Pharmaceutical Botany Final Exam – Part II

Plant Classification System:

• Family: One or more genera that share a common origin.

• Subfamily: The name ends with “-oideae”.

Characteristics of Plant Families:

• Malvaceae (Mallow Family):

• Stamens fused at the filaments into a tube surrounding the ovary and style, anthers 2-celled, pollen smooth.

• Simple leaves, alternate, palmately veined, with stipules.

• Young branches and leaf blades often have branched, multicellular protective hairs.

• Rutaceae (Citrus Family):

• Androecium: A5+5 or A(n)

• Gynoecium: G4-5 or G(n)

• Lamiaceae (Mint Family):

• Floral formula: K(5)C(5)A4G(2).

• Stems square in cross-section, leaves simple, opposite decussate, without stipules.

• Euphorbiaceae (Spurge Family):

• Plants often have milky sap, inflorescences are racemes, spikes, cymes, cyathium, flowers unisexual.

• Malvaceae (Mallow Family):

• Perianth: 5 sepals fused in the pre-bloom stage, flowers may or may not have an epicalyx, 5 petals separate and twisted in the pre-bloom stage.

• Orchidaceae (Orchid Family):

• One fertile stamen, gynostemium, 3 carpels, inferior ovary with 1 locule, pollinia.

• Amaranthaceae (Amaranth Family):

• Note 1: Bracteoles

• Note 2: Sepals

• Poaceae (Grass Family):

• Androecium: A3-6

• Gynoecium: G(2-3)

• Apocynaceae (Dogbane Family):

• Leaves simple, entire, opposite or whorled, without stipules.

Common Characteristics of Families:

• Asteraceae (Sunflower Family):

• Seeds without endosperm

• Achenes

• Stamens fused at filaments.

• Apiaceae (Carrot Family):

• Achenes

• Cyperaceae (Sedge Family):

• Achenes

• Fabaceae (Pea Family):

• Seeds without endosperm

• Amaranthaceae (Amaranth Family):

• Stamens fused at filaments.

Evolutionary Characteristics:

• Flower Characteristics:

• Bisexual flowers

• Floral parts arranged in whorls

• Trees or shrubs

• Characteristics of vascular system and pollen:

• Vascular bundles scattered

• Wood with vessel elements

• Pollen with multiple pores

Taxonomic Hierarchy:

• From highest to lowest: Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Subphylum, Class, Order, Family, Tribe, Genus, Species, Subspecies.

Note: This article only summarizes some of the main content in Part II of the Pharmaceutical Botany final exam. You should review all of the materials to ensure you have a thorough understanding of the subject.