Table of contents | |
Introduction | |
I. Dicotyledons | |
A. Polypetalae | |
B. Gamopetalae | |
II. Monocotyledons |
The realm of angiosperms, or flowering plants, is a vast and diverse one, boasting a myriad of families that contribute to Earth's rich flora. In this article, readers will be provided with an in-depth exploration of the Families of Angiosperms, shedding light on their classifications, characteristics, and diversity. Moreover, a detailed diagram will accompany the text, enhancing the understanding of these intricate plant families.
The first major classification of angiosperms, dicotyledons, encompasses plants that typically have two cotyledons (seed leaves). These plants exhibit various characteristics, making them a diverse group within the angiosperms. Below are some key features and subdivisions of dicotyledons:
Within the Polypetalae subclass, there are several orders, each with its own unique characteristics. Here, we explore some of these orders and their representative families:
Sepals usually distinct and separate, free from ovary, petals in one, two or many whorls, hypogynous, stamens hypogynous; rarely inserted on a long or short torus or disc; ovary superior.
Order 1. RanalesThis order includes plants with definite or rarely indefinite stamens and united carpels with parietal placentation.
Here are some representative families:
Flowers within this order are typically actinomorphic, and the ovary can be unilocular or imperfectly multi-locular.
Here's a family within this order:
This order includes plants with regular flowers and various characteristics in terms of stamens, carpels, and placentation.
Two notable families within this order are:
This series includes plants with distinct or united sepals and a conspicuous disk. Stamens are usually definite, and the ovary is superior.
Here are some families within this series:
This series includes plants with united or free sepals and often peri- or epigynous petals. Stamens are perigynous, and the ovary is inferior. Here are some families within this series:
Flowers within this order are regular or sub-regular, and the gynoecium is usually syncarpous and inferior.
Here is a family within this order:
Flowers within this order are usually actinomorphic, and the ovary is usually inferior.
Here is a family within this order:
Flowers within this order are actinomorphic and hermaphroditic. The ovary is usually inferior and unilocular.
Here is a family within this order:
In the Gamopetalae subclass, flowers have fused petals forming a gamophyllous corolla. Within this subclass, we find several orders and families with unique characteristics.
In this series, the ovary is inferior, and the stamens are typically as many as the corolla lobes.
Here are some orders within this series:
In this series, the ovary is superior, and the stamens are either as many as or fewer than the corolla lobes. Carpels are typically two.
Here's a representative order:
Flowers within this series typically have sepaloid or absent perianth. The ovary can be free or one-carpelled, with solitary or two ovules per carpel.
Here are some families within this series:
In this second major classification of angiosperms, monocotyledons, plants usually have leaves with parallel venation and flowers with trimerous perianths.
Here's a series within this classification:
In this series, the perianth is partly petaloid, the ovary is usually inferior, and endosperm is abundant.
Here are some families within this series:
In this series, the inner perianth is petaloid, the ovary is typically free, and flowers are typically bisexual.
Here's a family within this series:
In this series, the perianth is often sepaloid and herbaceous. The ovary can be free or one-carpelled, and flowers are usually unisexual.
Here's a family within this series:
In this series, flowers are often solitary, sessile in the axils of bracts, and arranged in heads or spikelets with bracts. The perianth can be of scales or absent, and the ovary is usually unilocular with one ovule.
Here are some families within this series:
George Bentham and Joseph Hooker, in their monumental work "General Plantarum," have meticulously cataloged 202 families and a staggering 97,205 flowering plant species. This article offers a glimpse into the captivating world of angiosperms, highlighting their incredible diversity and complexity.
Angiosperms, or flowering plants, represent an astonishing array of life forms on Earth. With two major subclasses, dicotyledons and monocotyledons, and numerous orders and families, angiosperms have adapted to a wide range of environments and ecological niches. From the delicate beauty of wildflowers to the towering majesty of trees, the world of angiosperms is a testament to the remarkable diversity of life on our planet.
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