Diversity And Classification of Flowering Plants:

Monocots

Michael G. Simpson

Monocotyledons (Monocotyledonae, Monocots)

• Monophyletic group

• Comprise 22% of all angiosperms

• Relationships to other “basal” angiosperms unclear at present

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

Apomorphies of the Monocots• sieve tube plastids with cuneate (wedge-shaped)

proteinaceous inclusions

Apomorphies of the Monocots• atactostele stem vasculature

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

Apomorphies of the Monocots• single cotyledon

ACORALESAcoraceae - 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.

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

Acorus calamusAcoraceae

ALISMATALESAlismataceae (incl. Limnocharitaceae)AponogetonaceaeAraceae (including Lemnaceae)ButomaceaeCymodoceaceaeHydrocharitaceaeJuncaginaceaePosidoniaceaePotamogetonaceaeRuppiaceaeScheuchzeriaceaeTofieldiaceaeZosteraceae

ALISMATALESAlismataceae - 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

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

Sagittaria sp.

Sagittaria montevidensis

Echinodorus berteroi

ALISMATALESAraceae - 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.

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.

Aglaonema modestum

Amorphophallus titanumLargest inflorescence in world

Arisaema triphyllum Jack-in-the-pulpit

Lemna minusculaDuckweed

Wolffia sp. WatermealSmallest flower in world

Pistia stratiotes Water-lettuce

Monstera deliciosa

Monstera deliciosa

Monstera deliciosa

Pothos sp.

Symplocarpus foetidus Skunkweed

Xanthosoma sagittifolium

Xanthosoma sagittifolium

Zantedeschia aethiopica Calla-lily

Zantedeschia aethiopica Calla-lily

LILIALES

Alstroemeriaceae (incl. Luzuriagaceae)CampynemaceaeColchicaceaeCorsiaceaeLiliaceaeLuzuriagaceaeMelanthiacaeaePhilesiaceaeRipogonaceaeSmilacaceae

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

ASPARAGALES

Very large order!

Apomorphy for all but Orchidaceae: phytomelan in seed coat (lost in some taxa)

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

ASPARAGALES

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.

Agave deserti

Agave deserti

Yucca schidigera Mohave Yucca

Yucca schidigera Mohave Yucca

Yucca brevifolia Joshua Tree

Hesperoyucca whipplei

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.

BULB

Allium peninsulare

Allium praecox

Tulbaghia violacea Society Garlic South Africa

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

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

Aloe aristata

Aloe marlothii

Aloe sp.

Asphodelus fistulosus

Bulbine aloifolia

Bulbine sp.

Gasteria trigona

Haworthia cooperi

Haworthia linifolia Haworthia truncata

Kniphofia uvaria Red Hot Poker

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).

Iris sp.

Crocus sp.

Chasmanthe aethiopica (South Africa)

Iris sp.

Iris sp.

Sisyrhinchium bellum

Sisyrhinchium bellum

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

Caladenia longiclavata Australia

Calopogon - a non-resupinate orchid

labellum

column

Cattleya sp.

Cymbidium sp.

Cypripedium sp. Lady’s Slipper

Dendrobium phalaenopsis

Dracula chimaera Dracula vampira

Encyclia sp. Cockleshell Orchid

Epidendrum sp.

Ludisia sp.

Oncidium lanceanum

Orchis spectabilis

Paphiopedilum sp.

Pseudobulb

Stanhopea trigrinum

Thelymitra antennifera Australia

Vanilla planifolia Vanilla Orchid