Flower Types & Major

Families

What you need to know

to identify plants

REM 252

What are Flowers?

Reproductive Organs

2Molinodosanto.com

How do Flowers Reproduce?

Flowers produce fruit Fruits Contain Seeds

3

Require Pollination

zombiehunters.com

Seeds Get Dispersed

4aristeos.com

How do Flowers Reproduce?

Plants germinate and grow into adults

5

paghat.com

How do Flowers Reproduce?

Conifers or gymnosperms Produce seeds on cones (no ovary)

6

Dendro.cnrt.vt.gov

Plants Without Flowers

Welovemrsparishandmrwhitete.weebly.com.com

Structure of Flowers

7

Flowers are Simple or Complex

Flower Inflorescence

Structure of Flowers Inflorescence - Group of flowers

9

Flowers are on main stalk

(without pedicels sessile)

10

Spike

* You do not need to memorize the terms pedicel or sessile

Invasive.org

Inflorescence

Flowers attached to main stalk

with pedicels

11

Raceme

* You do not need to memorize the terms pedicel or pediculate

Inflorescence

Compound Raceme

12

PanicleInflorescence

All pedicles appx. same length

connect to stalk at same location

Family Apiaceae (carrot family)

13

Umbel

Bio.utexas.edu

Inflorescence

Raceme with longer (uneven) pedicles at

bottom of inflorescence

Flowers appear to be at the same height

14

CorymbInflorescence

Ray and Disk flowers

Family Asteraceae (daisy/sunflower family)

15

Composite/HeadInflorescence

Ray flowers

Disk flowers

Flowers

Composite Heads

Ray Flowers Disk Flowers Ray and Disk Flowers

Plant Families & Tribes

Some plant families that will be covered

in REM 252

Asteraceae Tribes

Anthemideae

Heliantheae

Astereae

Anthemideae of Asteraceae

The “fragrant” tribe

Flowers not showey

Yarrow and sage

Composite/Head flowers

Heliantheae of Asteraceae

The “sunflower” tribe

Flowers showy

Composite/Head flowers

Prominent ray flowers

Astereae of Asteraceae The “aster” tribe

Small, indistinct flowers

Snakeweed

Missouri goldenrod

Grass Family and Tribes Poaceae = Grass Family

Variable inflorescence types

= Panicle

Grass Family and Tribes

Poaceae = Grass Family

Variable inflorescence types

= Spilke

Chenopodiacea

The Goosefoot Family

Flowers not showy

Often with separate

male & female flowers

Usually gray

No petals

Leaves variable

Fireflyforest.com

Chenopodiaceae Variable: spike/raceme/panicle

25

Fireflyforest.com

Rosaceae

The Rose Family

Showy flowers

Five sepals

Many petals, stamen and

pistils

Often bears fruit

throughout

fall and winter

Rosaceae Single flower (not inflorescence)

27

Rosaceae Panicle (compound raceme)

28

Fireflyforest.com

Fabaceae

Legume or Bean Family

Often elongate/tubular

Various inflorescence types

Nitrogen-fixing

Bilateral symmetry

Fabaceae

Spike

Fireflyforest.com

Brassicaceae Mustard (or caper) Family

Four sepals and four petals

Often yellow or white

Variable inflorescence

Raceme

Salicaceae Cottonwood and Willow Family

Often white bark

Cottony fruit

Not showy flowers

Catkins

Questions?