Keys to the Families

1. Tendrils derived from the apical or basal portion of leaf

     2. Tendrils representing an extension of the midvein; inflorescence a capitulum with ray and disc

          flowers  --Asteraceae (Mutisia)

     2. Tendrils arising from the petiole or leaf sheath; inflorescence a cyme  --Smilacaceae

1. Tendrils entirely substituting one or more leaflets

    3. Tendril substituting the distal leaflet; leaves trifoliolate and opposite; stem’s cross sections with 4 or

         multiple of 4 phloem wedges  --Bignoniaceae

    3. Tendril substituting two or more distal leaflets or pinna; leaves pinnately compound, alternate;

         stem’s cross section without phloem wedges

         4. Leaves bipinnate; tendrils representing two opposite, distal pinna  --Fabaceae (Entada)

         4. Leaves once pinnate; tendrils representing several, alternate, distal leaflets

             5. Plant herbaceous, stipules present; corolla with standard, keel and wing petals --Fabaceae (Vicia)

             5. Plants woody or semi-woody; stipules absent; corolla sympetalous

                 6. Inflorescence a raceme; all flowers similar; fruit a capsule --Polemoniaceae (Cobaea)

                 6. Inflorescence a capitulum with ray and disc flowers; fruit an achene Asteraceae (Mutisia)

1. Tendril and inflorescences opposite to the leaves  --Vitaceae

1. Tendrils axillary, lateral to a leaf, or part of the inflorescence; inflorescence axillary or distal

     2. Tendrils developed from a portion of the inflorescence

         3. Tendrils distal on inflorescence branches --Polygonaceae (Antigonon)

         3. Tendrils basal to the inflorescence

              4. Tendrils in pairs --Sapindaceae

              4. Tendrils solitary

                  5. Stems straight, cylindrical with a round medulla; leaves simple, with serrate margins;

                       fruit a septicidal, trigonous capsule --Rhamnaceae (Reissekia)

                  5. Stems often sinuate, asymmetrical (lobed, quadrangular, flattened), with a cross-shaped medulla;

                       leaves with several arcuate secondary veins arising from the base, blade often bifoliolate to deeply

                       retuse at the apex; fruit a legume --Fabaceae (Schnella)

     2. Tendrils not developing from the inflorescence

         6. Tendrils axillary-lateral (usually at 90° angle with petiole), mostly branched --Cucurbitaceae

         6. Tendrils axillary, unbranched

             7. Tendrils helicoidal; petioles usually with nectary glands; stems usually with phloem wedges

                   --Passifloraceae

             7. Tendril circinate (at least in young stages)

                  8. Tendrils in pairs at end of short axis --Sapindaceae

                  8. Tendrils solitary

                      9. Leaves opposite; xylem with included islands of phloem  -- Loganiaceae

                     9. Leaves alternate; xylem lacking islands of included phloem

                        10. Stems straight, cylindrical with a round medulla; leaves simple, with serrate margins;

                              fruit a septicidal, trigonous capsule  --Rhamnaceae (Gouania)

                        10. Stems often sinuate, asymmetrical (lobed, quadrangular, flattened), with a cross-shaped medulla;

                             leaves with several arcuate secondary veins arising from the base, blade often bifoliolate

                             to deeply retuse at the apex; fruit a legume --Fabaceae (Schnella)

1. Leaves with numerous, secondary and tertiary parallel veins; calyx and corolla fused into tubular perianth;

    drupes covered by an accrescent calyx --Thymelaeaceae

1. Leaves with reticulate or scalariform tertiary venation; calyx and corolla not fused, petals free; fruits

     without an accrescent calyx

   2. Leaves and prehensile branches opposite, precociously developing before the leaves --Celastraceae

   2. Leaves and prehensile branches alternate, usually developing simultaneously with the leaves

       3. Leaves simple

           4. Flower zygomorphic; inner sepals petaloid; fruit syncarpous or a samara --Polygalaceae

           4. Corolla actinomorphic, petals all equal; fruits apocarpous --Menispermaceae

      3. Leaves compound

         5. Stipule absent; flowers actinomorphic produced in racemes; fruit a single or several follicles --Connaraceae

         5. Stipules present; flowers zygomorphic or if actinomorphic, produced in capitula; fruit a legume  --Fabaceae

1. Inflorescence a capitulum with ray and disc flowers --Asteraceae (Hidalgoa)

1. Inflorescence cymose with all flowers similar, or flowers solitary

    2. Leaves simple, alternate; flowers solitary

        3. Leaves peltate; calyx with a long spur --Tropaeolaceae

        3. Leaves not peltate; calyx not bearing a spur --Plantaginaceae (Lophospermum)

   2. Leaves compound, opposite; flowers produced in cymes

      4. Corolla wanting; stamens numerous; gynoecium of several free carpels; bark shaggy peeling off in

           fibrous strands --Ranunculaceae

      4. Corolla sympetalous; stamens 4; gynoecium syncarpous; bark smooth to rough but not peeling off in

           fibrous strands

          5. Plant herbaceous (stems 3-8 mm diam.); flowers minute (2-5 mm long); ovary inferior

              --Caprifoliaceae (Valeriana)

          5. Plant woody (stems 1-3 cm diam.); flower large (> 3 cm long); ovary superior

               --Bignoniaceae (Perianthomega)

1. Plant a pteridophyte

    2. Fronds monomorphic (fertile and sterile fronds similar in shape and size)

       3. Sori with peltate indusium --Oleandraceae

       3. Sori without indusial --Polypodiaceae

   2. Fronds dimorphic (fertile fronds significantly smaller than the sterile ones)

      4. Sori in elongate-linear groups that are lateral to the midvein; indusium entire, elongate

           --Blechnaceae (Blechnum)

      4. Sori dispersed on lower leaf surface; indusium absent

          5. Leaflets margins serrate or serrulate [add characters?] --Lomariopsidaceae

          5. Leaflet margins crenate  --Dryopteridaceae

1. Plant an anthophyte (flowering plant)

    6. Leaves wanting, stems photosynthetic, with clusters of spines --Cactaceae

    6.  Leaves present; stems not as above

         7. Leaves compound

             8. Leaves alternate --Anacardiaceae

             8. Leaves opposite --Bignoniaceae (Dolichandra)

        7. Leaves simple

            9. Leaves opposite

               10. Corolla of free petals

                    11. Leaf venation acrodromous (5-9 main parallel veins)  --Melastomataceae

                    11. Leaf venation pinnate

                          12. Leaves serrate; inflorescences with large, showy bracts --Hydrangeaceae

                          12. Leaves entire; inflorescences without large, showy bracts

                               13. Sepals with 2 large oil glands; petals yellow, clawed

                                      --Malpighiaceae (Mascagnia vacciniifolia)

                               13. Sepals not bearing oil glands; petals cream or greenish, not clawed

                                     14. Fruit indehiscent --Calophyllaceae

                                      14. Fruit dehiscent --Clusiaceae

            10. Corolla sympetalous

                 15. Stipules interpetiolar --Rubiaceae

                 15. Stipules wanting

                       16. Flowers with large, colorful bracts at base; stamens 4, staminodes 0; fruit capsular --Gesneriaceae

                       16. Flowers not bearing large bracteoles at base; stamens 2, staminodes 2; fruit a drupe

                              --Schlegeliaceae

     9. Leaves alternate

         17. Plant a monocot; stems with an atactostele

              18. Flowers large, with well-developed perianth; central petal forming a labellum, solitary, in racemes

                     or umbels --Orchidaceae

              18. Flowers minute, perianth small or wanting, produced in spikes

                    19. Leaves usually cordate, sagittate or truncate at base; stamens 3-6; ovary 1-3-locular --Araceae

                    19. Leaves attenuate at base; stamens 10-20; ovary 4-locular --Cyclanthaceae

        17. Plant a dicot; stems with an eustele

             20. Plant with milky sap  --Moraceae (Ficus)

             20. Plants with watery sap

                   21. Flowers naked or with minute perianth

                        22. Leaves with entire margins; stem’s cross section with wide rays; flowers naked, produced

                               in spikes; stems and leaves not stinging --Piperaceae

                       22. Leaves with dentate margins; stem’s cross section with inconspicuous rays; flowers with 4 minute

                           sepals, produced in cymes; young stems and leaves stinging --Urticaceae

                21. Flowers with well-developed perianth

                      23. Inflorescence a capitulum with ray and disc flowers --Asteraceae

                      23. Inflorescence not a capitulum, flowers all similar

                            24. Inflorescences with large nectaries, these either in the center of inflorescence or on

                                  the pedicels  --Marcgraviaceae

                            24. Inflorescences not carrying nectaries

                                 25. Leaves asymmetrical at base; flowers unisexual; corolla absent --Begoniaceae

                                25. Leaves symmetrical; flowers bisexual; corolla present

                                      26. Corolla of free petals --Araliaceae

                                      26. Corolla sympetalous

                                            27. Ovary inferior; corolla not plicate  --Ericaceae

                                            27. Ovary superior; corolla plicate --Solanaceae

1. Plant a pteridophyte; leaf with indeterminate growth (> 2 m long), leaf rachis voluble

     2. Sporangia produced on projections along the leaflet margin --Lygodiaceae

     2. Sporangia produced on abaxial surface of fronds, covered by an elongated, linear indusium lateral

            to the midvein --Blechnaceae (Salpichaena)

1. Plant a spermatophyte; leaves with determinate growth, leaf rachis not voluble

    3. Leaves alternate

        4. Plants with white latex --Convolvulaceae

        4. Plants with clear latex or latex not visible

            5. Leaves compound

               6. Leaves palmately compound; stipules lacking --Dioscoreaceae

               6. Leaves variously compound, not palmate

                   7. Stipules present --Fabaceae

                   7. Stipules absent --Connaraceae

            5. Leaves simple

              8. Leaves peltate --Hernandiaceae

              8. Leaves not peltate

                  9. Leaves with parallel secondary venation

                      10. Leaves clearly petioled; petioles, pulvinate at base; flowers actinomorphic, usually green

                               or cream --Dioscoreaceae

                      10. Leaves not evidently petioled forming a sheath at base; flowers zygomorphic, variously colored

                               but not green or cream 

                            11. Perianth formed by tepals of similar coloration; ovary semi-inferior; seeds with orange-red

                                     sarcotesta --Alstroemeriaceae

                             11. Perianth of sepals and petals, usually of different coloration; ovary superior; seeds

                                     not sarcotestal --Commelinaceae

                   9. Leaves with pinnate secondary venation

                        12. Flower formed by an enlarged inflated calyx (a utricle); corolla wanting (bark corky, with

                                conical projections); stem with axial vascular elements in radial segments --Aristolochiaceae

                         12. Flower not as above

                               13. Leaves with entire or crenate margins

                                      14. Stipules wanting

                                             15. Pubescence of stinging trichomes [need to confirm twining] --Loasaceae (Fuertesia)

                                              15. Pubescence without stinging trichomes

                                                    16. Corolla sympetalous

                                                          17. Fruit a capsule --Convolvulaceae

                                                          17. Fruit a berry

                                                                18. Inflorescence an scorpioid cyme; anthers loculicidal --Boraginaceae

                                                                18. Inflorescence not scorpioid; anthers poricidal --Solanaceae

                              16. Corolla wanting or petals free

                                      19. Flowers without perianth, produced in spikes --Piperaceae

                                      19. Flowers with perianth, not produced in spikes

                                                20. Plant with a pair of axillary, recurved thorns at the base of leaves; petals

                                                              and stamens numerous --Cactaceae (Pereskia)

                                                20. Plant lacking thorns; petals wanting or petals and stamens 3 or 5

                                                        21. Plant with strong disagreeable smell; flower lacking petals --Phytolaccaceae

                                                        21. Plant without disagreeable smell; flowers with 3 to 5 petals

                                                                22. Flowers 3-merous; fruits in drupaceous monocarps --Menispermaceae

                                                                22. Flowers 5-merous; fruit a berry, utricle, or samaroid mericarps

                                                                        23. Sepals biglandular; fruits of 3 samaroid mericarps

                                                                                --Malpighiaceae (Barnebya)

                                                                        23. Sepals not glandular; fruit a berry or an utricle

                                                                                    24. Stems woody, with successive, discontinuous, rings of

                                                                                              vascular tissue; leaves chartaceous; fruit a

                                                                                              circumscessile, membranous utricle --Amaranthaceae

                                                                                     24. Stems fleshy, with vascular elements divided in radial

                                                                                             segments (in species with secondary growth);

                                                                                             fruit a berry --Basellaceae

                                      14. Stipules present

                                            25. Stipules forming an ochrea; petals wanting --Polygonaceae

                                            25. Stipules, free, not forming an ochrea; petals bifid --Dichapetalaceae

                             13. Leaves with serrate, lobed, or dentate margins

                                   26. Inflorescence a capitulum --Asteraceae (Leonis, Pseudogynoxys)

                                   26. Inflorescence otherwise

                                         27. Flowers unisexual --Euphorbiaceae

                                         27. Flowers bisexual

                                               28. Corolla sympetalous --Plantaginaceae

                                               28. Corolla of free petals

                                                     29. Petals unequal, one of them spurred --Violaceae

                                                     29. Petals equal, not forming a spur

                                                           30. Stamens numerous; bark exfoliating in thin, reddish brown,

                                                                   rectangular plates --Dilleniaceae

                                                          30. Stamens 5; bark smooth or slightly rough, not exfoliating

                                                                31. Stems with successive rings of vascular tissue, producing a

                                                                        mucilaginous secretion; flowers lacking a nectary disc;

                                                                        fruit a drupe --Icacinaceae

                                                                31. Stems without successive growth of vascular tissue; flower with an

                                                                        annular nectary disc; fruit a capsule --Celastraceae (Celastrus)

     3. Leaves opposite, verticillate or fasciculate

          32. Leaves verticillate or fasciculate

                 33. Leaves fasciculate, with parallel venation; plant lacking white sap --Asparagaceae

                 33. Leaves verticillate, with pinnate venation; plant usually with white sap --Apocynaceae

          32. Leaves opposite

                 34. Inflorescence a capitulum --Asteraceae

                 34. Inflorescence of racemose or paniculate cymes

                       35. Stipules present

                             36. Petioles and/or leaf blade usually with prominent glands; sepals usually with a pair of oil

                                      glands; petals clawed; fruits usually a samaroid schizocarp --Malpighiaceae

                             36. Petioles and leaf blades without glands; sepals without oil glands; petals not keeled; fruits

                                     not samaroid

                                   37. Corolla of unequal, free petals, one of them spurred --Trigoniaceae

                                   37. Corolla sympetalous

                                         38. Plant without white latex; ovary inferior; fruit a berry, capsule or drupe --Rubiaceae

                                         38. Plant usually with white latex; ovary superior; fruits usually of

                                                 apocarpous follicles --Apocynaceae

                      35. Stipules wanting

                            39. Stems with successive production of vascular tissues

                                  40. Stems producing a cream latex; “flowers” in unisexual verticels on bisexual

                                            strobili; areoles lacking free veinlets --Gnetaceae

                                  40. Stems not producing latex; flowers bisexual in spikes or panicles;

                                           areoles with a free veinlet --Amaranthaceae

                            39. Stems with regular anatomy,

                                   41. Leaf venation acrodromous, with several main veins from base --Melastomataceae

                                   41. Leaf venation pinnate

                                         42. Corolla of free petals, or absent

                                                 43. Calyx cupular or tubular, without oil glands; petals much smaller than the calyx

                                                       or absent; stems usually with mucilaginous exudate and intraxylematic phloem;

                                                       cortex usually with layers of sclereids --Combretaceae

                                                43. Calyx with free sepals, 4 of them with a large oil gland; petals clawed, larger

                                                        than the sepals; stems not producing a mucilaginous exudate; cortex with

                                                         bundles of sclereids or these absent

                                                         --Malpighiaceae (Lophopterys and some Heteropterys)

                                          42. Corolla tubular, larger than the calyx; stems not showing mucilaginous exudate

                                                 44. Leaves compound

                                                       45. Stems woody; ovary superior; petioles not prehensile --Oleaceae

                                                       45. Stems herbaceous; ovary inferior (some species also with

                                                                prehensile petioles) --Caprifoliaceae

                                                  45. Leaves simple

                                                        46. Flowers subtended by two, large bracteoles

                                                                 --Acanthaceae (Mendoncia, Thunbergia)

                                                        46. Flowers not subtended by large bracteoles

                                                               47. Corolla gibose (lower portion forming a large pouch) --Calceolariaceae

                                                               47. Corolla not gibose

                                                                     48. Inflorescences dichotomously branched cymes; placentation parietal

                                                                             --Gentianaceae (Bisgoeppertia)

                                                                     48. Inflorescences not dichotomously branched; placentation axial

                                                                           49. Ovary not lobed; style terminal --Verbenaceae

                                                                           49. Ovary 4-lobed; style gynobasic --Lamiaceae

1. Inflorescence a capitulum --Asteraceae (Dasyphyllum)

1. Inflorescence not a capitulum

    2. Leaves simple

        3. Leaves opposite --Acanthaceae (Oplonia)

        3. Leaves alternate

            4. Leaves with serrate margins

                5. Leaf with a pair of recurved stipular spines at the base; flowers unisexual; ovary

                      bicarpellate; fruit a fleshy drupe --Cannabaceae

                5. Leaves without recurved stipular spines; flowers bisexual; ovary 3-5-carpellate; fruit not a drupe

                     6. Flowers in axillary cymes; petals with an unguiculate, apical appendage; fruit a schizocarp

                           --Malvaceae (Byttneria)

                     6. Flowers in axillary fascicles; petals wanting; fruit a fleshy capsule --Salicaceae

           4. Leaves with entire margins

                7. Corolla sympetalous

                     8. Leaves fasciculate, on short lateral clusters; anthers opening along lateral slits

                         --Boraginaceae (Rochefortia)

                      8. Leaves alternate; anthers poricidal --Solanaceae (Solanum)

                  7. Corolla wanting

                       9. Calyx tubular --Nyctaginaceae

                       9. Calyx of free sepals -- Petiveriaceae

    2. Leaves compound

        10. Climbing palms; distal leaflets usually modified into reflexed hooks; inflorescence subtended

                 by a large, woody, spiny spathe --Arecaceae

        10. Leaflets not modified into hooks; inflorescences not subtended by a spathe

              11. Leaves glandular punctate; fruit a capsule --Rutaceae

              11. Leaves not glandular punctate; fruit not capsular

                    12. Stamens numerous; carpels numerous, coherent; fruits a syncarp of numerous,

                            minute, coherent drupes --Rosaceae

                     12. Stamens ca. 10; carpel solitary; fruit a legume --Fabaceae

1. Plant a pteridophyte

    2. Leaves scale-like, with a single unbranched vein --Selaginellaceae

    2. Leaves well developed with reticulate venation

        3. Sori marginal or submarginal on fronds --Dennstaedtiaceae

        3. Sori on abaxial side of fronds

            4. Fronds bifurcate; lamina pinnatisect --Gleicheniaceae

            4. Fronds pinnately compound, lamina dichotomously divided into narrow segments --Pteridaceae

1. Plant an antophyte (flowering plant)

    5. Plant a monocot

         6. Flowers lacking perianth

             7. Weak herbs with trigonous, solid stems--Cyperaceae

             7. Wiry or sub-woody herbs with cylindrical, solid or hollow stems --Poaceae

                 8. Flowers with showy perianth

                    9. Plant a climbing palm --Arecaceae (Chamaedorea)

                    9. Plants herbaceous not a palm

                         10. Petals, blue, violet, pink or white; stamens 3; staminodes

                                   3, not petaloid --Commelinaceae

                          10. Petals whitish to pink; stamen 1; staminodes 5, petaloid or

                                    modified into a hood --Marantaceae

     5. Plant a dicot

         11. Leaves compound

               12. Leaves opposite --Bignoniaceae (Podranea, Tecoma)

               12. Leaves alternate

                      13. Stipules present; fruit a legume -- Fabaceae

                      13. Stipules absent; fruit not a legume

                             14. Plant herbaceous 1-2 m long; fruit capsular

                                   15. Petals 4; ovary subtended by a gynophore --Cleomaceae

                                    15. Petals 5; ovary sessile --Oxalidaceae

                             14. Plants woody > 3 m long; fruit a drupe or follicle

                                    16. Leaflets crenate to serrulate; fruit a drupe --Anacardiaceae

                                     16. Leaflets entire; fruit a follicle --Connaraceae

         11. Leaves simple

                17. Leaves opposite or verticillate

                       18. Inflorescence a capitulum --Asteraceae

                       18. Inflorescence not a capitulum

                              19. Corolla gamopetalous

                                    20. Plant with white latex --Apocynaceae (Allamanda)

                                    20. Plant with clear or no visible exudate

                                          21. Stipule interpetiolar; ovary inferior --Rubiaceae

                                          21. Stipules absent; ovary superior

                                                22. Fruit a capsule

                                                      23. Corolla bilabiate; capsule with hook placenta --Acanthaceae

                                                      23. Corolla regular; capsule without hook placenta

                                                               24. Inflorescences dichotomously branched cymes;

                                                                        placentation parietal --Gentianaceae

                                                               24. Inflorescences not dichotomously branched;

                                                                       placentation axial --Plantaginaceae

                                                22. Fruit a drupe

                                                       25. Ovary semi-inferior --Adoxaceae

                                                             26. Ovary superior

                                                                   27. Ovary, deeply 4-lobed; style gynobasic

                                                                            [check for add charact] --Lamiaceae

                                                                    27. Ovary not lobed; style terminal --Verbenaceae

                              19. Corolla of free petals, or wanting

                                     28. Leaf venation acrodromous, with several main veins from base

                                            29. Ovary syncarpous; leaves petioled --Melastomataceae

                                            29. Ovary completely or partially apocarpous;

                                                      leaves sessile --Coriariaceae

                                       28. Leaf venation pinnate

                                             30. Leaves serrulate; flowers unisexual

                                                    31. Pubescence of simple hairs; staminate flower on campanulate receptacle;

                                                           anthers 4-locular, opening through lateral slits --Monimiaceae

                                                    31. Pubescence of stellate hairs; staminate flower on urceolate receptacle;

                                                           anthers 2-locular, opening through 2 adaxial valves --Siparunaceae

                                             30. Leaves entire; flowers bisexual

                                                   32. Stems with successive rings of vascular tissue;

                                                            fruit a circumscissile, membranous utricle --Amaranthaceae

                                                   32. Stems with regular production of vascular tissue;

                                                            fruit indehiscent, a berry or a capsule

                                                         33. Plant with watery, inconspicuous or mucilaginous

                                                                 exudate; ovary inferior, calyx forming a hypanthium

                                                               34. Exudate watery or not visible; stems without perimedular

                                                                       phloem; flowers solitary, pendulous; fruit a berry

                                                                       --Onagraceae

                                                               34. Exudate usually mucilaginous stems with perimedular

                                                                      phloem; flowers in spikes or racemes; fruit dry, indehiscent

                                                                      or dehiscent, 4- or 5-winged --Combretaceae

                                                        33. Plant with yellow or orangish exudate; ovary superior; calyx

                                                                      not forming a hypanthium

                                                              35. Fruit indehiscent --Calophyllaceae

                                                              35. Fruit capsular --Clusiaceae

                17.  Leaves alternate

                       36. Plant producing milky sap; stipule deciduous, elongate, forming a

                             conical hood that protects the apical meristem; fruit a syconium --Moraceae

                        36. Plant with watery or milky sap; stipule if present, not as above

                              37. Corolla gamopetalous

                                    38. Flowers produced in capitula --Asteraceae

                                    38. Flowers in racemose or paniculate inflorescence

                                          39. Plant with white latex

                                                40. Leaves serrulate, petioled at the base; corolla

                                                      zygomorphic --Campanulaceae

                                                 40. Leaves deeply lobed, petioles peltate; corolla

                                                      actinomorphic --Caricaceae

                         36. Plant with clear latex

                                41. Inflorescences scorpioid --Boraginaceae

                                      42. Inflorescence not scorpioid

                                            43. Corolla plicate --Solanaceae

                                            43. Corolla not plicate

                                                  44. Calyx with 5 longitudinal ribs covered with stipitate

                                                        glands; fruit a valvate capsule with a single seed --Plumbaginaceae

                                                   44. Calyx not as above; fruit a berry with numerous seeds --Ericaceae

                             37. Corolla of free petals or wanting

                                   45. Corolla wanting or early deciduous

                                         46. Xylem with included islands of phloem --Nyctaginaceae

                                         46. Xylem without included xylem

                                                 47. Flowers unisexual

                                                       48. Flowers produced in spikes; leaves usually

                                                               aromatic --Piperaceae

                                                       48. Flowers in racemes, glomerules, or cyathia; leaves

                                                               not aromatic --Euphorbiaceae

                                                 47. Flower bisexual

                                                       49. Stipules present, forming an ochrea --Polygonaceae

                                                       49. Stipules absent

                                                             50. Stems with successive rings of vascular tissue; fruit a

                                                                    circumscissile, membranous utricle --Amaranthaceae

                                                             50. Stems with regular vascular tissue; fruit a capsule or a berry

                                                                    51. Petals early deciduous; styles 3-5, elongated; fruit

                                                                           Capsular --Stegnospermataceae

                                                                    51. Petals absent; style wanting, stigma plumose or brush-

                                                                           like --Petiveriaceae (Trichostigma)

                                   45. Corolla present

                                         52. Flower with a nectar spur

                                                53. Nectar spur formed by lower petals --Violaceae

                                                53. Nectar spur formed by sepals --Tropaeolaceae

                                         52. Flower lacking a nectar spur

                                                54. Flower zygomorphic --Polygalaceae

                                                54. Flower actinomorphic

                                                      55. Flower subtended by a bract that is modified into a nectary of

                                                              various shape --Marcgraviaceae

                                                      55. Flower not subtended by a nectary

                                                            56. Ovary subtended by a gynophore --Capparaceae

                                                            56. Ovary sessile

                                                                  57. Flower apocarpous, with numerous stamens --Annonaceae

                                                                  57. Flower syncarpous; stamens 5 or 10

                                                                       58. Petals bifid; inflorescence born at apex of

                                                                              petioles --Dichapetalaceae

                                                                       58. Petals simple; inflorescence axillary or distal

                                                                             59. Stamens in a staminal tube --Symplocaceae

                                                                             59. Stamens free

                                                                                   60. Flower unisexual

                                                                                         61. Stems quadrangular; calyx forming a

                                                                                                hypanthium; ovary inferior; stamens

                                                                                                alternating with petals --Griseliniaceae

                                                                                         61. Stem cylindrical; calyx not forming a

                                                                                                hypanthium; ovary superior; stamens

                                                                                                opposite to petals --Phyllanthaceae

                                                                                   60. Flowers bisexual

                                                                                         62. Calyx forming a large hypanthium

                                                                                                63. Plant without stinging trichomes;

                                                                                                      ovary superior; petals unguiculate, much

                                                                                                      shorter than the calyx --Lythraceae

                                                                                                 63. Plant with stinging trichomes; ovary

                                                                                                       inferior; petals sessile or unguiculate, as

                                                                                                       long as the calyx --Loasaceae

                                                                                         62. Calyx not forming a hypanthium

                                                                                                64. Petals with unguiculate apical appendage;

                                                                                                      fruits a schizocarp --Malvaceae

                                                                                                64. Petals lacking an unguiculate apical

                                                                                                       appendage; fruit a drupe

                                                                                                       65. Stamens 5 or 6

                                                                                                              66. Stamens 5 or 6, anthers opening

                                                                                                                    by small flaps; petals sessile, not

                                                                                                                   covering the stamens -- Lauraceae

                                                                                                              66. Stamens 5; petals unguiculate,

                                                                                                                  concave, partially covering the

                                                                                                                  opposite stamen --Rhamnaceae

                                                                                                       65. Stamens 10 or 15; petals not as

                                                                                                              above

                                                                                                               67. Fruit with an accrescent calyx at

                                                                                                                     the base --Erythropalaceae

                                                                                                               67. Fruit without an acrescent calyx

                                                                                                                     at base -- Olacaceae