.
- plants perennial, usually bulbous herbs
- lack an onion-like odor
- leaves basal or cauline
- inflorescence a raceme, umbel or of solitary fls.
- ovary superior
P 3+3 A 3 G (3), superior

42. ASPARAGALES
Very large order!
Apomorphy for all but Orchidaceae:
phytomelan in seed coat (lost in some taxa)

44. ASPARAGALES
Agapanthaceae* [Amaryllidaceae]
Agavaceae* [Asparagaceae] (incl.
Hesperocallidaceae)
Alliaceae* [Amaryllidaceae]
Amaryllidaceae*
Aphyllanthaceae* [Asparagaceae]
Asparagaceae*
Asphodelaceae* [Xanthorrhoeaceae]
Asteliaceae
Blandfordiaceae
Boryaceae
Doryanthaceae
Hemerocallidaceae*
[Xanthorrhoeaceae]
Hyacinthaceae* [Asparagaceae]
Hypoxidaceae
Iridaceae
Ixioliriaceae
Lanariaceae
Laxmanniaceae* [Asparagaceae]
Orchidaceae
Ruscaceae* [Asparagaceae] (incl.
Convallariaceae)
Tecophilaeaceae
Themidaceae* [Asparagaceae]
Xanthorrhoeaceae*
Xeronemataceae

45. ASPARAGALES

47. Agavaceae - Agave family
(after Agave, meaning "admired one"). 8 genera / 300
species
The Agavaceae are distinctive in being perrenial
subshrubs to branched trees with spiral,
xeromorphic, generally fibrous leaves, trimerous
hypogynous to perigynous flowers, and
characteristic chromosomes (base number with 5
long and 25 short chromosomes).
P 3+3 A 6 G (3) superior or inferior, hypanthium
present in some.

48. Agave deserti

49. Agave deserti

50. Yucca schidigera
Mohave Yucca

51. Yucca schidigera
Mohave Yucca

52. Yucca brevifolia
Joshua Tree

53. Hesperoyucca whipplei

55. Alliaceae [Amaryllidaceae]
Onion family
(Latin name for garlic). 7 genera / >600 species
The Alliaceae are distributed world-wide. Economic
importance includes onion (Allium cepa), garlic
(Allium sativum), and other species as important
food and flavoring plants. Several taxa are used as
ornamental cultivars.
The Alliaceae are distinctive in being perennial,
bulbous herbs with an onion-like odor (caused by
allyl sulfides), basal, narrow leaves, and an umbel
for an inflorescence.
P 3+3 A 3+3 G (3), superior, hypanthium absent.

56. BULB

57. Allium peninsulare

58. Allium praecox

59. Tulbaghia violacea Society Garlic South Africa

61. Asphodelaceae [Xanthorrhoeaceae s.l.]
Asphodel or Alöe family
15 genera/780 species
- plants herbs or pachycaulous trees
- leaves usually succulent
- flowers trimerous
- ovary superior ovary
- seeds arillate
P 3+3 or (3+3) A 3+3 G (3), superior

62. Asphodelaceae - Asphodel or Alöe family
Economic importance includes Aloe spp. (esp. A. vera and A. ferox,
from which aloin is derived), which have important uses
medicinally (e.g., as laxatives and treatment of burns) as well as in
skin, hair, and health products; many family members are important
as cultivated ornamentals, e.g., Aloe, Asphodelus, Gasteria,
Haworthia, Kniphofia.
Stevens, P. 2001, onwards. http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/Research/APweb

63. Aloe aristata

64. Aloe marlothii

65. Aloe sp.

66. Asphodelus fistulosus

67. Bulbine aloifolia

68. Bulbine sp.

69. Gasteria trigona

70. Haworthia cooperi

71. Haworthia linifolia Haworthia truncata

72. Kniphofia uvaria Red Hot Poker

74. Iridaceae - Iris family
(after Iris, mythical goddess of the rainbow). 70 genera /
1750 species
The Iridaceae are distinguished from related families
in consisting of perennial herbs with ensiform,
unifacial leaves, bracteate to spathaceous
rhapidia or spikes (sometimes solitary), and
flowers with three stamens opposite outer tepals.
P/(P) 3+3 A/(A) 3 (G) 3, inferior (superior in
Isophysis).

75. Iris sp.

76. Crocus sp.

77. Chasmanthe aethiopica (South Africa)

78. Iris sp.

79. Iris sp.

80. Sisyrhinchium bellum

81. Sisyrhinchium bellum

83. Orchidaceae - Orchid family
(orchis, testicle, from the shape of the root tubers).
700-800 genera / ca. 20,000 species
Roots mycorrhizal
Plants mostly perrennial, terrestrial or epiphytic herbs
Flowers often resupinate
Inner median tepal often modified as showy labellum
Androecium and gynoecium adnate = column,
gynostegium, or gynostemium
Pollen grains often fused, 1-∞ pollinia, with sticky-tipped
stalk, pollinia and stalk termed a pollinarium (unit of
pollen dispersal)
P (3+3) A 1-3, when 1 a pollinarium G (3), inferior, with
gynostemium

89. Caladenia longiclavata Australia

90. Calopogon - a non-resupinate orchid
labellum
column

91. Cattleya sp.

92. Cymbidium sp.

93. Cypripedium sp. Lady’s Slipper

94. Dendrobium
phalaenopsis

95. Dracula chimaera Dracula vampira

96. Encyclia sp. Cockleshell Orchid

97. Epidendrum sp.

98. Ludisia sp.

99. Oncidium lanceanum

100. Orchis spectabilis

101. Paphiopedilum sp.

102. Pseudobulb

103. Stanhopea trigrinum

104. Thelymitra antennifera Australia

105. Vanilla planifolia Vanilla Orchid