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Taxonomy

Genera

Acanthus

At least 127 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Acanthus.

More info about the Genus Acanthus may be found here.

Aethionema

Perennial or annual herbs, often woody below, branched, erect or suberect, leafy, glabrous or rarely papillose. Leaves simple, usually sessile or subsessile, oblong or linear, glaucous. Racemes corymbose, usually many flowered, ebracteate. Flowers mediocre, rose, lilac or white, rarely yellowish; pedicls filiform, usually spreading in fruit. Sepals oblong, obtuse, rounded at apex; inner ±saccate at base; outer often somewhat hooded at apex. Petals obovate, cuneate or clawed, rarely oblong; claw 1-3-nerved. Stamens 6; filaments of longer stamens append-aged, dilated or linear; anthers often apiculate, ovate-orbicular. Lateral nectar glands in pairs, minute, semiglobose; middle usually absent. Ovary ± ellipsoid with narrowly flattened margin, 1-2-locular with 1-2 (rarely 3-4) ovules in each locule; stigma capitate, sub-sessile or on distinct short style. Siliculae ovate, elliptic or suborbicular, laterally flattened, usually winged, dehiscent, (rarely heterocarpic with dehiscent and indehiscent fruits), 1-4-seeded; apex generally deeply notched or emarginate; wing entire or variously dentate; seed ovate, brown, often minutely papillose; radicle incumbent, oblique or accumbent.^[1] [more]

At least 164 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Aethionema.

More info about the Genus Aethionema may be found here.

Agapanthus

Agapanthus ("Lily of the Nile") is a genus of flower plants with six to ten species depending on how the different species are classified. They are all herbaceous perennial plants native to South Africa. They have been placed either in the family Alliaceae, or separated into their own monogeneric family Agapanthaceae (e.g. Indices Nominum Supragenericorum Plantarum Vascularium). [more]

At least 514 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Agapanthus.

More info about the Genus Agapanthus 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.

Angraecum

The genus Angraecum, abbreviated as Angcm in horticultural trade, common name Angrec or Comet Orchid, contains about 220 species, some of them among most magnificent of all orchids. They are quite varied vegetatively and florally and are adapted to dry tropical woodland habitat and have quite fleshy leaves as a consequence. Most are epiphytes, but a few are lithophytes. [more]

At least 588 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Angraecum.

More info about the Genus Angraecum may be found here.

Arion

Arion was a legendary kitharode in ancient Greece, a Dionysiac poet credited with inventing the dithyramb. The islanders of Lesbos claimed him as their native son, but Arion found a patron in Periander, tyrant of Corinth. Although notable for his musical inventions, Arion is chiefly remembered for the fantastic myth of his kidnapping by pirates and miraculous rescue by dolphins, a folktale motif. [more]

At least 52 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Arion.

More info about the Genus Arion may be found here.

Arthropteris

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

More info about the Genus Arthropteris may be found here.

Ataxia

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

More info about the Genus Ataxia may be found here.

Baccaurea

Baccaurea is a genus of flowering plant belonging to the family Phyllanthaceae. The genus comprises about 80 species, distributed from Indomalesia to the West Pacific. [more]

At least 128 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Baccaurea.

More info about the Genus Baccaurea may be found here.

Banksia

Banksia is a genus of around 170 species in the plant family Proteaceae. Iconic Australian wildflower and popular garden plants, they are easily recognised by their characteristic flower spikes and fruiting "cones" and can vary from prostrate woody shrubs to trees up to 30 metres tall. They are generally found in a wide variety of landscapes; sclerophyll forest, (occasionally) rainforest, shrubland, and some more arid landscapes, though not in Australia's deserts. [more]

At least 486 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Banksia.

More info about the Genus Banksia may be found here.

Bergenia

Herbs perennial, forming large clumps. Rhizomes creeping, large, thick, scaly. Leaves all basal, ± persistent, simple, waxy, often leathery; petiole short, broad, sheathing at base; leaf blade thick, margin entire, crenate, or dentate. Infloresences cymose, bracteate. Flowers showy, large. Sepals 5. Petals 5, white, pink, red, or purple. Stamens 10. Carpels 2, basally connate; ovary 1/4 subsuperior, proximally 2-loculed with axile placentation and distally 1-loculed with marginal placentation; styles 2; ovules many. Fruit a capsule. Seeds numerous, dark brown, small.^[3] [more]

At least 180 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Bergenia.

More info about the Genus Bergenia may be found here.

Blandfordia

Blandfordia is a genus of flowering plants which are native to eastern Australia. Plants in this genus are commonly referred to as Christmas Bells due to the shape of their flowers and the timing of their flowering season in Australia. Blandfordia is the sole genus in the family Blandfordiaceae and was named by English botanist James Edward Smith in 1804 in honour of George Spencer Churchill, the Marquis of Blandford. [more]

At least 22 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Blandfordia.

More info about the Genus Blandfordia may be found here.

Blechnum

Plants terrestrial or rarely on rock. Stems creeping to ascending or erect, slender to stout, sometimes climbing [rarely subarborescent]; scales brown or black. Leaves monomorphic or variously dimorphic, cespitose to scattered. Blades pinnatifid to 1-pinnate, rarely simple or 2-pinnate. Rachis and costae glabrous, scaly, or hairy abaxially. Veins free, often forked. Sori borne on vascular commissures parallel to costae, 1 per side, normally uninterrupted, linear, continuous along length of costa. Spores with perine smooth to variously winged or rugose. x = 28, 29, 31, 32, 34, 36.^[4] [more]

At least 708 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Blechnum.

More info about the Genus Blechnum may be found here.

Botrychium

Plants terrestrial. Roots occasionally branching laterally, yellowish to black, 0.5--2 mm diam., smooth or with corky ridges, not proliferous. Stems upright, forming caudex to 5 mm thick; gemmae absent or minute, spheric. Trophophores ascending to perpendicular to stem, sessile or stalked; blades linear, oblong, or deltate, simple to 5-pinnate, 4--25 × 1--35 cm. Pinnae (reduced to segments in many species) spreading to ascending, fan-shaped to lanceolate to linear; margins entire to dentate to lacerate, apex rounded or acute; veins free, arranged like ribs of fan or pinnate. Sporophores normally 1 per leaf, 1--3-pinnate, long-stalked, borne at ground level to high on common stalk. Sporangial clusters with sporangia sessile to short-stalked, almost completely exposed, borne in 2 rows on pinnate (except in very small plants) sporophore branches. Gametophytes broadly ovate, unbranched, 1--3 × 1--10 mm. x =44, 45, 92.^[5] [more]

At least 288 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Botrychium.

More info about the Genus Botrychium may be found here.

Brachyotum

Brachyotum is a genus of plant in family Melastomataceae. [more]

At least 76 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Brachyotum.

More info about the Genus Brachyotum may be found here.

Calochortus

Herbs, perennial, sometimes from bulbs; bulb coat membranous or fibrous-reticulate. Stems scapelike or leafy, simple or branched, glabrous, often glaucous; bulblets sometimes borne in leaf axils. Leaves sessile; basal persistent or withering by flowering, solitary, blade base sometimes attenuate and petiolelike; cauline 0-several, sometimes proximalmost appearing as basal, reduced. Inflorescences monochasiate or ± umbellate, 1-many-flowered, bracteate. Flowers: perianth globose to broadly campanulate; sepals 3, distinct, ovate to lanceolate, usually petaloid and glabrous; petals 3, distinct, usually longer and broader than sepals, sometimes clawed, usually hairy adaxially, bearing adaxial gland near base, often spotted to ± patterned; filaments widened at base; anthers usually basifixed or pseudobasifixed, linear to oblong; ovary superior; style absent; stigmas 3. Fruits capsular, 3-locular, 3-angled or -winged, linear, oblong, or globular, dehiscence septicidal. Seeds many, in 2 rows per locule, irregular or flat, coat usually hexagonally reticulate.^[6] [more]

At least 223 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Calochortus.

More info about the Genus Calochortus 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.

Ceanothus

Ceanothus L. is a genus of about 50–60 species of shrubs or small trees in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae. The genus is confined to North America, the center of its distribution in California, with some species (e.g. C. americanus) in the eastern United States and southeast Canada, and others (e.g. C. coeruleus) extending as far south as Guatemala. Most are shrubs 0.5–3 m tall, but C. arboreus and C. thyrsiflorus, both from California, can be small trees up to 6–7 m tall. [more]

At least 480 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Ceanothus.

More info about the Genus Ceanothus may be found here.

Ceiba

Trees, deciduous; trunk swollen and/or buttressed, trunk and branches usually spiny. Petiole long; leaf blade palmately compound; leaflets 3-5(-9), shortly petiolulate, both surfaces glabrous, abaxially gray-white, base attenuate, margin serrate or entire. Flowers blooming before or simultaneously with leaf flush, solitary or 2-15-fascicled, pendulous, axillary or subterminal, actinomorphic, rarely zygomorphic. Calyx campanulate, truncate or irregularly 3-5(-12) -lobed, thickly fleshy, persistent. Petals 5, pink or yellow-white, connate at base and coherent to staminal tube, falling with stamens and style. Stamens (3-) 5-15; filament tube short, sometimes thickened or with sterile appendages, free parts of filament long to absent, each bearing 2(or 3) straight to strongly twisted thecae. Ovary syncarpous, 5-locular; ovules many per cell; style filiform; stigma capitate to lobulate. Capsule oblong or nearly obovate, pendulous, woody or leathery, loculicidally dehiscent into 5(or 6) valves, inner walls densely woolly. Seeds many, enclosed in wool.^[8] [more]

At least 69 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Ceiba.

More info about the Genus Ceiba may be found here.

Centaurea

Annuals, biennials, or perennials, 20-300 cm, glabrous or tomentose. Stems erect, ascending, or spreading, simple or branched. Leaves basal and cauline; petiolate or sessile; proximal blade margins often ± deeply lobed, (spiny in C. benedicta ), distal ± smaller, often entire, faces glabrous or ± tomentose, sometimes also villous, strigose, or puberulent, often glandular-punctate. Heads discoid, disciform, or radiant, borne singly or in corymbiform arrays. Involucres cylindric or ovoid to hemispheric . Phyllaries many in 6-many series, unequal, proximal part appressed, body margins entire. distal parts expanded into erect to spreading, usually ± dentate or fringed, linear to ovate appendages, spine. tipped or spineless. Receptacles flat, epaleate, bristly. Florets 10-many; outer usually sterile, corollas slender and inconspicuous to much expanded, ± bilateral; inner fertile, corollas white to blue, pink, purple, or yellow, bilateral or radial, often bent at junction of tubes and throats, lobes linear-oblong, acute; anther bases tailed, apical appendages oblong; style branches: fused portions with minutely hairy nodes, distinct portions minute. Cypselae ± barrel-shaped, ± compressed, smooth or ribbed, apices entire (denticulate in C. benedicta ), glabrous or with fine, 1-celled hairs, attachment scar. lateral (with or without elaiosomes) ; pappi 0 or ± persistent, of 1-3 series of smooth or minutely barbed, stiff bristles or narrow scales . x = 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15.^[9] [more]

At least 2,776 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Centaurea.

More info about the Genus Centaurea may be found here.

Cephalanthera

Herbs, perennial, achlorophyllous. Roots fleshy, slender, scattered along slender rhizome. Stems leafy. Leaves several, alternate; blade spreading, plicate, or reduced to appressed sheathing bracts. Inflorescences terminal, solitary spikes, lax; floral bracts often foliaceous, large to minute, scarious distally. Flowers few-many, resupinate, sessile, showy; lip white with yellow markings, divided by median constriction, saccate, distal end with fleshy parallel adaxial lamellae; pollinaria absent; pollinia 2; viscidia absent. Fruits capsules.^[10] [more]

At least 77 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Cephalanthera.

More info about the Genus Cephalanthera may be found here.

Cephalaria

Herbs, glabrous to pilose. Leaves sometimes divided. Involucral bracts coriaceous, the receptacular ones larger. Calyx cupular, limb many-toothed. Corolla 4-fid. Involucel 4-8-angled, limb toothed.^[11] [more]

At least 153 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Cephalaria.

More info about the Genus Cephalaria may be found here.

Cephalotaxus

Morphological characters and geographical distribution are the same as those for the family.^[12] [more]

At least 86 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Cephalotaxus.

More info about the Genus Cephalotaxus may be found here.

Chamaecereus

Echinopsis is a large genus of cacti native to South America, sometimes referred to as sea-urchin cactus or Easter lily cactus. One small species, E. chamaecereus, is known as the peanut cactus. The 128 species range from large and treelike types to small globose cacti. The name derives from echinos hedgehog or sea urchin, and opsis appearance, a reference to these plants' dense coverings of spines. [more]

At least 6 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Chamaecereus.

More info about the Genus Chamaecereus 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.^[13] [more]

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

More info about the Genus Chamaecyparis may be found here.

Chlorogalum

Herbs, perennial, from tunicate bulbs. Leaves basal; blade linear, reduced to scarious bracts in inflorescence. Inflorescences paniculate.