Amaranth family

Amaranthaceae

70-160 genera

Herbs or shrubs, rarely trees or vines

Leaves simple, no stipules, generally entire

Inflorenscences dense clusters of small flowers enclosed

   in 3 colored bracts

Flowers 0 petals

            cockscomb - Celosia

            globe amaranth- Gomphrena

            quinoa - Amaranthus

            spinach - Spinacia

Amaryllis family

Amaryllidaceae

60-80 genera

Herb, monocot bulbs or underground stems

Leaves strap-like, alternate

Inflorescences umbel

Flowers 6 tepals, 6 anthers often hypanthium (fused tepals

   and base of stamens

             daffodil - Narcissus

             Clivia

             amaryllis - Hippeastrum

             bella donna lily - Amaryllis

             Agapanthus

Cashew/Sumac family

Anacardiaceae

Shrubs or trees, sometimes lianas or perennial herbs

Leaves alternate 3-lobed or pinnately compound or

   trifoliate

Inflorescences, panicel

Fruit red, yellow or white drupes with single seed

            smoketree - Cotinus

            sumac - Rhus

            poison ivy/oak - Toxicodendron

            pistachio - Pistacia

            cashew - Anacardium occidentale

            California pepper tree - Schinus

Parsley family

Apiaceae

400-450 genera

Herbs, aromatic

Stems sheathed by leaf petiole

Leaves compound usually alternate and several times

   divided

Inflorescences compound umbles (can be simple umble)

Flower stalks usually hollow

             Angelica

             water hemlock - Cicuta

             carrot, Queen Ann's lace - Daucus

Milkweed/Dogbane family      

Apocynaceae

425 genera

Herbs, small trees, shrubs, succulents or woody vines

Latex in all branches and leaves

Leaves opposite, simple, entire with pinnate venation

Inflorescences umbels

Flowers with 5 sepals and 5 reflexed or swept back along

   the stem with 5 little horns or hoods curving into the

  center of the flower

Anthers often fused and sometimes with style

Big pods and seeds often with tufts of hairs at one end

            oleander - Nerium

            milkweed - Asclepias

            periwinkle - Catharanthus

            Mandevilla

Aloe family

Asphodelaceae

Succulent or herb monocots with slimy sap

Leaves mostly basal often with spiny or dentate margin

Inflorescence raceme or panicle

Flowers tubular

            Howorthia

            red hot poker - Kniphofia

in flux

Aster family

Asteraceae

1600 genera

9 plus tribes

Herbs mostly but include shrubs, trees, epiphytes, vines

   and succulents

Multiple layers of bracts common

Flowers composite with fused petals and no sepals

Anthers fused into a ring around the style

            dandelion - Taraxacum

            chicory - Cichorium

            cornflower - Centaurea

            yarrow - Achilla

            marigold - Tagetes

            Liatris

            Coreopsis

Birch family

Belutaceae

6 genera

Trees or shrubs

Bark prominately marked by lenticels (openings for gas

   exchange)

Leaves deciduous, simple, spiral or alternate with

   serrate/dentate margins and stipules

Flowers unisexual, male a hanging catkin, female short

   upright or hanging catkin, 0 petals

Fruit indehiscent often samara

             birch - Betula

             alder - Alnus

             hazelnut - Corylus

Borage family

Boraginaceae

150 genera

Herbs with stiff hairs or trees

Leaves alternate, simple

Inflorescences helicoid cymes

Corolla often pink when young the blue or purple

Fruits schizocarp that split into 4 parts

           forget-me-not - Myosotis

           comfrey - Symphytum

           viper's bugloss - Echium

in flux

Mustard family

Brassicaceae

340 genera

Herbs

Leaves alternate and simple, often hairy with no stipules

Inflorescences racene

Flowers 4 sepals, 4 petals forming a cross, not fused, 6

  stamens - 4 tall and 2 short

Sap has pungent oils

           horseradish - Armoracia

           wallflower - Erysimum

           Alyssum

           money plant - Lunaria

           stock - Matthiola

           candytuft - Iberis

Cactus family

Cactaceae

100 genera

Succulent trees or shrubs

Stems succulent, sometimes triangular or flattened contain

   chlorophyll

Leaves highly reduced or absent, evolved as spines

Spines from axillary buds - many together

Flowers solitary with numerous tepals

            prickly pear - Opuntia

            christmas/easter cactus - Schlumbergera

            saguaro - Carnegieagigantea

            orchid cactus - Epiphyllum

Bluebell family

Campanulaceae

70 genera

Herbs, rarely shrubs or small trees with latex

Leaves typically alternate, simple, no stipules

Flowers 5 petals fused often blue

Corollas either bell-shaped or 2-lipped or tubular

            bell flower - Campanula

            cardinal floweer - Lobelia

            balloon flower - Platycodon

Honeysuckle family

Caprifoliaceae

Shrubs or vines

Stems pithy

Leaves simple, opposite with no stipules

Inflorescences usually cymes

Flowers tubular, funnel shaped or bell, usually 5 petals

     outwardly spreading

Flowers/berries usually paired or clustered

Fruit berry, drupes or capsule

            twinflower - Linneae

            honeysuckle - Lonicera

            Abelia

            Weigela

Pink family

Caryophyllaceae

86 genera

Herbs, coarse plants, annual or perennial, some shurby

Stems often with thickened nodes

Leaves usually opposite and joined at the base of the stem

Inflorescences cyme

Flower parts in 5's with petal ends split

fruit capsules or achenes

            baby's breath - Gypsophila

            campion - Lychinis/Selene

            carnation - Dianthus

            Seline

Cucumber family

Cucurbitaceae

125 genera

Mostly vines with 1 coiled tendril per node (modified

   stipules), some shrubs and trees

Leaves simple, alternate, palmately veined, coarsely

    hairy

Flowers unisexual cupshaped or tubular formed by

   conjoined tepals, yellow or white

Fruit pepo (fleshy berry), sometimes as explosively

    dehiscent dry capsule

            melon/cucumber - Cucumis

            watermelon - Citrullus

            squash/pumpkin - Cucurbita

            Chayote

Cedar family

Cupressaceae

25-30 genera

Trees or shrubs, coniferous

Bark peels off in strips

Branches often flattened

Leaves evergreen - scale-like or needle-like in decussate

   pairs (intersecting in the shape of an X) or whorls

Cones unisexual, woody, leathery or berry-like with few

   scales, female cone sometimes berry-like

            Arborvitae

            giant sequoia - Sequoiadendron

            coast redwood - Sequoia

            Juniper

            Cypress

            incense cedar - Calocedrus

Sedge family

Cyperaceae

109 genera

Herbaceous monocot

Roots specialized called dauciform (small taproot)

Stem 3-sided without nodes and not hollow

Leaves sheathing at base, emerge in 3 directions, spirally

    arranged

Flowers minute with 0 sepals or petals - spiklets

Sepals and petals reduced to bristles, scles or absent,

   3 anthers hanging free

            sedge - Carex

            papyrus/nutsedge - Cyperus

Blueberry family

Ericaceae

Shrubs or small trees, perennial herbs or vines, with

    typically woody stems

Leaves, simple, mostly alternate often leathery and

  evergreen, can be needle-like

Flowers 4-5 petals, usually joined in a funnel or urn shape

Stamens  same number or double number as petals in 2

  whorls.

Fruits capsules with numerous fine seeds or berries.

            blueberry/cranberry - Vaccinium

            azelea - Rhododendron

            heather - Calluna

            Arbutus

            manzanita - Arctostaphylos

Spurge family

Euphorbiaceae

240 genera

Genus Euphorbia=2,000 species

Herbs, shrubs or trees - stems often succulent and fleshy

   or cactus-like

Leaves mostly alternate, simple, occasionally palmately

    compount

Stipules common in the form of hairs, glands or spines

Often colored bracts

Inflorescences characterized by containing unisexual, m&f flowers without petals.

Flowers unisexual aggregated in the cyanthium (cup-like

  structure)

Milky sap

           croton - Croten, Codiaeum

           poinsetta - Euphorbia

           castor bean - Ricinus

          chinese tallow tree - Triadica sebifera

Pea family

Fabaceae

700 geners (3rd largest)

3 subfamilies

 Mostly herbaceous, some trees and shrubs

Leaves compound often pinately compound, alternate with stipules, can be trifoliate or plamagely compount, petiole with swollen base that can change position of leaf (mimosa)

Flower 5 petals,  banner, wing and keel (2 fused petals)

10 stamens, 9 often fused0 

Fruit a pea-like pod

             redbud - Cercis

             clover - Trifolium

             Wisteria

             beans - Phaseolus

             Acacia

             Lupine

             Hardenbergia

             Locust

Oak family

Fagaceae

9 genera

Trees

Leaves simple usually alternate and lobed with diciduous

    stipules

Inflorencences unisexual

   Male - catkins 

   Female inside wooden bracts at base of male

Fruit is an acorn

            oak - Quercus

            chestnut - Castanea

            beech - Fagus

            tan oak - Lithocarpus densiflorus (moved to

                   Notholithocarpus)

Geranium family

Geraniaceae

5 or 6 genera

Herbs, perennial or small shrubs, often aromatic

Leaves alternate or opposite, simple or compound usually

   palmately veined and lobed, stipules are common

Inflorescences cyme, umbel or single

Flowers 5 free petals 5 to 15 stamen in whorls of 5 fused

   at the base, 1 pistil with superior ovary

Style growing longer and firmer in fruit

Fruit dry schizocarp

            Geranium

            Pelargonium

            Erodium

            cranesbill - Erodium reichardii

Gooseberry family

Grossulariaceae

Shrubs

Leaves palmate, usually alternate mostly without stipules

Berries translucent with attached sepals

            currants/gooseberries - Ribes

Iris family

Iridaceae

70-80 genera

Herbs or shrubs

Roots rhizomes, bulbs or corms

Leaves sometimes unifacial (developing on one side)

Flowers, tepas, 3 plus 3, 3 stamens, 1 pistil with inferior

  ovary

            Dierama

            Gladiolus

            Freesia

            Crocus

            blue-eyed grass - Sisyrhinchium

            Crocosmia

Walnut family

Juglandaceae

8 genera

Trees, decidious and aromatic, wind pollinated

Leaves alternate, pinnately compound. Glandular dots

  beneath the leaves help ID

Inflorescences unisexual, Male long and hanging

   Female solitary or in small groups

Fruit drupe like

            hickory/walnut - Juglans

            pecan - Carya

Rush family

Juncaceae

8 genera

Herbs, evergreen

Roots rhisomatous

Stems somewhat round and hollow or triangular

Leaves simple, grass-line, alternate with sheathing around

   the stem

            rush - Juncus

Mint family

Lamiaceae

200 genera

Herbs mostly, some  shrubs, trees and vines, usually

    aromatic

Square stems

Opposite leaves, decussate (intersected in the form of an

   X) or whorled

Flowers 5 fused sepals and  petals 2-lipped (bilabiate),

   open mouthed with tubular corollas, 1 pistil, superior

   ovary

            Salvia

            giant hyssop - Agastache

            basil - Ocimum

            Thyme

            coleus - Solenostemon seutellanoides

            bee balm - Monarda

            Phlomis

            lavender - Lavendula

            rosemary - Rosmarinus

            Ajuga

Laurel family

Lauranaceae

30-50 genera

Trees, shrubs or vines evergreen and aromatic bark and

    leaves

Leaves simple, alternate, entire with tiny dots (punctate)

Inflorescences panicles formed at the leaf axils

Flowers small tepals 3 plus 3, free, 3 to 12 stamens, some

    sterile, in 3 whorls

Fruit berry or drupe

            bay leaf - Laurus

            California bay - Umbellularia

            spice bush - Lindera benzoin

            avocado - Persea

            English laurel

Lily family

Liliaceae

16-60 genera (many recently moved)

Herbs, monocot, rhizomes, bulbs, corms or tubers

Leaves basal to cauline (growing from a stem) and linear,

   parallel venation (one has net-like venation, reticulate)

Flowers with parts in 3's

Sepals and petals usually identical, 6 stamens, 1 pistil

Fruits typically loculicidal capsules, some berries

            Agapanthus

            day lily - Hemerocallis

            tulip - Tulipa

            sego lily - Calochortus

            chilean belflower - Lapageria

            climing lily - Gloriosa

Magnolia family

Magnoliaceae

Trees and shrubs (beetle pollinated)

Leaves simple, alternate, entire, pinnate venation with

    decidous stipules around the buds in spring

Flowers terminal, solitary, large tepals, many whorled or

   spirally arranged

Stamens and pistels spirally arranged without a definite

    number around a cone-like recepticle

Ovaries many spirally arranges with carpels free from one

    another that form a cone-like receptical

            Magnolia

            tulip tree - Liriodendron

Mallow family

Malvaceae

Herbs, sometimes shrubs or trees

Leaves alternate, simple with palmate venation and

   stellate or peltate hairs

Mucilaginous

Flowers 5 united sepals,5 free petals often twisted in the

   bud

Flowers have numerous stamens fused into a central

   column

             hollyhock - Alcea

             cotton - Gossypium

             flannel bush - Freemontodendron

             okra - Abelmoschus

             Grewia

             Abutilon

Myrtle family

Myrtaceae

Trees and shrubs

Leaves & stems very aromatic

Leaves simple, oppoiste, entire mostly 

   evergreen, sometimes leathery

Flowers 4-5 sepals & petals

Many stamens - often the showy part of the flower

Fruits capsules or fleshy berries

            Eucalyptus

            bottlebrush - Callistemon

            tea tree - Leptospermum

            pineapple guave - Feijoa

Olive/jasmine family

Oleacea

24 genera

Trees, shrubs and woody vines

Leaves opposite, mostly simple but sometimes pinnately

    compound, some evergreen

Inflorescences panicle or raceme

Flowers with 4 unites sepals and petals,2 stamens, anthers

   usually touching

Wind pollinated

            Forsythia

            ash - Fraxinus

            privet - Ligustrum

            lilac - Syringa

            Osmanthus

            olive - Olea

            jasmine - Jasminum

Evening primrose family

Onagraceae

20 genera

Herbs, trees and shrubs

Flower parts usually in 4's

Styles of the pistil are fused but not the 4 lobed stigma

            Clarkia

            Gaura

            evening primrose - Oenothera

            Fuchsia

            Zauschnaria

Poppy family

Papaveraceae

26 genera

Herbs, few shrube and small trees

Leaves alternate or in whorls , simple usually lobed

   pinnatified or much divided

Inflorescences single, cymes or arcemes

Flowers 2 or 3 sepals petals in 4's with numberous

  stamens

Often milky sap

           California poppy - Eschscholzia

           poppy - Papaver

           bleeding heart - Dicentra (subfamily Fumarioideae)

Pine family

Pinaceae

Trees, rarely shrubs, fragrant - usually evergreen

Needles 1-10 in fascicles (bundles), spirally arranged

Unisexual - Male cone small, Female cone large and each

   scale with 2 winged seeds

             pine - Pinus

             spruce - Picea

             fir - Abies

             Douglas fir - Pseudotsuga

Plantain family

Plantaginaceae

1 genera

Herbs, rarely shrubs

Hairy - often aromatic

Flowers 4 stamens, 2 plus 2 together

            snapdragon - Antirrhinum

            foxglove - Digitalis

            Linaria

            Penstemon

            island snapdragon - Galvezia

            Mimulus

Grass family

Poaceae

600 genera

20% of the vegetation on earth

Grassy herbs, seldom woody, monocot

Knee-like nodes

Leaves alternate in 2 ranks

Hollow flower stems (round)

Flowers with no sepals or petals, wind pollinated

            corn - Zea

            sugarcane - Saccharum

            bamboo (subfamily - Bambusoideae)

Buckwheat family

Polygonaceae

45 genera

Herbs, mostly perennial, often weedy, and shrubs,

   sometimes vines or trees

Stems some with swollen nodes and sheathing membrane

   of 2 fused stipules called ocrea

Leaves alternate, simple

Flowers small, in clusters with colored sepals, tepals 3

   plus 3 or 5

6 to 9 stamens, 1 pistil

Fruits achenes with triangular seeds

            buckwheat - Fagopyrum

            wild buckwheat - Erigonum

            rhubarb - Rheum

            sorrel - Rumex

            kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate - Polygonum

Buttercup family

Ranunculaceae

56-60 genera

Herbs, primitive annual and perennial and some wood

    vines

Leaves usually basal or alternate, compound with palmate

   venation and mostly without stipules

inflorescences terminal, solitary or more commonly racemes or cymes

Flowers  parts in 1 or 2 whorls poorly defined, 3 to

   many simple pistils usually with hooked  tips

Pistils spirally inserted on a conelike receptacle

             pheasant's eye - Adonis

             columbing - aquilegia

             Clematis (exceptions)

             Delphinium

             Heleborus

             Anemone

Rose family

Rosaceae

over 100 genera

4 subfamilies

Trees, shrubs or herbs

Leaves opposite, oval usually with serrated or

   dentate edges stipules usually present

Flowers with 5 sepals and 5 petals

Stamens and pistils usually numerous

            Rose

            apple - Malus

            blackberry/raspberry - Rubus

            plum/almond/peach - Prunus

            toyon - Hoteromeles

            Cotoneaster (not dentate)

            strawberry - Fragaria

            lady's mantle - Alchemilla

Citrus/Rue family

Rutaceae

Trees, shrubs, lianas, sometimes with thorns

Leaves alternate simple or compound, no stipules

  often with oil glands (fragrant) seen as dots

Flowers 4-5 sepals & petals free or fused 8 to many

   stamens often in groups

Overy superior to nectar disk

            Citrus

            Choisya

            Australian fuchsia - Correa

Willow family

Salicaceae

2 genera (many recently moved)

Trees and shrubs

Leaves decidous with dicidous stipules simple, alternate,

   typically elongate but also round to oval

Inflorescences catkins with flowers that lack typical

    perienth

All buds lateral

Dioecious - male and female on different plants each

   flower with a bract below and 0 sepals or petals

Seeds with long hairs

            willow - Salix

            cottonwood/poplar - Populus

Mullein/figwort family

Scrophulariaceae

275 genera

Herbs or small shrubs

Stem not angular

Flowers slightly zygomorphic with 2 lobes up and 3 down

  and 5 sepals and petals fused at lease at the base

4 or 5 stamens often in 2 pair plus a shortened fifth

Fruit often capsule, occasionally berry

Dried up style can often be seen at the tip of the seed

   capsule

            Mullein - Verbascum

            butterfly bush - Buddleja

 in flux

Tomato/pepper/potato family

Solanaceae

85 genera

Herbaceous in temperate areas

Leaves alternate, often lobed, often fuzzy

Flowers typically solitary and regular with 5 funnel-shaped,

   fused sepals, and 5 petals fused a little or a lot

Anthers often fused

Ovary superior

Fruits berries or dehescent capsules

            angel's trumpet - Brugmansia

            tobacco - Nicotiana

            Petunia

            goji berry - Lycium

            Datura

            hot pepper - Capsicum

            tomato/potato/eggplant - Solanum

Verbena family

Verbenaceae

about 90 genera

Herbs and shrubs, a few trees with squarish stems often

    aromatic

Leaves opposite or in whorls

Inflorescences spikes

Flowers slightly irregualr with 5 united sepals and petals,

   often wavy edges on petals

Fruit drupe or occasionally nutlet

              Lantana

             Verbena

             beauty berry - Callicarpa

             chasetree - Vitex

             lemon verbena - Aloysia

Similar but unrelated to Buddleja

Barbarry Family

Berberidaceae

Woody shrubs, rhizomatous or tuberous herbs

Leaves alternate, pinnately compound, sometimes holly

   shaped.

Flowers cymes, racemes or panicles

            barberry- Berberis

            Nandina

Buckthorn Family

Rhamnaceae

Shrubs or small trees

Leaves simple with stipules and pinnate venation

Inflorescences umbel-like cymes or dense panicles

Flowers tiny, numerous with parts in 4's or 5's and 3-

   chambered ovary

Fruits fleshy drupes or capsules with few large seeds

            Ceanothus

            coffee berry or buckthorn -  Rhamnus

Saxifrage Family

Saxifragaceae

Herbaceous perennials

Leaves usually basal rosettes mostly simple, palmate

Inflorences panicles or racemes

Flowers tiny, bell shaped, white, yellow or pink with

    usually 2 separate or partially joined pistils

Fruits dry, dehiscent capsules

            Heuchera

            Astilbe

Agave Family

Agavaceae

Succulent, woody monocot rosettes

Leaves simple, linear to ovate, toughly fibrous often with

   spiny teeth

Inflorences panicles several feet long

Flowers large showy tepals, cream-colored, reddish or

   yellow, bell-shaped or tubular

            Agave

            Yucca