Important Flowering Plant Important Flowering Plant Families of New York StateFamilies of New York State

MonocotsMonocots

• About 25% of all flowering plants

• Leaves often narrow• Sessile, no petiole

• Parallel venation

• Floral parts in 3’s

OrchidaceaeOrchidaceae – Orchid Family

Pollinia

Stigma

JuncaceaeJuncaceae – Rush Family• 6 tepals surrounding an ovary that

develops into a capsule

• Stems typically round

• Two genera• Juncus

• Rushes• Luzula

• Wood Rushes

Capsule

Tepals

Prophylls

CyperaceaeCyperaceae – Sedge Family

• Carex• Largest group

• Scirpus

• Cyperus

PoaceaePoaceae – Grass Family

EudicotsEudicots

• >70% of flowering plants

• Leaves often broad

• Netted venation

• Floral parts typically in 4’s or 5’s

AsteraceaeAsteraceae – Aster Family

Golden Ragwort

RosaceaeRosaceae – Rose Family

• Strawberry• Blackberries and Raspberries• Black Chokeberry

FabaceaeFabaceae – Pea Family

• Clover

LamiaceaeLamiaceae – Mint Family

• Quadrangular stems • Opposite leaves• Bilabiate corolla• Four lobed ovary

RanunculaceaeRanunculaceae – Buttercup Family

• Fleece Vine • Ranunculus spp. – Buttercups

• Fruit a head of achenes

BrassicaceaeBrassicaceae – Mustard Family

• 4 sepals, 4 petals• Ovary 2-carpellate• 6 stamens

• 4 long• 2 short

• Dame’s Rocket• Cuckoo Flower• Annual Honesty

ApiaceaeApiaceae – Carrot Family

• Flower in umbels• Sweet Cicely

PolygonaceaePolygonaceae – Smartweed Family

• Stipules form a sheath on the stem• Water Smartweed• Japanese Knotweed

EricaceaeEricaceae – Heath Family

• Trees, shrubs or subshrubs

• Leaves typically• Alternate, firm,

shiny, dark green• Flowers often bell-

shaped• Leatherleaf• Blueberries

Violaceae – Violet Family

• Flowers with • two upper petals• two lateral petals,

sometimes bearded• one lower petal• Short or long spur

• Plants with all basal leaves or plants with leafy stems

Ferns and fern allies (Pteridophytes)

• Seedless vascular plants

• Ferns• Horsetails• Clubmosses