LAB EXAM, Finish up Lecture Friday – Come with Questions…
Week 17 – Monday Announcements: No lecture WED – LAB EXAM, finish up lecture Friday – come with questions…
Cannabaceae s.l.
Woody members of Cannabaceae (which is traditionally restricted to Cannabis and Humulus) at one time were included in the Ulmaceae (subfamily Celtidoidaea) or separate family (Celtidaceae), now found to be most closely related to traditional Cannabaceae.
Can be distinguished from Ulmaceae s.s. by: • Secondary veins not terminating in the teeth, but rather forming a series of loops • Fleshy fruits (drupes) as opposed to samaras (Drupe = fleshy indehiscent fruit with a stony endocarp surrounding a usually single seed - as in a peach or cherry) • Series of other characters including secondary chemistry, pollen architecture, and base chromosome number
Celtis reticulata – netleaf hackberry A small scraggly tree or large shrub widely distributed throughout the west but never abundant.
Occurs in river canyons of the Inland northwest including, the Snake, Salmon and Columbia. Also occurs on bluffs and semi-desert plains.
Has been used for posts, furniture, fuel and barrels.
May reach 7-20' (30-40’ max) tall and 1-2' diameter at maturity.
Vegetative Features: • Leaves are simple, alternate, decisuous, 2-4" long, ovate with conspicuous net-like (reticulate) venation patterns and margins with widely spaced teeth. • Twigs with chambered pith • Bark is tan to gray with conspicuous warting on younger trees, but becomes corky and ridged on older trees.
Reproductive Features: • Monoecious, small flowers borne in leaf axils – inconspicuous and wind pollinated. • Fruit is a drupe about 1/4-3/8" long with sweet flesh.
130 (Celtis occidentalis – hackberry) Widely distributed in the eastern United States from the southern New England States through central New York west in southern Ontario to North and South Dakota.
Larger tree than western counterpart – up to 60 ft. tall.
Vegetative Features: • Leaves are simple, alternate, decisuous, 2-5" long, ovate with conspicuous net-like (reticulate) venation patterns and a serrate margin. • Twigs with chambered pith • Bark is tan to gray with conspicuous warting on younger trees, but becomes corky and ridged on older trees.
Reproductive Features: • Monoecious, small flowers borne in leaf axils – inconspicuous and wind pollinated. • Fruit is a drupe about 1/4-3/8" long with sweet flesh.
131 Moraceae – mulberry or fig family
Ca. 50 genera and 1500 species of trees, shrubs, vines. Primarily distributed in the warmer regions of the world, but with several temperate species. Ficus (figs) is the most diverse genus with over 800 species – mostly tropical and shows an amazing array of growth forms from epiphytes, vines, shrubs, small trees, shrubs etc. to large trees.
Closely related to Ulmaceae and Cannabaceae and has similar small, mostly wind-pollinated flowers. Ficus is an exception and has specialized, coevolved fig-wasp pollinators. Vegetatively they all have milky latex distributed throughout the plant.
8 genera are found in North America – they are small – medium sized trees commonly used ornamentally. Tropical trees are important for timber, edible fruits (figs), paper fibers, and dyes.
Morus alba – white mulberry
Of the 10 species of Morus – 2 are native to US and 2 others have naturalized – we will look at one of the naturalized species, but very similar to natives…
Native to China – introduced in the in early 1600’s to try to establish a silkworm industry – didn’t work. Naturalized throughout the US and southern Ontario and has become weedy in disturbed areas – particularly at the urban-wild interface.
A small tree up to 40 feet tall, branches low and develops a wide spreading crown
Vegetative features: • Leaves simple, alternate, deciduous, stipulate, roughly orbicular in shape, 3 to 6 inches long with a serrate margin, often irregularly lobed, smooth above. • Milky latex evident in broken petiole of young leaves. • Bark orange-brown with lenticels when young, becoming gray with long narrow irregular ridges.
Reproductive features: • Normally dioecious – flowers small, green catkins, male flowers narrow, 1 to 2 inches long; female flowers plump, 1 inch long • Fruit resembling blackberries, cylindrical, 1 to 1 1/4 inch long, fleshy multiple of drupes, pale pink to dark red, not as juicy as red mulberry (Morus rubra)
132 Maclura pomifera – Osage orange
Maclurais a monotypic genus. The single species has a very restricted native range – southern Arkansas, southern Oklahoma, and northeastern Texas, but is widely planted throughout the US and Canada as an ornamental.
The wood is among the most decay resistant in North America and has a characteristic bright yellow-orange color.
Attempts to plant only males ornamentally because of characteristic large, heavy, fruit – but fruit is really the most interesting part!
A medium sized tree with a short trunk. The crown is irregular, with stiff, spiny branches.
Vegetative features: • Leaves alternate, simple, pinnately veined, 2 to 5 inches long, oblong to ovate with an acuminate tip, margins entire, upper surface shiny. • Twigs are armed with stout, unbranched thorns at each leaf scar. • A milky sap is exuded when cut. • Bark orange-brown, developing scaly ridges with irregular furrows.
Reproductive features: • Dioecious; flowers inconspicuous. Females is borne in dense, globose, clusters. Male borne in subglobose racemes. • Fruit a large, round multiple of drupes 4 to 5 inches in diameter, with a very distinctive citrus smell; the outer surface looks like "brains"; when crushed, a white, milky juice is exuded.
Anacardiaceae - the cashew family Includes approximately 70 genera and 875 species of trees and shrubs primarily in the warmer regions of the world.
Many species are commercially important; Anacardium occidentale, cashews; Pistacia vera, pistachios; and Mangifera indica, mangos.
Others of the genus Toxicodendron cause severe contact dermatitis.
We’ll look at two genera – Rhus (sumacs) and Toxicodendron (poison ivys) - Rhus and Toxicodendron have often been confused – some botanists treating as one genus – but, fruits of Rhus are glandular pubescent and red, fruits of Toxicodendron are glabrous and greenish-white. In addition the resins of Rhus are not poisonous while Toxicodendron contains urushiol and causes contact dermatitis.
All members of Anacardiaceae that have cream colored, glabrous drupes and the oil urushiol that causes contact dermatitis in humans were reclassified into the genus Toxicodendron about thirty years ago.
133 Rhus glabra - smooth sumac A shrub or small tree primarily of the eastern US but scattered widely in the west as well.
Occupies open woodlands, clearings, roadsides and waste places. May reach 4-15' tall and 1-4" diameter.
Vegetative Features: • Usually a many-trunked small tree or large shrub. • Deciduous, alternately arranged pinnately compound leaves are 1-2' long with 11-31 lanceolate leaflets that have serrate margins. Turn red in fall. • Stems have large pithy core. Limbs are glabrous and glaucescent. • They have milky sap and small, scaleless buds. • Bark is gray-brown and smooth, but becomes scaly on older plants.
Reproductive Features: • Dioecious, female flowers are small, white and are borne in terminal panicles. • Fruits are 1/8" long, hairy, red drupes that may remain on the tree for several months.
Rhus typhina - smooth sumac A shrub or small tree primarily of the eastern US but scattered widely in the west as well.
Occupies open woodlands, clearings, roadsides and waste places. May reach 25' tall and 1-4" diameter. Branches repeatedly and widely forked crown.
Vegetative Features: • Usually a many-trunked small tree or large shrub. • Deciduous, alternately arranged pinnately compound leaves are 1-2' long with 11-31 lanceolate leaflets that have serrate margins - rachis pubescent. Turn red in fall. • Stems have large pithy core. Limbs are densely pubescent – resembling deer antlers in velvet. • They have milky sap and small, scaleless buds covered in soft hairs. • Remaining pubescent for several years, turning gray-brown and much later becoming a bit scaly.
Reproductive Features: • Dioecious, female flowers are small, yellow-green and are borne in terminal panicles. • Fruits are 1/8" long, hairy, red drupes that may remain on the tree for several months.
134 Toxicodendron radicans – poison-ivy A catch-all for several taxonomically troublesome and highly variable species.
Toxicodendron: Includes T. vernix, poison sumac; T. diversilobum, the Pacific poison oak, T. radicans, the climbing poison-ivy.
Collectively they occupy much of the US except major mountain ranges and deserts of the west.
Contact dermatitis is caused by the oil urushiol which initiates an autoimmune response. Some people appear to be resistant but become sensitive with repeated exposures. Severe rashes requiring hospitalization and treatment with steroids are common. Deaths have been recorded.
Vegetative Features: • All are deciduous with compound leaves. T. vernix has pinnately compound leaves with 5-13 leaflets (like Rhus) all others have trifoliate leaves although some will occasionally have 5 leaflets. Leaflets of three leave them be. • May be present as a low (6 to 18 inches), spreading "carpet" on the forest floor, as a climbing vine, or as a bush, or small shrub (T. vernix). Reproductive Features: • Monoecious – small, yellowish-green flowers arranged in a panicle • Fruit a cream-colored drupe, ¼ inch in diameter arranged in panicle.
135 Elaeagnaceae – the oleaster family
Includes 3 genera and approximately 45 species of shrubs and trees in warm temperate and subtropical regions.
They have – lepidote scales – scale-like hairs on leaves, twigs and fruits – shiny/silvery appearance.
Root nodules with nitrogen fixing bacteria.
Four species are native to N. America. (Elaeagnus commutata – native to NW US).
Elaeagnus angustifolia – Russian-olive A small tree native to southern Europe and western and central Asia, but has been widely introduced.
Often planted in windbreaks and for erosion control in N. America and has escaped locally. Very common along irrigation ditches, pastures and abandoned fields in the west.
Has naturalized over much of the arid west and Great Plains, often displacing native species along streams and irrigation canals – displacing Salix exigua on lower clearwater. Vegetative Features: • Leaves are simple, alternate, deciduous, 1 to 3” long, 1/2 inch wide, linear-lanceolate, entire margin; dull green to almost gray and distinctly scaly above, silvery and scaly below. • Young branches are silvery and scaly, and may bear thorns. Later developing a shiny light brown color • Fissured brown bark. • Ragged form and silvery foliage is very distinctive.
Reproductive Features: • Flowers axillary, bell-shaped (campanulate), 3/8 to 5/8 inch long, very fragrant, yellow - lacking petals. • Fruits are drupe-like achenes. Yellow-pink, edible and sweet but dry.
136 Rosaceae – the rose family Includes ca. 95 genera and 3,000 species of trees, shrubs, herbs and vines widely distributed throughout the world but are most prolific in the temperate regions – cosmopolitan, but most abundant in the Northern Hemisphere.
Herbaceous members grow in wide variety of habitats including, temperate forest understory, salt & freshwater marshes, arctic tundra, old fields, and roadsides. Woody members, such as Rubus (blackberries and rasberries), Crateagus (hawthorns), Amelanchier (serviceberries), and Prunus (cherries), are prominent in early stages of succession – many understory shrubs and small trees.
Tree species, like Prunus serotina may be components of mature deciduous forests.
Only the genus Prunus is significant in timber production but several are sources of commercially important fruits and are popular ornamentals; apples, pears, peaches, plums, apricots, almonds, strawberry, raspberry, and others.
10 arborescent genera are native to the US.
In Rosaceae, the flowers are all pretty much alike, but fruit types differ greatly and form the basis of traditional subfamilial divisions.
Rosaceae - Rose family (95 gen/2825 spp) 1) plants woody or herbaceous 2) leaves often compound, but sometimes simple (the species we’ll look at have simple lvs) - stipules present – often quickly deciduous on woody members, but will leave scars) - leaves and/or leaflets with serrate margins - alternate arrangement 3) Flowers - actinomorphic - sepals and petals in 5s - stamens many - Hypanthium usually present - ovary superior, inferior, or half inferior
Most striking variation in reproductive morphology is in fruit type.
Traditional view of divisions within family: Subfamilies are based on fruit type Chromosome number correlates somewhat but is more variable
137 Subfamilies Gynoecium Fruit type Chromosome # “Spiraeoideae” Apocarpus (carpels Follicle or capsule X=8, 9 free), 5 separate carpels, superior “Rosoideae” Apocarpus, many Achene or drupelet X=7,9 separate carpels, (little drupe) superior Prunoideae 1 carpel, superior Drupe X=8
Pomoideae Syncaprous Pome (apple) – a X=16,17 fleshy indehiscent fruit, (Maloideae) (compund pistil), 5 derived from a inferior compound ovary fused carpels, consisting of a modified inferior floral tube surrounding a core
However, recent studies (some from WSU) have shown that some of the subfamilies based on fruit type are not all monophyletic and that chromosome number is a better indication of phylogeny see overhead
Phylogeny: Subfamilies Prunoideae and Pomoideae (Maloideae) are monophyletic, whereas Rosoideae are polyphyletic, and Spiraeoideae are probably the ancestral paraphyletic group in the Rosaceae.
138 Pomoideae (Maloideae): Includes ca. 25 genera and 1,000 species. Flowers with inferior ovary – hypanthium fused to ovary wall, with 5 connate carpels (with 1-many ovules) surrounded by a hypanthium. Resultant fruit is called a pome. Examples include apples and pears. We eat the swollen hypanthium.
Includes the genera Malus, Pyrus, Amelanchier, Crataegus and Sorbus.
Amelanchier The genus includes 10 species native to N. America with at least 1 in every American state and Canadian province. Pomes are sweet and are important sources of food for wildlife and historically for humans.
Amelanchier alnifolia – serviceberry Occupies variable sites from bunch grass to the lower subalpine zone of the northern and central Rockies, Cascadian region and the northern Plains. Several varieties exist although there is little agreement on taxonomic placement.
Usually has a many-trunked shrubby appearance but it can reach 30' tall 8" diameter.
Vegetative Features: • Simple, alternate, deciduous, 1-2" long, oval with the apical half with a variably serrate/toothed margin and the basal half with an entire margin. • Lateral veins have a “herringbone” pattern. • Bark is smooth and gray. Inner bark has a very bitter odor.
Reproductive Features: • One of the earliest native shrubs to flower in our area. • Has showy white flowers in terminal clusters emerging with the leaves. • Inferior ovary – hypanthium fused to ovary wall, many stamens. • Fruit is a 1/4-1/2" purple, sweet pome with several large seeds.
Distributed by numerous wildlife. Very popular with birds and bears.
Crataegus – the hawthorns A taxonomically challenging genus of shrubs and small trees that includes ca. 265 species widely scattered in Europe, Asia and N. America with 35 species native to the US.
Extremely complex geographic patterns of variation exist. Hybridization is common and probably contributes to these confounding patterns.
All have thorns (sharp modified branches) and pomes for fruit. Consequently, the hawthorns are very easy to identify as a group but are difficult to tell apart.
139 Crataegus douglasii - black hawthorn A small tree that occupies moist soils of riparian zones and lower slopes from shrub steppes to mid elevation coniferous forest.
Common on disturbed sites, especially old pastures.
Frequently has a many-trunked shrubby form or a scraggly form with a short trunk with stout low-spreading branches and a round-topped crown.
May reach 30' tall and 1' diameter at maturity.
Vegetative Features: • Leaves are simple, alternate, deciduous, 1-3" long, ovate-obovate with a sharply toothed margin that is slightly lobed on the apical half. • Conspicuous stout thorns to 1"-2.5” long, ouch! • Bark is gray and smooth on young trees, but brown, furrowed and scaly on older trees.
Reproductive Features: • White flowers in clusters. • Inferior ovary – hypanthium fused to ovary wall, many stamens. • Fruits are red to dark purple-black ca. 1/2" pomes with several seeds. Edible but dry and not real tasty.
Highly variable and taxonomically challenging secies - includes C. columbiana, which some people split out.
140 Prunoideae: Flowers with superior ovary, monocarpus with one ovule = 1 fruit and 1 seed per flower. Fruit is a drupe, eg. cherries, plums, peaches, apricots and others. The ovary swells and becomes fleshy. The hypanthium is not involved! Includes the genus Prunus.
Prunus Includes over 200 species of trees and shrubs widely-scattered throughout the cooler regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
Several are commercially important fruit trees; P. domestica, garden plum; P. persica, peach; P. avium, sweet cherry and many others.
Vegetative Features: • Most have simple alternate, deciduous leaves (rarely persistent), elliptical, toothed margins with 2 glands on the petiole or base of the leaf. • Most have hydrocyanic acid in the inner bark and foliage; has a bitter almond odor.
Reproductive Features: • Flowers: superior ovary, 1 carpel with one ovule (i.e., 1 simple pistil). • Fruit is a drupe. The ovary swells and becomes fleshy. The hypanthium is not involved!
Prunus virginiana – common chokecherry A small tree or shrub that occupies variable sites from as far north as Hudson's Bay to the central hardwoods in the east and the intermountain region in the west.
A huge geographic range. Occurs from low elevation to montane habitats.
Vegetative Features: • Leaves are simple, opposite, deciduous, 1 1/2- 3 3/4" long, elliptical with a sharply serrate margin and glands on the petioles. • Variably pubescent or glabrous. • Bark is grayish and generally smooth but often with a coarse texture.
Reproductive Features: • Flowers are white, many stamens with hypanthium, single pistil, superior ovary • Inflorescence a cylindrical raceme. • Fruits are red-black drupes ca. 1/4-1/2". Also spreads by rhizomes, frequently forming thickets Drupes are bitter and astringent before they are fully ripe. Much better after the first frost in early fall. Fruits and pits have hydrocyanic acid, poisonous in quantity. Leaves can poison livestock.
Variation over enormous geographic range has led to taxonomic difficulties...several varieties have been suggested.
141 Spiraeoideae: Includes ca. 17 genera and 140 species. Flowers with superior ovary, with 5 free carpels and many ovules. Fruits are many seeded follicles. Includes the genera Physocarpus and Holodiscus.
Holodiscus discolor - oceanspray Occurs throughout western North America from the Rockies west to Pacific.
Dominant or subdominant understory shrub in a variety of habitat and community types throughout the Pacific Northwest – from climax forests with moist, deep soils to droughty timbered or talus slopes - coastal bluffs and mountains to the dry, coniferous forest types of the Intermountain region
Typically an erect, loosely branched shrub growing to 15 feet tall with multiple, straight stems arising from the base. Arborescent coastal forms may reach heights of approximately 20 feet.
Vegetative Features: • Leaves alternate, simple, deciduous; 3/4 to 2 1/2 inches long, ovate, and either coarsely toothed or lobed and serrate; entire near the base. • prominently pinnately veined. • Bark smooth and gray-brown
Reproductive Features: • Flowers very small creamy white, superior ovary with 5 separate carpels. • Inflorescence a large, loose, panicle (branched raceme). • Fruit are tiny, light brown, 1-seeded follicles borne in large clusters; fruit clusters persist through the winter and into the next growing season.
Physocarpus malvaceus – mallow ninebark Generally occurs east of the Cascades, from south-central British Columbia to central and eastern Washington and Oregon; east to southwestern Alberta, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, and Utah.
Very common understory shrub found in a wide variety of habitat types from cool/moist subalpine communities to more mesic Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and drier ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) sites. Often found growing with Holodiscus discolor.
A medium sized, vase-shaped shrub up to 5-10’ Vegetative Features: • Leaves alternate, simple, deciduous, maple-like, palmately 3 lobed (occasionally 5); almost circular in outline, 1 1/2 – 3” in diameter, blunt serrated margin; dark green above, paler and pubescent below. • Bark thin and yellow-, orange-, or red-brown; shredded and exfoliating in long strips, especially on older stems
142 Reproductive features: • Flowers small (1/2 inch) white to faint pink flowers, superior ovary with 5 separate carpels. • Inflorescence a small, dense, upright, round-topped cyme. • Fruits small (1/4 inch long) pointed follicles borne in dense, upright hemispherical clusters, initially they are red and later turning a bright reddish brown.
Rosoideae: Includes ca. 50 genera and 1800 spp. superior ovaries and apocarpus. eg. Rosa (roses), Frageria (srawberries), Rubus (raspberries and blackberries) and others.
143 Week 17 – Friday Announcements: Finish up lecture today – Exam Wednesday, 12:30
Fabaceae – the legumes
Includes ca. 642 genera and 17, 275 species widely distributed throughout the world.
Many have root nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria...key components involved in nutrient cycling – symbiosis with Rhizobium N-fixing bacteria – allows them to be excellent colonizers of waste/disturbed areas that are low in N.
The legumes are second in economic importance only to the grasses. They are important sources of food, pharmaceuticals, pesticides and lumber.
In Rosaceae, the flowers were all pretty much alike, but fruit types differed greatly and formed the basis of subfamilial divisions - in Fabaceae, fruit types are all similar - the legume - but flowers differ greatly and form the basis of subfamilies.
Fabaceae (Leguminosae) - Pea or legume family (642 gen/18,000 spp)
1) mostly woody tropical trees, but in temperate zone mostly herbs 2) Commonly associated with N-fixing bacteria as symbionts in roots (Rhizobium) 3) Leaves compound - margins entire - stipules present 4) Flowers - actinomorphic or zygomorphic - sepals and petals in 5s - stamens usually 10 or many (Mimosoideae), sometimes diadelphous (9 fused and 1 free) - ovary superior - fruit a legume (specific type of follicle)
Papilionoid flowers are typical pea “Flag” flowers, with two lower petals fused to form a “keel” and with diadelphous stamens (9 fused and 1 free)
Banner 1 free stamen Flag Flower wing wing 9 fused stamens keel
Caesalpinoid flowers also often are ‘flag’ flowers, but the lower petals are NOT fused and the stamens are not fused
144 Mimosoid flowers are called “brush” flowers, because they have many stamens that are exerted on long filaments and form a brush that covers visiting insects or birds with pollen.
In contrast to the Rosaceae, major variation is in floral morphology, while fruit type is constant:
Subfamily stamens fruit flower type Mono/Para? Mimosoideae: many legume “Brush” flowers Monophyletic Caesalpinoideae: 10-free legume “Flag” flowers Paraphyletic Papilionoideae: diadelphous legume “Flag” flowers Monophyletic
Phylogeny: Subfamily Caesalpinoideae is ancestral (paraphyletic) within the Fabaceae and subfamilies Mimosoideae and Papilionoideae are monophyletic and are derived from Caesalpinoid ancestors.
Subfamily Caesalpinoideae
Gleditsia triacanthos – the honeylocust Occupies diverse sites from mesic bottomlands to limestone uplands. Natural range includes the central and southern hardwoods. Notably absent from the east coast and the northern deciduous zone, but has been widely planted as a shade tree and in windbreaks.
May reach 70-80' tall and 2-3' diameter at maturity.
Vegetative Features: • Leaves are pinnately or bipinnately compound, alternate and deciduous. Leaflets have a more or less acute apex – entire margin. • Bark is grayish brown and broken into superficially scaly ridges separated by fissures. • Twigs and bark often have abundant thorns up to 3" long with some thorns branched.
Reproductive Features: • Like the rest of Caesalpinioideae, it has a zygomorphic flower with the upper petal in between the laterals and the two lower petals distinct. Flowers are whitish green. • Fruit is a brownish legume 6-18" long.
An extremely important ornamental with many thornless and fruitless varieties. Wood is used locally. No root nodules.
145 Subfamily Faboideae
Robinia pseudoacacia – black locust Native to the east-central US but has been widely introduced over much of N. America, Europe and Asia.
Has been planted widely and is capable of growing on degraded soils with little moisture. Has naturalized in many areas, like the lower Snake River.
Occupies diverse sites but most commonly occurs on uplands in the Appalachians and Ozarks
May reach 40'-60' tall and 1-2' diameter at maturity.
Vegetative Features: • Leaves are pinnately compound, alternate and deciduous. Leaflets have a rounded apex. • Upper branches of mature trees and vigorous twigs have stipular spines. • Bark is nearly black with deeply furrowed interlacing ridges. • Has root nodules that contain N-fixing bacteria.
Reproductive Features: • Has whitish flowers that are strongly zygomorphic with the upper petal outside of the laterals and the lower petals fused like the rest of subfamily Faboideae – typical “flag flower”. • Fruits are brownish legumes ca. 2-4" long.
146 Rhamnaceae – the Buckthorn family
Rhamnus – buckthorns 125 species – cosmopolitan. 12 species native to North America, but only 5 are arborescent (rest shrubs) – Rhamnus purshiana is an important tree in the PNW.
Rhamnus purshiana – Cascara Native to western North America from southern British Columbia south to central California, and inland to western Montana
It grows in moist, acidic soils in the shady side of clearings or in the marginal forest understory, near the edges of mixed deciduous-coniferous forests. It typically grows as a second-generation tree after alders have colonized a barren plot of land.
Occasionally growing up to 60 feet tall, though more commonly a large shrub or small tree 10-40 ft tall, with a trunk 10-15” in diameter.
Vegetative Features: • Leaves simple, alternate, deciduous; elliptical to oblong-ovate, 2–6” long finely serrate or entire, dark shiny green on top, pubescent and paler green below. • Pinnate secondary veins conspicuous, parallel with a slight upward curve at end. • Twigs with naked, tomentose buds and elevated leaf scars • Bark smooth, becoming scaly with age.
Reproductive features: • Flowers small, arranged in axillary cymes, yellowish-green, 5-parted. • Fruit globose berry with several (3) seeds, bright red at first, quickly maturing to blueish- black.
The dried, aged bark of this tree has been used continually for at least 1,000 years by both native and immigrant Americans as a laxative natural medicine, commercially called "Cascara Sagrada", but old timers call it "chitticum bark".
Cascara Sagrada means "sacred bark" in Spanish. The much more pertinent name chitticum means "shit come" in Chinook Jargon; chittam comes from the Chinook Jargon phrase chittam stick = "laxative tree" which is similarly from the English word "shit".
147 Lecture: Asteridae s.l.
The traditional, or ‘core,’ Asteridae included families with the above characters, but only those also with: - gamopetalous (fused petals) corollas - 5-parted flowers - epipetalous stamens - 2 fused carpels
Families with many of these traits, but with polypetalous corollas, typically were assigned to the Rosidae (e.g., Cronquist). - Examples include Apiaceae, Cornaceae, Hydrangeaceae, Loasaceae
Cornaceae – the dogwood family Includes 7 genera and approximately 110 species of trees, shrubs and a few herbs – bunchberry (Cornus canadensis). Nearly all are native to the Northern Hemisphere and very diverse in China. 2 genera Cornus and Nyssa (7 spp., 4 native to SE US) are native to the US.
Cornus – the dogwoods Includes approximately 65 species, all but one (Peruvian) in the Northern Hemisphere with 16 species native to the US.
Several riparian species are important in erosion control.
Many are important as ornamentals.
Cornus means horn in Latin and refers to the very hard wood characteristic of the genus.
Vegetative Features: • Leaves are simple, opposite, and deciduous with entire margins and arcuate venation in most species. • Veins with helical thickenings – Cornus test.
Reproductive Features: • Flowers are small, 4-parted, in various clusters, sometimes subtended by showy bracts, inferior ovaries. • Fruits are drupes with a 2-seeded endocarp.
148
Cornus florida - flowering dogwood A small shrubby tree of the eastern US. Shade tolerant understory species and attains best growth on well-drained friable soils in association with several hardwoods.
A very important ornamental with many cultivars.
May reach 40' tall and 12-18" diameter at maturity.
Vegetative Features: • Leaves are 2 1/2-5" long, simple, opposite, deciduous, and elliptical to ovate with arcuate venation and an entire margin. • Turn red in the fall. • Usually as several wide-spreading branches with a low dense crown – opposite branching gives candelabra form. • Bark is broken up into small brown-black plates on mature trees.
Reproductive Features: • Few, small, perfect, 4-parted flowers with inferior ovaries arranged in heads subtended by 4 notched, showy, white-pink bracts. • Fruits are oval shaped drupes in heads of 5-6, red at maturity, with oval grooved stone.
Cornus nuttallii – Pacific dogwood Occupies moist slopes and valleys in the understory of conifers along the Pacific slope from British Columbia to southern California. Disjunct on the Lochsa and Selway rivers in central Idaho.
A very popular ornamental on the west coast.
May reach 60' tall and 12-20" diameter at maturity.
Vegetative Features: • Leaves are 2 1/2-4 1/2" long, simple, opposite, deciduous and ovate-elliptical with arcuate venation, margin may be sparsely toothed or entire. • Leaves turn red in the fall. • Has a straight trunk and narrow crown in forested conditions but tends to have several wide-spreading branches and a lower rounded crown when grown in the open - sometimes is many-trunked and bushy. • Bark is dark and broken into small plates at maturity.
Reproductive Features: • Many yellowish-green, small, perfect, 4-parted flowers with inferior ovaries arranged in dense in heads, subtended by 4-7 showy white-pink, petal-like bracts that are not notched at the apex. • Fruits are drupes in heads of 30-40, red at maturity and they have smooth stones.
149
Cornus sericea– red-osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera) Occupies riparian zones and cool moist forest understory throughout much of northern North America and scattered along watercourses throughout the west.
Important species – along with many willows – in river stabilization/erosion control.
Common ornamental because of red stems and red-orange fall color.
Typically a thicket-forming shrub with many stems and under 10’ tall, but in some of Idaho’s warmer canyons can reach 15’ tall and 3” diameter.
Vegetative Features: • Leaves are 2-4" long, simple, opposite, deciduous and somewhat narrow ovate-lanceolate with entire margin. • Twig bright red, sometimes green splotched with red, white pith. • Bark red to green with numerous lenticels; later developing larger cracks and splits and turning light brown.
Reproductive Features: • Flowers small, small, perfect, 4-parted, with inferior ovaries, dull-white in cymose clusters about 2 inches across. • Fruit a dull white to blueish drupe, 1/4 to 1/3 inch in diameter in rounded clusters.
Hydrangeaceae – Hydrangea family
17 genera/220 species – widespread but characteristic of temperate to subtropical regions of northern Hemisphere. 5 genera in North America.
Woody with opposite leaves – similar to Cornaceae, typically shrubs and small trees with capsular fruits.
Philadelphus lewisii – mockorange (Syringa in these parts) Native to western North America, from northwestern California in the Sierra Nevada, north to southern British Columbia, and east to Idaho and Montana. It is widespread but not terribly common, usually appearing as an individual plant amongst other species.
It was discovered by Meriwether Lewis in 1804.
A loosely branched shrub up to 12 feet tall. Native American tribes used P. lewisii for numerous purposes. The hard wood was useful for making hunting and fishing tools, snowshoes, pipes, and furniture. The leaves and bark, which contain saponins, were mixed in water for use as a mild soap.
Other common names include "wild mock-orange" (though this can apply to any species in the genus), and "Syringa", a confusing name as it usually refers to the unrelated lilacs.
150 Vegetative Features: • Leaves opposite, simple, deciduous, ovate, 1-3” long, green above and paler below, margins nearly entire with a few glandular teeth on each side. • Passes the Cornus test so beware!!! • Twig slender, opposite, tan, and widely dichotomous. • Bark light brown and shreddy.
Reproductive Features: • Flowers perfect, 4-petals and numerous stamens with inferior ovary, showy, white, solitary or clustered, about 1 inch in diameter, fragrant. • Fruit small, brown, hard, 4-celled capsule, ¼” in diameter.
Oleaceae – the olive family Includes 24 genera and 615 species of trees and shrubs primarily in the N. Hemisphere.
The genera Olea and Fraxinus produce excellent timber and Olea europaea is the source of olives of commerce.
Syringa – lilacs – very common ornamental shrub/small tree.
Four genera are native to N. America but only Fraxinus is an important timber species.
Fraxinus - the ashes Includes ca. 65 species primarily of the temperate regions of the northern Hemisphere but also occurring in Java and Cuba. ca. 17 species are native to the US.
Important sources of high quality hardwood.
Vegetative Features: • Leaves are pinnately compound, opposite and deciduous.
Reproductive Features: • Variably monoecious or dioecious but the species we cover is dioecious. • Flowers are inconspicuous, unisexual – all North American species lack a perianth and are wind pollinated – flower before leaves etc. – stamens 2-4, pistil 1 with 2-celled ovary – female flowers in loose panicles, male flowers in tight clusters. • Fruits are 1-seeded samaras comprising an elongated seed at one end and an elongated terminal wing. Look a bit like a canoe paddle.
151 Fraxinus pennsylvanica – green ash The most widely distributed of our native ashes occupies variable sites but is most common on moist soils in riparian areas from the foothills east of the Rockies to the east coast. Intermediate in shade tolerance.
Has been widely planted throughout the Great Plains and western US. Once established it can persist on dry sites and is widely escaped.
May reach 30-50' tall and 1-2' diameter at maturity.
Vegetative Features: • Leaves are pinnatley compound, opposite, 6-10" long, with 7-9 lanceolate to ovate- lanceolate or elliptical leaflets. Leaves are g labrous to pubescent (lots of variation). • Bark is grayish brown and tightly furrowed.
Reproductive Features: • Dioecious, apetalous, male flowers in tight clusters, female flowers in panicles. • Fruits are narrow oblanceolate samaras ca. 1 1/4-2 1/4" long borne in loose panicles. Look like narrow canoe paddles with a pointed blade. Persistent on tree throughout winter.
Pubescent form was previously classified as F. pennsylvanica var. pennsylvanica, red ash, and the glabrous form F. Pennsylvanica var. lanceolata, the geen ash but they have since been lumped together.
Wood is sold as white ash. Used to make furniture, veneer, paneling and Louisville Sluggers.
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