Basal Eudicots: Ranunculales and Proteales Spring 2010

Figure 9.1 from the text

Eudicots (tricolpates) Monophyletic: tricolpate pollen, slender filaments in stamens, and loss of ethereal oils Ca. 125 million years old as a lineage Ca. 75% of angiosperm diversity (at least 160,000 species) Flower parts in whorls, with whorls alternating

Figure 9.3 from the text

Basal and lower core eudicots Order Ranunculales Ranunculaceae – Buttercups Berberidaceae - Barberries Papaveraceae - Poppies Order Proteales Platanaceae - Sycamore Order Caryophyllales Caryophyllaceae - Carnations Amaranthaceae - Amaranths “Portulacaceae” - Cactaceae - Cacti Order Saxifragales Crassulaceae Saxifragaceae Hamamelidaceae Basal tricolpates

Basal Eudicots: Ranunculales: Ranunculaceae (The Buttercup Family) Widespread, but predominantly of temperate and boreal regions Herbs or less often shrubs or vines Diversity: 2,000 in 47 genera Flowers: receptacle short to elongated; tepals 4 to many; stamens numerous; 5+ free carpels; fruit usually an aggregate of follicles or achenes Significant features: wide range of floral diversity and pollination syndromes, toothed or lobed leaves Special uses: primarily ornamentals Required taxa: Ranunculus, Aquilegia

Ranunculaceae flower structure

Ranunculaceae – Ranunculus -cauline leaves alternate -flowers usually yellow (rarely white) -petals (3-) 5 or more -petals flat or concave, often with a nectar- producing spot or pit at the base -fruit an aggregate of achenes Buttercups

Ranunculaceae – Aquilegia Columbines -herbs with 2-3- ternately compound leaves -sepals 5, colored like the petals -petals 5, all alike, each with a nectar spur -fruit an aggregate of follicles

Basal Eudicots: Ranunculales: Berberidaceae (The Barberry Family) Widespread, in temperate regions of Northern Hemisphere & the Andes in South America Shrubs or herbs Diversity: 670 species in 15 genera Flowers: petals & sepals (4-) 6; stamens 4-6 (to numerous); unicarpellate, superior ovary; fruit a berry, seeds often arillate Significant features: Yellow wood (!). Special uses: primarily ornamentals Required taxa: *family only *change from lab manual

Berberidaceae Podophyllum peltatum

Basal Eudicots: Ranunculales: Papaveraceae (The Poppy Family) Widely distributed in temperate regions; N. Hemisphere, South Africa. Herbs or soft wooded shrubs. Diversity: 770 species in 40 genera. Flowers: Sepals 2 (-3) & quickly deciduous; petals 4 (6); carpels 2+, connate, superior ovary; fruit a capsule (poricidal or slits) Significant features: Leaves often highly dissected or lobed; latex/laticifers present; most taxa are poisonous Special uses: poppy (Papaver somniferum) source of opiate alkaloids, ornamentals Required taxa: Papaver (poppy)

Papaveraceae - Papaver -herbs with white latex -flower buds nodding -sepals 2, petals 4 -stigmas forming a flat, 4-20-rayed crown -capsule with poricidal dehiscence

Basal Eudicots: Proteales: Platanaceae (The Sycamore Family) Tropical to temperate regions, N. America, S. Europe, SW & SE Asia Trees Diversity: 7 species in 1 genus Flowers: densely arranged in a raceme of globose heads; flowers small, unisexual, inconspicuous, wind-pollinated; fruits are achenes associated with hairs in dense, globose clusters Significant features: characteristic bark; leaves usually with palmate venation; axillary buds covered by an enlarged petiole base Special uses: ornamental trees, lumber Required taxa: Platanus (sycamore/plane tree)

Platanaceae – Platanus occidentalis