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Taxonomy

Genera

Arisaema

Herbs, terrestrial or wetland. Corms [rhizomes] nearly globose. Leaves usually appearing with flowers, 1--2(--3), erect; petiole longer than blade; blade medium to dark green, sometimes glaucous adaxially, palmately or pedately [radiately] divided, not peltate, leaflet elliptic to broadly ovate or oblanceolate, base rounded to obtuse or attenuate, apex obtuse or acute to acuminate; primary lateral veins of each leaflet pinnate. Inflorescences: peduncle erect, nearly equal to leaves [to very short], apex not swollen; spathe variously colored or striped, distal part open at maturity, exposing tip to 1/2 or more of spadix appendage; spadix ± cylindric, surmounted by sterile appendage of variable shape. Flowers unisexual, staminate and pistillate on same or different spadix; pistillate flowers congested; staminate flowers usually scattered, distal to pistillate flowers when both are present; perianth absent. Fruits not embedded in spadix, glossy orange to bright red. Seeds 1--6, mucilage sometimes present (not present in Arisaema triphyllum). x = 13, 14.^[1] [more]

At least 447 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Arisaema.

More info about the Genus Arisaema may be found here.

Aristolochia

Herbs or lianas, perennial. Stems erect, twining, or procumbent. Leaves alternate, 2-ranked (evident on young growth, becoming obscure with age in some species) ; true stipules absent; pseudostipules absent [present]; petiole sometimes very short. Leaf blade membranous to leathery. Inflorescences on new growth or on older stems, axillary, racemes or solitary flowers; bracts present. Flowers: calyx usually mixture of purple, brown, green, or red, bilaterally symmetric, tubular, usually bent or curved, 1- or 3-lobed, not fleshy, base with utricle (basal, inflated portion of calyx surrounding or containing gynostemium) ; tube narrowed, sometimes extended proximally as cylindric syrinx (tubular or ringlike structure at juncture of tube and utricle, projecting into utricle cavity) and distally as annulus (circular flange at juncture of tube and limb) on limb; corolla absent; stamens 5-6, adnate to styles and stigmas, forming gynostemium; ovary inferior, 3-, 5-, or 6-locular; styles 3, 5, or 6, connate in column. Capsule dry, dehiscent. Seeds flattened or rounded, sometimes winged. x = 6, 7, 8.^[2] [more]

At least 898 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Aristolochia.

More info about the Genus Aristolochia may be found here.

Asphodelus

Herbs, annual or perennial [or biennial], scapose, from swollen rhizomes. Leaves numerous, basal; blade linear, cylindrical [or flat], base membranous, sheathing, margins entire. Scape hollow [or solid]. Inflorescences racemose or paniculate, many-flowered, bracteate; bracts persistent, narrowly lanceolate, scarious. Flowers: tepals 6, erect to spreading, distinct or barely connate basally, equal, each with single prominent vein; stamens 6, distinct, subequal [or equal], shorter than tepals; filaments expanded at base; anthers dorsifixed; ovary 3-locular, ovules 1 or 2 per locule; septal nectaries present; style 1; stigma weakly 3-lobed; pedicel articulate. Fruits capsular, globose, hard, dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds 3 or 6, black, angled [or winged]. x = 13, 14.^[3] [more]

At least 97 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Asphodelus.

More info about the Genus Asphodelus may be found here.

Caralluma

Succulent, perennial, branched herbs. Stem erect, branched, 4-angled, glabrous. Leaves small caducous. Flowers single or few or many-flowered sessile lateral cymes or many-flowered inflorescence from the top of the stem. Calyx 5-partite, lobes ovate to linear-lanceolate, Corolla purple or yellowish with purple streaks, rotate or broadly campanulate, 5-lobed, valvate in bud. Corona double, attached to the staminal column; the outer corona of 5 deeply bifid segments; the innner corona of 5 linear segments incumbent on the anthers. Staminal column short, arising from the base of the corolla; anthers without appendages. Pollen mass 1 in each anther cell, with a pellucid margin. Follicles 9-11 cm long, narrowly fusiform, smooth.^[4] [more]

At least 282 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Caralluma.

More info about the Genus Caralluma may be found here.

Cardiocrinum

Herbs perennial, bulbiferous. Bulb formed by swollen base of usually deciduous basal leaves; bulbels several, ovoid, covered with tunics. Stem very tall, stout, glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline, petiolate, usually ovate-cordate, reticulate veined. Inflorescence a terminal raceme, several to many flowered; bracts persistent or caducous. Flowers bisexual, tubular-funnelform, large; pedicel rather short. Tepals 6, free, ± connivent. Stamens 6, inserted at base of tepals; filaments flat; anthers dorsifixed, versatile, narrowly ellipsoid. Ovary cylindric, 3-loculed; ovules many per locule. Style elongate; stigma slightly 3-lobed. Fruit a loculicidal capsule. Seeds reddish brown, flat, narrowly winged all round.^[5] [more]

At least 8 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Cardiocrinum.

More info about the Genus Cardiocrinum may be found here.

Cucurbita

Annual or perennial herbs. Stem angular, hispid or hairy. Tendrils branched, mostly 2-4-fid. Leaves petiolate, ovate, generally 5-lobed, base cordate, hirsute or scabrescent. Flowers large, yellow, solitary; monoecious. Male flowers rarely fascicled. Calyx campanulate, lobes 5, subulate, spathulate or leafy. Corolla campanulate, shallowly 5-lobed, lobes usually recurved. Stamens 3, inserted low on the calyx tube. Filaments free, anthers linear and connate, one monothecous and two dithecous; connectives not produced. Pistillode absent. Female flowers shortly pedunculate. Ovary oblong, style simple, short, stigmas 3(5), papillose, ovules many, horizontal. Fruit fleshy, indehiscent, many-seeded. Seeds ovate or oblong, smooth, marginate or emarginate.^[6] [more]

At least 1,257 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Cucurbita.

More info about the Genus Cucurbita may be found here.

Dryadella

Dryadella is a genus of miniature orchids, formerly included in the genus Masdevallia. Plants are typically composed of a tuft of leaves from 3 to 6 cm long. The small (1-2 cm) flowers are often conspicuously spotted, and are borne at the base of the leaves. There are about 40 species, distributed from southern Mexico to southern Brazil and northern Argentina. In cultivation many of the species seem to respond well to being grown on cork or treefern rather than in pots. The attractive species Dryadella edwallii, commonly known as 'Partridge in the Grass' can be easily grown into a spectacular specimen plant, full of flowers. [more]

At least 65 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Dryadella.

More info about the Genus Dryadella may be found here.

Eriophorum

Herbs, perennial, cespitose or not, rhizomatous. Culms solitary or not, trigonous or terete. Leaves basal and cauline; cauline leaves sometimes bladeless sheaths; ligules present; blades filiform to flat with filiform tip, to 25 cm × 2.5-4 mm. Inflorescences terminal, spikelets solitary, erect or (1-) 2-10(-30) in subcapitate or subumbellate panicle; involucral bracts 1-several, scalelike or blade-bearing and leaflike throughout. Spikelets: scales (10-) 20-200, spirally arranged, each subtending flower, or proximal empty. Flowers bisexual; perianth persistent, of (8-) 10-25 hairlike, smooth bristles, or very rarely 6 antrorsely barbed bristles, greatly elongate, essentially straight, usually obscuring most of scales in spikelet, much longer than achene; stamens 1-3; styles deciduous, linear, 3-fid. Achenes trigonous.^[7] [more]

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

More info about the Genus Eriophorum may be found here.

Fritillaria

Herbs, perennial, bulbose; bulbs with 1several large fleshy scales and 0many small scales (often called rice-grain bulblets). Stem 1, erect, simple, absent in nonflowering individuals. Leaves alternate or whorled proximally in some species, sessile; blade linear to ± ovate; nonflowering individuals with single elliptical, ovate, or obovate bulb-leaf. Inflorescences loosely racemose, bracteate; bracts leaflike. Flowers 1many, usually nodding, 3-merous; perianth hypogynous, campanulate or cupulate; tepals 6, in 2 similar whorls, distinct, nectaries present on all tepals, but better developed on inner ones; stamens 6, included; anthers adnate to filaments near middle; ovary superior, ± sessile; style unbranched or 3-branched. Fruits capsular, 3-locular, 6-angled or -winged, thin-walled, ± rounded, dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds many, in 2 rows per locule, yellowish to brownish, flat. x = 12, 13, often with chromosome fragments.^[8] [more]

At least 636 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Fritillaria.

More info about the Genus Fritillaria may be found here.

Hamamelis

Shrubs or small trees, suckering or bearing stolons, not aromatic and resinous; twigs, young leaves, and flower buds stellate-pubescent. Bark gray to gray-brown, smooth or slightly roughened. Dormant buds naked, stellate-pubescent; terminal bud and 1 of each pair of lateral buds stalked, with 2 subtending scales. Leaves short-petiolate. Leaf blade broadly elliptic to obovate, pinnately veined, base oblique, cuneate, margins repand to sinuate, apex rounded to acute or short-acuminate. Inflorescences axillary, (1-) 3(-5) -flowered, stalked clusters. Flowers bisexual, appearing before or with leaves; calyx lobes 4, reflexed, adnate to ovary; petals 4, yellow or orange to deep red, liguliform, circinnate in bud, notched or truncate, sometimes pointed; stamens 4, very short within cup; anthers introrse, dehiscing by 2 valves hinged adaxially on connective; staminodes 4, opposite petals, bearing nectar; styles 2, subulate, spreading to recurved. Capsules solitary or 2-3 together, fused with persistent tubular calyx, stylar beaks very short, loculicidally 2-valved, woody, appressed stellate-pubescent, explosively dehiscent. Seeds 2 per capsule, black, glossy, bony, not winged. x = 12.^[9] [more]

At least 194 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Hamamelis.

More info about the Genus Hamamelis may be found here.

Hebe

At least 796 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Hebe.

More info about the Genus Hebe may be found here.

Hordeum

Plants annual or perennial. Culms usually erect. Leaf sheath of cauline leaves split almost to base; ligule membranous or leathery-membranous; auricles present or absent; leaf blade usually flat. Spike dense, usually without a terminal spikelet; rachis short, brittle, rarely flexible. Spikelets usually 3 per node, in regular rows, with 1(or 2) florets; lateral spikelets usually pedicellate, rarely sessile, often reduced and much smaller than central spikelet; central spikelet usually sessile, rarely pedicellate, perfect. Glumes narrow, subulate-setaceous, sometimes lanceolate dilated at base, inconspicuously 1-3-veined, not keeled. Lemma subrounded abaxially, leathery, rarely leathery-membranous, 5-veined, not keeled, awned or awnless. Palea almost equaling lemma, glabrous, scabrous, or ciliate along keels. Lodicules broadly lanceolate or lanceolate-ovate. Caryopsis usually adnate to lemma and palea, rarely free, oblong, concave furrowed on inner side, apex hairy. x = 7.^[10] [more]

At least 599 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Hordeum.

More info about the Genus Hordeum may be found here.

Impatiens

Morphological characters are the same as those of the family, except: lateral petals always united in pairs into lateral, united petals; fruit a fleshy, explosive capsule; seeds often dispersed elastically from valves when ripe.^[11] [more]

At least 2,496 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Impatiens.

More info about the Genus Impatiens may be found here.

Lamium

Herbs annual or perennial. Stem leaf blades circular or reniform to ovate-lanceolate, margin coarsely crenate or dentate-serrate. Verticillasters 4-14-flowered; floral leaves similar, much longer than verticillasters; bracts ± linear, early deciduous. Calyx tubular-campanulate to campanulate, 5- or 10-veined, ± hairy outside, throat slightly oblique or regular; teeth 5, subequal, subulate, as long as or longer than tube. Corolla purple-red, reddish, yellowish, to dirty white, 2-lipped, 2(-3) × as long as calyx, hairy outside; tube straight or incurved, cylindric or widened above annulus, subsaccate; upper lip erect, oblong, rounded or emarginate, ± galeate; lower lip spreading, 3-lobed; middle lobe obcordate, emarginate or 2-lobed; lateral lobes semicircular, margin crenate or dentate. Stamens 4, hairy, anterior 2 longer, ascending beneath upper lip; anther cells 2, divaricate. Ovary lobes apically truncate, glabrous or tuberculate, sometimes with a membranous margin. Style apex subequally 2-cleft.^[12] [more]

At least 348 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Lamium.

More info about the Genus Lamium may be found here.

Lepidium

Herbs annual, biennial, or perennial, sometimes subshrubs, rarely shrubs or climbers. Trichomes absent or simple. Stems erect or ascending, sometimes creeping, simple or branched basally and/or apically. Basal leaves rosulate or not, simple, entire or pinnately dissected. Cauline leaves petiolate or sessile, base cuneate, attenuate, auriculate, sagittate, or amplexicaul, margin entire, dentate, or dissected. Racemes ebracteate, corymbose, elongated or not in fruit. Fruiting pedicels terete, flattened, or winged, erect or divaricate. Sepals ovate or oblong, rarely orbicular, base of lateral pair not saccate. Petals white, yellow, or pink, erect or spreading, sometimes rudimentary or absent; blade obovate, spatulate, oblong, oblanceolate, orbicular, linear, or filiform, apex obtuse, rounded, or emarginate; claw absent or distinct. Stamens 2 and median, sometimes 6 and tetradynamous or subequal in length, rarely 4 and all median or 2 median and 2 lateral; anthers ovate or oblong. Nectar glands 4 or 6, distinct; median glands always present. Ovules 2 per ovary; placentation apical. Fruit dehiscent silicles, oblong, ovate, obovate, cordate, obcordate, elliptic, or orbicular, strongly angustiseptate; valves veinless or prominently veined, keeled or not, apically winged or wingless; replum rounded; septum complete or perforated, membranous; style absent, obsolete, or distinct, included or exserted from apical notch of fruit; stigma capitate, entire or rarely 2-lobed. Seeds 1 per locule, winged, margined, or wingless, oblong or ovate, plump or flattened; seed coat smooth, minutely reticulate, or papillate, usually copiously mucilaginous when wetted; cotyledons incumbent, rarely accumbent or diplecolobal.^[13] [more]

At least 824 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Lepidium.

More info about the Genus Lepidium may be found here.

Lilium

Herbs, perennial, bulbose.