Topic 14 - Major dicot talons (identification and importance) Flashcards
Angiosperms
Flowering plants
Seeds are enclosed by mature ovaries, or fruits
Dicots
group of angiosperms whose seeds have two embryonic leaves or cotyledons
Major groups of dicot plants
Ranunculaceae Euphorbiaceae Fabaceae Rosaseae Brassicaceae Lamiaceae Solanaceae Apiaceae Asteraceae
Ranunculaceae
Buttercup family
Distribution: worldwide
Majority are perennial herbaceous plants
Many are poisonous, some are used as medicinal or ornamental plants
Ranunculaceae morphology
Leaves are generally palmately divided with serrated margins
Stipules are absent
Flowers are medium sized or large
Either hetero- and homoioclamydeus flowers
Actinomorphic (radial) and zygomorphic symmetry
Large numbers of stamens and carpels
Typical compounds in ranunculaceae
Ranunculin
steroids glycosides
Diterpene alkaloids
Euphorbiaceae
Spurge
Many cactus-like species in the tropics
In temperate zone, mainly annual or perennial herbaceous plants
Poisonous species of grasslands and hay
Species as ornamental plants
Euphorbiaceae morhphology
Generally simple, undivided leaves
Milky sap (latex)
Flower = cyathium
Cyathium
flower bracts + reduced female flower + nectar glands + groups of reduced male flowers
Typical compounds of euphorbiaceae
Phorbol esters
Cyanogenic glycosides
Euphorbiaceae species of economic importance
Rubber tree
Cassava
Castor bean
Fabaceae
Pea family
Wooden or herbaceous species
Pulse crops, forage legumes, grassland species
Typical compounds for fabaceae
quinolizidine and pyrimidine alkaloids lectins non-proteinogenic amino acids isoflavonoids cyanogenic glycosides
Rosaceae
Rose family
Deciduous or evergreen trees, shrubs or perennial herbaceous species
Species in food industry: fresh fruits, jams, juices
Ornamental plants → poisonings
Medicinal plants
Rosaceae Morphology
Simple or compound leaves, stipules are generally present
Pentamer, radial flowers (white, pink, red, rarely yellow colour)
Generally fleshy fruits (drupe, or accessory fruits)
Typical compounds of rosaceae
cyanogenic glycosides
flavonoids
Brassicaceae
Mustard family
Species distributed worldwide, but mainly in the temperate and Mediterranean region
Generally annual herbaceous plants
Fleshy forage plants
Species occur in arables, grasslands, and gardens as ornamental plants
Brassicaceae morphology
Species produce a rosette of leaves
Leaves generally lyrate, divided, and the upper one are sessile
Bisymmetric flower
Always 4 sepals and 4 petals, cross-like arrangement
4 longer and 2 shorter stamens
Fruit is a silicle (length and width are similar) or a silique (length > width)
With many seeds
Typical compounds for brassicaceae
Glucosinolates
Importance of brassicaceae
many species are used as common vegetables (e.g. cabbage, radish, horseradish)
Lamiaceae
Mint family
Species distributed worldwide
Mainly herbaceous species
Poisonous species are rare (with mild symptoms)
Economic importance (Teak wood)
Lamiaceae Morphology
Angular, square-like stem, opposite leaf arrangement, generally undivided leaves
Species often has aromatic leaves
Epidermal hairs occurs commonly
Flowers = 3 fused petals (lower lip) + 2 fused petals (upper lip)
The dried calyx remains on the stem
2 longer and 2 shorter stamens
Typical compounds of lamiaceae
Mainly terpenoid derivates (monoterpenoids, iridoids) in the volatile oil
Importance of lamiaceae
Common medicinal plants and herbs (mint, basil…)
Solanaceae
Nightshade family
Species distributed worldwide, but more abundant in the tropics
Mainly herbaceous species in the temperate zone
Europe → mainly weed, some species cultivated as vegetables or garden plants
Solanaceae morphology
Leaves are highly variable (simple, compound, undivided, hairy, bare) there’s no specific morphology
Flower also variable, but generally 5 fused sepals and 5 petals (free or fused)
Fruit is a berry or a capsule
Compounds of solanaceae
alkaloids (tropane, pyridine, diterpene)
Ergoline alkaloids → psychedelic effect
Importance of solanaceae
Common vegetables (tomato, chili, eggplant…)
Fleshy forages (potato)
Economic importance (pharmaceutical industry, tobacco)
As ornamental planta (angel’s trumpet)
Apiaceae
carrot family
Mainly herbaceous species
High volatile oil contetn
Species of natural habitats have generally medicinal or poisonous effects
Apiaceae morphology
Stem is generally furrowed and hollow
A reddish-brown colorization is often possible
Multiply compound leaves with divided leaflets
Leaf base modified into leaf sheet
Generally leaves are aromatic
Flowers are small, white or yellow, pentamerous with inflexed petals
Inflorescence is generally a compound umbel
Specific bracts: involucres and involucels (presence/absence)
Schizocarp fruit
Importance of apiaceae
Common vegetables
small forage importance
Asteraceae
Daisy family
Mainly herbaceous or succulent species
Distributed worldwide, but species are rare in tropical rainforests
High volatile oil content
Species of natural habitats often has a medicinal effect
Poisonous species are rare
Asteraceae morphology
Stipules are absent, leaves are simple and more or less divided – no specific morphology
Inflorescence is called head – with specific bract called phyllaries
Disc and ray flowers (see seminar 2)
If only ray flowers are present milky sap in the stem
Achenes (cypsela), with pappus
typical compounds of asteraceae
Flavonoids, Terpenoids, specific fatty acids
Importance of asteraceae
Crops → oilseed cake, vegetables (e.g.: lettuce, artichoke)
