Dicotyledons
SYNOPSIS OF DICOTYLEDONS
This synopsis is based on that of Dahlgren, R. M. T., Nord. J. Bot. 3: 119-149 (1983), with the following modifications: Griseliniaceae, Philadelphaceae, Orobanchaceae, Avicenniaceae, and Tetrachondraceae are accepted as distinct families, whereas Limoniaceae is included in Plumbaginaceae, Malaceae and Amygdalaceae in Rosaceae, Mimosaceae and Caesalpiniaceae in Fabaceae, Cuscutaceae in Convolvulaceae, Sambucaceae and Viburnaceae in Caprifoliaceae and Brexiaceae in Escalloniaceae. Only families with indigenous or naturalised spp. are included and these are arranged in superorders and orders.In a few cases indigenous genera are considered to belong to families other than those they were assigned to by Allan (1961); those not mentioned elsewhere in this Volume are: , now referred to Stylidiaceae, , now referred to Spigeliaceae, and , now referred to Viscaceae.
- A. Magnoliiflorae
- 1. Annonales:
- 2. Magnoliales:
- Winteraceae
- 3. Chloranthales:
- 4. Laurales:
- B. Nymphaeiflorae
- 5. Piperales:
- 6. Nymphaeales:
- C. Ranunculiflorae
- 7. Ranunculales:
- 8. Papaverales:
- D. Caryophylliflorae
- E. Polygoniflorae
- 10. Polygonales:
- F. Plumbaginiflorae
- 11. Plumbaginales:
- G. Malviflorae
- 12. Malvales:
- 13. Urticales:
- 14. Euphorbiales:
- 15. Thymelaeales:
- 16. Rhamnales:
- 17. Elaeagnales:
- H. Violiflorae
- 18. Violales:
- 19. Cucurbitales:
- 20. Salicales:
- 21. Tamaricales:
- 22. Capparales:
- I. Theiflorae
- 23. Theales:
- J. Primuliflorae
- 24. Primulales:
- 25. Ebenales:
- K. Rosiflorae
- 26. Hamamelidales:
- 27. Fagales:
- 28. Juglandales:
- 29. Casuarinales:
- 30. Buxales:
- 31. Cunoniales:
- 32. Saxifragales:
- GrossulariaceaeCrassulaceae.
- 33. Droserales:
- 34. Gunnerales:
- 35. Rosales:
- L. Proteiflorae
- 36. Proteales:
- M. Myrtiflorae
- 37. Haloragales:
- 38. Myrtales:
- N. Fabiflorae
- 39. Fabales:
- O. Rutiflorae
- 40. Sapindales:
- 41. Rutales:
- 42. Polygalales:
- 43. Geraniales:
- 44. Balsaminales:
- 45. Tropaeolales:
- P. Santaliflorae
- 46. Celastrales:
- 47. Vitales:
- 48. Santalales:
- Q. Balanophoriflorae
- 49. Balanophorales:
- R. Araliiflorae
- 50. Pittosporales:
- 51. Araliales:
- S. Asteriflorae
- 52. Campanulales:
- 53. Asterales:
- T. Solaniflorae
- 54. Solanales:
- 55. Boraginales:
- U. Corniflorae
- V. Gentianiflorae
- 59. Goodeniales:
- 60. Oleales:
- 61. Gentianales:
- W. Lamiiflorae
KEY TO FAMILIES
The keys to the families, excluding the keys to aquatic and parasitic plants, are based on Davis, P. H. and Cullen, J., The Identification of Flowering Plant Families ed. 2 (1979). The keys are comprehensive for each family although they do not always include atypical genera or minor segments of the family which are of no direct relevance to wild or cultivated plants in N.Z. Difficulties may arise when plants with unisexual fls lacking rudiments of the opposite sex. Also, the keys may not work for plants of horticultural origin with double fls.
KEY TO GROUPS
2
Woody plants; fls unisexual, apetalous, at least ♂ in catkins
Group I
3
Gynoecium of 2 or more free, or almost free, carpels
Group A
4
Perianth of 2 or more whorls distinguishable as calyx and corolla, or rarely calyx 0 (excluding submerged aquatics with minute, caducous petals, and excluding branch parasites)
Perianth of 1 whorl (sometimes petaloid) or 0, or if perianth of 2 or more whorls then the segments of each whorl ± indistinguishable at anthesis (including submerged aquatics with calyx and minute, caducous petals and including branch parasites)
5
Stamens > 2× as many as petals
Group B
6
Stamens and perianth perigynous or epigynous and ovary 1/2 to fully inferior
Group E
Perianth at least partly hypogynous; stamens perigynous or hypogynous, sometimes inserted on top of a hypogynous disc in which ovary is immersed
7
Placentation axile, apical, basal or free-central
Group C
Placentation parietal or marginal
Group D
8
Stamens apparently borne on perianth, or if not on perianth then ovary semi- or fully inferior (♀ fls sometimes lacking perianth)
Group H
9
Fls unisexual
Group F
Fls ⚥
Group G
10
Ovary semi- to fully inferior
Group L
11
Corolla actinomorphic
Group J
Corolla zygomorphic
Group K
GROUP A
Herbs or shrubs, sometimes trees; bark rarely exfoliating; infls very variable, occasionally fr. a pendulous globose head but then derived from 1 fl.
Petals, if present, not laciniate; fr. without a gynophore or occasionally each carpel with a separate gynophore
9
Sepals and petals 5, dissimilar; fr. of indehiscent cocci surrounded by fleshy perianth
Sepals and petals 3, sometimes similar and forming a perianth; fr. not of cocci surrounded by a fleshy perianth
10
Stamens with large connective overtopping anthers; fr. variable (a fleshy syncarp in N.Z.)
GROUP B
Inner whorl of perianth segments neither tubular nor 2-fid; nectar glands present or 0; fr. rarely folliculate
10
Petals valvate; anthers basifixed, usually dehiscing by a transverse slit; hairs 0 or simple
Petals imbricate or contorted, rarely valvate; anthers generally dorsifixed, sometimes basifixed, dehiscing by a longitudinal slit; hairs 0 or stellate or lepidote
12
Aquatic plants with thick rhizomes and floating cordate lvs; style and stigma forming sessile disc
Plants usually terrestrial, or if aquatic then lvs not floating and cordate; style and stigma not usually forming sessile disc
At least some petals incised or laciniate; ovary of 2-7 carpels united at base and free at apex
GROUP C
1
Resinous trees or shrubs; lvs alternate, simple or pinnate; fls with a hypogynous disc, usually unisexual; stamens 4-5 or 8-10; fr. 1-seeded, drupaceous
Herbs or occasionally small shrubs; lvs not glandular-punctate but sometimes with salt-excreting pores; placentation basal
Lvs exstipulate; sepals 2; ovules 4-7; stigma 2-fid
HECTORELLACEAE†
25
Stipules small and inconspicuous, occasionally 0, not intrapetiolar; ovary usually 3-celled
29
Stamens inserted at base of disc; staminodes 0; ovary usually 4-5-celled; fr. various, rarely a large, fleshy drupe
Stamens inserted on base of petals; staminodes present; ovary 1-2-celled; fr. a large fleshy drupe
31
Fls usually unisexual (sometimes ⚥ in Dodonaea viscosa); ovary usually 3-celled; ovules usually 1 to each cell; seeds non-endospermic
GROUP D
Sepals 2; petals 4; carpels 2; fr. a 2-valved pod-like capsule or a nutlet with 2 apical pits
10
Lianes or ± herbaceous vines with tendrils; corona present; ovary and stamens on an androgynophore
12
Styles and stigmas 2-5; lvs small, usually scale-like; corolla and stamens on fleshy disc; seed hairy
Style 1 or 0; stigma 1, sometimes 2-3-lobed; lvs small to large, of normal appearance; corolla and stamens not on fleshy disc; seed glabrous
14
Stamens usually 2 short and 4 long, rarely subequal; ovary usually sessile, rarely on a short to long gynophore; androgynophore 0; lvs simple to pinnately divided
Stamens equal; ovary usually on a long gynophore, rarely sessile; androgynophore often present; lvs usually palmately 3-7-lobed, rarely simple
GROUP E
2
Aquatic plants; lvs floating or emergent, long-petiolate, cordate at base, not succulent
Terrestrial plants, usually in dry habitats; lvs 0, or if present then succulent, usually sessile, rarely with short petiole, cuneate to truncate at base
3
Stems obviously succulent, rarely woody, usually ± glochidiate; lvs usually 0; ovary 1-locular; fr. a berry
Stems not markedly succulent, not glochidiate; lvs prominent and succulent; ovary 3-many-locular; fr. usually a hygrochastic capsule, sometimes indehiscent and drupaceous but scarcely fleshy
Lvs with reticulate or indistinct parallel venation; stamens not geniculate; anthers opening by slits or valves
6
Placentation parietal, sometimes with intrusive placentae
, 7
16
Herbs, occasionally ± shrubby; petals imbricate; fr. a schizocarp usually splitting into 2 mericarps
27
Stamens 2-3, free and inserted near base of style; fr. a capsule with a thin dehiscent lid and several seeds in each cell; petals free
Stamens 5, episepalous; fr. a schizocarp with indehiscent 1-seeded cocci; petals generally united in middle, sometimes free
28
Evergreen shrubs or trees; fr. a 1-seeded berry
GRISELINIACEAE†
Deciduous shrubs or trees, rarely herbs, or if evergreen then fr. either dry, or fleshy but never 1-seeded
29
Plants evergreen; lvs usually with gland-tipped teeth; stamens 4-5-(6); floral disc present
Plants usually deciduous, sometimes evergreen; lvs lacking gland-tipped teeth; stamens > 7; floral disc 0
30
Indumentum usually stellate; filaments often toothed; fls in racemes, cymes or panicles, occasionally solitary
Indumentum of simple hairs or 0; filaments not toothed; fls in cymes, the cymes usually corymbose
GROUP F
4
Lvs with ochreae; perianth segments 6, or if 5 then succulent, sometimes 0; fr. a nut; seed not arillate
Lvs without ochreae; perianth segments usually < or > 6, never succulent; fr. usually not a nut, or if nut-like then arillate
6
Deciduous or evergreen herbs or woody plants; sap often milky; styles usually 2-lobed; fr. schizocarpic; seed usually carunculate
Evergreen shrubs; sap not milky; styles simple, fr. a loculicidal capsule; seed not carunculate
7
Resinous trees or shrubs; lvs simple or pinnate; fls in panicles; floral disc present and free; stamens 3-10; ovule 1 per cell; fr. 1-seeded, drupe-like
Stamens few, or if numerous then placentation not parietal and fr. nearly always indehiscent (achenial) or schizocarpic
14
Stamens sensitive, inflexed in bud, usually 4; stems usually with tough fibres, sometimes soft; lvs often with stinging hairs, usually with cystoliths, usually rough, sometimes membranous
Stamens neither sensitive nor inflexed in bud, 1-numerous, rarely 4; stems lacking tough fibres; lvs lacking stinging hairs and cystoliths, usually soft, often membranous
GROUP G
1
Lvs alternate, entire, exstipulate; fls in racemes or spikes, nearly always ⚥; petals 0; ovule 1 to each carpel, basal; fr. a berry or berry-like drupe
8
Lvs often ± succulent; fls on an elongated, fleshy catkin-like spike, generally sunken in receptacle; perianth 0
13
Carpels open at apex, at least after anthesis; petals laciniate; placentation parietal
15
Ovary of 4 carpels; capsule dehiscing by 4 valves; placentation free central
Lvs simple; fr. usually a capsule, achene or nut, sometimes a berry or hard, indehiscent and horned at apex
18
Fls solitary; perianth succulent; fr. a berry or hard, indehiscent and horned at apex
Fls in spikes, cymes or panicles, commonly in dense glomerules, occasionally solitary but then perianth scarious; fr. a capsule achene or nut, rarely baccate
GROUP H
Lvs deeply divided, or simple and either cordate (sometimes rhubarb-like) or subfleshy; stamens 8, 4 or 2
6
Lvs opposite; stamens 1 or 3 (2 of these with 1 cell only); perianth 0 or a minute rim
8
Stamens 4; filaments adnate to perianth tube (at least for much of their length); anthers in concavities of apical part of spathulate petaloid perianth segments which separate and usually roll back at anthesis
14
Lvs simple, entire; stamens 2, 4-5, or 8-10 and borne at different levels on the perianth tube
18
Lvs of normal appearance; fls ⚥; perianth usually with toothed or erose rim below, or if 0 then fr. dry and 3-winged
Lvs often scale-like and minute; fls unisexual; perianth without a toothed or erose rim below; fr. baccate
VISCACEAE†
27
Lvs alternate; perianth segments thickening towards base at fruiting; ovary semi-inferior
Lvs opposite or alternate; perianth segments not accrescent or accrescent but not thickening towards base; ovary inferior
28
Fls 3- or 5-6-merous, rarely 4-merous; style 1; seed lacking testa; root parasites, although apparently free-living herbs
30
Lvs exstipulate, at least some deeply dissected; stamens usually 4 or 8, rarely 1; ovary 2-4-locular
GROUP I
Perianth present in ♂ fls although often rudimentary, rarely 0 and then fr. a large nut; ovules and seeds solitary or few, glabrous
GROUP J
4
Lvs generally all radical, with parallel veins; corolla scarious, 4-lobed; stamens 4, exserted
Lvs palmately lobed; fls mostly unisexual; fr. a soft many-seeded berry; seed without prominent hilum
8
Cushion plant; fls often unisexual; stamens alternating with petals; ovules 4-(5)
HECTORELLACEAE†
9
Stamens antipetalous and as many as corolla lobes; placentation free-central, or if axile then plants tendrilous climbers, and if basal then calyx scarious
Stamens antisepalous or if antipetalous then > or < than number of corolla lobes; placentation parietal, or if axile then plants not tendrilous climbers, and if basal then calyx not scarious
11
Herbs or small shrubs, rarely large; placentation basal; ovule 1, pendulous on a long, curved funicle; fr. dry
Herbs, shrubs or trees; placentation free-central; ovules usually numerous although sometimes fr. 1-seeded (then fleshy)
20
Herbs with slender creeping stems; corolla very deeply lobed; ovary divided to near base
21
Lvs alternate or all basal, occasionally clustered and in false whorls, very rarely opposite or subopposite; carpels usually 5, or if 2 then neither almost free nor with single terminal style
Lvs usually opposite or whorled, or if alternate then carpels ± free and with single terminal style; carpels usually 2
Herbs, rarely procumbent, or woody plants, rarely with milky sap; stamens usually epipetalous (at least inserted at base of corolla)
24
Shrubs or small trees, mostly with ericoid habit, or if not ericoid then stem with prominent annular scars and sheathing lvs; ovary usually 5-, rarely 1-, 8- or 10-locular
Herbs, shrubs or small trees, rarely with ericoid habit, rarely with obvious stem scars and sheathing lvs; ovary 2-4-locular, occasionally more
30
Plants of moist places; lvs sheathing at base, glabrous, often cordate or peltate; corolla lobes valvate
Plants of various habitats, but not of wet places; lvs very rarely as above; corolla lobes imbricate
33
Herbs or shrubs, usually with twining stems; sepals free; corolla lobes usually contorted or folded in bud, sometimes induplicate, very rarely imbricate
34
Corolla lobes usually folded, contorted or valvate in bud; ovary septum usually oblique to the axis
Corolla lobes imbricate in bud, sometimes minute; ovary septum in line with the axis
Corolla lobes contorted or valvate in bud; corona usually present; pollen in pollinia; translators present
43
Erect shrubs or trees of coastal mud (mangroves), or very small creeping, terrestrial herbs; ovary 4-carpellate, with 1 ovule in each; fr. a 1-seeded capsule or of 4 nutlets
Woody plants (not mangroves) or herbs (rarely creeping); ovary 2-3-(4)-carpellate, if 4 then ovules > 1 in each carpel; fr. usually a capsule, rarely a berry or drupe
44
Erect shrubs or trees of saline mud (mangroves); fr. a 1-seeded, 2-valved capsule > 1 cm diam.
Very small creeping herbs, not of saline mud; fr. of 4 nutlets, each c. 1 mm diam.
Usually woody plants; lvs stipulate but often stipules reduced to a rim between the lf pair; corolla lobes imbricate or valvate in bud; carpels usually 2
46
Herbs or subshrubs; corolla lobes valvate
(Mitrasacme) SPIGELIACEAE†
GROUP K
Stems not twining; lvs usually alternate; corolla lobes imbricate in bud; stamens 4, unequal
14
Usually lianes, sometimes trees or shrubs, rarely herbs; lvs pinnate or palmate, rarely simple; seeds winged
15
Lvs opposite or alternate; corolla lobes variously imbricate; ovary septum in line with the axis
Lvs alternate; corolla lobes usually folded, contorted, or valvate; ovary septum oblique to the axis
Herbs or shrubs; lvs opposite or whorled, at least towards the base, if glandular-punctate then dots not translucent
17
Lvs often with prominent cystoliths appearing as small dashes; ovules 4-numerous, usually superposed; fr. a capsule opening elastically; seeds usually on hooked funicles
Lvs lacking cystoliths; ovules 4, arranged side by side; fr. not a capsule opening elastically; seeds not on hooked funicles
18
Calyx often 2-lipped; corolla often strongly zygomorphic; style gynobasic, or if terminal then corolla with very reduced upper lip; fr. usually of 4, 1-seeded nutlets
Calyx ± actinomorphic; corolla generally moderately zygomorphic, the upper lip well-developed; style terminal; fr. usually a berry or drupe, rarely schizocarpic with 4 nutlets
Ovules 4-numerous; fr. a capsule, rarely a berry or drupe, not usually dispersed with calyx; seed 4-numerous
24
Woody plants, mainly lianes with pinnate lvs, sometimes erect trees; seeds winged, or if not winged then fr. fleshy with hard rind and large seed
Herbs or shrubs, sometimes epiphytic; lvs simple; seeds not winged, very small; fr. dry or if fleshy then with soft skin
GROUP L
7
Climbers, usually with tendrils; stamens 1-5 (usually very reduced with anthers variously coherent and zygomorphic)
CURCURBITACEAE
12
Herbs or subshrubs; lvs soft and usually densely hairy, at least below; corolla lobes imbricate
Shrubs; lvs ± firm and glabrous; corolla lobes valvate to subimbricate
ALSEUOSMIACEAE†
13
Sap not milky; corolla strongly zygomorphic; anthers free; stigma surrounded by cup-like indusium
Sap generally milky; corolla actinomorphic, or if zygomorphic then anthers cohering around style; stigma lacking indusial cup
18
Stipules interpetiolar (rarely intrapetiolar), sometimes leaflike (lvs appear whorled); fls usually actinomorphic; ovary usually 2-locular
Stipules usually 0, if present then neither interpetiolar nor leaflike; fls actinomorphic or zygomorphic; ovary (2)-3-(5)-locular (sometimes only 1 loculus fertile)
KEY TO AQUATICS
3
All lvs 1-2-forked, with denticulate margins, normally totally submerged, all of the same form
Submerged lvs pinnate or pinnately divided, usually with entire margins; emergent lvs simple and entire
4
Plants carnivorous; lvs with bladder traps; corolla zygomorphic; petals united, usually yellow
Plants not carnivorous; lvs without bladders; corolla actinomorphic; petals free, white with yellow base
5
Lvs usually ± orbicular, peltate or cordate, occasionally 3-foliolate, often large, mostly floating or partly emergent; petioles usually long and prominent
Lvs narrow-linear to elliptic, spathulate or obovate, sometimes pinnate, attenuate to cuneate and ± sessile at base, of small to moderate size, submerged to emergent
6
Petals united at base; lvs 3-foliolate or if simple then narrow-linear or orbicular and entire
7
Petals 5, obtuse, with small nectary at base; carpels free; fr. a transversely rugulose achene; lvs < 4 cm diam.
Petals > 5, subacute or acute, without nectary; carpels united; fr. a spongy berry; lvs > 5 cm diam.
9
Stems not normally emergent; floating lvs in dense rosettes, obovate to suborbicular
At least some stems becoming emergent in shallow water; floating lvs not in rosettes, filiform to lanceolate, elliptic or obovate
Calyx of 3-5 sepals; fr. indehiscent or if a capsule then seeds > 3 and not shining black and smooth
14
Lvs with appressed hairs, at least on upper surface; fls in scorpioid cymes; corolla blue; petals united
Lvs glabrous or if slightly hairy (emergent lvs) then hairs not appressed; fls in terminal spikes or heads, or solitary; corolla variously coloured but never blue; petals free or sometimes 0
15
Stems with hairs in grooves; infl. a dense head, pedunculate or sessile; fls with scarious white bracts
Stems glabrous or with hairs not in grooves; infl. a rather loose, pedunculate, cyme, umbel or spike (at least at anthesis) or fls solitary; bracts inconspicuous, neither white nor scarious
16
Stems angled or quadrangular when young, without pneumatophores; epicalyx present; ovary superior
Stems ± terete, often with spongy pneumatophores when submerged; epicalyx 0; ovary inferior
KEY TO PARASITES
Stems with chlorophyll although often yellowish; stamens 9, in 3 whorls; fr. a fleshy berry
Woody plants; lvs entire, often scale-like; perianth ± actinomorphic; fr. fleshy or nut-like
7
Lvs of normal appearance; perianth with a toothed or erose rim or fringe below, if rim lacking then fr. dry and 3-winged
Lvs often scale-like and minute; perianth without a rim below it; fr. always baccate
VISCACEAE†
