This document provides an overview of the eudicots, which are characterized by tricolpate or tricolpate-derived pollen grains. It discusses the major orders of core eudicots including Ranunculales, Caryophyllales, Saxifragales, rosids, and asterids. Specific families are highlighted such as Myrtaceae, Fabaceae, and the three subfamilies within Fabaceae. Diagrams are included to illustrate floral characteristics of various plants within these groups.

1. 10/14/13
Diversity And Classification of
Flowering Plants:
Eudicots
Michael G. Simpson
Eudicots
• Palynological apomorphy:
tricolpate or tricolpate-derived pollen grain
1

2. 10/14/13
Eudicots
UNPLACED**
Apodanthaceae, Balanophoraceae,
Cynomoriaceae, Cytinaceae,
Hoplestigmataceae, Medusandraceae,
Metteniusaceae, Pottingeriaceae
BUXALES**
Buxaceae
Didymelaceae**
Sabiaceae
CORE EUDICOTS
BERBERIDOPSIDALES**
Aextoxicaceae
Berberidopsidaceae
DILLINEALES**
Dilleniaceae
GUNNERALES
Gunneraceae
Myrothamnaceae**
TROCHODENDRALES**
Trochodendraceae
RANUNCULALES
Berberidaceae
Circaeasteraceae
Eupteleaceae
CARYOPHYLLALES
Achatocarpaceae
Aizoaceae
Amaranthaceae
Ancistrocladaceae
Asteropeiaceae
Lardizabalaceae
Menispermaceae
Papaveraceae
Ranunculaceae
PROTEALES
Nelumbonaceae
Platanaceae* [Proteaceae]
Barbeuiaceae
Basellaceae
Cactaceae
Caryophyllaceae
Didiereaceae
Dioncophyllaceae
Eudicots (continued)
Droseraceae
Drosophyllaceae
Frankeniaceae
Gisekiaceae
Halophytaceae**
Hectorellaceae**
Limeaceae**
Molluginaceae
Nepenthaceae
Nyctaginaceae
Physenaceae
Phytolaccaceae
Plumbaginaceae
Polygonaceae
Portulacaceae
Rhabdodendraceae
Sarcobataceae
Simmondsiaceae
Stegnospermataceae
Tamaricaceae
SANTALALES
Erythropalaceae**
Olacaceae
Opiliaceae
Loranthaceae
Misodendraceae
Santalaceae
Schoepfiaceae**
SAXIFRAGALES
Altingiaceae
Aphanopetalaceae**
Cercidiphyllaceae
Crassulaceae
Daphniphyllaceae
Grossulariaceae
Haloragaceae
Hamamelidaceae
Iteaceae
Paeoniaceae
Penthoraceae**
Peridiscaceae**
Pterostemonaceae**
Saxifragaceae
ROSIDS (see Table 8.2)
ASTERIDS (see Table 8.3)
Tetracarpaeaceae**
Proteaceae
2

3. 10/14/13
Diversity And Classification of
Flowering Plants:
Eudicots: Rosids
ROSIDS
• Very large, monophyletic group of Eudicots
• Linked by no clear non-molecular
apomorphies
• Ovules bitegmic (2 integuments) &
crassinucellate [contrast with Asterids]
• 13 orders
Michael G. Simpson
3

4. 10/14/13
Aphloiaceae
MYRTALES
Geissolomataceae
Alzateaceae
Ixerbaceae
Combretaceae
Picramniaceae
Cryteroniaceae
Strasburgeriaceae
Heteropyxidaceae
Vitaceae
Lythraceae
CROSSOSOMATALES
Melastomataceae
Crossosomataceae
(incl. Memecylaceae)
Stachyuraceae
Myrtaceae
Staphyleaceae
Oliniaceae
GERANIALES
Onagraceae
Geraniaceae
Penaeaceae
(incl. Hypseocharitaceae)
Psiloxylaceae
Ledocarpaceae
Rhynchocalycaceae
Melianthaceae
Vochysiaceae
(incl. Francoaceae)
Vivianiaceae
EUROSIDS I (continued)
OXALIDALES
Brunelliaceae
Cephalotaceae
Connaraceae
Cunoniaceae
Elaeocarpaceae
Oxalidaceae
ROSALES
Barbeyaceae
Cannabaceae
Dirachmaceae
Elaeagnaceae
Moraceae
Rhamnaceae
Rosaceae
Ulmaceae
Urticaceae
EUROSIDS I
Zygophyllaceae
Krameriaceae*
Huaceae
CELASTRALES
Celastraceae
(incl. Lepidobotryaceae)
Huaceae
Parnassiaceae
(incl. Lepuropetalaceae)
CUCURBITALES
Anisophylleaceae
Begoniaceae
Coriariaceae
Corynocarpaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Datiscaceae
Tetramelaceae
EUROSIDS I (continued)
FABALES
Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Polygalaceae
Quillajaceae
Surianaceae
FAGALES
Betulaceae
Casuarinaceae
Fagaceae
Juglandaceae
(incl. Rhoipteleaceae)
Myricaceae
Nothofagaceae
Ticodendraceae
MALPIGHIALES
Achariaceae
Balanopaceae
Bonnetiaceae
Caryocaraceae
Chrysobalanaceae
(incl. Dichapetalaceae,
Euphroniaceae,
Trigoniaceae)
Clusiaceae (Guttiferae)
Ctenolophonaceae
Elatinaceae
Erythroxylaceae*
Euphorbiaceae, s.l.
Goupiaceae
Humiriaceae
Irvingiaceae
Ixonanthaceae
Lacistemataceae
MALPIGHIALES (continued)
Linaceae
Lophopyxidaceae
Malpighiaceae
Ochnaceae
(incl. Medusagynaceae,
Quiinaceae)
Pandaceae
Passifloraceae
(incl. Malesherbiaceae,
Turneraceae)
Peridiscaceae
Phyllanthaceae
Picrodendraceae
Podostemaceae
Putranjivaceae
Rhizophoraceae
Salicaceae
Violaceae
EUROSIDS II
MALVALES
Tapisciaceae
Bixaceae
BRASSICALES
Cistaceae
Akaniaceae
Dipterocarpaceae
[incl.
Malvaceae
Bretschneideraceae]
Mutingiaceae
Bataceae
Neuradaceae
Brassicaceae (Cruciferae)
Sarcolaenaceae
Caricaceae
Sphaerosepalaceae
Emblingiaceae
Thymelaeaceae
Gryrostemonaceae
SAPINDALES
Koeberliniaceae
Anacardiaceae
Limnanthaceae
Biebersteiniaceae
Moringaceae
Burseraceae
Pentadiplandraceae
Kirkiaceae
Resedaceae
Meliaceae
Salvadoraceae
Nitrariaceae
Setchellanthaceae
Rutaceae
Tovariaceae
Sapindaceae
Tropaeolaceae
Simaroubaceae
4

5. 10/14/13
Myrtaceae - Myrtle family
(myrtus, Gr. name for myrtle). 120 genera / 3850 species
• trees and shrubs
• with glandular-punctate or pellucid leaves
• Usually epiperigynous flowers with numerous
stamens.
K 4-5 [3,6] C 4-5 [3,6] A ∞ G (2-5) [(-16)],
inferior [rarelyhalf-inferior or superior], with
hypanthium.
Myrtaceae - Myrtle family
(myrtus, Gr. name for myrtle). 120 genera / 3850 species
Timber, oil - Eucalyptus spp.
edible fruits - Psidium guajava, guava
spices - Syzygium aromaticum, cloves,
cultivated ornamentals -Callistemon (bottlebrush),
Eucalyptus sideroxylon
5

6. 10/14/13
Leptospermum laevigatum
FABALES
Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
- Bean/Pea family
(after faba, Latin name for broad bean). 643 genera / 18,000 species
• trees, shrubs, vines, or herbs,
• stipulate, often compound leaves
• Single, unicarpellous pistil with marginal
placentation
• legume (or modified legume)
K 5 or (5) [(3-6)] C 5 or (5) [0,1-6, or (1-6)] A
10 or (10) to ∞ [variable] G 1 [2-16], superior,
hypanthium sometimes present
worldwide distribution
ecologically important for nitrogen-fixing
rhizobial nodules
pulses (e.g., beans, peas, soybeans, etc.),
fodder plants, oils, timber trees, gums,
dyes, and insecticides.
6

7. 10/14/13
Fabaceae: 3 subfamilies
Caesalpinioideae
Flowers zygomorphic; petals distinct; posterior petal inner
to laterals; stamens distinct.
Mimosoideae
Flowers actinomorphic; petals distinct or connate; stamens
often ∞, showy; flowers often densely aggregated.
Faboideae (=Papilionoideae)
Flowers zygomorphic; perianth papilionaceous; posterior
petal outer to laterals; stamens connate.
Caesalpinioideae
Flowers zygomorphic
Petals distinct
Posterior petal inner to laterals
Stamens distinct
posterior petal
inner to laterals
stamens
distinct
Bauhinia variegata Orchid Tree
Bauhinia variegata Orchid Tree
7

8. 10/14/13
style
ovary
stipe
Bauhinia variegata Orchid Tree
Cassia alata
- akapulko
Purgative, for cough, fungicide
stomatitis.
8

9. 10/14/13
CAESALPINOIDEAE
•
•
•
•
Caesalpinia pulcherrima – “caballero”
Caesalpinia inerma
Cassia fistula – “golden shower”
Cassia alata – “Acapulco”
CAESALPINOIDEAE
•
•
•
•
•
Delonix regia – “flame tree”
Bauhinia purpurea – “alibangbang”
Cynometra
Tamarindus indica
Intsia – “ipil”
Mimosoideae
Flowers actinomorphic, often densely aggregated
Petals distinct or connate; hypanthium sometimes
present
Stamens often ∞, showy
9

10. 10/14/13
phyllode
heads
phyllode
Acacia spp.
rachillae
with leaflets
Acacia spp.: phyllodinous
spike
flowers actinomorphic,
stamens ∞
ovary
(removed)
Acacia longifolia (native to Australia)
Calliandra haematocephala
10

11. 10/14/13
Mimosa sp.
Pithecellobium unquis-cati Cat Claw
MIMOSOIDEAE
•
•
•
•
•
Mimosa pudica – “makahiya”
Samanea saman – “acacia”
Acacia sp.
Leucaena leucocephala – “ipil-ipil”
Calliandra
MIMOSOIDEAE
•
•
•
•
•
Enterolobium cyclocarpum
Pithecellobium dulce – “camachile”
Albizia
Adenanthera
Parkia roxburghii
11

12. 10/14/13
Faboideae (Papilionoideae)
Flowers zygomorphic
Perianth papilionaceous
Terminology:
Posterior petal = banner or standard
Lateral petals = wings
Anterior petals = keel petals (basally distinct;
distally connate; collectively called the keel)
Posterior petal (banner) outer to laterals (wings)
Stamens connate: monadelphous or diadelphous
PAPILIONOIDEAE
• Phaseolus – “abitsuelas”, “lima bean”,
“patani”
• Vigna – “munggo”, “sitaw”
• Psophocarpus – “sigarillas”
• Sesbania – “katuray”
PAPILIONOIDEAE
• Dolichos lablab – “batao” = Lablab
purpureus
• Pterocarpus indica – “narra”
• Arachis pintoi – “ornamental peanut”
• Arachis hypogea – “peanut”
12

13. 10/14/13
PAPILIONOIDEAE
•
•
•
•
•
Erythrina subumbrans – “dapdap”
Pisum sativum – “sitsaro”, “peas”
Centrosema
Clitorea
Desmodium
PAPILIONOIDEAE
• Gliricidia – “kakawate” or “madre de
cacao”
• Crotalaria (with inflated pods)
• Mucuna pruriens – “lipa”
• Pachyrrizus erosus – “singkamas”
• Abrus precatorius
banner
outer to laterals
wing petals
keel
Wisteria sinensis Wisteria
13

14. 10/14/13
keel petal
style
(ovary hidden)
stamens connate:
diadelphous (9+1)
in Wisteria
Wisteria sinensis Wisteria
Wisteria sinensis Wisteria
banner
stamens connate:
diadelphous (9+1)
wing petals
style
ovary
calyx
style
stamens
stipe
Erythrina caffra
pistil removed
Erythrina caffra
14

15. 10/14/13
pistil
unicarpellous
placentation
marginal
(l.s.)
(c.s.)
Clitoria mariana
-a resupinate papilionoid
Erythrina caffra
Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family
(after Euphorbus, physician to the king of Mauritania, 1st century).
313 genera / 8,100 species
unisexual flowers with a superior,
usually 3-carpellate ovary with 1 ovule per carpel,
apical-axile in placentation;
Crotonoideae and Euphorbioideae have a red, yellow, or
usually white (“milky”) latex
Euphorbioideae -cyathium inflorescence.
K 5 [0] C 5 [0] A 1-∞ G (3) [(2–∞)], superior.
15

16. 10/14/13
Three subfamilies:
cyathium
Acalyphoideae
Crotonoideae
-colored latex
Euphorbioideae
- milky (white) latex
- inflorescence a cyathium
An inflorescence bearing small, unisexual
flowers and subtended by an involucre
(frequently with petaloid glands), the entire
inflorescence resembling a single flower.
16

17. 10/14/13
EUPHORBIACEAE
• Manihot esculenta “cassava” or “kamoteng
kahoy”
• Euphorbia spp.
• Euphorbia pulcherrima “poinsettia”
• Jatropha spp.
• Ricinus communis “castor plant”
• Antidesma “bignay”
EUPHORBIACEAE
•
•
•
•
Phyllanthus acidus “karmay”
Acalypha hispida “chenille plant”
Pedilanthus tithymalloides
Aleurites moluccana “lumbang”,
“candlenut tree”
• Ricinus communis, the source of castor bean oil and the
deadly poison ricin
• Hevea brasiliensis, the major source of natural rubber;
• Manihot esculentus, cassava/manioc
• Oil (biodiesel, Jatropha), timber, medicinal, dye, and
ornamental plants.
17

18. 10/14/13
Euphorbia millii
Euphorbia grandicornis
18

19. 10/14/13
Euphorbia spp.
Manihot esculenta Manioc
19

20. 10/14/13
Moraceae — Mulberry family
(Latin name for mulberry). ca. 40 genera / 1100 species
monoecious or dioecious trees, shrubs, lianas, or
herbs
milky latex,
stipulate, simple leaves
fruit a multiple of achenes or syconium.
P (0-10) A 1-6 G (2) [(3)], superior or inferior.
20

21. 10/14/13
MORACEAE
• Ficus sp. – figs
• Artocarpus – “jackfruit”, “marang”,
“antipolo”
• Broussonetia “himbabao”
• Morus alba “mulberry”
Artocarpus altilis (breadfruit),
Ficus carica (edible fig),
Morus spp. (mulberry);
paper, rubber, and timber trees; and some cultivated
ornamentals, -Ficus spp., figs;
the leaves of Morus alba are the food source of silkworm
moth larvae.
21

22. 10/14/13
Rosaceae - Rose family
(Latin for various roses). 95 genera / 2,800 species
The Rosaceae are distinctive in having usually
stipulate leaves (often adnate to petiole) and an
actinomorphic, generally pentamerous flower
with hypathium present, variable in gynoecial
fusion, ovary position, and fruit type.
K 5[3-10] C 5[0,3-10] A 20-∞[1,5]
superior or inferior, hypanthium present.
G 1-∞,
ROSOIDEAE
Rosoideae
Apocarpous
Achenetum/
drupecetum
Prunoideae
Single
drupe
pistil;
superior
Maloideae
Inferior
pome
ovary
Fragaria,
Rosa
Prunus
“peach”
apple
• Carpels numerous, fruit achene or drupelet,
cyanogenic glycosides absent
• Rubus “raspberry” “blackberry”
• Rosa
• Fragaria vesca
22

23. 10/14/13
PRUNOIDEAE
• Carpel usually 1, fruit a drupe, with HCN
• Prunus “peach”, “plum”, “prunes”,
“apricot”, “cherry”, “almonds”
23

24. 10/14/13
MALOIDEAE
• Carpels usually 2-5, connate or adnate to
hypanthim, fruit a pome, with HCN
• Malus “apple”
• Pyrus communis “pear”
Rosaceae
economically important
Fragaria (strawberry)
Malus (apples)
Prunus (almond, apricot, cherry, peach, plum)
Pyrus (pear)
Rubus (blackberry, raspberry)
ornamentals
24

25. 10/14/13
Fragaria vesca Strawberry
hypanthium
inferior
ovary
Malus pumila Apple
Rosa spp.
Prunus spp. Cherries, Peaches, Plums
25

26. 10/14/13
Brassicales
Glucosinolates -.
- deter herbivory and parasitism
- flavoring agents in brocolli, cauliflower, and
mustard.
Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) — Mustard family
(name used by Pliny for cabbagelike plants).
365 genera / 3250 species.
• with glucosinolates (mustard oil glucosides),
• the perianth cruciate (petals usually clawed)
Brassica oleracea - broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage,
collards, kale
rutabaga and canola oil (B. napus),
• androecium with usually 2+4, tetradynamous stamens
mustard (B. nigra),
• the gynoecium with a superior, 2- carpellate/loculate
ovary
turnip (B. rapa),
• with axile-parietal placentation
Arabidopsis thalliana
• dehiscent fruit with a replum (silique or silicle).
K 2+2 C 4 A 2+4 [2,4-16] G (2), superior.
26

27. 10/14/13
BRASSICACEAE
Arabidopsis thaliana
The Model Plant
• Brassica oleracea “cabbage”,
“cauliflower”, “broccoli”, “kohlrabi”,
“turnip”, “Brussels sprouts”
• Brassica juncea “mustasa”
• Raphanus sativus “radish”
• Nasturtium “watercress”
• Rorippa
• Arabidopsis thaliana
Brassica nigra
Raphanus sativus
27

28. 10/14/13
Malvaceae, s.s. - Mallow family
(name used by Pliny, meaning soft). 111 genera / 1,800 species
Malvaceae s. l.
• herbs, shrubs, or trees,
•
•
•
•
•
•
often with stellate trichomes,
typically with an epicalyx,
calyx valvate, corolla often convolute
stamens connate into tube or 5-∞ bundles
Monothecal or bithecal anthers
K 3-5 or (3-5) C 5 [3- or 0] A 5-∞ G 2-∞ [1],
superior [rarely inferior].
A.P.G.: Malvaceae, s.l.
formerly 4 families:
Malvaceae, s.s.
Bombacaceae
Sterculiaceae
Tiliaceae
28

29. 10/14/13
Economic importance includes medicinal plants;
Apomorphies of Malvaceae
Gossypium spp. (cotton, the world’s most important fiber plant)
Ceiba pentandra (kapok), in both of which the seed trichomes are
utilized,
Corchorus spp. (jute), a bast fiber plant
food and flavoring plants
- Theobroma cacao (cacao, the source of chocolate), Cola nitida
(cola), Abelmoschus (okra), and Durio zibethinus (durian);
- ornamental cultivars such as Chorisia (floss-silk tree), Hibiscus
(mallows), and Tilia (linden tree).
- Adansonia digitata (baobab, tropical Africa) - economic or
ecological importance.
Inflorescence with “bicolor unit” (after
Theobroma bicolor), consisting of a
modified, 3-bracted cyme, the trimerous
epicalyx of family members possibly
derived from these 3 bracts.
Other apomorphies:
valvate calyx
stellate or lepidote trichomes,
dilated secondary tissue rays
29

30. 10/14/13
Hibiscus sp.
Kosteletskia virginica
30

31. 10/14/13
Bombax glabrum
31

32. 10/14/13
Chorisia speciosa
Chorisia speciosa
Chorisia speciosa
Durio
32

33. 10/14/13
Theobroma cacao
Cacao, source of
chocolate
33