LOWER ASTERIDS

Lecture Schedule back button

Lecture next button
Survey of the Core Eudicots [see molecular Eudicot phylogeny]

Asterids - Characteristics (the first three define the "core" asterids quite well)

Sympetaly
5 or fewer stamens
Stamens alternate with petals
Iridoid compounds (with several losses)
Single layer of integuments in ovule (with exceptions)

 

Lower Asterids [see molecular Asterid phylogeny] [see comparison of Cronquist vs. APG system] - a basal grade to core asterids; Cornales sister to Ericales + other asterids

 

Order Cornales

Cornaceae (dogwood family)

simple leaved, 4-merous, 2-carpellate but 1 styled, parallel-veined

Cornus florida (flowering dogwood)
C. racemosa (grey dogwood)
C. canadensis (bunchberry)
C. sericea = C. stolonifera (red-osier dogwood)

Nyssaceae (sour-gum family)

Nyssa sylvatica (black gum, black tupelo)

Hydrangeaceae

Hydrangea (hydrangea)
Philadelphicus (mock orange)

 

Order Ericales

Theaceae (tea family)

Thea or Camellia sinensis (tea)
Camellia (camellias especially C. japonica)
Stewardtia

Ericaceae (blueberry family) [includes the following two families]

Terminal pore dehiscence in anthers
Pollen in tetrads
Sympetalous
Mycorrhizal dependency

Andromeda glaucophylla (bog rosemary)
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (bearberry)
Chamaedaphne calyculata (leatherleaf)
Epigaea repens (trailing arbutus)
Gaultheria procumbens (wintergreen)
Kalmii polifolia (pale laurel)
Ledum (labrador tea)
Vaccinium macrocarpa (cranberry)
Azalea (azalea)
Rhododendron (rhododendron)

(Pyrolaceae)

Chimaphila (pipsissewa, prince's pine)
Pyrola (shinleaf)
Moneses uniflora (one-flowered shinleaf)

(Monotropaceae)

Monotropa (Indian pipe)
Pterospora (Pine-drops)
Sarcodes (Snow plant)

Primulaceae (primrose family)

Stamens opposite petals and epipetalous
Free-central placentation
Heterostyly

Dodecatheon (shooting star)
Lysimachia (loosestrife)
Trientalis borealis (starflower)
Primula (primrose)
Cyclamen (cyclamens)

Polemoniaceae (phlox family)

familial position long problematic
Phlox pilosa (prairie phlox)
Phlox divaricata (blue phlox)
Phlox glaberrima (smooth phlox)
Polemonium reptans (Jacob's ladder)

Balsaminaceae (balsam family)

Impatiens biflora (touch-me-not, jewel-weed)

Other families in Ericales (partial list)

Sarraceniaceae - pitcher plants
Fouquieriaceae - boojum, ocotillo
Marcgraviaceae - neat tropical America family!
Lecythidaceae - cannonball
Actinidiaceae - kiwifruit, Chinese gooseberry

 

up button