Laboratory 11: “Basal” Eudicots & Caryophyllids 1

IB 168 – Plant Systematics

Today we are looking at the Proteales, a basal group of eudicots that includes the Proteaceae, Platanaceae, and the Nelumbonaceae. We will also start looking at the Caryophyllid clade, which we will continue next week, which is considered a core eudicot group. Core eudicots typically have 4- or 5-merous flowers with a well- differentiated calyx and corolla.

PROTEALES

Platanaceae – 1 genus, 8 spp., Northern hemisphere Trees, deciduous, bark is also deciduous, stellate hairs; leaves simple, alternate and palmately lobed; stipules conspicuous and united around twig; petiole base encircles axillary bud; flowers unisexual, monoecious, aggregated into dense heads; calyx and corolla reduced, 3-7 segments each; stamens 3-7; ovary superior, 6-9 carpels, one style per carpel; fruit a globose head of achenes.

Platanus

Proteaceae – 77 genera, 1600 spp., gen. tropical, Southern hemisphere Shrubs or trees; leaves leathery, usually alternate and simple but may also be deeply divided or compound; stipules absent; flowers generally bisexual; sepals 4, petaloid; petals: 2 or 4, scale-like; stamens 4; ovary superior, a single carpel, 1 long style.

Banksia Protea Hakea Grevillea

Nelumbonaceae – 1 genus, 2 spp., Eastern Asia and North America Aquatic herbs with rhizomes; leaves peltate, concave, floating; flowers solitary, scented; petals 20-30, typically with outer 2 sepal-like; stamens typically number 200-300; carpels 12-40, sunken in a large, spongy receptacle; fruit hard walled nut, held loosely in dried receptacle; receptacle and rhizome used as food.

Nelumbo

1 IB 168 – Plant Systematics

CARYOPHYLLIDS – PART I

Simmondsiaceae – 1 genus, 1 species, California and the Southwest Evergreen shrub; leaves small and leathery, simple with jointed base, opposite; stipules lacking; flowers small, radially symmetric, petals lacking; male flowers in axillary clusters, female flowers solitary; sepals 5, overlapping; stamens 10; carpels 3 with long feathery stigmas; seeds are the source of Jojoba oil, a liquid wax used in cosmetics.

Simmondsia chinensis

Droseraceae – 4 genera, 110 spp., boggy to dry habitats Carnivorous annual or perennial; leaves alternate, in basal rosettes, covered with sessile or stalked glands on the surface or with an active trap; stipules present or absent; flowers: regular and bisexual; sepals 5; petals 5, free; stamens 4-20, free; ovary superior; fruit a capsule.

Drosera Dionaea muscipula

Nepenthaceae – 1 genus, 82 spp., Madagascar to Australia Carnivorous herbs and shrubs; leaves alternate, unique "pitcher" morphology; flowers unisexual, dioecious; sepals 3-4, petals absent; stamens 4- 24, filaments united; ovary superior, style short or absent and stigma is dicoid; fruit: a capsule.

Nepenthes

Polygonaceae – 46 genera, ~1100 spp., mostly northern temperate Herbs or shrubs, less often trees; leaves usually alternate and simple, with a membraneous sheath; flowers small, perfect and regular; sepals in one or two series each composed of between 3 - 6 segments, petaloid; petals absent; stamens 3 - 9, all distinct; ovary superior, usually 3-sided, composed of 2-3 fused carpels; two to three styles often present; fruit: an achene or nut.

Eriogonum Polygonum Rumex

2 IB 168 – Plant Systematics

Amaranthaceae (including “Chenopodiaceae”) – 175 genera, 2050 spp., tropical to arid temperate Generally herbaceous; many representatives are halophytic (i.e. "salt- loving"); leaves simple, lobed or entire, alternate; sometimes "scurfy" (with scales on the leaves); stipules lacking; flowers small, generally regular, either bisexual or unisexual (wind-pollinated); tepals reduced, not showy; stamens equal in number to perianth parts; ovary superior composed of three fused carpels; one style with two to three stigmas; fruit: typically a nut

Amaranthus Chenopodium Beta

Caryophyllaceae – 87 genera, ~2700 spp., mostly north temperate Herbaceous; leaves simple, entire and opposite, often with a perfoliate base; stem nodes generally swollen; stipules generally lacking; flowers regular, bisexual; sepals 4-5, united or free; petals 4 - 5, free, usually divided or notched; stamens twice as many as the petals; ovary superior, composed 2 - 5 fused carpels; fruit: typically a capsule

Silene Stellaria