This document provides key details about the characteristics of several major angiosperm families, including: - Ranunculaceae (buttercup family): Herbs, shrubs or vines with foliar spurs that function as nectaries. Petals and sepals may be present or absent. Fruits include follicles, achenes, and berries. - Caryophyllaceae (carnation family): Herbs with nodal lines connecting leaves. Flowers have an androgynophore stalk bearing both androecium and gynoecium. Tepals are present, true petals absent. Fruits are capsules or utricles. - Sterculiaceae:

1. Presented By-
YOGITA SHARMA
Dept. Of Botany
UNIVERSITY OF RAJASTHAN, JAIPUR
yogita013@gmail.com
KEY CHARACTERS OF SOME
MAJOR ANGIOSPERM
FAMILIES

2. RANUNCULACEAE-
BUTTERCUP FAMILY
a. Herbs, shrubs or vines.
b. FOLIAR SPUR is a characteristic feature
which functions as nectary.
c. Petals and sepals present or absent. If
absent they are reduced to tepals,
tepaloids or completely absent. If present
then they are usually 5 in number.
d. Stamens numerous & spirally arranged.
e. 3 to many- carpellary, rarely
monocarpous ( Delphinium) radially
arranged.
f. Ovary superior with parietal placentation
(Caltha), basal ovule (Ranunculus), axile
(Nigella).
g. Fruit- follicle, achene (Ranunculus), berry
(Actaea), capsule (Nigella).
Aquilegia

3. CARYOPHYLLACEAE-
CARNATION FAMILY
a. Usually herbs. Rich in anthocyanins. Leaves
connected by a swollen NODAL LINE.
b. Flowers are bisexual.
c. ANDROGYNOPHORE is the key character. It is
a stalk bearing both Androecium &
Gynoecium of a flower above the level of
perianth.
d. Tepals present. True petals absent. Outer
whorls of 4-5 stamens modified as ‘petals”
which are bilobed differentiated as basal claw
and apical blade.
e. Stamens 4-10. Carpels 2-5. Ovary superior
with free- central placentation (occasionally
axile or basal).
f. Fruit- loculicidal capsule or Urticle.
g. Eg. Dianthus (carnation), Silene (catchfly),
Gypsophila (baby’s breath), Agrostemma.
Dianthus
Androgynophore

4. STERCULIACEAE FAMILY
a. Family memebers now distributed in various
sub-families of Malvaceae.
b. Habit can be woody, shrub or herbaceous.
c. Infloresence is usually cyme, cauliflorous (KEY
CHARACTER). Arise directly on the main
branch of the tree, as in case of Threobrma
(cacao).
d. Flowers bisexual.
e. In Threobroma, each petal bulges out ,
constricts and expands apically as a tip.
f. Stamens numerous. Outer whorls reduced to
staminodes. Inner whorls sometimes form
staminal tube.
g. Hypanthium absent.
h. Fruit- fleshy.
i. Eg. Dombeya, Threobroma cacao, Sterculia.
CAULIFLORY
Dombeya

5. Sterculia with cauliflorous condition.

6. RHAMNACEAE- BUCKTHORN
FAMILY
a. Trees, shrubs with thorns, or lianas. Roots
sometime contains N2- fixing bacteria.
b. Inflorescence is determinate. With
inconspicuous flowers which can be clustered
or solitary.
c. Hypanthium present which is disc-like.
d. Distinct sepals & petals.
e. Anthers 4-5 . Lie opposite to petals which
enclose them like a concave hood.
f. Carpels 3-4, connate. Placentation- axile.
g. A nectar producing disc is present on the
inner surface of hypanthium.
h. Fruit- dehiscent to indehiscent drupe.
i. Eg. Rhamnus (buckthorn), Zizyphus, Hovenia
dulcis (resin tree)etc.
Rhamnus

7. LEGUMINOSAE/ FABACEAE-
PEA FAMILY
a. 2nd most economically important family
after Poaceae.
b. Food plants- Arachis, Cajanus, Glycine,
Cicer, Pisum sativum, Phaseolus,
Tamarindus, Melilotus (sweet clover),
Lupinus, Lathyrus, Laburnum, Acacia,
Delonix, Albizia, Dalbergia, Pterocarpus
(Red sandal wood)
c. Trees, shrubs, herbs, lianas with climbing
tendrils. Roots with high nitrogen fixation
capacity. Due to presence of root
nodules.
d. Leaves alternate, Bi- to tripinnate. Leaves
and leaflets have a well developed
pulvinus, stipulate.
e. Stipules can be inter or intra. Can be also
modified into spines.
f. Inflorescence- raceme
g. Flowers bisexual with cup-shaped
Hypanthium.
h. Nectaries present on petiole.
i. Three sub-families are recognized under
Fabaceae.
 CAESALPINIOIDEAE
 MIMOSOIDEAE
 PAPILIONOIDEAE

8. Mimosoideae
a. Includes about 40 genera and 2500
species.
b. Habit- trees, shrubs, occasionally
herbs.
c. Leaves- usually bi-pinnate or tri-
pinnate.
d. Flowers – small, inconspicuous,
present in clusters or inflorescence.
e. Corolla- radial, valvate aestivation.
f. Flower individually not showy.
g. Stamens indefinite long and
prominent.
h. Carpel- unilocular, superior ovary,
ovules borne in 2 rows.
i. Pleurogram present on the seed.
j. Eg.- Acacia, Albizia, Mimosa,
Prosopis etc.
PROSOPIS

9. Caesalpinioideae
a. Trees, shrubs, rarely herbs.
b. Pinnate to bipinnate.
c. Flowers open sequentially.
d. Flowers show distinct imbricate
aestivation that is Ascending Imbricate
type.
e. In this type of aestivation the petal near
the mother axis is the innermost i.e.
the posterior one.
f. Stamens are 10, arranged as 3+4+3,
interose, usually not showy.
g. Half inferior, half- superior ovary.
h. Pollens shed as monads.
i. Pleurogram is lacking.
j. Eg.- Bauhinia, Delonix, Cassia,
Caesalpinia, Parkinsonia, Tamarindus
etc.
Delonix

10. Papilionoideae
a. Herbs, shurbs or trees.
b. Pinnarely compound, trifoliate &
unifoliate.
c. Flowers open sequentially.
d. Imbricate aestivation.
e. Descending imbricate, also called
Vexillary, i.e. the posterior petal is the
outer most and largest- BANNER.
f. 2 basal petals are connate, called KEEL.
The remaining 2 are called Wings.
g. Stamens 10 or 9+1
h. Pollen- monad type
i. Pleurogram absent.
j. Eg.- Pisum sativum, Lathyrus,
Phaseolus, Lupinus, Vicia, Arachis,
Glycine etc.
Indigofera

11. CUCURBITACEAE-
CUCURBIT FAMILY
a. Herbacious soft or woody vines with spirally
modified tendrils borne on nodes.
b. Simple leaves, alternate, palmately lobed
with teeth of cucurbitoid type.
c. Flowers are usually unisexual, Hypanthium
present.
d. Sepals-5 reduced. Petals-5 gamopetalous,
bell shaped with a narrow tube and flaring
lobes.
e. Staminate flowers- 3 stamens . Anthers free
or fused but filaments always fused-
condition known as SYNANDROUS
f. Pistillate flowers. Carpels- 3, syncarpous,
stigmas are free and each is bi-lobed. Style
single and ovary inferior.
g. Placentation- parietal.
h. Fruit- Pepo. Indehiscent, with hard rind and
fleshy mesocarp. Numerous seeds present
on each placenta. Seeds are flat and several
layered.
Leaf teeth

12. APIACEAE- CARROT
FAMILY
a. Also known as Umbelliferae.
b. Usually herbs, aromatic with hollow stems in
internodal region containing secretory canals.
c. Leaves can be simple or compound, Stipules absent.
d. Inflorescence is characteristic- Determinate Head;
Simple or Compund. (UMBEL) subtended by an
involucre of bract.
e. Flowers are bisexual, small, radial, Sepals-5,
reduced; petals-5 distinct develoing from a ring of
primordium; usually inflexed.
f. Stamens-5 distinct.
g. Carpel- 2 syncarpous,with inferior ovary.
Placentation- axile.
h. Stigma-2
i. Styles- swollen from base, modified as a nectar
secreting structure- STYLOPODIUM atop ovary.
j. Ovules- 2 in each locule but only 1 fertile.
k. Fruit- SCHIZOCARP (CREMOCARP). Oil glands
(Vittae) present on fruit wall. Fruit wall can be
ribbed, smooth, hairy or scaly, bristled, flattened or
winged.
l. Endosperm contains Petroslenic acid.

13. RUBIACEAE-
COFFEE FAMILY
a. Trees, herbs, shrubs or lianas containing
various alkaloids, raphide crystals etc.
b. Leaves opposite to whorled, stipules leaf-
like; Interstipulate.
c. Colleters i.e. multicellular secretory hair
present on adaxial surface.
d. Inflorescence- determiinate.
e. Flowers bisexual, heterostylous, sometimes
aggregated.
f. Sepals- 4-5 gamosepalous. Petals- 4-5,
wheel or funnel- shaped.
g. Stamens- 4-5, epipetalous.
h. Carpels- 2, syncarpous, with Inferior Ovary.
i. Stigma- 1or 2, placentation- axile.
j. Ovules 1 to numerous in each locule
k. Nectar disc present above ovary.
l. Economically important family as it provides
Coffea arabica, Gardenia, Pentas, Hamelia,
Rubia tinctoria- red dye.
heterostyly
Coffea arabica
Colleters

14. ASTERACEAE-
SUNFLOWER FAMILY
a. Also known as Compositae.
b. Most advance family of Angiosperms.
c. Members are shurbs, herbs or trees. Resin
canals present with Laticifers. Contain
Sesquiterpene lactones.
d. Leaves simple, varied phyllotaxy. Ex-stipulate.
e. The key character is the inflorescence-
CAPITULUM. In this flowers are densly
aggregated into in-determiate head that is
surrounded by an involucre of bracts
(Phyllaries). Flowers are called FLORETS as they
are highly reduced.
f. Flowers bisexual or unisexual sometimes
sterile., radial or bilateral.
g. Sepals are highly reduced forming characteristic
hairy appendages called PAPPUS.
h. Flowers are differentiated on the basis of the
arrangement of petals and the reproductive
organs.
i. Asteraceae is divided into 2 groups on the basis
of florets.
j. Homogamous- when all the flowers are either
Ray florets or Disc florets.
k. Heterogamous- when both type of florets are
present.
l. Another important distinction can be made by
dividing flowers as – Tubular or Ligulate.
m. Tubular- 5 petals forming a tubular corolla,
generally in disc florets.
n. Ligulate- when bilateral corolla is formed by 1
or 2 upper lips and 3-4 lower lips; as in case of
ray florets.

15. CAPITULUM INFLORESCENCE IN ASTERACEAE

16. Difference b/w Ray & Disc Florets
Ray floret
a. Found on the outside of the inflorescence;
bracteate.
b. The petals show modification upper ones
form a ligule which can be toothed.
c. Inner ones either degenerate or are reduced.
d. These florets are bilateral and corolla is
tongue like/ ligulate.
e. Stamens are reduced or completely absent.
f. TUSSILAGE- rudimentary stamens in pistillate
florets.
g. Ray florets are either female or sterile florets.
h. Inferior ovary, basal placentation.
Disc Floret
a. Found on the inner side of the head.
b. These are tubular florets.
c. Bisexual.
d. Stamens- SYNGENECIOUS i.e. anthers fused
around the stigma and filaments are free.
e. Carpel-2 ,stigma bifid, Inferior ovary, Basal
placentation.
f. Fruit- Cypsela, crowned by persistent pappus.

17. ASCLEPIADACEAE-
MILKWEED FAMILY
a. The new APG System of classification has merged this
family under Apocyanaceae.
b. Members are trees, herbs, shrubs, lianas, succulents,
xerophytic plants which contain milky latex in their
laticifers.
c. Leaves are thick, sometimes reduced, succulent,
stipulate or ex-stipulate.
d. Collaters maybe preset.
e. Inflorescence mostly cymose often raceme also.
f. Distinct caly and corolla present, pentamerous. Often
calyx are longer than corolla.
g. Corolla shows Appendiculate structure- CORONA.
h. Corona is derived from androecial tissues and can
have varied characteristics.
i. It maybe prsent in 2 whorls- inner & outer.
j. Androecium and gyanoecium form a fused structure
called- GYNOSTEGIUM.
k. Carpel-2 stigmas fuse to form a disc on which anthers
adhere.
l. Style-syncarpous; Ovary-2 ,apocarpous, superior.
m. Placentation- marginal
n. Fruit- Pair of Follicles, Etaerio of Two.
CORONA
GYNOSTEGIUM

18. Hoya carnosa
Milkweed; fruit-
etaerio of two (on
left)
Calotropis

19. APOCYANACEAE-
DOGBANE FAMILY
a. Trees, shrubs, herbs, lianas, succulent;
cactus-like plants. Internal phloem absent.
Laticifers present.
b. Cardiac glycosides present.
c. Calyx and corolla pentamerous; connate.
d. CORONA, GYNOSTEGIUM present.
e. Stamens epipetalous. Sagitate anthers-
arrow- headed.
f. Pollen grains are tri-colpate. They form
sticky masses called POLLINIA, which are
connected to anther walls by Translators
with a sticky gland- Corpusculum.
g. Nectar glands present in stigmatic chambers.
h. Superior ovary, fruit- Etaerio of two,
follicles, berry or drupe.
i. Eg.- Catharanthus, Carissa, Thivetia, Nerium,
Rauvolfia, Tabernaemontana, Ceropegia,
Plumeria, Allamanda etc.
Stemmadenia

20. CONVOLVULACEAE-
MORNING GLORY
FAMILY
a. Usually climbers and twining herbs, often
rhizomatous.
b. Laticifers present, often with milky sap;
alkaloid present.
c. Leaves simple to compound, Ex-stipulate.
d. Infloresence- determinate. Flowers- bisexual.
e. Sepals-5; petals-5, gamopetalous, funnel
shaped. Distinctly plicate- With fold lines.
f. Corolla CONVOLUTE often with clockwise
twist.
g. Stamens-5, epipetalous.
h. Carpel-2, syncarpous, superior ovary, axile
placentation.
i. Ovules-2 in each locule. Fruit- capsule.
j. Lobed nectar disc present.
k. Eg.- Convolvulus, Cuscuta, Jacquemontia,
Evolvulus, Ipomoea etc.
Ipomoea
Jacquemontia

21. SOLANACEAE-
POTATO FAMILY
a. Trees, shrubs, herbs or vines, with internal
phloem and alkaloids.
b. Trichomes present.
c. Leaves are ex-stipulate with OBLIQUE LEAF
BASE.
d. Inflorescence- cymose, terminal, appearing
lateral.
e. Flowers- bisexual
f. Sepals-5, fused, persistent; Petas-5 fused
strongly, palicate.
g. Margins of petals are folded, convolute
h. Anthers-5 , epipetalous
i. Carpel-2 syncarpous, Ovary superior, sxile
placentation with OBLIQUE SEPTUM with
swollen placenta. Ovules- numerous in each
locule.
j. Fruit- berry, septifragal capsule.
k. Eg.- Solanum, Nicotiana, Datura, Lycium,
Petunia, Physalis etc.

22. ACANTHACEAE-
ACANTHUS FAMILY
a. Herbs, occasionally vines, shrubs or trees. Contain
various Cystoliths, phenolics and alkaloids.
b. Show anomalous secondary growth.
c. Leaves simple to compound, ex-stipulate.
d. Infloresence- various with bisexual flowers,
zygomorphic, with large colorful bracts and
bractlets.
e. Sepals- 4-5, fused; petals-5, fused, bilobed
f. Stamens-4, DIDYNAMOUS (2 long & 2 short),
epipetalous, anthers hairy; pollen sacs sometimes
widely seperated by a modified connective.
g. Carpel-2, syncarpous, superior ovary, axile
placentation.
h. Stigma funnel shaped, ovules 2-10 in 2rows in each
locule.
i. Each ovule is borne on a modified hook shaped
funiculus- RETINACULUM.
j. Nectar disc present.
k. Fruit- explosively dehiscent capsule
l. Eg,- Barleria, Ruellia, Eranthemum, Avicennia,
Acanthus, etc.
retinaculum
Justicia ovata

23. LAMIACEAE-
MINT FAMILY
a. Trees, herbs mostly shrubs with quadrangular stem in
T.S. containing phenolic compounds.
b. Trichomes are glandular with ethereal oils.
c. Leaves usually simple, opposite or whorled, Ex-stipulate.
d. Inflorescence- racemes; VERTICILLASTER. It has
indeterminate main axis, and determinate lateral axes.
e. Flowers develop on a node in the axils of opposite leaves.
Each cluster consists of a DICHASIAL CYME with
MONOCHASIAL BRANCHES. The axis of the cyme is
shortened so that all the flowers arise from a single
point.
f. The two opposite clusters often give the appearance of
whorl or verticil due to overcrowding. The VERTICILS are
further arranged in a racemose fashion.
g. Sepals- 5, fused, persistent; petals-5 fused, usually 2-
lipped,
h. Stamens-4, DIDYNAMOUS, epipetalous
i. Carpel- 2, syncarpous, superior ovary, bilocular but
appears tetralocular due to presence of False Septa.
j. Style- GYNOBASIC i.e. arise from side of the ovary.
(Salvia)
k. Placentation- Axile.
Salvia

24. Bi-labiate flower of Salvia

25. POLYGONACEAE-
KNOTWEED FAMILY
a. Herbs, shrubs, trees or vines often with
swollen node.
b. Stem covered by Retrorse prickles.
c. Stipulate- stipules modified into sheath
(OCREA), around the stem.
d. Inflorescence- racemose or cymose.
e. Flowers- perianth of 6 present; or tepals-
5- QUINCUNICAL AESTIVATION.
f. Stamens- 5 to 9 slightly connate.
g. Carpels- 2 or 3, connate, Superior ovary
with BASAL PLACENTATION.
h. Ovule-1; ORTHOTROPOUS
i. Nectar disc present or glands associated
with stamens
j. Eg.- Polygonum, Coccoloba, Fragopyrum,
Rheum, Antigonon, Nemacaulis, Oxyria,
Polygonella, Eriogonum etc.
Coccoloba
Ocrea

26. CHENOPODIACEAE
- GOOSEFOOT
FAMILY
a. Now considered as a sub-family of
Amaranthaceae.
b. Also known as Beet family.
c. Plants mostly herbs, shrubs which are
halophytic & xerophytic.
d. Flowers borne as “globs”. Each flower has
sepals-5, petals absent.
e. Stamens-5 lie opposite to sepals, interose.
f. Carpel-2, syncarpous, unilocular, superior ovary
with BASAL PLACENTATION.
g. Fruit- indehiscent nut or achene enclosed in a
persistent perianth.
h. Eg.- Chenopodium, Beta vulgaris, Spinacea,
Salsola etc
i. Members used in vegetables, forage, fodder,
medicine.
Chenopodium
Salsola- saltwort (Halophyte)

27. AMARANTHACAE- AMARANTH FAMILY
a. Usually herbs or suffrutescent shrubs,
sometimes succulent
b. C4 photosynthesis
c. Leaves simple to compound, ex-
stipulate. Nodes sometimes swollen.
d. Inflorescence- determinate, terminal &
axillary.
e. Flowers- bisexual, papery bracts
present, clustered
f. Tepals present-3 to 5, slightly fused,
green & herbaceous, white or reddish,
papery or dry.
g. Stamens- 3-5, opposite tepals,
h. Pollens- 7- porate to polyporate.
i. Carpels- 2-3, syncapous, superior ovary,
BASAL PLACENTATION.
j. Stigma- 1 to 3.
k. Ovule- 1 or few.
Achyranthes
Amaranthus

28. EUPHORBIACEAE-
SPURGE FAMILY
a. Trees, shrubs, herbs or vines. Often with
Laticifers, contain milky or colored latex.
b. Leaves sometimes stipulate. Contain
nectar glands at base of blade or on
petiole.
c. Inflorescence-cymose, highly modified
into False Flowers- CYATHIUM. A cup-
shaped involucre bearing several minute
stamens (male flowers) and a pistillate
flower consisting of an ovary on a long
stalk (pedicel). The rim of the cyathium
often bears one or more nectar glands
and petaloid appendages.
d. Sepals- 2 to 6, Petals- 0 to 6
e. Stamens- 1 to numerous
f. Carpel- 3, syncarpous, superior ovary, 3-
lobed, Axile Placentation. Style-3, each is
bifid.
g. Fruit- Schizocarp.

29. Cyathium of Euphorbia

30. CYPERACEAE-
SEDGE FAMILY
a. Herbs, rhizomatous, with Triangular Stem
in cross – section.
b. Leaves alternate consists of a sheath &
blade with Conical Silica body.
c. Ligule lacking.
d. Inflorescence- complex arrangement of
spikelets, subtended by bracts.
e. Flower- bisexual or unisexual, subtended
by bract
f. Tepals- reduced to 3-6 scales, bristles or
hair.
g. Stamen- 1-3, distinct, uniporate
h. Carpel- 2 to 3, fused, Superior ovary, with
BASAL PLACENTATION.
i. Ovule-1, Style-3
j. Fruit- achene
Triangular stem in TS
Spikelets with each flower
subtended by a bract

31. 1. Arrangement of spikelets
in Cyperace
2. Each flower is subtended
by a bract
3. It differs from the
inflorescence of Poaceae
such that the glumes,
palea & lodicules are
absent in cyperaceae
4. Each flower only consists
of a bract, anthers,
syncarpous superior ovary.
Scirpus (bulrush)

32. POACEAE- GRASS
FAMILY
a. Herbs, rhizomatous, but trees like bamboos in tropics.
b. Stem round, hollow, jointed with silica bodies.
c. Leaves, alternate, consist of sheath, blade & ligule.
d. Sheath tightly encloses the stem, margins do not fuse.
e. Ligule present on adaxial surface of sheath
f. Leaves with parallel veination
g. Inflorescence- Compound/branched Spike, Panicle, or Spike of Spikelets.
h. Spikelets are arranged on an axis. Each spikelet may contain1 to numerous Florets.
i. Each floret is a complex structure made up of-
 GLUME- basal bract, 2 in number, enclosing the spikelet
 LEMMA- these are chaff or bract like structures enclosing the floret.
 PALEA- bract like structure enclosing the floret, present b/w floret and the axis of spikelet. Often
translucent
 AWN- straight or needle like extensions from the lemma.
j. Flowers small bisexual or unisexual. Contain 2 lodicules
k. Stamen- 1 to 3, 6 or numerous. Sagittate anthers
l. Carpel- 3, fused, Stigma-2, hairy
m. Superior ovary.
n. Fruit- single caryopsis, with fruit wall fused with the seed
o. Endosperm- highly modified cotyledon called- SCUTELLUM, lateral in position.

33. Floret of Poaceae
Difference b/w the Florets of Cyperaceae &
Poaceae