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Taxonomy

Genera

Acer

At least 2,630 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Acer.

More info about the Genus Acer may be found here.

Aconitum

Herbs, perennial, from tubers or elongate, fascicled roots. Leaves basal and cauline, proximal leaves petiolate, distal leaves sessile or nearly so; cauline leaves alternate. Leaf blade palmately divided into 3-7 segments, ultimate segments narrowly elliptic or lanceolate to linear, margins incised and toothed. Inflorescences terminal, sometimes also axillary, 1-32(-more) racemes or panicles, to 28 cm; bracts leaflike, not forming involucre. Flowers bisexual, bilaterally symmetric; sepals not persistent in fruit; lower sepals (pendents) 2, plane, 6-20 mm; lateral sepals 2, round-reniform; upper sepal (hood) 1, saccate, arched, crescent-shaped or hemispheric to rounded-conic or tall and cylindric, usually beaked, 10-50 mm; petals 2, distinct, bearing near apex a capitate to coiled spur, concealed in hood, long-clawed; nectary present, on spur; stamens 25-50; filaments with base expanded; staminodes absent between stamens and pistils; pistils 3(-5), simple; ovules 10-20 per pistil; style present. Fruits follicles, aggregate, sessile, oblong, sides prominently transversely veined; beak terminal, straight, 2-3 mm. Seeds deltoid, usually with small, transverse, membranous lamellae. x =8.^[1] [more]

At least 1,259 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Aconitum.

More info about the Genus Aconitum may be found here.

Aesculus

Trees or shrubs, deciduous. Winter buds large, viscid resinous or not, with several pairs of imbricate scales; scales abaxially glabrous or sparsely puberulent. Leaf blade 5-11-foliolate; leaflet blades without scattered, conspicuous glands, margin crenate to serrate or compoundly so. Thyrse cylindric or conic; branches simple; bracts absent. Flowers often large and showy. Sepals connate to form a tubular to campanulate calyx tube. Petals often unequal, base clawed, limb obovate, oblong, oblanceolate, or spatulate. Ovary without a gynophore; style long, slender; stigma depressed globose, entire or obscurely lobed. Capsule depressed globose to pyriform, without a long gynophore, often 1-seeded; pericarp usually smooth, often dotted, rarely verrucose or prickly. Seeds depressed globose to pyriform, large (2-7 cm) ; testa brown; hilum large, pale, occupying 1/3-1/2 of seed. x = 20.^[2] [more]

At least 224 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Aesculus.

More info about the Genus Aesculus may be found here.

Agastache

Herbs tall perennials. Leaves petiolate, margin dentate. Verticillasters many flowered, in terminal spikes. Calyx tubular-obconical, straight, 15-veined, not hairy annulate inside, throat oblique. Corolla tube straight, gradually dilated to throat, as long as to slightly longer than calyx, not hairy annulate inside, 2-lipped; upper lip straight, 2-lobed; lower lip spreading, 3-lobed, middle lobe widest, spreading, base not clawed, margin undulate, lateral lobes straight. Stamens 4, fertile, much exserted, posterior 2 longer and inclined forward, anterior 2 erect-ascending; anther cells 2, initially almost parallel, later ± divergent. Style subequally 2-cleft. Nutlets smooth, apex hairy.^[3] [more]

At least 168 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Agastache.

More info about the Genus Agastache may be found here.

Allagoptera

At least 11 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Allagoptera.

More info about the Genus Allagoptera may be found here.

Allium

Herbs, perennial, scapose, from tunicate bulbs, with onion odor and taste. Bulbs solitary or clustered, dividing at base, or on rhizomes, reforming annually; outer coats generally brown or gray, smooth, fibrous, or with cellular reticulation (generally important in identification) ; inner coats membranous. Leaves generally withering from tip by anthesis, usually persistent, 1-12, basal; blade usually linear, terete, channeled, or flat (carinate in A. sativum, A. praecox, A. tuberosum, A. rotundum, A. neapolitanum, A. triquetrum, A. unifolium, and A. lacunosum), straight or ± falcate (coiled or circinate in A. nevadense and A. atrorubens), broader in A. victorialis and A. tricoccum, not petiolate (except in A. tricoccum and A. victorialis) . Scape usually persistent, terete or flattened. Inflorescences umbellate, flowering centripetally (centrifugally in A. schoenoprasum), sometimes replaced totally or partially by bulbils, subtended by spathe bracts; bracts conspicuous, ± fused, usually 3+-veined, equaling pedicel except in some introduced species, membranous. Flowers erect (pendent in A. triquetrum) ; tepals 6, in 2 similar whorls, ± distinct, petallike, usually becoming becoming dry and persisting; stamens 6, epipetalous; filaments in all but 1 native species broad at base, fused into ring (some introduced species and A. victorialis appendaged), linear, generally glabrous (A. rotundum and A. hoffmanii papillose to ciliate proximally) ; anthers and pollen variously colored; ovary superior, 3-lobed, sometimes crested with processes, 3-locular, usually 2 ovules per locule (6-8 in A. nigrum), crest processes 3 or 6, smooth except in A. haematochiton, A. sharsmithiae, and A. lacunosum; style 1; stigma capitate to ± 3-lobed; pedicel erect or spreading (lax in A. triquetrum) . Fruits capsular, dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds black, obovoid, finely cellular-reticulate, cells smooth or minutely roughened, with 1-8 papillae, without caruncle except in A. triquetrum. x = 7, 8, 9.^[4] [more]

At least 2,758 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Allium.

More info about the Genus Allium may be found here.

Alnus

Trees or shrubs, to 35 m; trunks usually several, branching excurrent to deliquescent. Bark of trunks and branches light gray to dark brown, thin, smooth, close; lenticels often present, pale, prominent, sometimes horizontally expanded. Wood nearly white, turning reddish upon exposure to air, moderately light and soft, texture fine. Branches, branchlets, and twigs nearly 2-ranked to diffuse; young twigs uniform or ( Alnus subg. Alnobetula ) differentiated into long and short shoots. Winter buds stipitate (nearly sessile in Alnus subg. Alnobetula ), narrowly to broadly ovoid or ellipsoid, terete, apex acute to rounded; scales 2--3, valvate, or ( Alnus subg. Alnobetula ) several, imbricate, smooth, or ( Alnus subg. Clethropsis ) sometimes none. Leaves borne on long or short shoots, 3-ranked to nearly 2-ranked. Leaf blade ovate to elliptic or obovate, thin to leathery, base variable, cuneate to rounded, margins doubly serrate, serrate, serrulate, or nearly entire, apex variable, acute to obtuse or acuminate to rounded; surfaces glabrous to tomentose, abaxially sometimes resinous-glandular. Inflorescences: staminate catkins lateral, in racemose clusters or ( Alnus subg. Clethropsis ) solitary, formed ( Alnus subg. Alnus and Clethropsis ) during previous growing season and exposed or enclosed in buds during winter, or ( Alnus subg. Clethropsis ) formed and expanding during same growing season, expanding before or with leaves; pistillate catkins proximal to staminate catkins, solitary or in relatively small racemose clusters, erect to nearly pendulous, ovoid to ellipsoid, firm; scales and flowers crowded, developing and maturing at same time as staminate catkins. Staminate flowers in catkins, 3 per scale; stamens (3--) 4(--6) ; anthers and filaments undivided. Pistillate flowers usually 2 per scale. Infructescences erect or pendulous; scales persistent long after release of fruits, with 5 lobes, greatly thickened, woody. Fruits tiny samaras, lateral wings 2, leathery or membranaceous, reduced or essentially absent in some species. x = 7.^[5] [more]

At least 259 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Alnus.

More info about the Genus Alnus may be found here.

Aloe

Plants succulent, shrubby or arborescent, scapose. Stems erect, clambering or ascending, branched or not. Leaves succulent, crowded, often rosulate or distichous; blade margins spiny-toothed or entire. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, paniculate to more often racemose, dense, bracteate. Flowers usually nodding; perianth red to yellow; tepals connate basally to almost entirely into tube; stamens 3 or 6; style slender; pedicel not articulate. Capsules papery to woody. x = 7.^[6] [more]

At least 1,200 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Aloe.

More info about the Genus Aloe may be found here.

Alonsoa

Alonsoa (Mask flower) is a genus of 12 species of flowering plants in the family Scrophulariaceae, the figwort family. The genus includes both herbaceous and shrubby species. [more]

At least 70 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Alonsoa.

More info about the Genus Alonsoa may be found here.

Alpingera

More info about the Genus Alpingera may be found here.

Alstroemeria

Herbs, perennial, from fascicles of fusiform tubers. Stems mostly simple; fertile stems to 1 m or more; sterile stems shorter, more leafy. Leaves alternate; petiole often twisted so as to invert leaf; blade parallel-veined, linear to ovate, margins entire. Inflorescences terminal, umbellate [or 1-flowered]. Flowers slightly zygomorphic; tepals 6, distinct, red, orange, purple, green, or white, frequently spotted, to 5 cm; stamens 6, inserted on perianth base, declinate, usually unequal; ovary inferior; style slender; stigma 3-lobed, filiform. Fruits capsular, 3-valved, dehiscence loculicidal.^[7] [more]

At least 774 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Alstroemeria.

More info about the Genus Alstroemeria may be found here.

Amygdalus

Trees or shrubs, deciduous. Branches unarmed or spiny. Axillary winter buds (2 or) 3, lateral ones flower buds, central one a leaf bud; terminal winter buds present. Stipules present. Leaves simple, alternate, sometimes fascicled on short branchlets, conduplicate when young; petiole usually with 2 nectaries or sometimes nectaries at base of leaf blade margin; leaf blade margin often serrate. Inflorescences borne on axillary short branches, 1(or 2) -flowered. Flowers bisexual, regular, opening before or rarely with leaves. Pedicel nearly absent or short, rarely long. Hypanthium caducous in fruit. Sepals 5, imbricate. Petals 5, pink or white, inserted on rim of hypanthium, imbricate. Stamens 15 to many, inserted with petals; filaments filiform, free. Ovary superior, hairy, 1-loculed; ovules 2, collateral, pendulous. Style terminal, elongated. Fruit a drupe, hairy, glabrous in some cultivated Amygdalus persica, with a conspicuous longitudinal groove; mesocarp fleshy and not splitting or dry and splitting when ripe; endocarp hard, 2-valved, globose or ellipsoid, usually compressed, surface furrowed, pitted, rugose, or smooth.^[8] [more]

At least 176 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Amygdalus.

More info about the Genus Amygdalus may be found here.

Anchusa

Herbs annual or perennial, sparsely strigose or hispid, rarely soft appressed pubescent. Stems erect or spreading. Leaves alternate. Cymes terminal, widely spaced in fruit, scorpioid; bracts lanceolate. Calyx 5-parted nearly to base or less; lobes equal or unequal, linear to triangular, often slightly enlarged in fruit. Corolla blue-purple or yellowish, regular or slightly zygomorphic; tube usually longer than calyx, straight or arcuate or geniculate curved; throat appendages scaly or tuberculate and short pubescent; limb campanulate; lobes 5, equal or unequal, apex obtuse. Stamens inserted at or below middle of corolla tube, included; filaments short, filiform; anthers ovate-oblong, apex obtuse. Ovary 4-divided. Style included in corolla tube; stigma capitate, 2-cleft. Gynobase flat. Nutlets straight, reniform, or oblique-ovoid, reticulate-wrinkled; attachment scar at or near base, margin ringlike, thickened, hardened.^[9] [more]

At least 268 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Anchusa.

More info about the Genus Anchusa may be found here.

Areca

Solitary or small clump-forming palms, stem annulate, slender, smooth, unarmed, 0.5-25 cm in diameter. Leaves pinnate, pinnae mostly narrow, often with 2 or more principal ribs, long acuminate, rather short stiff. Base of leaf stalk usually forming a prominent shining swollen crown shaft. Leaflets thin, often confluent. Inflorescence much branched, borne at the base of the crown shaft. Female flowers in triads at the base of the rachillae, male flowers small, variously arranged on the upper part of rachillae; sepals small; petals much large, obliquely lanceolate, valvate; stamens 3-6 (-12-24) or more; anthers basifixed, erect; female flowers on the base of the rachillae larger than the male, sepals and petals imbricate, petals acute; ovary one-chambered, stigmas 3, very short; ovule one, basal, erect. Fruit ovoid or oblong, exocarp fleshy, fibrous. Seeds with truncate base, embryo basilar.^[10] [more]

At least 133 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Areca.

More info about the Genus Areca may be found here.

Artemisia

Annuals, biennials, perennials, subshrubs, or shrubs, 3-350 cm (usually, rarely not, aromatic) . Stems 1-10+, usually erect, usually branched, glabrous or hairy (hairs basi- or medifixed) . Leaves basal or basal and cauline; alternate; petiolate or sessile; blades filiform, linear, lanceolate, ovate, elliptic, oblong, oblanceolate, obovate, cuneate, flabellate, or spatulate, usually pinnately and/or palmately lobed, sometimes apically ± 3-lobed or -toothed, or entire, faces glabrous or hairy (hairs multicelled and filled with aromatic terpenoids and/or 1-celled and hollow, dolabriform, T-shaped) . Heads usually discoid, sometimes disciform (subradiate in A. bigelovii), in relatively broad, paniculiform arrays, or in relatively narrow, racemiform or spiciform arrays. Involucres campanulate, globose, ovoid, or turbinate, 1.5-8 mm diam. Phyllaries persistent, 2-20+ in 4-7 series, distinct, (usually green to whitish green, rarely stramineous) ovate to lanceolate, unequal, margins and apices (usually green or white, rarely dark brown or black) ± scarious (abaxial faces glabrous or hairy) . Receptacles flat, convex, or conic (glabrous or hairy), epaleate (except paleate in A. palmeri) . Ray florets 0 (peripheral pistillate florets in disciform heads usually 1-20, their corollas filiform; corollas of 1-3 pistillate florets in heads of A. bigelovii sometimes ± 2-lobed, weakly raylike) . Disc florets 2-20(-30+), bisexual and fertile, or functionally staminate; corollas (glabrous or ± hirtellous) usually pale yellow, rarely red, tubes ± cylindric, throats subglobose or funnelform,