The Plants Of Michigan - free ebook by Henry A. (Henry Allan) Gleason

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The Plants Of Michigan

Henry A. (Henry Allan) Gleason

129 chapters

47 minute read

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129 chapters

PREFACE

PREFACE

This book is not intended for the expert botanist. He should consult one of the regular Manuals which give full descriptions of each species of plant. Neither is it intended for the merely curious. Only those who have sufficient interest in a plant to observe it can find its name by this book. Furthermore, it is not a textbook. It does not attempt to convey botanical information, but offers merely an opportunity to learn the names of plants. Its mission is fully accomplished if, through its use,

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HOW TO USE THE BOOK

HOW TO USE THE BOOK

One recognizes a plant by the presence of structural features peculiar to itself, and not found on any other kind of plant. In such a book as this, these characters are given one or a few at a time, and contrasted with the characters which other sorts of plants possess. Such a presentation is called a Key, and by its proper use the name may be learned of any plant considered in it. This process is called Identification. Keys are constructed in several different ways, although the principle of al

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KEY TO GROUPS

KEY TO GROUPS

Note:—In order to avoid possible chances of error, many plants have been treated under both of the above groups. The following hints may also be useful in distinguishing Groups 3 and 4: All herbaceous plants with deeply lobed, dissected or compound leaves may be sought under the Dicotyledones. All herbaceous plants with five stamens in each flower, or with seven or more stamens and one ovary in each flower, may be sought under Dicotyledones....

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PINACEAE, the Pine Family

PINACEAE, the Pine Family

Trees or shrubs, usually evergreen, with needle-like or scale-like leaves; fruit a cone or berry....

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TAXACEAE, the Yew Family

TAXACEAE, the Yew Family

Shrubs, with needle-like evergreen leaves; fruit red and berry-like....

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TYPHACEAE, the Cat-tail Family

TYPHACEAE, the Cat-tail Family

Erect plants 1-2 m. high, with linear leaves and terminal spikes of brown flowers, appearing in summer....

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SPARGANIACEAE, the Bur-reed Family

SPARGANIACEAE, the Bur-reed Family

Marsh plants with linear leaves and spherical heads of inconspicuous greenish flowers, appearing in summer....

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NAJADACEAE, the Pondweed Family

NAJADACEAE, the Pondweed Family

Aquatic plants with submerged or floating leaves and inconspicuous flowers in summer....

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JUNCAGINACEAE, the Arrow Grass Family

JUNCAGINACEAE, the Arrow Grass Family

Marsh plants, with linear cylindrical leaves and inconspicuous flowers in spikes or racemes, appearing in early summer....

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ALISMACEAE, the Water Plantain Family

ALISMACEAE, the Water Plantain Family

Marsh plants, with scape-like stems; flowers with 3 green sepals, 3 white petals, 6 or more stamens, and several separate pistils....

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HYDROCHARITACEAE, the Frog's Bit Family

HYDROCHARITACEAE, the Frog's Bit Family

Submerged aquatics, with inconspicuous flowers in summer....

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GRAMINEAE, the Grass Family

GRAMINEAE, the Grass Family

Grasses, with linear or narrow sheathing leaves, and very small flowers without perianth in the axils of chaffy bracts, appearing in late spring and summer. Of the large number (over 150) of grasses in Michigan, only the commonest are included here, and the student is referred to the Manuals for a full treatment of them. Their classification depends chiefly upon the structure and arrangement of the spikelets. These consist typically of a short axis, the rachilla, almost or quite concealed by sev

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CYPERACEAE, the Sedge Family

CYPERACEAE, the Sedge Family

Grass-like or rush-like plants, with linear leaves or leafless, and inconspicuous flowers in small chaffy spikes. Over 200 species occur in Michigan, of which only the commonest are included here. For the remaining species the Manuals should be consulted....

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ARACEAE, the Arum Family

ARACEAE, the Arum Family

Individual flowers small, but crowded on a fleshy spadix to form a conspicuous spike, usually surrounded by a green or colored spathe....

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LEMNACEAE, the Duckweed Family

LEMNACEAE, the Duckweed Family

Minute leafless plants floating on quiet water; flowers exceedingly small and seldom seen....

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ERIOCAULACEAE, the Pipewort Family

ERIOCAULACEAE, the Pipewort Family

Bog or marsh herbs, with small flowers in heads terminating long slender scapes....

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XYRIDACEAE, the Yellow-eyed Grass Famil

XYRIDACEAE, the Yellow-eyed Grass Famil

Small herbs with basal leaves and erect flower-stalks bearing a head of perfect yellow flowers, in summer....

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COMMELINACEAE, the Spiderwort Family

COMMELINACEAE, the Spiderwort Family

Leafy-stemmed herbs; flowers with 3 sepals, 3 petals, and 6 stamens, lasting but a single day; petals blue....

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PONTEDERIACEAE, the Pickerel-weed Family

PONTEDERIACEAE, the Pickerel-weed Family

Aquatic herbs, with 6 rather conspicuous petals; flowers in summer....

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JUNCACEAE, the Rush Family

JUNCACEAE, the Rush Family

Grass-like or rush-like plants, with inconspicuous greenish or brownish flowers, of 3 chaffy or scale-like sepals and as many similar petals....

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LILIACEAE, the Lily Family

LILIACEAE, the Lily Family

Herbs or twining shrubs, with generally conspicuous flowers; sepals and petals each 3, and usually colored alike, stamens 6, ovary 3-celled, superior. In one species the perianth is 4-parted and the stamens are 4....

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DIOSCOREACEAE, the Yam Family

DIOSCOREACEAE, the Yam Family

Twining herbs with net-veined leaves and greenish or white flowers in panicles or racemes....

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AMARYLLIDACEAE, the Amaryllis Family

AMARYLLIDACEAE, the Amaryllis Family

Plants with linear basal leaves, and perfect flowers, with 6-parted perianth, inferior ovary, and 6 stamens....

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IRIDACEAE, the Iris Family

IRIDACEAE, the Iris Family

Herbs, with 6-parted perianth, inferior ovary, and 3 stamens....

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ORCHIDACEAE, the Orchis Family

ORCHIDACEAE, the Orchis Family

Herbs, with irregular flowers, one petal, the lip, differing from the others in size and shape, inferior ovary, and one or two stamens adherent to the style....

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PIPERACEAE, the Pepper Family

PIPERACEAE, the Pepper Family

Herbaceous plants with alternate leaves, and flowers without either calyx or corolla....

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SALICACEAE, the Willow Family

SALICACEAE, the Willow Family

Trees or shrubs, with dioecious flowers in catkins....

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MYRICACEAE, the Sweet Gale Family

MYRICACEAE, the Sweet Gale Family

Shrubs, with monoecious or dioecious flowers in catkins, and aromatic foliage....

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JUGLANDACEAE, the Walnut Family

JUGLANDACEAE, the Walnut Family

Trees with alternate pinnately compound leaves and flowers in catkins....

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BETULACEAE, the Birch Family

BETULACEAE, the Birch Family

Trees or shrubs with alternate simple leaves and inconspicuous monoecious flowers, the staminate flowers in catkins, and the pistillate in catkins or small clusters....

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FAGACEAE, the Beech Family

FAGACEAE, the Beech Family

Trees (or 1 species shrubby), with alternate simple leaves and monoecious flowers, the staminate flowers in catkins, and the pistillate solitary or in small clusters. Fruit a nut (or acorn) enclosed in a cup or bur....

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URTICACEAE, the Nettle Family

URTICACEAE, the Nettle Family

Herbs or trees, with small inconspicuous apetalous flowers....

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SANTALACEAE, the Sandalwood Family

SANTALACEAE, the Sandalwood Family

Low herbs with alternate entire leaves and terminal clusters of small greenish-white bell-shape flowers without petals in spring and early summer....

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LORANTHACEAE, the Mistletoe Family

LORANTHACEAE, the Mistletoe Family

Parasitic plants, attached to the branches of trees....

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ARISTOLOCHIACEAE, the Birthwort Family

ARISTOLOCHIACEAE, the Birthwort Family

Flowers greenish-brown or reddish-brown, at or near the ground, with inferior 6-celled ovary....

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POLYGONACEAE, the Buckwheat Family

POLYGONACEAE, the Buckwheat Family

Herbs with alternate entire leaves, stipules surrounding the stem above the base of each leaf, and small green, white or pink flowers without petals....

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CHENOPODIACEAE, the Goosefoot Family

CHENOPODIACEAE, the Goosefoot Family

Herbs, with inconspicuous greenish or reddish flowers without petals, in summer....

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AMARANTHACEAE, the Amaranth Family

AMARANTHACEAE, the Amaranth Family

Herbs, with alternate leaves, and inconspicuous greenish or reddish flowers without petals, which are axillary or in dense clusters, blooming in summer....

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PHYTOLACCACEAE, the Pokeweed Family

PHYTOLACCACEAE, the Pokeweed Family

Herbs with alternate entire leaves, small flowers without petals, and a many-celled ovary....

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NYCTAGINACEAE, the Four-o'Clock Family

NYCTAGINACEAE, the Four-o'Clock Family

Herbs, with opposite entire leaves and flowers in small clusters surrounded by a broad open calyx-like involucre; the true calyx colored like a corolla; petals none (4-8 dm. high; flowers purple, in summer)....

10 minute read

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ILLECEBRACEAE, the Knotwort Family

ILLECEBRACEAE, the Knotwort Family

Herbs, with opposite entire leaves, and minute flowers without petals. (Prostrate spreading or freely branched plants, 3 dm. high or less; flowers in summer.)...

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AIZOACEAE, the Carpet-weed Family

AIZOACEAE, the Carpet-weed Family

Prostrate herbs, with whorled leaves and small whitish axillary flowers without petals, in summer....

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CARYOPHYLLACEAE, the Pink Family

CARYOPHYLLACEAE, the Pink Family

Herbs, with opposite or whorled entire leaves, and stems frequently swollen at the nodes. Sepals 4 or 5; petals separate, as many as the sepals, or rarely none; stamens twice as many as the petals in plants with conspicuous flowers, sometimes fewer in those with small flowers; ovary 1-celled, with the ovules on a central axis, and with 2-5 styles....

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PORTULACACEAE, the Purslane Family

PORTULACACEAE, the Purslane Family

Herbs with opposite or alternate leaves and regular flowers with 2 sepals, 5 petals, and a 1-celled ovary with 2 or 3 styles....

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CERATOPHYLLACEAE, the Hornwort Family

CERATOPHYLLACEAE, the Hornwort Family

Submerged aquatics, with whorled, finely dissected leaves and inconspicuous flowers with neither calyx nor corolla....

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NYMPHAEACEAE, the Water Lily Family

NYMPHAEACEAE, the Water Lily Family

Aquatic plants, with usually large and floating leaves which are round or elliptical and palmately veined....

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RANUNCULACEAE, the Crowfoot Family

RANUNCULACEAE, the Crowfoot Family

Herbs with alternate (rarely opposite) leaves, acrid watery juice, separate sepals and petals, numerous stamens, and several or many (rarely only 1) simple pistils. Petals present or absent, in the latter case the sepals are usually petal-like in appearance....

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MAGNOLIACEAE, the Magnolia Family

MAGNOLIACEAE, the Magnolia Family

Trees or shrubs, with alternate leaves, and large, frequently showy flowers....

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ANONACEAE, the Custard Apple Family

ANONACEAE, the Custard Apple Family

Trees or shrubs, with alternate simple entire leaves, 3 sepals, and 6 petals....

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MENISPERMACEAE, the Moonseed Family

MENISPERMACEAE, the Moonseed Family

Woody climbers, with alternate leaves, 6-8 petals, and numerous stamens....

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BERBERIDACEAE, the Barberry Family

BERBERIDACEAE, the Barberry Family

Shrubs or herbs; petals 6 or more; stamens 6-18, frequently opening by two terminal lids; pistil 1....

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LAURACEAE, the Laurel Family

LAURACEAE, the Laurel Family

Trees or shrubs, with aromatic taste or odor, and alternate simple leaves; flowers small, imperfect, the anthers opening by lids....

6 minute read

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PAPAVERACEAE, the Poppy Family

PAPAVERACEAE, the Poppy Family

Herbs with milky or colored juice, regular flowers, 2 sepals, 4, 6, or 8 petals, numerous stamens, and a 1-celled ovary....

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FUMARIACEAE, the Fumitory Family

FUMARIACEAE, the Fumitory Family

Herbs with watery juice, compound or dissected leaves, and irregular flowers; sepals 2, small; petals 4, in two pairs, and one or both of the outer pair spurred at the base; stamens 6....

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CRUCIFERAE, the Mustard Family

CRUCIFERAE, the Mustard Family

Herbs, with alternate, frequently lobed or dissected leaves, and regular flowers, usually in racemes; sepals and petals each 4, stamens 6, 4 long and 2 short (or rarely 2 only), ovary 1....

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CAPPARIDACEAE, the Caper Family

CAPPARIDACEAE, the Caper Family

Herbs, with alternate compound leaves, 4 petals, and 6 or more stamens, which are about equal in length; fruit a 1-celled pod....

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RESEDACEAE, the Mignonette Family

RESEDACEAE, the Mignonette Family

Herbs, with alternate leaves and terminal racemes of small yellowish flowers; sepals 6, petals 6, stamens numerous....

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SARRACENIACEAE, the Pitcher Plant Family

SARRACENIACEAE, the Pitcher Plant Family

Insectivorous plants, with hollow, pitcher-shaped leaves, and large purple flowers at the ends of naked stems....

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DROSERACEAE, the Sundew Family

DROSERACEAE, the Sundew Family

Insectivorous herbs, with a rosette of basal leaves bearing gland-tipped bristles on their upper surface, and with slender racemes of small white flowers in summer; inhabitants of bogs and swamps (2 dm. high, or less)....

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PODOSTEMACEAE, the River Weed Family

PODOSTEMACEAE, the River Weed Family

Small submerged aquatics, growing attached to stones in running water, with dissected leaves and minute flowers....

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CRASSULACEAE, the Orpine Family

CRASSULACEAE, the Orpine Family

Herbs, with usually alternate leaves; the sepals, petals, and pistils each 4 or 5, or in one species the petals none, and the stamens as many or twice as many as the sepals....

10 minute read

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SAXIFRAGACEAE, the Saxifrage Family

SAXIFRAGACEAE, the Saxifrage Family

Herbs or shrubs, with alternate or opposite leaves; petals and sepals each 5, or the petals none; stamens 5 or 10; styles or stigmas 2-4....

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HAMAMELIDACEAE, the Witch Hazel Family

HAMAMELIDACEAE, the Witch Hazel Family

Shrubs, with alternate simple leaves; sepals, petals, and stamens each 4; ovary 2-lobed....

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PLATANACEAE, the Plane Tree Family

PLATANACEAE, the Plane Tree Family

Trees, with broad, palmately veined and lobed leaves, and minute flowers in dense spherical heads....

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ROSACEAE, the Rose Family

ROSACEAE, the Rose Family

Trees, herbs, or shrubs, with alternate, frequently compound leaves; petals and sepals usually 5, stamens numerous, pistils 1 to many; receptacle expanded into a saucer-shape or cup-shape organ, bearing the sepals, petals, and stamens at its margin, the pistils at its center, and resembling a calyx-tube or flattened calyx....

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LEGUMINOSAE, the Pulse Family

LEGUMINOSAE, the Pulse Family

Trees, shrubs, or herbs, with alternate compound (except 3 species with simple) leaves and stipules; flowers usually irregular (except in a few species), with a large upper petal and 4 smaller ones, the 2 lower enclosing the stamens and pistil; stamens almost always 10, and generally united by their filaments; pistil 1, simple, ripening into a pod....

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LINACEAE, the Flax Family

LINACEAE, the Flax Family

Herbs with simple leaves, and regular flowers, having 5 sepals, 5 yellow or blue petals, 5 stamens, and 5 styles....

6 minute read

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OXALIDACEAE, the Wood Sorrel Family

OXALIDACEAE, the Wood Sorrel Family

Herbs, with alternate or basal compound leaves with 3 reverse heart-shaped leaflets; sepals, petals, and styles each 5; stamens 10. (Wood Sorrel)...

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GERANIACEAE, the Geranium Family

GERANIACEAE, the Geranium Family

Herbs, with deeply lobed or divided leaves; flowers regular, with 5 sepals, 5 petals, 5 or 10 stamens, and a 5-celled ovary....

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RUTACEAE, the Rue Family

RUTACEAE, the Rue Family

Shrubs or low trees, with compound leaves frequently dotted with translucent glands; flowers small, greenish-white, with 3-5 sepals, petals, and stamens....

6 minute read

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SIMARUBACEAE, the Quassia Family

SIMARUBACEAE, the Quassia Family

Trees, with pinnately compound leaves and small greenish-yellow flowers in large panicles in early summer, ripening into winged fruits....

6 minute read

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POLYGALACEAE, the Milkwort Family

POLYGALACEAE, the Milkwort Family

Small herbs, with alternate or whorled simple leaves, and small irregular flowers; sepals 5, petals 3, stamens 6 or 8, more or less united with each other and with the petals....

9 minute read

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EUPHORBIACEAE, the Spurge Family

EUPHORBIACEAE, the Spurge Family

Herbs, with alternate, opposite, or whorled leaves and usually milky juice. Flowers small or minute and inconspicuous, without petals and frequently without calyx. In our commoner species, several staminate flowers, each consisting of a single stamen only, and one pistillate flower, consisting of a single pedicelled 3-lobed ovary only, are included within a 4-5-lobed involucre, which is sometimes colored and resembles a calyx or corolla....

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CALLITRICHACEAE, the Water Starwort Family

CALLITRICHACEAE, the Water Starwort Family

Small herbs growing in water or in mud, with opposite entire leaves and small inconspicuous axillary flowers, with neither calyx nor corolla. (Flowers in summer)....

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EMPETRACEAE, the Crowberry Family

EMPETRACEAE, the Crowberry Family

Low evergreen shrubs, with the linear leaves completely rolled into a tube, and inconspicuous flowers without petals, in the axils of the leaves....

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LIMNANTHACEAE, the False Mermaid Family

LIMNANTHACEAE, the False Mermaid Family

Low herbs with alternate compound leaves and minute axillary flowers; sepals 3, petals 3, stamens 6....

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ANACARDIACEAE, the Cashew Family

ANACARDIACEAE, the Cashew Family

Shrubs or small trees, with milky or resinous juice, alternate compound leaves sometimes poisonous to the touch, and small clustered greenish or yellowish flowers....

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AQUIFOLIACEAE, the Holly Family

AQUIFOLIACEAE, the Holly Family

Shrubs, with alternate simple leaves and small white or greenish axillary flowers in late spring and early summer; sepals, petals, and stamens each 4-6; fruit a berry....

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CELASTRACEAE, the Staff Tree Family

CELASTRACEAE, the Staff Tree Family

Shrubs with simple leaves and inconspicuous flowers; sepals and petals each 4 or 5, the stamens of the same number and attached to a disk which fills the center of the flower; fruit showy, orange and red....

12 minute read

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STAPHYLEACEAE, the Bladder Nut Family

STAPHYLEACEAE, the Bladder Nut Family

Shrubs with opposite trifoliate leaves and small axillary clusters of white flowers in spring; sepals, petals, and stamens each 5; ovary 3-celled, ripening into a large inflated 3-celled pod....

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ACERACEAE, the Maple Family

ACERACEAE, the Maple Family

Trees or shrubs, with opposite, lobed or compound leaves and inconspicuous flowers; sepals about 5; petals the same number, or none; stamens 4-12; ovary 2-lobed, ripening into a pair of winged fruits....

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SAPINDACEAE, the Soapberry Family

SAPINDACEAE, the Soapberry Family

Trees, with opposite palmately compound leaves, and showy white or yellowish flowers in panicles in spring; sepals 5; petals 4 or 5; stamens about 7; fruit a smooth brown nut....

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BALSAMINACEAE, the Touch-me-not Family

BALSAMINACEAE, the Touch-me-not Family

Smooth herbs, with alternate simple leaves and showy flowers; one petal-like sepal prolonged into a spur; fruit explosive when ripe (5-10 dm. high; summer)....

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RHAMNACEAE, the Buckthorn Family

RHAMNACEAE, the Buckthorn Family

Shrubs, with simple leaves and small flowers in axillary or terminal clusters in early summer; sepals, petals, and stamens each 4 to 5, or petals none....

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VITACEAE, the Grape Family

VITACEAE, the Grape Family

Shrubs, climbing by tendrils or hold-fast roots, with palmately lobed or palmately compound leaves and small greenish flowers in panicles or flattened clusters; petals and sepals each 4 or 5; fruit a berry....

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TILIACEAE, the Linden Family

TILIACEAE, the Linden Family

Trees, with alternate, simple, palmately veined leaves, and clusters of fragrant white flowers in late spring arising from the middle of a leaf-like bract; sepals and petals each 5; stamens numerous, but united into 5 sets....

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MALVACEAE, the Mallow Family

MALVACEAE, the Mallow Family

Herbs with alternate leaves; sepals and petals each 5; stamens numerous, united by their filaments to form a tube surrounding the styles; ovary many-celled....

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HYPERICACEAE, the St. John's-wort Family

HYPERICACEAE, the St. John's-wort Family

Herbs or shrubs, with opposite entire leaves dotted with translucent glands; flowers usually yellow (or pink); sepals and petals each 5; stamens 5 to many; ovary with 3-5 styles. (St. John's-wort.)...

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ELATINACEAE, the Waterwort Family

ELATINACEAE, the Waterwort Family

Small marsh herbs, with opposite leaves without translucent dots, and inconspicuous axillary flowers. (Stems 2-5 cm. long; flowers in summer.)...

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CISTACEAE, the Rock-rose Family

CISTACEAE, the Rock-rose Family

Small herbs or shrubs, with opposite or alternate entire leaves; flowers regular, with 5 sepals, 3 or 5 petals, and 3 to many stamens....

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VIOLACEAE, the Violet Family

VIOLACEAE, the Violet Family

Herbs with simple, alternate or basal leaves, and conspicuous irregular flowers with a spur (except in the first species); sepals, petals, and stamens each 5; ovary 1-celled....

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CACTACEAE, the Cactus Family

CACTACEAE, the Cactus Family

Fleshy, jointed leafless plants, armed with numerous thorns; flowers large (5-10 cm. wide), yellow, with about 10 petals and numerous stamens....

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THYMELAEACEAE, the Mezereum Family

THYMELAEACEAE, the Mezereum Family

Shrubs, with simple alternate entire leaves, and small yellowish flowers in clusters, opening before the leaves; petals none, the sepals somewhat petal-like....

7 minute read

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ELAEAGNACEAE, the Oleaster Family

ELAEAGNACEAE, the Oleaster Family

Shrubs, with opposite, silvery-pubescent, simple, entire leaves, and small clusters of inconspicuous yellow flowers in spring....

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LYTHRACEAE, the Loosestrife Family

LYTHRACEAE, the Loosestrife Family

Herbs or shrubs, with opposite or alternate entire leaves; receptacle cup-shape or tubular, bearing the 5-7 petals and sepals at its margin, and the 6-12 stamens on its inner surface; ovary superior....

10 minute read

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MELASTOMACEAE, the Melastoma Family

MELASTOMACEAE, the Melastoma Family

Herbs, with opposite leaves with 3-5 principal veins; receptacle urn-shape, bearing 4 sepals and 4 petals at its edge; stamens 8; ovary 4-celled, superior....

7 minute read

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ONAGRACEAE, the Evening Primrose Family

ONAGRACEAE, the Evening Primrose Family

Herbs with opposite or alternate simple leaves and regular flowers; sepals and petals each 4 (or 2 in one genus), stamens 8 (or 2 in one genus), attached to the summit or inside of a tubular receptacle; ovary 2-4-celled, inferior....

12 minute read

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HALORAGIDACEAE, the Water Milfoil Family

HALORAGIDACEAE, the Water Milfoil Family

Aquatic or marsh herbs, with alternate, opposite, or whorled leaves, and small, inconspicuous terminal or axillary flowers, frequently without petals (summer)....

7 minute read

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ARALIACEAE, the Sarsaparilla Family

ARALIACEAE, the Sarsaparilla Family

Herbs or thorny shrubs, with alternate or whorled leaves, and small flowers in umbels; sepals 5, minute; petals and stamens each 5; ovary inferior, with 2-5 styles, ripening into a berry....

9 minute read

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UMBELLIFERAE, the Parsley Family

UMBELLIFERAE, the Parsley Family

Herbs, with alternate, usually compound leaves, the petioles dilated at the base; flowers small, in umbels or heads; sepals 5, minute or even wanting; petals and stamens each 5; ovary inferior, with 2 styles, ripening into a dry fruit....

12 minute read

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CORNACEAE, the Dogwood Family

CORNACEAE, the Dogwood Family

Trees, shrubs, or herbs, with alternate leaves and small flowers in rather crowded rounded or flattened clusters; sepals 4, minute; petals and stamens each 4; ovary inferior, ripening into a berry. In one genus the flowers are minute and greenish, with 5 sepals and petals minute or none....

14 minute read

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ERICACEAE, the Heath Family

ERICACEAE, the Heath Family

Herbs or shrubs, frequently with evergreen leaves; sepals 4-5; corolla regular, with 4-5 petals; stamens as many or twice as many; ovary 3-10-celled, with 1 style....

8 minute read

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PRIMULACEAE, the Primrose Family

PRIMULACEAE, the Primrose Family

Herbs, with alternate or opposite simple leaves and regular flowers; petals more or less united; stamens attached one in front of each petal; ovary 1-celled with 1 style....

9 minute read

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OLEACEAE, the Olive Family

OLEACEAE, the Olive Family

Trees or shrubs, with opposite leaves and regular flowers; sepals 4, or calyx none; petals 4, united, or none; stamens usually 2; ovary 2-celled, superior....

8 minute read

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GENTIANACEAE, the Gentian Family

GENTIANACEAE, the Gentian Family

Herbs, with opposite or basal, entire, usually simple leaves and regular flowers; sepals, petals, and stamens equal in number, 4-12; ovary superior, 1-celled....

7 minute read

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APOCYNACEAE, the Dogbane Family

APOCYNACEAE, the Dogbane Family

Herbs, with opposite simple entire leaves and regular flowers; sepals, petals, and stamens each 5; petals united; stamens attached to the corolla; ovaries 2, with a single style or stigma....

9 minute read

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ASCLEPIADACEAE, the Milkweed Family

ASCLEPIADACEAE, the Milkweed Family

Herbs, with simple entire leaves and regular flowers; juice usually milky; except in the first species, which is a twining vine. The flowers have an unusual structure: calyx of 5 sepals; petals 5, united with each other, and spreading or reflexed so that they conceal the calyx; stamens 5, united with each other and with the stigma to form a complex organ in the center of the flower; ovaries 2; on the back of each stamen is a colored projecting hood, which is frequently the most conspicuous part

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CONVOLVULACEAE, the Morning Glory Family

CONVOLVULACEAE, the Morning Glory Family

Twining or trailing herbs (except one species), with regular flowers; sepals 5; corolla 5-angled or 5-lobed; stamens 5, attached to the corolla; ovary superior, 2-3-celled....

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POLEMONIACEAE, the Polemonium Family

POLEMONIACEAE, the Polemonium Family

Herbs with alternate or opposite leaves and conspicuous regular flowers; sepals 5, united; petals 5, united and bearing the 5 stamens in the corolla-tube; ovary superior, 3-celled....

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HYDROPHYLLACEAE, the Water-leaf Family

HYDROPHYLLACEAE, the Water-leaf Family

Herbs with alternate lobed or divided leaves and regular flowers; sepals 5; petals 5, united; stamens 5, attached to the corolla-tube and projecting beyond it; ovary 1-celled....

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BORAGINACEAE, the Borage Family

BORAGINACEAE, the Borage Family

Herbs with alternate entire leaves; sepals 5; petals 5, united, corolla generally regular; stamens 5, attached to the corolla-tube; ovary deeply 4-lobed with a single style....

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LABIATAE, the Mint Family

LABIATAE, the Mint Family

Herbs with opposite leaves, square stems, and usually aromatic odor; flowers irregular, with united petals, or almost regular; stamens 2 or 4, attached to the tube of the corolla; ovary deeply 4-lobed, with a single style....

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VERBENACEAE, the Verbena Family

VERBENACEAE, the Verbena Family

Herbs, with simple opposite leaves and slightly irregular flowers in spikes or heads; petals 5, united and bearing the 4 stamens in the corolla-tube; ovary 1, 2-celled or 4-celled, with 1 style....

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SOLANACEAE, the Nightshade Family

SOLANACEAE, the Nightshade Family

Herbs or shrubs, with alternate leaves and regular or slightly irregular flowers; sepals 5, united; corolla of 5 united petals, bearing the 5 stamens attached; ovary 1, 2-5 (usually 2)-celled, with a slender style....

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SCROPHULARIACEAE, the Figwort Family

SCROPHULARIACEAE, the Figwort Family

Herbs with opposite or alternate leaves and usually irregular flowers; corolla of united petals, bearing the 2 or 4 (or rarely 5) stamens attached; petals actually 5, but sometimes apparently only 2 or 4; a sterile fifth stamen sometimes present; ovary superior, 2-celled....

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LENTIBULARIACEAE, the Bladderwort Family

LENTIBULARIACEAE, the Bladderwort Family

Small herbs, growing on rocks, in mud, or in water; calyx and corolla both 2-lipped; stamens 2, attached to the corolla; ovary 1-celled....

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OROBANCHACEAE, the Broom-rape Family

OROBANCHACEAE, the Broom-rape Family

Parasitic plants without green color and with scales in place of leaves; corolla 2-lipped, of united petals; stamens 4, attached to the corolla....

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ACANTHACEAE, the Acanthus Family

ACANTHACEAE, the Acanthus Family

Herbs with opposite simple leaves; corolla of united petals, 2-lipped or almost regular; stamens 2 or 4, attached to the corolla; ovary 2-celled....

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PHRYMACEAE, the Lopseed Family

PHRYMACEAE, the Lopseed Family

Herb with opposite leaves and irregular flowers in long slender spikes; petals united, corolla 2-lipped; stamens 4, attached to the corolla; ovary 1-celled....

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PLANTAGINACEAE, the Plantain Family

PLANTAGINACEAE, the Plantain Family

Herbs with basal leaves and small white flowers in spikes; sepals 4; petals 4, united; stamens 4; ovary 2-celled....

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RUBIACEAE, the Madder family

RUBIACEAE, the Madder family

Herbs or shrubs, with opposite or whorled leaves and regular flowers; sepals 4, or minute or almost wanting; petals 4, united; stamens 4; ovary inferior....

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CAPRIFOLIACEAE, the Honeysuckle Family

CAPRIFOLIACEAE, the Honeysuckle Family

Shrubs or herbs, with opposite leaves; corolla regular or irregular, petals 4 or 5, united; stamens 4 or 5; ovary inferior, 1-5-celled....

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VALERIANACEAE, the Valerian Family

VALERIANACEAE, the Valerian Family

Herbs with opposite leaves and small nearly or quite regular flowers; petals 5, united; stamens 3; sepals minute or wanting; ovary inferior....

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DIPSACACEAE, the Teasel Family

DIPSACACEAE, the Teasel Family

Herbs with opposite leaves, and small pale blue flowers aggregated in dense heads; calyx minute; petals 4, united; stamens 4, attached to the corolla; ovary inferior....

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CUCURBITACEAE, the Gourd Family

CUCURBITACEAE, the Gourd Family

Herbs, climbing by tendrils, with alternate palmately lobed leaves and imperfect flowers; staminate flowers in showy clusters, with 5-6 petals and 3 stamens; pistillate flowers small....

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CAMPANULACEAE, the Bellflower Family

CAMPANULACEAE, the Bellflower Family

Herbs with alternate simple leaves and milky juice; sepals 5; petals 5, united; stamens 5, attached at the very base of the corolla; ovary inferior....

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LOBELIACEAE, the Lobelia Family

LOBELIACEAE, the Lobelia Family

Herbs with alternate simple leaves and milky juice; flowers irregular; petals 5, united; corolla split down the upper side; stamens 5, united by their anthers into a ring or tube surrounding the style; ovary 2-celled, inferior. Flowers in summer and autumn....

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COMPOSITAE, the Composite Family

COMPOSITAE, the Composite Family

Herbs, with various types of foliage, but with flowers of characteristic structure, resembling a sunflower, a thistle, or a dandelion. Each apparent flower is a head of numerous small flowers, attached side by side to the expanded end of the stem, and subtended and partly enclosed by a series of bracts, called the involucre, which resembles a calyx. The calyx of the individual flower is minute or actually wanting, and is usually modified to aid in seed dispersal. It appears at the base of the co

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GLOSSARY

GLOSSARY

Achene. A small, dry, hard, seed-like fruit containing a single seed. Acuminate. Taper-pointed. Acute. Ending with an acute angle. Alternate. Located singly on the stem, with other leaves above or below. Annual. Living but a single season. Anther. The (usually) enlarged end of a stamen, bearing the pollen. Ascending. Rising or curving obliquely upward. Auricle. An ear-shape appendage at the base of a leaf or other organ. Auricled, auriculate. Furnished with auricles. Awl-shape. Tapering to a sle

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