6.

PLANTS TAXONOMY
PRINCIPLES

Mr. K.J. LYATUU

2024
What is Taxonomy

• Taxonomy is the study or description on variations among

organisms in order to come out with a classification system.

• Organisms are arranged into groups enable a large population to

be categorized and Understood (= Systematics)
History of Plant Taxonomy
Theophrastus 370-285 B.C.
• He was a Greek philosopher and naturalist and is
often called the "Father of Botany."

• He was a pupil of Aristotle and was the first person

to publish a classification of plants.

• Classified plants based on form

• Herbs, shrubs, trees
• Annuals, perennials, biennials
 History of Plant Taxonomy……
Carolus Linnaeus 1707-1778
• Linnaeus was the first person to propose an orderly system
for classifying organisms.
• He developed the Binomial System of Naming Plants in
1753
• Bi= 2
• Nomial= name
• All plants have a scientific name composed of two
Latin names known as a genus and specie
• His system is still used today and his called the Father of
Taxonomy
Importance of Plant Taxonomy
• To arrange taxa of plants into systematic manner, so that they
can be easily understood and could be easily

• To arrange data or information and knowledge about plants

• To indicate the source of genetic relationship (phylogenetic) and

origin of the plant

• To indicate the distribution and habitat of the plants on earth

and their benefits
Taxonomic Components

1. Classification

2. Identification

3. Nomenclature

4. Description
1. Classification
• Ordering of organisms into groups, based on similarities and/or
differences
• Classification is both a process and an object
• As a process it is the actual grouping of individuals to taxa and
ranking of the resulting taxa into categories
Individuals grouping Taxon Ranking Category

• As an object is any system resulting from the process of grouping

and ranking
2. Nomenclature
• Taxa and/or categories must be named or labelled after
classification

• The study of the system and methods of naming organisms is

known as nomenclature

• Naming of organisms is governed by regulations and rules which

are published as Codes, e.g. ICBN, ICZN etc.
3. Identification
To identify and derive the name of an organism by referring to an
existing classification
4. Description

• To describe the characteristics of the taxon

Relationship between Classification,
Nomenclature and Identification

• Classification=/Nomenclature=/Identification
• The three are always confused and mixed together
• They are not the same
• They are however associated
• First we classify, then we name and then we identify
Relationship between Classification,
Nomenclature and Identification…..
CLASSIFICATION NOMENCLATURE IDENTIFICATION

Individuals Name Individuals

Grouping

Taxon

Ranking

Category
Taxon (plural =Taxa)
This is any taxonomic grouping e.g.
• Species
• Genus
• Family
• Order
• Class
• Division (Phylum)
Diagnostic characters
• Characters which are only necessary to distinguish one taxon
from other related ones

• Clear-cut characters

• Key characters
Diagnosis, flora and Flora
• A Diagnosis is a shortened description of any taxon covering
only the diagnostic characters

• flora is the plant life of any given area

• Flora is a book or other work describing the plant life of a given

area. It provides the means (keys) of identifying the taxa of that
particular area
Exotic and indigenous plants

• Exotic plants (aliens) are plants deliberately or accidentally

introduced to a particular area.

• Such plants may be naturalized or casuals

• Indigenous plants are plants native to an area (sometimes

endemic)
Why do we classify organisms? ……
• The world is full of many confusing objects

• It is an impossible task to remember and communicate the different

characteristics and behaviour of all the 1.5 million plus living
organisms on earth

• The human species has a compulsion for order

• Assigning like objects to recognizable groups will facilitate reference

to them and therefore transmission of information from them
Sources of taxonomic Information
• Taxonomy has no own data

• Utilizes information from other branches of science:

morphology, anatomy, cytology, chemistry, geography, etc

• Any data showing differences between taxa are of taxonomic

significance

• Use as much data possible from diverse sources to obtain the

best classification
Information from morphology
• Stem shapes
• Root shapes
• Leaf shapes
• Corolla shapes
• Fruit shapes
• Seed shapes etc
Anatomical Information
• Vessels
• Tracheids
• Phloem tissue
• Xylem tissue
Information from reproductive features
• Inflorescences
• Calyx
• Corolla
• Androecium
• Gynoecium
• Fruit
• Seed
Chemical information
• Primary metabolites (Carbohydrates, Amino Acids, etc)

• Secondary metabolites (Alkaloids, etc)

• Semantides (RNA, DNA, proteins)

• Chromatography and electrophoresis techniques are used

Information from chromosomes
• Different plant groups have different number of chromosomes

• Chromosome morphologies are also different

• Secondary constrictions
• Chromosome size

• Pairing behaviour at meiosis

• Position of centromere (arm-length ratio)

PHYSICAL RESOURCES FOR MAKING
CLASSIFICATIONS
1. THE HERBARIUM

2. THE GARDEN

3. THE LIBRARY
The Herbarium

• A data store
• Information stored as pressed, dried plants mounted on paper
sheets
• A data label is pasted on the herbarium sheet containing
information about the plant
• Specimens are stored in cupboards in a systematic way
• Other collections include: Spirit collections, carpological
collections, Cryptological collections drawings, microscopy slides
• Herbarium is therefore a building and plant specimens
Kew Herbarium building - London
Herbarium cupboards and specimens
Mounted Herbarium specimens

Notes by Prof R.P.C. Temu

Spirit herbarium collections

Notes by Prof R.P.C. Temu

Functions of the Herbarium
Teaching
• Herbarium specimens can provide information on
morphology, anatomy, chemistry, diversity, variation
Research
• Herbarium information can be used to prepare Floras and
Monographs
Plant identification
• Comparative/matching method
Preservation of voucher specimens
• Type specimens: Holotypes, syntypes, neotypes, lectotypes, etc.
HERBARIUM MAKING
1.PLANT COLLECTION EQUIPMENT
2.PLANT COLLECTION
3.PLANT PRESSING
4.PLANT DRYING
5.SPECIMEN MOUNTING
6.HERBARIUM STORAGE
Plant collection Equipment and tools
The field press
The Garden
• A piece of land set aside for maintaining or planting various
plant species

• It has living Plant specimens

• It may be one of the following

• Experimental Garden
• Botanic Garden
An Experimental Garden
Botanic Garden - Vienna
Botanic Garden - Singapore
Botanic Garden - Berlin
Botanic Garden - Amani Tanzania
Functions of the Garden
Research
• Anatomical, morphological, chemical and cytological
information
• Breeding experiments
Teaching
• On site teaching of plants
Provision of material
• Research, teaching
Conservation
• Ex-situ conservation of rare plants/genetic diversity
International codes of Botanical
nomenclature (ICBN)

• To provide stable Method of Nomenclature

• To avoid and reject the names which cause comfusion

• To avoid usesless creation of names

Why not using Common names?
• Scientific names are universal (used the same world-wide)

• Common names are not consistent

✓A taxon may have more than one common name
✓One common name may be used to more than one taxon

• Common names tell nothing about the rank; Scientific names do.
Principles of ICBN
• Principle 1: Botanical nomenclature is independent of zoological
and bacteriological nomenclature.

• Principle 2: The application of names of taxonomic groups is

determined by means of nomenclatural types.

• Principle 3: The nomenclature of a taxonomic group is based

upon priority of publication.
Principles of ICBN……
• Principle 4: Each taxonomic group with a particular
circumscription, position, and rank can bear only one correct
name, the earliest that is in accordance with the Rules, except in
specified cases.

• Principle 5: Scientific names of taxonomic groups are treated as

Latin regardless of their derivation.

• Principle 6:The rules of nomenclature are retroactive unless

expressly limited.
Major Provisions of ICBN
• Ranks of taxa
• Names of taxa
• Valid publications of taxa names
• Principle of priority
• Typification
• Name changes
• Names of Hybrids
• Names of cultivated plants
1. Ranks of taxa
• Plants are classified into taxa
• Taxonomic groups of any rank in the Code are referred to as taxa (singular:
taxon)
• Taxa are arranged in hierarchical manner
• The principal ranks of taxa in descending sequence are: kingdom (regnum),
division or phylum (divisio, phylum), class (classis), order (ordo), family
(familia), genus (genus), and species (species)
• The secondary ranks of taxa in descending sequence are tribe (tribus)
between family and genus, section (sectio) and series (series) between genus
and species, and variety (varietas) and form (forma) below species
 What are the ranks?
Kingdom (various) Plantae
Phylum [Division] -phyta Magnoliophyta
Subphylum [Subdivision] -phytina Magnoliophytina
Class -opsida Magnoliopsida
Subclass -idae Asteridae
Superorder -anae, [-iflorae] Asteranae
Order -ales Asterales
Suborder -ineae Asterineae
Family -aceae Asteraceae
Subfamily -oideae Asteroideae
Tribe -eae Heliantheae
Subtribe -inae Helianthinae
Genus (various) Helianthus
Subgenus (various) Helianthus
Section (various) Helianthus
Species (various) Helianthus annuus
Subspecies (various) Helianthus annuus ssp. annuus
Variety (various) Helianthus annuus var. annuus
2. Names of taxa (general provisions)
• Names of 6 upper principal ranks are uninomials
• Initial letter is capital
• Valid publications: Names must be Effectively and Validly
published
• Typification: The application of names of taxa of the rank of
family or below is determined by means of nomenclatural types
• A nomenclatural type (typus) is that element to which the name
of a taxon is permanently attached, whether as a correct name
or as a synonym
• A new name published as an avowed substitute (nomen novum)
for an older name is typified by the type of the older name
3. Effective and Valid publication
• Publication is effected only by distribution of printed matter
(through sale, exchange, or gift) to the general public or at least
to botanical institutions with libraries accessible to botanists
generally

Validly published name of a taxon must:

• Be effectively published
• Be accompanied by a description or diagnosis or by a reference
to a previously and effectively published description or diagnosis
Citation of authors' names for purposes of
precision
• For the indication of the name of a taxon to be accurate and
complete, and in order that the date may be readily verified, it is
necessary to cite the name of the author(s) who validly
published the name concerned, e.g.

• Rosaceae Juss., Rosa L., Rosa gallica L., Rosa gallica var. eriostyla
R. Keller, Rosa gallica L. var. Gallica, Peddiea thulinii Temu,
Zenkerella perplexa Temu
Rejection of names

• A legitimate name must not be rejected merely because it, or its

epithet, is inappropriate or disagreeable, or because another is
preferable or better known

• A name, unless conserved or sanctioned is illegitimate and is to

be rejected if it was nomenclatural superfluous when published
4. The Principle of Priority

• Many taxa have more than one name (synonyms)

• Different authors name plants in ignorance of others activities
• Choice of the correct name among synonyms is a provision of
ICBN
• The earliest validly published name is the correct name
• It applies from the rank of the Family and below
• The starting point for priority of names is Linnaeus ‘Species
Plantarum’ of 1st May, 1753
 Validly Published names of Families (sensu
ICBN) with alternative names
Family names should end with – aceae
sensu ICBN. The following families are allowed to use alternative
names
• Arecaceae (Palmae)
• Poaceae (Gramineae)
• Brassicaceae (Cruciferae)
• Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
• Clusiaceae (Guttiferae)
• Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)
• Lamiaceae (Labiatae)
• Asteraceae (Compositae)
5. The Type Method (Typification)

• Taxa of the rank of Family and lower have Nomenclatural Types

• The Type of the name of species or infraspecific taxon is a single
Type Specimen
• For a Genus or lower is a Type specimen of one of the species
(Type species) in that taxon
• For a Family or taxon between family and genus is the same
specimen of the genus (Type genus) to which the family name is
based
• Holotype = Single type designated by the author
The Type Method….
• Isotypes = Duplicates of the Holotype

• Syntypes = Two or more specimens designated by the

author when no holotype is designated

• Lectotype = One of the syntypes chosen as a holotype

• Neotype = A specimen chosen as a holotype when

neither a holotype or a syntype exists
6. Names of Hybrids
• Interspecific hybrids = the names of the two species separated by
multiplication sign e.g. Hybrid between two species Brassica
oleracea and Brassica nigra, the resulting species will be named
as
Brassica oleracea x B. nigra

• Intergeneric hybrids are similarly designated at generic level by a

formula
7. Names of plants in cultivation

• Wild plants in cultivation retain the names that are applied to

the same taxa growing in nature
• Plants used in agriculture, forestry, and horticulture (and arising
either in nature or cultivation) are dealt with in the International
code of nomenclature for cultivated plants
• Regulations are provided for their formation and use
Gymnosperms
• Grouped into 4 Divisions; Coniferophyta,
Gnetophyta, Cycadophyta and Ginkgophyta
• Reproduction in modified strobili called cones
• The seed is uncovered (naked)
• Vascular tissue is composed of tracheids and
sieve tubes
• Mostly confined to temperate and sub-tropical
regions (+ on higher elevations in the tropics)
Gymnosperms….cont’d
Families:
• Cupressaceae

• Podocarpaceae

• Pinaceae

• Araucariaceae
Cupressaceae
• The Cypress and Juniper family
• 30 genera with 133 species
• Monoecious or dioecious shrubs and trees
• Leaves scale-like and appressed or needle-shaped
• Leaves opposite and decussately arranged or in 3's
• Male strobili in small cones located terminally or on short lateral
shoots
• Female strobili woody with 1 to 12 seeds produced on each scale
Cupressaceae….

Cupressus lucitanica Juniperus procera

Podocarpaceae……
• The Podos
• A large family of evergreen trees and shrubs
• 18-19 genera and about 170-200 species
• Mainly Southern Hemisphere conifers
• A classic member of the Antarctic flora
• Several genera extend north of the equator into Indo-China and
the Philippines
• Podocarpus reaches as far north as southern Japan and southern
China in Asia and Mexico in the Americas,
• Two genera also occur in sub-Saharan Africa, the widespread
Podocarpus and the endemic Afrocarpus
Podocarpaceae ….
• Genus of interest to our region is Podocarpus
• Podocarpus species are important timber trees in tropical upper
montane forest
• Three or four species occur in East Africa: P. gracilior, P.
usambarensis, P. milanjianus and P. ensiculus
• Dioecious shrubs and trees
• Leaves persistent, flattened, lanceolate or linear, spirally arranged
leaves, sometimes held in a horizontal plane and appearing
opposite
Afrocarpus gracilior
Podocarpus milanjianus

Podocarpus usambarensis
Pinaceae
• Ca. 9 genera
• Temperate regions of the northern hemisphere
• Monoecious, evergreen trees
• Branches usually whorled
• Leaves linear, sometimes spirally arranged, sometimes
appearing to be in 2 or more rows, sometimes in tufts
• Only Pinus grows satisfactorily in subtropical and tropical
regions
In Class Activity
• Search any four species in family Pinaceae
Araucariaceae

• Ca. 2 genera in the southern hemisphere, with one genus Araucaria

introduced to Africa
• Ca. 10 spp in South America, Australasia and the Pacific Islands
• Trees with regularly whorled branches
• Leaves lanceolate to awl shaped
• Female cones large, falling apart at maturity,
• Seed large, often short-lived
Araucariaceae……..

Araucaria araucana Araucaria bidwillii Araucaria angustifolia

Angiosperms
• A single division: Anthophyta

• The flowering plants with the flower and associated structures as a

major innovation

• Xylem mainly composed of vessels

• Phloem is composed of sieve tube members and companion cells

Class: Monocotyledonidae
• The seed has one cotyledon (seed leaf)

• The root system is generally fibrous and adventitious

• Leaf venation generally parallel except for some families e.g.

Araceae (Taro and allies), Dioscoreaceae (yams) and Similacaceae
(Smilax)

• Floral parts usually in whorls of 3 or multiples of 3

• Vascular bundles scattered in the stem

• Pollen monocolpate (one furrow)

Monocotyledonidae ….
Selected Monocot families:

• Poaceae (= Gramineae)
• Cyperaceae
• Araceae
• Arecaceae (= Palmae)
Family: Poaceae
Poaceae….

• The Grass family

• Ca. 9,000 spp in ca. 650 genera
• Probably the single most important family
• Provides a multitude of foods, fibers, fodder and construction
materials
• Ecologically most dominant
Poaceae….
Diagnostic features
• Fibrous root system
• Tillering (branching at ground level)
• Upright stems cylindrical and hollow
• Leaf with a blade and sheath
• Inflorescence of spikelets
• Fruit a caryopsis
Poaceae – Tillering and hollow stems
Family: Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae…..

• The reeds and sedges

• Ca. 4,000 spp in ca. 90 genera
• Common on damp, wet or marshy areas
• Cosmopolitan in distribution
Cyperaceae….

Diagnostic features
• Creeping rhizome or bulbs
• Aerial stems three-angled in cross section, unbranched
• Leaves arranged in a tuft around the base of the stem
• Leaves cf grass
• Inflorescence cf grass
Cyperaceae – creeping underground stems
Cyperaceae – Triangular stems
Family: Araceae
Araceae……

• The taro family

• Ca 107 genera and over 3700 species
• Most diverse in the tropics, although also distributed in the north
temperate regions
Araceae ……..

• Species often rhizomatous or tuberous

• The leaves can vary considerably from species to species
• The inflorescence is a spadix
• In monoecious aroids, the spadix is usually organized with
female flowers towards the bottom and male flowers towards
the top
• There are also some dioecious species
Family: Arecaceae (= Palmae)
Arecaceae….

• The palms family

• Ca 202 currently known genera with around 2600 species
• Most are restricted to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate
climates
• Palms also inhabit nearly every type of habitat, from rainforests
to deserts
Arecaceae……
• Arecaceae are notable for being the tallest monocots and for the
size of their seeds, leaves, and inflorescences
• The Coco der mer (Lodoicea maldivica) has the largest seeds of
any plant, 40-50 centimeters in diameter and weighing 15–30
kilograms each
• Raffia palms (Raphia spp.), have leaves of up to 25 meters long
and 3 meters wide, (the largest leaves) of any plant
• The Corypha species have the largest inflorescence of any plant,
up to 7.5 meters tall with millions of small flowers
• Ceroxylon quindiuense, Colombia's national tree, is the tallest
monocot in the world, reaching heights of 60 meters
Arecaceae ……
• Most palms are distinguished by their large, compound,
evergreen leaves
• The leaves are arranged at the top of an unbranched stem
(caudex)
• However, several palms are not caudex
• Leaves large evergreen palmately ('fan-leaved') or pinnately
('feather-leaved') compound
• Spirally arranged at the top of the stem
• The inflorescence is a panicle or spike surrounded by one or
more bracts or spathes
Class: Dicotyledonidae

• The seed has two cotyledon (seed leaf)

• The root system is generally a taproot with laterals
• Leaf venation generally reticulate
• Floral parts usually in whorls of 4, 5 or their multiples
• Vascular bundles regular in stem/root
• Pollen several-colpate (more than one furrow)
Dicotyledonidae….
Selected Dicot families:
• Lamiaceae (= Labiatae), Amaranthaceae
• Asteraceae (= Compositae), Anacardiaceae
• Tiliaceae, Passifloraceae, Bignoniaceae
• Meliaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Moraceae
• Mimosaceae, Papilionaceae, Caesalipiniaceae
• Burseraceae, Sterculiaceae, Myrtaceae
• Bombacaceae, Annonaceae,
• Cucurbitaceae, Malvaceae, etc
Family: Annonaceae

Notes by Prof R.P.C. Temu

Annonaceae….

• Custard-apple Family
• Trees, shrubs or rarely lianas
• Ca. 2300 to 2500 species in more than 130 genera
• The family is concentrated in the tropics, with few species found
in temperate regions
Description of the Family

• Deciduous or evergreen trees and shrubs, some lianas

• Bark, leaves, and flowers aromatic
• Branching distichous (arranged in two rows/on one plane) or
spiral
• Leaves are alternate, simple, and petiolate, and exstipulate
• Inflorescence axillary
• The flowers are usually trimerous; borne singly or in
compound inflorescences; bisexual and rarely unisexual
Description….

• The receptacle might become enlarged, elevated or flat

• Sepals usually two to four free or connate (fused) at the base
• Petals six in two unequal whorls of three with larger outer whorls
and fleshier inner whorls
• Stamens ten to twenty (or many more)
• Fruits are distinct (berries) or coalesce (into syncarps)
• Seeds are one to many
• Several fruits are edible, e.g. Annona, Asimina, Monodora
Family: Annacardiaceae

Mangifera indica Rhus vulgaris Anacardium occidentale

Annacardiaceae
• The cashew and mango family
• About 600 species in ca. 77 genera
• Most are tropical in distribution, although some occur in the
temperate zone
• The fruits of some species in the family are edible, while other
species are ornamental
• Many species are weeds and are poisonous, often causing a
severe dermatitis
• Examples are Annacardium occidentale (Cashew), Mangifera
indica (mango) and Schinus molle, Rhus spp
Annacardiaceae

• Almost all members are trees or shrubs, though some are vines
• The leaves simple and compound
• Inflorescence paniculate, axillary or terminal
• The flowers, small, unisexual, pentamerous and actinomorphic
• The fruits are either a drupe, many-seeded berry or a nut
Annacardiaceae - leaves
Annacardiaceae - fruits

Drupe

Nut
Bignoniaceae
• Trees, shrubs, lianas, or herbs (rarely)
• Ca. 100 genera and 800 species
• Mostly tropical
• Leaves are nearly always opposite or whorled
and are most commonly pinnately compound;
exstipulate
• Inflorescence solitary, cymose or racemose
• The flowers are bisexual and zygomorphic
Bignoniaceae….
• Calyx gamosepalous, usually has 5 lobes
• Corolla gamopetalous, usually has 5 lobes and is sometimes 2-
lipped, bell-shaped
• The androecium epipetalous, and consists most commonly of
4 didynamous stamens
• The gynoecium bicarpellary, ovary superior
• Placentation axile
• Fruit usually a follicle
Family: Lamiaceae (= Labiatae)
Lamiaceae

• The mint family

• Ca. 3,000 spp in ca. 200 genera
• Herbs and undershrubs
• Widely distributed; more concentrated in the mediterranean
basin
Family: Asteraceae (= Compositae)
Asteraceae……
Diagnostic features
• Leaves: Alternate or opposite, exstipulate
• Simple, pinnately or palmately veined
• Inflorescence a capitulum
• Ovary inferior, unilocular, 1 basal ovule
• Calyx modified into pappus
• Fruit a cypsela
Family: Tiliaceae
Family: Tiliaceae

• Tropical and temperate

• Trees and shrubs
• Ca. 450 spp in ca. 50 genera
• Widely distributed in the tropics
Tiliaceae….
Diagnostic features
• Bark fibrous and mucilaginous
• Leaves alternate
• Simple and asymmetrical
• Leaves stipulate
• Inflorescence axillary cymes
• Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic and pentamerous
• Petals with glandular hairs at the base
• Stamens numerous, fruit a capsule/schizocarp
Family: Meliaceae
Meliaceae

• The Mahogany family

• Mostly trees and shrubs (and a few herbaceous plants)
• About 50 genera and 550 species
• Pan-tropical in distribution
• Various species are used for vegetable oil, soap-making,
insecticides, and highly prized wood (mahogany)
Meliaceae

• They are characterised by alternate, usually pinnate leaves

without stipules,
• Inflorescences are panicles, cymes or spikes
• Flowers bisexual (but actually mostly cryptically unisexual)
• Stamens mostly connate by their filaments to form a staminal-
tube
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Cucurbitaceae

• The pumpkin, cucumber and melons

• Ca. 900 spp in ca.120 genera
• Herbs, vines and lianas
• Temperate, subtropic and the tropics of Africa and S. America
Cucurbitaceae….

Diagnostic features
• Plants usually with tendrils
• Leaves alternate, simple, entire or commonly palmately lobed
• Inflorescences: Axillary cymes
• Flowers unisexual, actinomorphic and epigynous
• Flowers pentamerous
Cucurbitaceae

• The pumpkin, cucumber and melons

• Ca. 900 spp in ca.120 genera
• Herbs, vines and lianas
• Temperate, subtropic and the tropics of Africa and S. America
Family: Malvaceae
Malvaceae

• The cotton and Lady’s finger family

• Ca.1,500 spp in ca. 110 genera
• Cosmopolitan (mostly in the tropics) in distribution
• A number of species are weeds in agriculture, and others such as
Cotton (4 species of Gossypium), kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus),
and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) are important agricultural
crops
Malvaceae….
Characteristics
• Herbs, shrubs, small trees
• Plant sap mucilaginous
• Plants pubescent
• Indumentum of stellate hairs or peltate scales
• Leaves alternate and simple
• Stipules present but caducous
• Inflorescence cymose (+ solitary flowers)
Family: Bombacaceae
Family: Bombacaceae

• The baobab family

• Ca. 320 spp in 30 genera
• Often large with thick trunks
• Pan-tropical
Bombacaceae….
• Leaves alternate, simple or palmately compound
• Stipules present, caducous
• Inflorescence cymose
• Flowers large, bisexual, actinomorphic, pentamerous
• Epicalyx often present
• Stamens 5-numerous, monodelphous
• Fruit: loculicidal capsule, rarely fleshy and indehiscent, seed: often
arillate
Family: Passifloraceae
Passifloraceae

• The passion fruit family

• About 530 species in around 18 genera
• Sub-tropical to tropical
• Economic uses, etc. Edible berries (‘passion fruit’) from Passiflora
spp., cultivated ornamental climbers
Family: Sterculiaceae

Theobroma cacao Sterculia appendiculata

Sterculiaceae

• About 70 genera, with about 1,500 species

• Mostly Tropical trees and shrubs
• Important species include Theobroma cacao, Cola spp
• Leaves alternate, simple entire or lobed, sometimes digitate
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
• The Cassava family
• Ca. 300 genera and 7,500 species
• Most are herbs, but some are also shrubs or trees, Some are succulent
and resemble cacti
• Mainly found in the tropics, with the majority of the species in the Indo-
Malayan region and tropical America
• A number of spp. are of considerable economic importance
• These include Manihot esculenta, Ricinus communis, Jatropha curcas,
and Hevea brasiliensis
• Many are grown as ornamental plants, such as Euphorbia pulcherrima
Euphorbiaceae……
• A milky sap or latex is a characteristic of many spp
• The leaves are alternate, seldom opposite, with stipules
• They are mainly simple, but where compound, are always
palmate and stipulate
• Infloresences basically cymose
• Flowers are unisexual, with the male and the female flowers
usually occurring on the same plant
Euphorbiaceae - Latex

Tapping of latex from Havea brasiliensis