This document provides an overview of Christopher Benda's credentials and experience as a botanist and instructor. It lists his positions teaching courses on botany, plant identification, and ecology at various institutions. It also includes illustrations and information about plant taxonomy, morphology, ecology, and identification of common plant families found in Illinois, with a focus on southern Illinois.

1. Cook County Master Naturalist
Botany 101
Instructor: Christopher David Benda

2. Plant Ecologist
Illinois Natural History Survey
President
Illinois Native Plant Society
Instructor, Flora of Southern Illinois
Southern Illinois University
Instructor, Tree ID and Ecology
The Morton Arboretum
Technical Expert Consultant
Illinois Endangered Species
Protection Board
CHRISTOPHER DAVID BENDA, M.S.

3. Illinois Botanizer
Facebook Group
Illinois Botany

4. Illinois Native
Plant Society
www.ill-inps.org

5. Illinois Natural Areas Inventory
Category I – High Quality Natural Communities

6. 6
1
2
345
7

7. Rose Pink
Marigold
New England Aster
ButtonbushPrickly Pear CatcusCardinal Flower
Orange Jewelweed

8. 0.07% in a natural condition

9. Natural Community
Soil Moisture Gradient
Xeric
Dry
Dry-mesic
Mesic
Wet-mesic
Wet
Hydric

10. Simple leaf, magnolia
a. Simple versus compound leaves
Pinnately compound leaf,
black walnut
Palmately compound leaf,
buckeye
b. Arrangement of leaves on stem
Opposite leaves, maple
Whorled leaves,
bedstraw
Alternate leaves,
American beech
Leaf Characteristics

11. Simple leaf
Magnolia
petiole

12. Palmately compound leaf
Ohio Buckeye
Aesculus glabra
petiole

13. Pinnately compound leaf
Black Walnut

14. Alternate leaves
American beech

15. Whorled leaves
Bedstraw
Galium pilosum
Galium aparine

16. Opposite leaves
Maples
MADCapBuckHorse

17. Exceptions to the rule:
1. Bladdernut
2. Euonymous (Wahoo)
3. Wild Hydrangea
4. Catalpa
5. Buttonbush
4. Catalpa
5. Buttonbush

20. petiole
vs.
petiolule
vs.
rachis

21. Basic Flower Anatomy
• The male part is termed the Stamen, which consists of the anther
and filament.
• The female part is the Carpel, which consists of the stigma, style
and ovary.

22. Flower Structure
Perfect
(bisexual flowers)
Vs.
Imperfect
(unisexual flowers)

23. Perfect Flowers
• Flowers containing BOTH male (stamen)
and female (carpel)
sexual parts.
• Automatically
monoecious

24. Imperfect Flowers
• Flowers containing the reproductive parts
of only one sex.
• These imperfect flowers may be on the
same plant (monoecious),
• or on separate plants (dioecious)
Sparganium eurycarpum Thalictrum dioicum

25. Monoecious
(one house)
Vs.
Dioecious
(two houses)

26. Imperfect
flowers
Staminate
Vs.
Pistillate
Typha angustifolia
staminate
pistillate

27. Imperfect, monoecious Imperfect, dioecious
Carex grayi Thalictrum dioicum

28. Obligate
(requires a specific habitat
for survival)
Vs.
Facultative
(requires a general habitat
for survival)

29. The Top Ten reasons for
using scientific names
Understand the meaning of the
names!

30. Latin Pronunciation
Pronounce every letter except diphthongs
Echinacea, Tradescantia, Opuntia, Ambrosia
“ch” is a “k” sound
Polystichum, Heuchera, Aristolochia
If a word has two syllables, the accent always goes with the next to the last (called the penult);
e.g., Àcer.
If a word has three or more syllables, the accent always goes either with the next to the last
(penult) or the third from the last (called the antepenult).
Synandra hispidula, Onoclea sensibilis, Liriodendron tulipifera
phyllum – rhizophyllum, Podophyllum, triphyllum
ae Pellaea, Arisaema, Chamaecrista
au Daucus carota
Eu Teucrium, Leucanthemum
Oe (phoebe), Platanthera peramoena, Ipomoea
Ui Equisetum
“oi” is not a diphthong!
Pleopeltis polypodioides
Pronounce when ending with “e”
Silene, canadense, sessile, hyemale
Latinized last names (one or two i’s)
Dodecatheon frenchii, Emydoidea blandingii
Most trees have been feminized!
Quercus rubra, Fagus grandifolia, Ulmus americana

31. Latin Pronunciation
English pronunciation of vowels
A – E – I – O - U
Latin pronunciation of vowels
Ah – Eh – EE – Oh - OO

32. Plant Resources for Southern Illinois
Field Guide Books & Websites

33. Plant Resources for Southern Illinois
Field Guide Books & Websites

34. Plant Taxonomy
•Non-Vascular
•Early Plants (spores)
•Archaeplastida (algae)
•Bryophyta (mosses)
•Marchantiophyta (liverworts)
•Anthocerophyta (hornworts)
•Vascular
•Seedless plants
•Pteridophyta (Ferns)
•Fern Allies
•Equisetaceae (Horsetail)
•Isoetaceae (Quillwort)
•Lycopodiaceae (Clubmoss)
•Marsileaceae (Water-Clover)
•Selaginellaceae (Spikemoss)
•Seed Plants
•Gymnosperms (Conifers/Evergreens)
•Juniperus, Pinus, Taxodium
•Angiosperms (Flowering Plants)
•Monocots (Orchids, Lilies, Irises, Grasses, Sedges, Rushes, aquatic plants)
•Dicots (most other flowering plants)

35. Binomial Nomenclature
“The beginning of wisdom is to call
things by their rightful names.”
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Animalia
Cordata
Reptilia
Testudines
Emydidae
Emydoidea
E. blandingii

36. Ferns
&
Fern Allies

37. Sphagnum Moss – Sphagnum compactum

38. Netted Chain Fern – Woodwardia areolata

39. Royal Fern – Osmunda spectabilis

40. Silvery Spleenwort Fern– Deparia acrostichoides

41. Mosquito Fern – Azolla mexicana

42. Shining Clubmoss – Huperzia lucidula

43. Scouring Rush – Equisetum hyemale

44. Gymnosperms
Vs.
Angiosperms

45. • plants that don’t produce a protective fruit
around the seed.
• all the conifers - pines, red cedar, white
cedar, tamarack, yew, and cypress.
Gymnosperms (“naked seed”)
Pinus echinata Taxodium distichum
Larix laricina

46. Illinois Gymnosperms
• Ginkgoaceae – Ginkgo family
– Ginkgo – 1 species
• biloba (Ginkgo)

47. • flowering plants where the seed is encased
in a protective fruit.
• This is the dominant group of plants on
Earth today.
Angiosperms (“hidden seeds”)

48. Angiosperms
Monocot
Vs.
Dicot

49. One cotyledon in seed

50. Leaf veins form a parallel pattern

51. Flower parts in threes and multiples
of three, irregular (nonsymmetrical)

52. Two cotyledons in seed

53. Leaf veins form a net pattern

54. Flower parts in fours or fives
and their multiples

55. Seed
MonocotsEudicots
One cotyledon in seed
FlowerRoot
Root xylem and
phloem in a ring
Vascular bundles
scattered in stem
Leaf veins form
aparallel pattern
Flower parts in threes
and multiples of three
Flower parts in fours or
fives and their multiples
Leaf veins form
anet pattern
Vascular bundles
in a distinct ring
Root phloem between
arms of xylemTwo cotyledons in seed
Stem Leaf
Monocot vs. Dicot

56. FLOWERS

58. Coefficient of Conservatism
The native species most successful in badly
damaged habitats were given C values of 0.
At the other end of the spectrum, species
virtually restricted to natural areas in Illinois
received C values of 10.
(Taft et al. 1997)
Further reading
http://www.conservationresearchinstitute.org/assets/illinoisfqa.pdf
http://www.fws.gov/verobeach/Home/S1029%20Mortellaro%20mo
nograph.pdf

59. Erigenia link
http://www.ill-inps.org/Erigenia
T & E Species Link
http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/ESPB/Documents/2015_Ch
ecklistFINAL_for_webpage_051915.pdf

60. Gee whiz?! information
If you can’t tell a joke about it,
explain where the name comes
from, or tell story about the plant
then:
WHO CARES!!!

61. Plant Humor
How can you ID a dogwood tree?
By its bark!

62. Dichotomous Keys
and
Plant Collections

63. Dichotomous key demonstration
1.Needle-like or scale-like leaves
1. Leaves broad and flat
2. Leaves simple
2. Leaves compound
3. Leaves opposite or whorled
3. Leaves alternate
4. Leaves not toothed or lobed
4. Leaves toothed or lobed
5. Leaves toothed
5. Leaved lobed

64. Dichotomous Key Exercise
list the group number in the dichotomous key you
would choose for each of these species

65. Swamp Milkweed

66. Prickly Pear Cactus

67. Eastern Red Cedar

68. Yellow Lady Slipper Orchid

69. Dodder (parasitic vine)

70. Flowering Dogwood

71. Fragrant Water Lily

72. Sedges

73. Panic Grass

74. Clubmoss

75. Bedstraw

77. Break

78. Illinois Native Gymnosperms
Eastern Red Cedar
White Cedar (rare)
Tamarack (rare)
Pines (many rare)
Yew (rare)
Bald Cypress (coastal plain)

79. Common Plant Families
Angiosperms
Dicots & Monocots

80. DICOTS

81. Araliaceae (Spikenard family)
Wild Ginseng
Panax quinquefolia

82. Wild Petunia - Ruellia sp.
Acanthaceae (Acanthus family)

83. Water Willow – Justicia americana
Acanthaceae (Acanthus family)

84. Apiaceae (Carrot family)
Zizia aurea Osmorhiza claytonii

85. Aristolochiaceae (Birthwort family)
Wild Ginger – Asarum canadense

86. Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed family)
Mead’s Milkweed – Asclepias meadii

87. Asclepias tuberosa & A. perennis

88. Asclepias syriaca & A. variegata

89. Asclepias exaltata & A. purpurescens

90. Asclepias hirtella & A. verticillata

91. Asclepias incarnata

92. Asclepias sullivantii

93. Asclepias quadrifolia

94. Asclepias viridiflora & A. viridis

95. Climbing Milkweed – Matelea gonocarpos

96. Climbing Milkweed – Matelea obliqua

97. Asteraceae (Composite family)
Helenium autumnale Leucanthemum vulgare

98. Prairie Dock - Silphium terebinthinaceum

99. Blazing Stars – Liatris scabra & aspera

100. False Dandelion - Krigia biflora

101. Pussytoes – Antennaria parlinii

102. Boraginaceae (Borage family)
Lithospermum canescens

103. Heliotropium indicum & Cynoglossum virginianum

104. Lithospermum latifolium & Mertensia virginica

105. Marbleseed – Onosmodium molle var.
hispidissimum

106. Brassicaceae (Mustard family)
Dentaria laciniata & Cardamine bulbosa

107. Cactaceae (Cactus family)
Opuntia humifusa

108. Campanulaceae (Bellflower family)
Lobelia cardinalis & Lobelia puberula

109. Campanulaceae (Bellflower family)
Lobelia spicata & Lobelia siphilitica

110. Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle family)
Lonicera reticulata

111. Elderberry – Sambucus canadensis

112. Coralberry – Symphoricarpus orbiculatus

113. Rusty Black Haw – Viburnum rufidulum

114. Caryophyllaceae (Pink family)
Stellaria longifolia
Silene stellata

115. Fire Pink – Silene virginica

116. Convolvulaceae (Morning-glory family)
Calystegia sepium Ipomoea pandurata

117. Flowering Dogwood – Cornus florida
Cornaceae (Dogwood family)

118. Crassulaceae (Stonecrop family)
Sedum pulchellum

119. Wild Orpine - Sedum telephioides

120. Cucurbitaceae (Gourd family)
Sicyos angulatus

121. Cuscutaceae (Dodder family)
Cuscuta gronovii

122. Ericaceae (Heath family)
Chamaedaphne calyculata

123. Wild Azalea - Rhododendron prinophyllum

124. Farkleberry – Vaccinium arboreum

125. Lowbush Blueberry - Vaccinium pallidum

126. Vaccinium venation
Vaccinium arboreum Vaccinium stamineum Vaccinium pallidum

127. Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family)
Euphorbia corollata Acalypha gracilens

128. Rushfoil – Crotonopsis elliptica

129. Fabaceae (Pea family)
Lotus corniculatus Tephrosia virginiana

130. Pencil Flower - Stylosanthes biflora

131. Caesalpiniaceae (Caesalpinia family)
Chamaecrista fasciculata Senna marilandica

132. Redbud - Cercis canadensis

133. Blackjack Oak - Quercus marilandica
Fagaceae (Beech family)

134. Post Oak - Quercus stellata

135. Rock Chestnut Oak - Quercus prinus

136. Gentianaceae (Gentian family)
Obolaria virginica
Gentiana andrewsii

137. Wild Columbo – Frasera caroliniensis

138. Hippocastanaceae (Horse Chestnut family)
Aesculus paviaAesculus glabra

139. Hypericaceae (St. Johnswort family)
Hypericum prolificumAscyrum multicaule

140. Pineweed - Hypericum gentianoides

141. Lamiaceae (Mint family)
Bee-balm - Monarda bradburiana & fistulosa

142. Pagoda Plant – Blephilia hirsuta

143. Wild Oregano (Dittany) – Cunila origanoides

144. Skullcaps – Scutellaria sp.

145. Blue Curls - Trichostema dichotomum

146. Loganiaceae (Logania family)
Indian Pink - Spigelia marilandica

147. Lythraceae (Loosestrife family)
Ammannia coccinea Decodon verticillatus

148. Magnoliacaeae (Magnolia family)
Magnolia acuminata

149. Tulip Tree – Liriodendron tulipifera

150. Malvaceae (Mallow family)
Hibiscus lasiocarpos

151. Melastomaceae (Meadow Beauty family)
Rhexia virginica

152. Monotropaceae (Indian Pipe family)
Monotropa uniflora

153. Nelumbo lutea
Nelumbonaceae (Water Lotus family)

154. Onagraceae (Evening-primrose family)
Oenothera linifoliaLudwigia alternilfolia

155. Oenothera pilosella & O. fruticosa

156. Orobanchaceae (Broomrape family)
Orobanche unifloraEpifagus virginiana

157. Polemoniaceae (Phlox family)
Phlox bifida

158. Polygonaceae (Smartweed family)
Persicaria coccineaPersicaria amphibia

159. Virginia Knotweed - Antenoron virginianum

160. Portalacaceae (Purslane family)
Phemeranthus parviflorus

161. Dodecatheon frenchii, Steironema ciliatum,
& Hottonia inflata

162. Ranunculaceae (Buttercup family)
Delphinium tricorne Ranunculus septentrionalis

163. Aquilegia canadensis & Thalictrum dioicum

164. Goldenseal – Hydrastis canadensis

165. Rosaceae (Rose family)
Potentilla simplex Rosa setigera

166. Carolina Rose - Rosa carolina

167. Indian Physic – Porteranthus stipulatus

168. Rubiaceae (Madder family)
Diodia teresGalium aparine

169. Houstonia lanceolata & H. pusilla

170. Partridge-berry – Mitchella repens

171. Buttonbush – Cephalanthus occidentalis

172. Saxifragaceae (Saxifrage family)
Small-flowered Alumroot - Heuchera parviflora

173. Scrophulariaceae (Snapdragon family)
Physostegia virginiana Penstemon pallidus

174. Castilleja coccinea & Chelone obliqua

175. Mimulus alatus & Veronicastrum virginicum

176. Ulmaceae (Elm family)
Winged Elm - Ulmus alata

177. Urticaceae (Nettle family)
Boehmeria cylindrica & Laportea canadensis

178. Valerianaceae (Valerian family)
Valeriana pauciflora & Valerianella radiata

179. Violaceae (Violet family)
Viola palmata

180. Viola striata & V. pubescens

181. Bird’s-foot Violet - Viola pedata

182. MONOCOTS

183. Agavaceae (Agave family)
American Agave - Manfreda virginiana

184. Arrowhead - Sagittaria latifolia
Alismataceae (Water Plantain family)

185. Spider Lily – Hymenocallis caroliniana
Amaryllidaceae (Amaryllis family)

186. Araceae (Arum family)
Arisaema dracontium & A. triphyllum

187. Araceae (Arum family)
Symplocarpos foetidus & Peltrandra virginica

188. Commelinaceae (Dayflower family)
Tradesantia subaspera & Commelina communis

189. Cyperaceae (Sedge family)
Carex grayi & Carex davisii

190. Iridaceae (Iris family)
Iris fulva & Iris schrevei

191. Blue-eyed Grass – Sisrhynchium albidum

192. Juncaceae (Rush family)
Luzula multiflora & Juncus balticus

193. Sedges
Vs.
Rushes
Vs.
Grasses
Sedges have edges, rushes are round,
grasses have joints when the cops aren’t
around!

194. Sedges vs. Rushes vs. Grasses
Sedges (Cyperaceae) have one bract
subtending each flower, tristichous leaves
(though some are round)
Grasses (Poaceae) have two bracts
subtending each flower (palea and
lemma), distichous leaves, hollow stem
Rushes (Juncaceae) have six petals/sepals
(called tepals) that subtend a capsule,
leaves reduced or absent, pithy stem

195. Sedges vs. Rushes vs. Grasses

196. Juncaceae (Rush family)
Juncus tenuis

197. Liliaceae (Lily family)
Erythronium americanum Lilium michiganense

198. Alliaceae (Onion family)
Wild Leek – Allium tricoccum

199. Wild Onion – Allium cernuum

200. False Garlic – Nothoscordum bivalve

201. Colchicaceae (Colchicicum family)
Bellwort – Uvularia grandiflora

202. Hyacinthaceae (Hyacinth family)
Wild Hyacinth – Camassia scilloides

203. Ruscaceae (Ruscus family)
Smilacina racemosa
Polygonatum biflorum

204. Trilliaceae (Trillium family)
Trillium flexipes
Trillium recurvatum

205. Melanthiaceae (Melanthium family)
Melanthium virginicum

206. Pontederiaceae (Pickerelweed family)
Pickerelweed – Pontederia cordata

207. Cypripedium pubescens & Calopogon oklahomensis
Orchidaceae (Orchid family)

208. Spring Coralroot Orchid - Corallorhiza wisteriana

209. Crested Coralroot Orchid– Hexalectris spicata

210. Cranefly Orchid -Tipularia discolor
Adam & Eve Orchid – Aplectrum hyemale

211. Galearis spectabilis & Goodyera pubescens

212. Twayblade Orchid – Liparis lilifolia

213. Platanthera peramoena & P. flava var. flava

214. Spiranthes vernalis & S. cernuus

215. Orchidaceae (Orchid family)
Triphora trianthophora & Isotria verticillata

216. Poaceae (Grass family)
Large Fruited Panic Grass – Dichanthelium boscii

217. Poverty Oats Grass - Danthonia spicata

218. Japanese Stiltgrass – Microstegium vimineum

219. Smilacaceae (Greenbrier family)
Greenbrier – Smilax ecirrhata

220. Sparganiaceae (Bur-reed family)
Sparganium eurycarpum

221. Typhaceae (Cattail family)
Typha angustifolia & T. latifolia

222. Rapid Color Guide

223. Rapid Color Guide

224. botanizer@gmail.com
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