1. The Rosids
A huge clade – probably monophyletic based on biochemical and molecular data
Two main sub-clades (Eurosids I and II) plus a few orders that stand alone, including:
Saxifragales
Saxifragaceae
Hamamelidaceae (Liquidambar styraciflua)
Vitales
Vitaceae (Vitis sp.)
Geraniales
Geraniaceae (Geranium, Erodium, Pelargonium)

2. Eurosids I Euphorbiaceae Violaceae Salicaceae Fabaceae Rosaceae
Moraceae
Cucurbitaceae
Fagaceae
Betulaceae
Juglandaceae

3. Euphorbiaceae – Spurge family (320/6100)
Herbs, Shrubs, or Trees
Alternate leaves, often with thick milky latex
Some are cactus-like succulents
Flowers imperfect; plants usu. monoecious
Perianth uniseriate or absent.
Fruit a 3-lobed, few seeded capsule
Many tropical species
Useful plants include:
Rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis)
Cassava/Tapioca (Manihot esculentum)
Poinsettia (Euphorbia heterophylla)

4. Typical monoecious flowers of Euphorbiaceae (most genera)
Small male flowers
Separate female flowers, matured into 3-lobed capsule fruits, each lobe containing one large seed.

5. Euphorbiaceae examples
Cnidoscolus
Cactus-like species

6. Genus Euphorbia (2000 species)
One of the world’s largest genera.
Bizarre flower/inflorescence structure.
Each male flower is reduced to a single stamen.
Each female flower is a single ovary, on a stalk.
Inflorescence called a cyathium consists of one female flower plus several male flowers attached to a cup-like structure.
Rim of the cup may bear petalloid appendages.
Whole thing may resemble a strange flower.

7. Euphorbia cyathium (see also text page 346)

8. Violaceae – Violet family (22/950)

9. Fabaceae / Leguminosae Pea / Bean / Legume family 630/18,000
World’s 3rd-largest family, and one of the most important.
See p :
Characteristics
Classification (3 subfamilies)
Economic uses

10. Fabaceae Can be herbs, shrubs, trees vines.
Alternate leaves with stipules.
Usually pinnately compound leaves.
Superior ovary; simple pistil.
Fruit a legume.
Flowers often have standard, 2 wings, keel.
Divided into 3 subfamilies based on flower structures.

11. 3 subfamilies of Fabaceae
Faboideae
Zygomorphic
Standard is outermost petal
2 keel petals are fused together
10 stamens (9 connate filaments; one distinct)
Caesalpinioideae
Zygomorphic to nearly actinomorphic
Wings are outermost
Keel petals distinct
Usually 5 stamens
Mimosoideae
Petals small, inconspicuous, nearly regular
Stamens long, brightly colored, conspicuous
Flowers often in “pom-pom” like heads

12. Faboideae

13. Caesalpinioideae Cercis canadensis - redbud
Parkinsonia aculeata – palo verde

14. Mimosoideae
Prosopis sp. - mesquite
Albizia julibrissin – mimosa-tree

15. Rosaceae – Rose Family (85/3000)
Review general characteristics & uses on pp
Prunus serotina
Amelanchier arborea

16. Fagaceae – Beech family (9/900)
Simple leaves
Reduced flowers, monoecious, wind pollinated
Male flowers in catkins
Female flowers 1-3, surrounded by involucre
Fruit a nut
Quercus – oak
Fagus – beech
Castanea – chestnut
Nothofagus – southern beech (S. Hemisphere)

17. Fagaceae

18. Betulaceae – Birch Family (6/157)
Reduced flowers, monoecious, wind pollinated
Male and female flowers in catkins
Fruit an achene or small nut
Betula (Birch), Alnus (Alder), Carpinus (Hornbeam)

19. Juglandaceae – Walnut family (8/59)
Pinnately compound leaves
Male flowers in catkins
Female flowers solitary
Fruit a drupe in a leathery husk
(Husk splits along seams in Carya; does not split in Juglans)
Carya – Hickory and Pecan
Juglans – Walnut

20. Juglandaceae

21. Eurosids II Brassicaceae – Mustard family Malvaceae – Mallow family
Anacardiaceae – Poison ivy / Cashew family
Sapindaceae – Soapberry / Maple family

22. Brassicaceae / Cruciferae – Mustard family (419/4130)
Herbs (some shrubs, a few trees)
Alternate or basal leaves
Inflorescence a raceme
Flowers with 4 sepals, 4 petals (“cross-bearers”)
6 stamens (4 long, 2 short)
Fruit a modified capsule with persistent partition between the 2 locules
Silique: long narrow fruit
Silicle: short broad fruit

23. Brassica flower

24. Brassicaceae inflorescences & fruits

25. Brassicaceae fruits showing septum (persistent partition)

26. Brassicaceae - economics
Many food and condiment plants
Brassica oleracea has many cultivars including cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, kohlrabi
Also radish, horseradish, mustard, watercress
Some ornamentals
Many weeds

27. Malvaceae – Mallow family 204/2330
Mostly shrubs or trees; some herbs
Alternate leaves
Flowers with 5 sepals & 5 petals
Most species (“the monadelphous clade”) have many stamens, fused into a tube around the style and thus appearing to attach near the stigma.
Examples: Hibiscus, Cotton, Okra, Basswood, Cacao (chocolate!!!)

28. Malvaceae (monadelphous)

29. Malvaceae (non-monadelphous)
Tilia europaea
Theobroma cacao

30. Sapindaceae – Soapberry family (147/2215)
Now includes maples (traditionally separated as Aceraceae) and buckeyes (traditional Hippocastanaceae)
Family is hard to define based on visible morphology.
Circumscription based on many chemical, developmental, and anatomical characters

31. Sapindaceae Aesculus sp.
Acer saccharum – sugar maple (leaves, flowers, fruit)
Aesculus sp.