A SUMMARY OF THE CHIEF CHARACTERS OF MONOCOTYLEDONOUS FLORAL FAMILIES. by Jennifer M. Ward INTRODUCTION

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TANE (1966) 12 : 103-116 103 A SUMMARY OF THE CHIEF CHARACTERS OF MONOCOTYLEDONOUS FLORAL FAMILIES by Jennifer M.

1 TANE (1966) 12 : A SUMMARY OF THE CHIEF CHARACTERS OF MONOCOTYLEDONOUS FLORAL FAMILIES by Jennifer M. Ward INTRODUCTION The following Key to Orders of Monocotyledons can be used to identify a specimen to the Ordinal level. The specimen can then be assigned to one of the Families in that Order, using the tabulated summary of Family characteristics. The TABLE enables the distinctive features of each Family to be easily compared, and provides in a readily accessible form the information needed for arranging the Families in systematic sequences. The names of the Orders and Families are those of Rendle (1904) and the sequence in which they are arranged follows Hutchinson (1959), with a few changes, some of which were suggested by J.W. Dawson (pers. comm., 1961). In the TABLE the Families Commelinaceae, Restionaceae, and Centrolepidaceae are placed in the Order ENANTIOBLASTAE because they have orthotropous ovules, but since many authorities disagree about their affinities, they are treated separately in the KEY. For convenience, the Juncaceae are also treated separately, although there is no doubt that they are in the LILIALES. ABBREVIATIONS Ant. sub-antarctic oft. often distribution plac. placentation encl. enclosed pres. present fls flowers subtrop. subtropical distribution fr. fresh sts sometimes inf. inferior sup. superior infl. inflorescence trop. tropical distribution intermed. intermediate unisex. unisexual flowers lge large us. usually lvs leaves v. very Nat. some species natural + _ ised in New Zealand. + _ more or less N.Temp. North Temperate distribution. 00 many, an indefinite nr near number. N.Z. some species indigenoustonewzealand.

2 104 KEY I. Plants aquatic or in marshes; carpels us. free: Plants terrestrial, or occasionally in bogs or marshes, rarely aquatic; carpel us. fused: 2. Perianth of distinct sepals and petals, or all sepalloid & herbaceous; stamens us. 6+; lvs erect: Perianth variable, oft. reduced or absent; stamens us. 1-6; lvs floating: 3. Sepals and petals variable, i.e. distinct, or all scarious, reduced or absent: Sepals and petals all alike and petalloid: 4. Calyx herbaceous, corolla petalloid: Calyx and corolla all scarious, or reduced or absent: 5. Ovary superior; stamens all functional; fls actinomorphic: Ovary inferior; some or most stamens petalloid, not functional; fls ± zygomorphic: 6. Perianth 3 + 3, all scarious: Perianth reduced to scales or absent: Plants rushes; fls hermaphrodite; fruit a manyseeded capsule; lvs present or absent: Plants rush-like; fls unisexual; fruit an achene or 3-seeded capsule; lvs reduced to brown sheaths: 8. Habit variable, i.e. fleshy herbs, or aquatic reeds or sts with climbing stem; fls unisex.. Habit grass-like or sedge-like; fls oft. hermaphrodite: 9. Lvs net-veined; infl. encl. in a spathe: Lvs parallel-veined; Spathe absent: 10. Plants aquatic or marsh reeds; monoecious: Plants terrestrial, sts climbing; dioecious: II. Fruit membranous, splitting lengthwise; carpels 1-4, each with 1 pendulous ovule: Fruit dry, nut-like or a caryopsis, rarely a berry; carpels 3 with 1 locule & 1 ovule only: 12. Infl. of spikes, or sts umbellate or panicled spikelets; fls each subtended by 1 glumelike bract; stems us. pithy: Infl. of spikelets us. panicled; fls each subtended by 2 bracts (lemma & palea); internodes us. hollow: ALISMATALES HELOBIEAE Commelinaceae ZINGIBERALES Juncaceae Restionaceae ARALES TYPHA LES PANDANALES Centrolepidaceae 12. CYPERALES... GRAMINEAE

105 13. Fls strongly zygomorphic; stamens us. 1 fused to style to form column: Fls us. actinomorphic; stamens 3 or 3 + 3 sts fused to perianth tube: 14.

3 Fls strongly zygomorphic; stamens us. 1 fused to style to form column: Fls us. actinomorphic; stamens 3 or sts fused to perianth tube: 14. Lvs pinnate; fls subtended by 1+ lge spathes; ovules 1 per carpel: Lvs simple or reduced; fls not subtended by lge spathes, ovules us. many per carpel: 15. Herbs small, saprophytic; lvs mostly scales or absent: Herbs small or large, us. with bulb, corm or rhizome; lvs always present:.. ORCHIDALES 14. PALMAE 15. BURMANNIALES LILIALES GLOSSARY achene a small dry, indehiscent 1-seeded fruit, having a thin pericarp free from the seed, actinomorphic radially symmetrical, regular. anatropous ovule inverted, with the micropyle close to the funicle. anther the pollen-containing head of a stamen. arillate having an aril, i.e. a spongy or gelatinous outgrowth from the hilum or funicle of a seed, often enveloping the seed. axile placentation of ovules on the axis formed by fusion of several carpels, basal placenta at base of cavity in the ovary, berry a fleshy, indehiscent fruit, usually many-seeded, bract a more or less modified leaf, subtending a flower or cluster of flowers. bulb a subterranean bud consisting of fleshy scales attached to a central or basal stem. calyx the outermost, usually green perianth segments, i.e. the sepals. campanulate bell-shaped. capitulum an inflorescence of small, densely crowded flowers, sts surrounded by bracts or a ring of flowers with conspicuous petals so that the whole inflorescence looks like 1 flower (e.g. daisy). carpel the female organ of a plant, containing the ovules. Several carpels may fuse to form a pistil. caryopsis a 1 seeded fruit whose thin chaffy pericarp adheres to the seed. chordate heart-shaped, with the notch at the base, corm a modified, us. subterranean stem, fleshy, thickened, often bearing scale-like leaves. corolla the inner whorl of perianth segments (i.e. the petals). corona a crown-like, petalloid structure projecting upwards or inwards from the corolla. dehiscent splitting open when ripe.

106 dioecious drupe endocarp entomophilous epiphyte filament floret follicle - funicle globose glume gynophore hermaphrodite hilum indehiscent inferior inflorescence labellum lateral latex lemma

4 106 dioecious drupe endocarp entomophilous epiphyte filament floret follicle - funicle globose glume gynophore hermaphrodite hilum indehiscent inferior inflorescence labellum lateral latex lemma ligulate locule loculicidal lodicule mesocarp mycorrhizal monoecious nut orthotropous palea panicle parietal flowers unisexual, male & female on separate plants, a 1-seeded fruit, the seed encl. in a stony endocarp, surrounded by fleshy or fibrous mesocarp. the inner layer of the ripe ovary wall, insect-pollinated. a plant which perches upon another, but is otherwise independent of it and of the ground, the slender stalk of a stamen, bearing the anther, a little flower. a dry fruit of one carpel with several ovules, splitting down one side. the tiny stalk attaching an ovule to the placenta, spherical. a non-flower-bearing scale-like bract at the base of a grass spikelet. a stalk raising the base of the ovary above the level of attachment of the perianth. bisexual, i.e. stamens and carpels in one flower, area on a seed where it was attached to the funicle. not splitting when ripe. ovary situated below the attachment of the perianth. Ovary is surrounded by and fused with the receptacle, an aggregation of flowers. a lip, often a petal modified as a landing stage for insects. at the side; of ovules attached to the side of the carpel. milky juice. a flowering glume, the bract subtending a grass floret. having a ligule, i.e. an appendage at the junction of the lamina and sheath in grasses and in the Zingiberaceae, the cavity of an ovary, a fruit or an anther. dehiscent by splitting of the outer wall of each locule. a partly swollen scale at the base of the ovary in grasses, 2 us. present, occasionally 3, interpreted as the perianth. the middle layer of the ripe ovary wall. having specific fungi in close association with the roots, sts internal, thought to be symbiotic. flowers unisexual, male and female flowers on the same plant. an indehiscent 1 seeded fruit with a hard woody wall, ovule erect, with the micropyle remote from the funicle. a chaffy scale, the upper of the 2 bracts enclosing a grass floret. a branched inflorescence with each flower stalked, situated on the wall, e.g. ovules attached to the wall of the ovary (parietal placentation).

107 pendulous perianth pericarp placenta raceme receptacle rhizome rostellum scarious septum sessile spadix spathe spike spreading staminal column staminode stigma style subtending superior

5 107 pendulous perianth pericarp placenta raceme receptacle rhizome rostellum scarious septum sessile spadix spathe spike spreading staminal column staminode stigma style subtending superior suppressed sympetaly terete tuber umbel utricle valvate valve vestigial whorled xerophyte zygomorphic hanging, e.g. ovule attached to the roof of the ovary, calyx and corolla (i.e. sepals and petals), used especially when calyx is not differentiated from corolla, or when one is absent. the wall of the ripened ovary, i.e. of the fruit, us. made up of 3 layers. the tissue in the ovary to which the ovules are attached, an unbranched inflorescence with stalked flowers, the expanded end of the flower stalk, on which the floral parts are borne. an underground stem, us. branching horizontally. a small sterile beak with the stigmas in an orchid. very thin, dry, and more or less translucent. partition or cross-wall. attached directly to stem, not stalked. a spike inflorescence with a fleshy axis. a large bract enclosing an inflorescence, often coloured. an unbranched inflorescence with sessile flowers. perianth tube widely open, not bell-shaped. a single structure, formed of fused stamens. a sterile, sts petalloid structure, derived from a stamen. pollen-receptive tip of a carpel. short or long stalk between stigma and ovary. placed directly below (a leaf-bud or flower). ovary placed above the level of insertion of the perianth. very small or absent. fusion of petals. circular in cross-section. an underground stem modified for food-storage, e.g. potato. an umbrella-shaped inflorescence with stalked flowers, the stalks of nearly equal length, all attached at the top of the flowering stem. a thin loose cover enveloping a fruit, often dehiscing by a lid. petals in bud touching edge to edge, not overlapping. a part of the wall of a fruit or anther which lifts away from the rest of the wall at maturity (like a door); may detach completely. very small and insignificant, almost absent. three or more structures branching from a stem at one point. a plant adapted to dry conditions, bilaterally symmetrical, irregular.

108 Order/Family Habit etc. Sepals Petals ALISMATALES (near RANALES) Aquatic, or on margin of lakes with roots immersed 3, green, very distinct. 3, petalloid.

6 108 Order/Family Habit etc. Sepals Petals ALISMATALES (near RANALES) Aquatic, or on margin of lakes with roots immersed 3, green, very distinct. 3, petalloid. Alismataceae Butomaceae Juncaginaceae Aquatic & marsh, fr. or brackish water. Fls whorled. Aquatic, fr. or salt water. Fls solitary or umbellate Marsh plants, fls in racemes or spikes Perianth 6, 3 or 1 HELOBIEAE Aponogetonaceae Marsh and water plants with floating lvs. Fr. or marine. Trop. & subtrop. Aquatic. Fls hermaphrodite. Very variable floral structure, often very reduced. Perianth 3 1 or 0, sts. petalloid & bractlike. Potamogetonaceae Aquatic, monoeious. Perianth absent. Zosteraceae Najadaceae Marine, monoecious or dioecious. Submerged, fr. or brackish. Fls unisex. Perianth 0 or row of bractlike lobes. Male perianth tubular Female no perianth. ENANTIO-BLASTAE Commelinaceae Trop. to subantarctic. Many rush or sedgelike. Trop. or subtrop. rhiz omatous perennials. Perianth variable. 3, green 3 Restionaceae Rushlike, xerophytes or in bogs. Fls unisex. Lvs reduced to brown sheaths. Perianth 3 + 3, scarious (c.f. Juncaceae) Fls in spikes with scarious bracts (Cyperaceae)

109 Stamens Carpels Ovules Fruit Examples co oo, free, sup. 1, or several not in rows. Achene Follicle 3-6-oo 3 6 00, free, sup. 1 few, basal or on inner angle. Achenes Alisma Nat.

7 109 Stamens Carpels Ovules Fruit Examples co oo, free, sup. 1, or several not in rows. Achene Follicle 3-6-oo , free, sup. 1 few, basal or on inner angle. Achenes Alisma Nat. plantago , free, or fused, sup. or inf. oo, branched parietal placentas. Follicles Hydrocleys nymphoides Nat , or , free or fused, or 3 (inner), or 1 1, basal, anatropous. Achene Triglochin striata N.Z Us. free Few Follicle or achene 3+3, or more, or , free 2+, basal Follicle Aponogeton Nat 4-1 4, free, or 1 1, pendulous or lateral Indehiscent Potamogeton N.Z. 1 1, (2 stigmas' 1, pendulous Indehiscent Zostera N.Z (2-4 styles) 1, basal, anatropous. Achene, indehiscent Najas Orthotropous , or 3-2, (median zyg omorphy) sup. (sts 2) Few 1, axile orthotropous 3 locular capsule, indehiscent Tradescantia Nat , sup. 1, pendulous, orthotropous Achene, or 3 sided capsule Leptocarpus N.Z.

110 Order/Family Habit etc. Sepals Petals Centrolepidaceae Grass or sedge-like, fls v. small, in dense spike or capitulum. 1 3 irregular scales, or absent. ZINGIBERALES (=SCITAMINEAE) Trop. herbs, us.

8 110 Order/Family Habit etc. Sepals Petals Centrolepidaceae Grass or sedge-like, fls v. small, in dense spike or capitulum. 1 3 irregular scales, or absent. ZINGIBERALES (=SCITAMINEAE) Trop. herbs, us. large; fls specialised to insect or bird pollination. Green Brightly coloured, Musaceae Tall herbs, stem enloslosed in leaf bases. Tubular, Slightly splitting down zygomorphic, one side. ± 2-lipped. Zingiberaceae Rhizomatous herbs. Lvs ligulate; fls very zygomorphic. Lvs in 2 rows, with open or closed sheath. 3, green, tubular, 3, petalloid unequal. Cannaceae Trop. American herbs, tall. Fls zygomorphic. 3, free, green. 3, fused at base and to staminal column. Marantaceae Tall herbs, lvs in 2 rows, with open sheath. 3, green, free. 3 tubular, unequal. LILIALES Liliaceae Herbaceous perennials with bulb, corm, or rhizome. Herbs, mostly with bulbs or rhizomes. Perianth 3 + 3, sepals not differentiated from petals , all petalloid. Juncaceae Rushes. Lvs flat, or terete, or suppressed , all dull, scarious. Amaryllidaceae Like Liliaceae, bulbs or rhizomes. Infl. an umbel, encl. in membranous bracts , sts fused into short tube, lobes equal or outer larger. Corona us. pres.

Ill Stamens Carpels Ovules Fruit Examples 1 or 2 1 3 or more, fused or ± free. 1, pendulous, orthotropous Membranous, splitting lengthwise. Hydatella Gaimardia Centrolepis N.Z N.

9 Ill Stamens Carpels Ovules Fruit Examples 1 or or more, fused or ± free. 1, pendulous, orthotropous Membranous, splitting lengthwise. Hydatella Gaimardia Centrolepis N.Z N.Z Ant 3 + 3, 1-5 sterile, & Inferior. Mostly oo, axile Capsule, or fleshy and 3 + 3, or 5, 1 staminode. 3 fused, inferior. oo, axile. Fleshy, indehiscent. Musa (banana) 1, enclosing style; 5 staminodes, 2 fused to form a labellum. inferior, sts 2 or 1. oo, axile. parietal, or basal. Fleshy, & Zingiber, indehiscent, Alpinia, or 3 valved. Hedychium Seeds arillate , all petalloid. 5# sterile, Vi fertile. inferior. oo axile, anatropous. Capsule, opening by collapse of pericarp. Canna 1 fertile, 5 variously petalloid. inferior or only 1. 1 basal, erect. Fleshy or Maranta loculicidal (arrowroot). capsule; seeds arillate 3 + 3, or 3 superior or inferior. Us. oo, axile, anatropous. Capsule or berry superior. oo, in 2 rows axile. Loculicidal capsule, or Cordyline N.Z. Rhipogonum " Dianella " Astelia etc. " sts 3 + superior, lgefeathery stigmas. septa reduced oo, axile, or plac. parietal. 1-3-celled capsule. Juncus N.Z Rostkovia " Luzula " 3 + 3, free, or fused to tube or base of lobes. inferior or sup. oo, axile, in 2 rows. Capsule, fleshy or indehiscent. Allium (Sup) Narcissus (Inf) Hypoxis N.Z

10 112 Order/Family Habit etc. Sepals Petals Agavaceae Rhizomatous. Fls unisexual. 3+3, tube short or long, lobes ± unequal, never a corona. (Bromeliaceae) (Pontederiaceae) Epiphytes or rockperching xerophytes. Aquatic, erect or floating. Lvs sheathing at base. 3, fused or free, ± green 3 + 3, all petalloid. 3. free or fused, rolled back Dioscoreaceae 3 + 3, lobed tube, spreading Trop. climbers,rhizomatous. Lvs chordate. or campanulate. Sts a Fls often unisexual. corona. Haemodoraceae Iridaceae Herbs with fibrous roots, rounded tubers or short rhizomes. Infl. oft. very hairy. Herbs with rhizomes or corms. Very ornamental , tube absent, or short or fairly long, straight or curved , subequal & similar, or 2 series, differing. Tube straight or curbed with oblong limb. May be completely zygomorphic. ARALES Araceae Fleshy herbs, some climbers & shrubs. Lvs broad, net-veined. Latex common. Infl. a fleshy spike (spadix) with a conspicuous bract (spathe). Fls us. unisexual. Rarely 3 + 3, us, reduced, sts absent. Lemnaceae Duckweeds. Further reduced from Pistia. Fls monoecious. Absent. Tiny thin spathe enclosed 2 3 fls.

113 Stamens Carpels Ovules Fruit Examples 3 + 3, fused to tube or lobe bases. sup. or inf. co 1, in 2 rows, axile. 3 valved capsule of berry. Agave Yucca Cordyline N.Z, 3 + 3 sup. or inf. or intermed.

11 113 Stamens Carpels Ovules Fruit Examples 3 + 3, fused to tube or lobe bases. sup. or inf. co 1, in 2 rows, axile. 3 valved capsule of berry. Agave Yucca Cordyline N.Z, sup. or inf. or intermed. oo, axile, anatropous. Capsule or berry Ananas (pineapple) Bilbergia or 3, rarely 1; unequal, or 1 large. 3, sup. (stsi; co, axile, or 1, pendulous, anatropous. 3 valved capsule or indehiscent. Eichhornia Nat (water hyacinth) fertile, or 3 fert. & 3 staminodes, or only 3. inf. Styles 3, fused or free. 2, axile. 3 valved capsule or berry. Dioscorea (yam) sup. or inf , axile. 3 valved capsule. Xiphidium Hypoxis Apostasia 3, opposite outer perianth lobes. inf. (rarely sup.) or 1 (inf.) Style 3-lobed, sts winged and petalloid. Stigma at top or within. oo, axile; (or 3 parietal placentas) 3 valved capsule Iris Crocus Libertia N.Z sts 1. sup. Sts 1. oo l, axile, parietal, apical or basal. Berry, or leathery & indehiscent. Colocasia (taro) Richardia (white Arum) Pistia (aquatic, reduced) ± fleshy utricle. Lemna N.Z.

114 Order/Family Habit etc. Sepals Petals TYPHA LES Aquatic or marshrhizomatous Perianth herbs. Fls very reduced. unisexual, in dense (Wind-pollinated) clusters or spikes.

12 114 Order/Family Habit etc. Sepals Petals TYPHA LES Aquatic or marshrhizomatous Perianth herbs. Fls very reduced. unisexual, in dense (Wind-pollinated) clusters or spikes. Sparganiaceae (1 genus) Infl. globose clusters. N. Temp, N.Z. & Australia. Few membranous elongate scales. Typhaceae (1 genus) Infl. a dense spike, fls unisexual, male above, female below. Very slender jointed threads, or scales. PANDANALES Pandanaceae Tropics & N.Z. Stems with stilt roots. Sts climbing. Dioecious, fls in spikes. Perianth absent or vestigial. PALMALES Palmae Definite trunk. Lvs. very large, compound by splitting. Fls unisexual. Oft. dioecious. Infl. lateral, us. a simple or branched spadix, with a large spathe or series of spathes. Perianth BURMANNIALES Burmanniaceae Small saprophytic herbs Lvs mostly scales or absent. (Nr Amaryllidaceae , actinomorphic, tubular. ORCHIDALES Orchidaceae Herbs, many epiphytic. (Always mycorrhizal) , strongly zygomorphic (entomophilous). CYPERALES Cyperaceae GRAMINALES Sedges, wind-pollinated Infl. a spike or several spikelets. Fls subtended by scalelike bract. Stems A, O or o>. Sts Monoecious papery scales, or 6 or more hairs. Herbaceous, Occ. trees 3 2 lodicules. Fls. Infl. spikelets, us. panicled. 2 empty glumes, glume (lemma) & topped by each subtended by flowering glumes, (lemr nae). a palea.

13 115 Stamens Carpels Ovules Fruit Examples 2 or more. 1 Indehiscent or dry. 3 +, free, or filaments partly fused. 1 locule 1, pendulous Indehiscent. Sparganium locule 1 Dry, finally on a gynophore. splitting. Typha oo, sts 6. Vestigial ovary in male. l oo fused. oo or 1, basal or parietal. Fleshy, or woody, pulpy inside Pandanus Freycinetia 3 + 3, sts 3, or more. 3, fused or free, sup. 1 or 2 may abort. 1, erect or pendulous. Berry, drupe or several 1 seeded fruitlets. Phoenix Rhopalostylis N.Z , fused to perianth tube. inf. oo, very small, axile, sts parietal. Capsule, opening lengthwise. Bagnisia N.Z. 1 (sts 3), inf. 1 united to 2 stigmas on style to face of column, 1 form column. Anther at top. sterile (rostellum). Oft. twisted. oo, very small, axile or parietal. Capsule, with 3-6 lateral lengthwise slits. Earina N.Z. Dendrobium " Thelymitra " Microtis " Pterostylis " 3 3, Firmly fused, 1 locule, 3 stigmas. 1, erect. Nut-like, indehiscent. Cyperus N.Z. Scirpus " Cladium " Uncinia " 3 + 3, or 3, sts 2 or 1. 3, 1 locule. Us. 2 feathery styles. 1, anatropous, Us. acaryopsis, occ. nut, berry or utricle. Bambusa N.Z. Poa " Arundo " Danthonia "

116 REFERENCES Allan, H.H. 1961 Flora of New Zealand Vol. 1 N.Z. Govt. Printer. Bessey, C.E. 1915 The Phylogenetic Taxonomy of Flowering Plants. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard.

14 116 REFERENCES Allan, H.H Flora of New Zealand Vol. 1 N.Z. Govt. Printer. Bessey, C.E The Phylogenetic Taxonomy of Flowering Plants. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 2 : Hutchinson, J The Families of Flowering Plants Vol. II, Monocotyledons. Clarendon Press. Rendle, A.B The Classification of Flowering Plants. Vols. I & H Cambridge.

Plant Terminology. Floral Symmetry

Plant Terminology. Floral Symmetry Plant Terminology Parts of a Flower Pedicel--the stalk of an individual flower Calyx--outermost whorl of a flower Sepal--one member of the calyx Corolla--second whorl of a flower Petal--one member of the