Very Important Rosids

Including pumpkins!!

Rosids

• Many families in Colorado

• Some are included in this overview

Violaceae

• SLIGHTLY IRREGULAR FLOWERS

• SMALL HERBS• Alternate or basal

leaves• 5 sepals, petals and

stamen• Three united carpels

Violaceae – World-wide dist.

Viola – zygomorphic flowers

Viola – side view

Violaceae fruit - loculicidal capsule

Viola - cleistogamous flowers

• Some species produce flowers at the base of the plant

• These flowers never open

• Self-pollinate

Salicaceae

• Trees and shrubs with alternate leaves in moist soil

• Catkins – unisexual flower racemes

• Catkins form from many small capsules

• Includes many ecologically imp spp in CO

Salicaceae – Cottonwood

Salix spp. Willow shrubs

Populus tremuloides - Aspen

Fabaceae

• “Banner, wings, and keel”• Pea-like pods and often pinnate leaves• Third largest family with 18,000 species• High nitrogen metabolism, often symbiotic

with bacteria• Leaves alternate, usually compound• Inflorescence usually indeterminate• Flowers varied, fruit usually a legume

Beans are legumesThis is the second most important crop family after grasses (Poaceae

Fabaceae (cont).

• Sometimes as 3 families

Arachis hypogea - peanut

Rosaceae

• FIVE-MEROUS W/ NUMEROUS STAMEN

• Oval, serrated leaves

• Hypanthium, radial symmetry, lots of stamens

• Flower more or less constant, fruit varies

• Herbs, shrubs, trees

• Lv alt, with stipules, simple or compd, often with gland tipped teeth

The Rose (family) Bowl

• Fruits eaten, also many ornamentals

• Apples, plums, peaches, apricots, cherries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries,

• Ornamentals are Rosa, Potentilla, Amelanchier

More Rosaceae

• Raspberry type: Superior ovary, several separate carpels, drupelets

• Strawberry type: Superior ovary, several separate carpels, achenes, fleshy receptacle

• Plums: INFERIOR ovary, 1 carpel, 1 seed, drupe

• Many wild roses have hips

Rosaceae - Hypanthium

Rose hips

Many roses are hybrids

• Tea roses were named as their scent was reminiscent of Chinese black tea

• Tea roses flower more than once a year• BUT they are not cold tolerant• Other types of roses are cold tolerant (like

our wild rose) • Blending of the hybrids gave the modern

“Tea Hybrid”• Most common hybrid

Peace tea hybrid rose

Cucurbitaceae

• Gourd or cucumber family

• VINES with TENDRILS

• FUNNEL-SHAPED FLOWERS FORMING LARGE 3 OR 4 CARPELED FRUITS

• Include PUMPKINS, squash, gourds

• 850 species

Cucurbitaceae – Separate male and female flowers plants are monoecious or dioecious

Echinocystis lobata – Mock cucumber

Citrullus vulgaris - watermelon

Luffa spp.

Luffa continued

Cucurbita pepo fruit