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Taxonomy

Genera

Abies

Trees evergreen, crown usually spirelike to conic, sometimes flat to round topped in age. Bark initially thin, smooth, bearing resin blisters, in age furrowed and/or flaking in plates. Branches whorled, irregular internodal branches occasionally produced by epicormic sprouting (growing from a dormant bud) ; short (spur) shoots absent; leaf scars prominent, ± circular to broadly elliptic, flush with twig surface, slightly depressed, or slightly raised evenly all around. Buds ovate or oblong, resinous or not, apex rounded or pointed. Leaves borne singly, persisting 5 or more years, spirally arranged but often proximally twisted so as to appear either 1-ranked (pointing up like toothbrush bristles) or 2-ranked, sessile, typically constricted and often twisted above the somewhat broadened base, sheath absent; leaves on vegetative branches flattened, frequently grooved adaxially, usually notched to rounded at apex; leaves on fertile branches sometimes appearing 4-sided, upright, sharp-pointed to rounded at apex; resin canals 2. Cones borne on year-old twigs. Pollen cones grouped, ovate or oblong-cylindric, leaving gall-like protuberances after falling, yellow to red, green, blue, or purple. Seed cones maturing in 1 season, erect, ovoid to oblong-cylindric or cylindric, not falling whole but scale by scale, cone axis persisting as an erect "spike" on branch; scales shed individually, fan-shaped, lacking apophysis and umbo; bracts included to exserted. Seeds winged, the wing-seed juncture bearing resin sac; cotyledons 4--10. x =12.^[1] [more]

At least 517 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Abies.

More info about the Genus Abies may be found here.

Adelges

At least 12 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Adelges.

More info about the Genus Adelges may be found here.

Adenophora

Adenophora is a genus of flowering plant within the family Campanulaceae. [more]

At least 284 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Adenophora.

More info about the Genus Adenophora may be found here.

Allium

Herbs, perennial, scapose, from tunicate bulbs, with onion odor and taste. Bulbs solitary or clustered, dividing at base, or on rhizomes, reforming annually; outer coats generally brown or gray, smooth, fibrous, or with cellular reticulation (generally important in identification) ; inner coats membranous. Leaves generally withering from tip by anthesis, usually persistent, 1-12, basal; blade usually linear, terete, channeled, or flat (carinate in A. sativum, A. praecox, A. tuberosum, A. rotundum, A. neapolitanum, A. triquetrum, A. unifolium, and A. lacunosum), straight or ± falcate (coiled or circinate in A. nevadense and A. atrorubens), broader in A. victorialis and A. tricoccum, not petiolate (except in A. tricoccum and A. victorialis) . Scape usually persistent, terete or flattened. Inflorescences umbellate, flowering centripetally (centrifugally in A. schoenoprasum), sometimes replaced totally or partially by bulbils, subtended by spathe bracts; bracts conspicuous, ± fused, usually 3+-veined, equaling pedicel except in some introduced species, membranous. Flowers erect (pendent in A. triquetrum) ; tepals 6, in 2 similar whorls, ± distinct, petallike, usually becoming becoming dry and persisting; stamens 6, epipetalous; filaments in all but 1 native species broad at base, fused into ring (some introduced species and A. victorialis appendaged), linear, generally glabrous (A. rotundum and A. hoffmanii papillose to ciliate proximally) ; anthers and pollen variously colored; ovary superior, 3-lobed, sometimes crested with processes, 3-locular, usually 2 ovules per locule (6-8 in A. nigrum), crest processes 3 or 6, smooth except in A. haematochiton, A. sharsmithiae, and A. lacunosum; style 1; stigma capitate to ± 3-lobed; pedicel erect or spreading (lax in A. triquetrum) . Fruits capsular, dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds black, obovoid, finely cellular-reticulate, cells smooth or minutely roughened, with 1-8 papillae, without caruncle except in A. triquetrum. x = 7, 8, 9.^[2] [more]

At least 2,758 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Allium.

More info about the Genus Allium may be found here.

Allocasuarina

Allocasuarina is a genus in the flowering plant family Casuarinaceae. They are endemic to Australia, occurring primarily in the south. Like the closely related genus Casuarina, they are commonly called sheoaks or she-oaks, they are notable for their long, segmented branchlets that function as leaves. Formally termed cladodes, these branchlets somewhat resemble pine needles, although sheoaks are actually flowering plants. The leaves are reduced to minute scales encircling each joint. Fallen cladodes form a dense, soft mat beneath sheoaks, preventing the development of undergrowth and making sheoak woods remarkably quiet. [more]

At least 106 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Allocasuarina.

More info about the Genus Allocasuarina may be found here.

Alocasia

Characters as those of Colocasia but with the following differences: Plants with well developed elongated rootstocks, basal lobes of leaves acute and basal placentation. Ovules and seeds few.^[3] [more]

At least 224 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Alocasia.

More info about the Genus Alocasia may be found here.

Alseuosmia

At least 13 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Alseuosmia.

More info about the Genus Alseuosmia may be found here.

Anoplophora

At least 56 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Anoplophora.

More info about the Genus Anoplophora may be found here.

Arenaria

Herbs annual or perennial, rarely biennial. Stems erect or rarely creeping, often caespitose or pulvinate. Leaves opposite, rarely whorled; leaf blade linear to elliptic, ovate, or orbicular, usually flat, margin entire. Flowers solitary or numerous in cymes, actinomorphic. Sepals 4 or 5, apex entire, rarely emarginate. Petals 4 or 5, sometimes absent, apex entire to toothed, 2-cleft, or fimbriate. Stamens (2--5 or 8 or) 10. Ovary 1-loculed; ovules numerous. Styles 2 or 3(--5) . Capsule ovoid, obovoid, or globose, usually shorter than persistent sepals, rarely equaling or longer than them, 3- or 6-valved. Seeds reniform or subovoid, flattened, smooth, tuberculate, or narrowly winged.^[4] [more]

At least 1,185 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Arenaria.

More info about the Genus Arenaria may be found here.

Arhopalus

At least 18 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Arhopalus.

More info about the Genus Arhopalus may be found here.

Asphodeline

At least 40 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Asphodeline.

More info about the Genus Asphodeline may be found here.

Babiana

Babiana Ker Gawler is a genus of flowering plants in the Family Iridaceae comprised of about 80 species. Most of these species (about 49) are found in the southwestern Cape of Africa, with the remainder distributed in Namaqualand and Northern Cape Province. The native range of the genus is from southern Namibia to the Eastern Cape to southern Zimbabwe, with one species from Socotra off the coast of Somalia (although this may not be a species of Babiana). [more]

At least 173 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Babiana.

More info about the Genus Babiana may be found here.

Bellevalia

Bellevalia is a genus of plants in the hyacinth family. [more]

At least 132 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Bellevalia.

More info about the Genus Bellevalia may be found here.

Calamagrostis

Perennials, often robust, sometimes rhizomatous. Leaf blades linear, usually flat; ligule membranous. Inflorescence a panicle, loosely contracted to dense and spikelike, often plumose, branches usually whorled, bearing numerous spikelets. Spikelets with 1 floret; rachilla disarticulating above glumes, extension beyond floret absent or small and glabrous, rarely better developed and penicillate; glumes persistent, subequal or unequal with lower longer, narrowly lanceolate, much exceeding floret, lower glume 1-veined, upper glume 3-veined at base, apex finely acuminate or subulate; floret callus conspicuously bearded, hairs much exceeding floret; lemma ca. 1/2 as long as glumes, hyaline, 3-5-veined, awned, apex erose, denticulate or deeply 2-lobed; awn very slender, straight or almost so, arising from lemma back, apex or between teeth; palea 1/2 as long to slightly shorter than lemma. Stamens usually 3, rarely 1.^[5] [more]

At least 970 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Calamagrostis.

More info about the Genus Calamagrostis may be found here.

Calendula

Annuals, perennials [subshrubs], 5-50(-70+) cm. Stems procumbent to erect, glabrous or arachnose and/or stipitate-glandular. Leaves sessile or petiolate; blades elliptic, obovate, or oblong to oblanceolate, spatulate, or linear (bases sometimes clasping), margins entire or denticulate, faces sparsely arachnose and/or stipitate-glandular. Heads borne singly. Involucres campanulate to hemispheric or broader, 10-30+ mm diam. Phyllaries 13-40+ in 2+ series, lanceolate to lance-linear. Receptacles flat. Ray florets 13-50(-100+) in 1-3+ series; corollas yellow to orange, laminae linear to oblanceolate. Disc florets 20-60(-150+), functionally staminate; corollas yellow, reddish, or purplish, tubes shorter than ± campanulate throats. Cypselae arcuate to ± coiled (usually some beaked, some 2-3-winged, some both beaked and winged), abaxial faces usually tuberculate and/or transversely ridged. x = 11.^[6] [more]

At least 213 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Calendula.

More info about the Genus Calendula may be found here.

Campanula

Plants perennial or annual, erect trailing or decumbent, glabrous, pubescent, or hirsute. Leaves simple, alternate or forming rosettes at the base. Inflorescence 1-many flowered, with racemes or spikes. Flowers blue to purple or white. Sepals 5, with or without reflexed appendages between lobes; calyx tube adnate to the ovary, segments 5-lobed. Corolla campanulate, funnel-shaped or tubular. Stamens 5, free, filaments dilated at the base. Ovary 3-locular; style cylindrical; stigmas 3. Fruit a capsule, elongated to ovoid, obovoid or round, with membran¬ous walls; dehiscence by irregular pores at the bases or the sides. Seeds minute, numerous.^[7] [more]

At least 2,250 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Campanula.

More info about the Genus Campanula may be found here.

Cardamine

Herbs annual, biennial, or rhizomatous or tuberous perennial. Trichomes absent or simple. Stems erect or prostrate, leafy or rarely leafless and plant scapose. Basal leaves petiolate, rosulate or not, simple and entire, toothed, or 1-3-pinnatisect, or palmately lobed, sometimes trifoliolate, pinnately, palmately, or bipinnately compound. Cauline leaves alternate, (rarely opposite or whorled), simple or compound as basal leaves, petiolate or sessile and base cuneate, attenuate, auriculate, or sagittate, margin entire, dentate, or variously lobed. Racemes ebracteate or rarely bracteate throughout or only basally, corymbose or in panicles, elongated in fruit. Fruiting pedicels slender or thickened, erect, divaricate, or reflexed. Sepals ovate or oblong, base of lateral pair saccate or not, margin often membranous. Petals white, pink, purple, or violet, never yellow, rarely absent; blade obovate, spatulate, oblong, or oblanceolate, apex obtuse or emarginate; claw absent or strongly differentiated from blade, longer or shorter than sepals. Stamens 6 and tetradynamous, rarely 4 and equal in length; anthers ovate, oblong, or linear, obtuse at apex. Nectar glands confluent and subtending bases of all stamens; median glands 2 or rarely 4 or absent; lateral glands annular or semiannular. Ovules 4-50 per ovary. Fruit dehiscent siliques, linear or rarely narrowly oblong or narrowly lanceolate, latiseptate, sessile; valves papery, not veined, glabrous (or very rarely hairy), smooth or torulose, dehiscing elastically acropetally, spirally or circinately coiled; replum strongly flattened; septum complete, membranous, translucent; style distinct or rarely obsolete; stigma capitate, entire. Seeds uniseriate, wingless, rarely margined or winged, oblong or ovate, flattened; seed coat smooth, minutely reticulate, colliculate, or rugose; mucilaginous or not when wetted; cotyledons accumbent or very rarely incumbent.^[8] [more]

At least 1,024 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Cardamine.

More info about the Genus Cardamine may be found here.

Carex

Herbs, perennial, cespitose or not, rhizomatous, rarely stoloniferous. Culms usually trigonous, sometimes round. Leaves basal and cauline, sometimes all basal; ligules present; blades flat, V-shaped, or M-shaped in cross section, rarely filiform, involute, or rounded, commonly less than 20 mm wide, if flat then with distinct midvein. Inflorescences terminal, consisting of spikelets borne in spikes arranged in spikes, racemes, or panicles; bracts subtending spikes leaflike or scalelike; bracts subtending spikelets scalelike, very rarely leaflike. Spikelets 1-flowered; scales 0-1. Flowers unisexual; staminate flowers without scales; pistillate flowers with 1 scale with fused margins (perigynium) enclosing flower, open only at apex; perianth absent; stamens 1-3; styles deciduous or variously persistent, linear, 2-3(-4) -fid. Achenes biconvex, plano-convex, or trigonous, rarely 4-angled. x = 10.^[9] [more]

At least 5,519 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Carex.

More info about the Genus Carex may be found here.

Chamaecyparis

Trees (rarely shrubs). Branchlets terete or rhombic in cross section, in fan-shaped or pinnately flattened sprays. Leaves opposite in 4 ranks. Adult leaves usually appressed, lateral and facial pairs similar, closely overlapping, scalelike, free portion of long-shoot leaves to ca. 7 mm; abaxial glands present or absent, circular to linear. Pollen cones with 2--3 pairs of sporophylls, each sporophyll with 2--4 pollen sacs. Seed cones maturing and opening in 1--2 years, nearly globose, glaucous, 4--12 mm; scales persistent, 2--5(--6) pairs, valvate, peltate or basifixed, thick and woody, terminal pair often fused. Seeds 1--4 per cone scale, lenticular, equally 2-winged; cotyledons 2--3. x = 11.^[10] [more]

At least 711 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Chamaecyparis.

More info about the Genus Chamaecyparis may be found here.

Chamaemelum

Annuals or perennials, 5-20(-35+) cm, (aromatic). Stems usually 1, erect, ascending, or prostrate, usually branched, glabrous or glabrate, puberulent, or villous to strigoso-sericeous (hairs basifixed). Leaves mostly cauline (at flowering) ; alternate; petiolate or sessile; blades oblong, ovate, elliptic, or spatulate, 1-3-pinnately lobed (ultimate lobes narrowly spatulate to linear or filiform, apices apiculate), ultimate margins entire, faces glabrous or glabrate, puberulent, or villous to strigoso-sericeous. Heads radiate or discoid, borne singly or in lax corymbiform arrays. Involucres hemispheric or broader, 6-10 mm diam. Phyllaries persistent, 22-45+ in 3-4+ series (sometimes reflexed in fruit), mostly ovate to oblong, unequal, margins and apices (colorless, brownish, or greenish) scarious. Receptacles hemispheric to conic, paleate; paleae weakly navicular to ± flat (medially chartaceous, margins scarious, apices rounded). Ray florets 0 or 12-21+, pistillate and fertile or styliferous and sterile; corollas white, laminae oblong (often marcescent, reflexed in fruit). Disc florets 100-200+, bisexual, fertile; corollas yellow, tubes ± cylindric (somewhat dilated, bases saccate, weakly clasping apices of cypselae), throats funnelform, lobes 5, deltate. Cypselae ± obovoid, weakly obcompressed, ribs or nerves (weak) : 2 lateral, 1 adaxial, faces finely striate, glabrous (pericarps with myxogenic cells in longitudinal rows, without resin sacs) ; pappi 0. x = 9.^[11] [more]

At least 121 species