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10/14/13	
  

Diversity And Classification of
Flowering Plants:
Eudicots: Asterids

Michael G. Simpson

Asterids	


Ovules unitegmic, tenuinucellate	


•  Very large, diverse group	

•  10 orders, many families	

•  Putative apomorphies:	

–  iridoid compounds	

–  sympetalous corolla	

–  ovules: unitegmic (one integument),
tenuinucellate (megasporangium 1-cell thick)	


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ASTERIDS
CORNALES
Cornaceae
Curtissiaceae
Grubbiaceae
Hydrangeaceae
Hydrostachyaceae
Loasaceae
ERICALES
Actinidiaceae
Balsaminaceae
Clethraceae
Cyrillaceae
Diapensiaceae
Ebenaceae
	


EUASTERIDS I
GENTIANALES
Apocynaceae
Gelsmiaceae
Gentianaceae
Loganiaceae
Rubiaceae
LAMIALES
Acanthaceae
Bignoniaceae
Byblidaceae
Calceolariaceae
Carlemanniaceae
Gesneriaceae
Lamiaceae
Lentibulariaceae
Martyniaceae
	
  

Oleaceae
Orobanchaceae
Paulowniaceae
Pedaliaceae
Phyrmaceae
Plantaginaceae
Schlegeliaceae
Scrophulariaceae
Stilbaceae
Tetrachondraceae
Verbenaceae
SOLANALES
Convolvulaceae
Hydroleaceae
Montiniaceae
Solanaceae
Sphenocleaceae

Ericaceae
Fouquieriaceae
Lecythidaceae
Maesaceae
Marcgraviaceae
Myrsinaceae
Pentaphylacaceae
Polemoniaceae
Primulaceae
Roridulaceae
Sapotaceae
Sarraceniaceae
Styracaceae
Symplocaceae
Tetrameristaceae
Theaceae
Theophrastaceae

EUASTERIDS II
Bruniaceae
Columelliaceae
Eremosynaceae
Escalloniaceae
Paracryphiaceae
Polyosmaceae
Sphenostemonaceae
Tribelaceae
APIALES
Apiaceae
Araliaceae
Aralidiaceae
Griseliniaceae
Mackinlayaceae
Melanophyllaceae

Myodocarpaceae
Pennantiaceae
Pittosporaceae
Torricelliaceae
AQUIFOLIALES
Aquifoliaceae
Cardiopteridaceae
Helwingiaceae
Phyllonmaceae
Stemonuraceae
ASTERALES
Alseuosmiaceae
Argophyllaceae
Asteraceae
Calyceraceae
Campanulaceae
Goodeniaceae
	
  

EUASTERIDS I
Boraginaceae
Cordiaceae*
Ehretiaceae*
Heliotropaceae*
Hydrophyllaceae*
Lennoaceae*
Icacinaceae
Oncothecaceae
Vahliaceae
GARRYALES
Eucommiaceae
Garryaceae

Menyanthaceae
Pentaphragmataceae
Phellinaceae
Rousseaceae
Stylidiaceae
DIPSACALES
Adoxaceae
Caprifoliaceae*
Diervillaceae*
Dipsacaceae*
Linnaeaceae*
Morinaceae*
Valerianaceae*

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10/14/13	
  

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.
•  5-merous perianth/androecium,
•  the gynoecium usually with 2 carpels,
•  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),
K (5) C (5) A 5 or (5) G (2) [(-8)], superior, rarely halfinferior.
	


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• 
• 
• 
• 

APOCYNACEAE	

Allamanda “yellow bell”	

Plumeria “kalachuchi”	

Nerium oleander “adelfa”	

Thevetia “false yellow bell”	


retinaculum

	


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pollinium

Rubiaceae — Coffee family 
(after rubia, name used by Pliny for madder)
630 genera / 10,200 species.

	


Leaves simple, entire, usually decussate leaves
connate stipules, the stipules often with mucilagesecreting colleters
2 ovaries, 
2 styles, 
1 stigma

	


usually a cyme,
Flowers bisexual, the perianth dichlamydeous, perianth
and androecium often 4 –5-merous (calyx absent in
some),
ovary usually inferior
ovules with a funicular obturator,
K (4-5) [0] C (4-5) [(3,8-10)] A 4-5 [3,8-10] G (2)
[(3-5+)], usually inferior, rarely superior.	


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10/14/13	
  

Rubiaceae — Coffee family 
(after rubia, name used by Pliny for madder)
630 genera / 10,200 species.
	

worldwide distribution, more concentrated in tropical
regions.
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).	


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10/14/13	
  

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.
often aromatic with ethereal oils
with usually 4-sided stems, opposite [or whorled] leaves
verticillaster or thyrse inflorescence [flowers solitary and axillary
in some], and zygomorphic [rarely actinomorphic],
usually bilabiate flowers
deeply 4-lobed ovary (by formation of false septa) and
gynobasic style
K (5) C (5) [(4)] A 4 or 2 [+2 staminodes] G (2), superior,
hypanthium absent.

Mentha, mint;
Ocimum, basil;
Rosmarinus, rosemary;
Salvia, sage;
Thymus, thyme

Leaves opposite; stems 4-sided	


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10/14/13	
  

Inflorescence a thyrse or verticillaster (usu.)	


Flowers zygomorphic; corolla sympetalous, bilabiate	


Fruit a schizocarp of nutlets	

carpels 2; style gynobasic	


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10/14/13	
  

Ocimum basilicum BASIL	

Rosmarinus officinalis ROSEMARY	


Salvia apiana 
WHITE SAGE	

enantiostylous flowers	


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10/14/13	
  

Solanaceae - Nightshade family
(Latin for sleeping or comforter, after narcotic properties of
some). 94 genera / 2,950 species.

internal phloem,
spiral leaves
usually actinomorphic, 5-merous perianth and
androecium (corolla plicate in bud),
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.

Members of the family have mostly worldwide
distributions, concentrated in South America.
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)
deadly poisons (e.g., Datura, Solanum spp.)
known carcinogens (e.g., Nicotiana tabacum); some used
as ornamental cultivars, others are noxious weeds.

Flowers actinomorphic, 	

plicate (in bud)	


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Flowers	
  ac+nomorphic,	
  	
  
plicate	
  (in	
  bud)	
  

Fruit a berry or capsule	


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Physalis ixocarpa Tomatillo	


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Asteraceae (Compositae)	

Characteristics:	

	

Inflorescence a head (capitulum): 	

	

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. 	


	
  

Argyroxiphium	
  sandwicense,	
  Silversword	
  
Maui

Asteraceae (=Compositae) Sunflower family
(after Aster, meaning star). 1,528 genera / 22,750 species.
a head (capitulum) subtended by an involucre of phyllaries,
--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,
inferior ovary with a single, basal ovule,
the fruit a multiple of achenes.
Argyroxiphium sandwicense, Silversword
Maui

	


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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

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 	


A (5) [(4)]
G (2), inferior, hypanthium absent.

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.

Bilabiate flower	

posterior	
  lip	
  	
  
anterior	
  lip	
  	
  

Acourtia microcephala 	


Trixis	
  californica	
  	
  

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anthers
connate

disk

ligulate / ray

Ray flowers (heads ligulate = all rays)	


syngenesious

Disk flower: heads discoid	


disk	
  corolla	
  	
  

ligulate	
  corolla	
  	
  

Rafinesquia neomexicana 	


Malacothrix	
  californica	
  	
  

Chaenac;s	
  gabriuscula	
  	
  

Psathyrotes	
  ramosissima	
  	
  

Palafoxia arida 	


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Disk flowers: heads disciform
	

 	

 	

 	

(2 types of disk fls.,
	


	


	


	


	


	

same or different heads)

male	
  heads	
  

Heads radiate: inner disk  outer ray fls.	

disk	
  flowers	
  	
  

ray	
  flowers	
  	
  

female	
  heads	
  

Ambrosia	
  chamissonis	
  	
  

Encelia	
  farinosa	
  	
  

Involucre morphology	


Some heads are chaffy	

ovary	
  	
  

disk	
  flower	
  	
  

Xylorhiza orcuttii 	


one whorl 	


chaff	
  :	
  	
  
	
  bracts	
  	
  
	
  subtending	
  	
  
	
  flowers	
  	
  
Senecio	
  vulgaris

	
  	
  

two	
  whorls	
  	
  

	
  	
  

Coreopsis	
  mari;ma

many	
  whorls	
  	
  

	
  	
  

Encelia	
  californica

Encelia californica 	


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10/14/13	
  

Involucre morphology	

Phyllaries spiny

	


	
  	
  

Phyllaries	
  spiny	
  	
  squarrose

Pappus: 
modified calyx	


	
  

beak

	
  	
  

Circium	
  vulgare

	
  	
  

Silybum	
  marianum

Pappus: modified calyx	


	
  

capillary	
  bristles,	
  borne	
  atop	
  
beak

	
  

capillary	
  bristles:	
  	
  
barbellate

	
  

capillary	
  bristles:	
  	
  
plumose

ASTERACEAE	

•  Anthers 3-5, united à syngenesious	


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ASTERACEAE	

•  Gynoecium
bicarpellate	

•  Uniloculate	

•  Inferior	

•  Uniovulate	

•  Placentation basal	

•  Fruit achene with
coma or tuft of hairà
cypsela	


ASTERACEAE	

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Helianthus “sunflower”	

Chrysanthemum	

Vernonia	

Wedelia	

Tagetes	


ASTERACEAE	

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Cosmos	

Eupatorium	

Ageratum	

Gerbera “daisy”	

Blumea “sambong”	

Taraxacum “dandelion” 	


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