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DICOTS
1.

Malvaceae Mallow Family (Hibiscus, cotton)

shrubs or herbs
with mucilaginous sap
leaf: simple, alternate, stipulate
superior ovary
flower: solitary or inflorescence (usually cyme or raceme)

2.

Rutaceae Citrus or Rue Family (Citrus)

with aromatic oil glands in the leaves
usually shrubs or trees
flower: solitary or inflorescence (usually cyme, rarely raceme)
superior ovary
fruit: hesperidium

3.

Mimosaceae Mimosa Family (makahiya, ipil-ipil, Acacia)

trees or shrubs, few are herbs
leaf: stipulate, mostly bipinnate
inflorescence: head (sometimes spike or raceme)
flower: regular, bisexual
superior ovary
fruit: legume/pod

4.

Caesalpiniaceae Cassia Family (caballero, alibangbang, sampalok)

trees, shrubs, or herbs
leaf: stipulate, usually alternate, pinnate or bipinnately compound (rarely simple as in alibangbang)
flower: bisexual, irregular (caesalpinaceous), rarely solitary
inflorescence: usually raceme or spike (rarely corymb)
superior ovary
fruit: legume/pod

5.

Papilionaceae Pea or Bean Family (peanut, mongo, other beans)

herbs, shrubs or trees
leaf: stipulate, simple or pinnately compound or palmate or trifoliate; usually alternate
flower: bisexual, irregular (papilionaceous)
inflorescence: usually raceme, head or spike (sometimes flowers are solitary)
superior ovary
fruit: usually a legume/pod

6.

Cucurbitaceae Gourd Family (ampalaya, cucumber, upo, patola, watermelon, melon)

tendril-bearing herbs
flower: unisexual
inflorescence: cyme (some members have solitary flowers)
inferior ovary
fruit: usually a pepo

7.

Rubiaceae Coffee or Madder Family (coffee, santan, doa aurora, Gardenia)

herbs, shrubs or trees
leaf: simple, opposite or whorled, stipulate
flower: regular, gamopetalous, bisexual
inflorescence: cyme
inferior ovary

8.

Compositae/Asteraceae Sunflower Family (Chrysanthemum, Dahlia, sunflowers, daisy, mums, lettuce)

usually herbs, some are shrubs, few are trees
leaf: usually alternate, sometimes opposite, rarely whorled
inflorescence: head
inferior ovary
fruit: achene (specifically cypsela)
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9.

Apocynaceae Dogbane Family (adelfa, kalachuchi, periwinkle, yellow bell)

plants with milky sap
leaf: exstipulate, simple, opposite or whorled
flower: complete, regular
superior ovary (inferior in kalachuchi)

10. Solanaceae Potato or Nightshade Family (Capsicum, tomato, potato, tobacco, eggplant)
herbs or shrubs (rarely trees)
leaf: simple, alternate (pinnately compound in tomato and potato)
flower: bisexual, regular, gamopetalous
inflorescence: cyme (some members have solitary flowers)
superior ovary
fruit: usually a berry, or capsule
11. Anacardiaceae Cashew Family (mango, cashew, pistachio nut, poison ivy)
trees or shrubs
leaf: simple or pinnately compound, alternate
flower: regular
inflorescence: panicle
superior ovary
fruit: usually a drupe
12. Euphorbiaceae Spurge Family (Jatropha, Acalypha, san Francisco, poinsettia, cassava, castor bean)
herbs, shrubs or small trees
leaf: mostly simple, alternate, stipulate
flower: unisexual, regular
inflorescence: highly variable from raceme, spike, cyme (or even solitary flowers)
superior ovary
fruit: capsule, sometimes drupe
13. Lamiaceae Mint Family (Coleus, thyme, basil, mint, rosemary, sage)
aromatic herbs or shrubs with square stems
leaf: simple, opposite, exstipulate
flower: complete, irregular (bilabiate)
inflorescence: often cyme
superior ovary
14. Amaranthaceae Amaranthus or Pigweed Family (Amaranthus)
mostly herbs
leaf: simple, alternate or opposite, exstipulate
flower: regular, bisexual
inflorescence: spike, head, raceme (or flowers are solitary)
superior ovary
MONOCOTS
1.

Orchidaceae Orchid Family (Cattleya, Dendrobium, Vanda, other orchids)

herbs
leaf: simple, alternate (rarely opposite)
flower: bisexual, irregular (orchidaceous)
inflorescence: variable from raceme, spike, or panicle (some with solitary flowers)
inferior ovary
fruit: usually a capsule

2.

Alliaceae/Liliaceae Lily Family (Aloe, Asparagus, Sansevieria, onion, garlic, lily)

herbs with bulbs, corms or rhizomes
leaf: simple
flower: regular, bisexual (rarely unisexual)
superior ovary
fruit: capsule or berry
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3.

Arecaceae/Palmae Palm Family (coconut, nipa, anahaw)

shrubs or trees
leaf: palmate or pinnate, usually large
flower: regular
inflorescence: panicle or spadix
superior ovary
fruit: berry or drupe

4.

Araceae Arum Family (gabi, Dieffenbachia)

rhizomatous or tuberous herbs
leaf: often heart-shape, broad
inflorescence: spadix
superior ovary (rarely inferior)
fruit: berry

5.

Cyperaceae Sedge Family (sedges)

herbs with triangular stems (solid stems)
leaf: grass-like, three-ranked, with closed sheath
inflorescence: spikelet, usually arranged in racemes, panicles, spikes, or umbels
superior ovary
fruit: achene or nut

6.

Poaceae/Gramineae Grass Family (grasses, corn, rice, bamboo, sugarcane)

herbs (rarely woody shrubs or tree-like)
with round, jointed stems (with hollow internodes)
leaf: simple, alternate, two-ranked, with open sheath
flower: irregular
inflorescence: spikelet, usually arranged in spikes, racemes, or panicles
superior ovary
fruit: grain/caryopsis

7.

Musaceae Banana Family (banana, abaca, false bird-of-paradise)

giant herbs appearing like trees
leaf: very large, alternate
flower: unisexual, irregular
inflorescence: fascicle
inferior ovary
fruit: berry, capsule or schizocarp

bio12/necramirez08-15-05