Keys to the Families

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

     2. Tendril solitary, derived from apical portion of leaf blade

           3. Leaf midvein prolonged into a spiral tendril; inflorescence a capitulum with ray and disc
                flowers --Asteraceae (Mutisia)

           3. Leaf apex prolonged into a circinate tendril-like tip; inflorescence a panicle with laterally compressed spikelets
                 -- Poaceae (Melica)

      2. Tendrils in pairs, arising from the petiole or leaf sheath --Smilacaceae

1. Tendrils entirely substituting one or more leaflets

      4. Tendril substituting the distal leaflet; leaves trifoliolate and opposite; stem’s cross sections with 4 or
            multiple of 4 phloem wedges --Bignoniaceae

      4. Tendril substituting two or more distal leaflets or pinna; leaves pinnately compound, alternate; 
            stem’s cross section without phloem wedges

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

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

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

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

                    7. Inflorescence a dichasial cyme or flowers solitary; all flowers similar;
                        fruit a capsule --Polemoniaceae (Cobaea)

                    7. Inflorescence a capitulum with ray and disc flowers; fruit a cypsela 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 circinate

           3. Leaves compound

                  4. Leaves imparipinnate; tendrils always paired, often at the base of the flowering portion of the inflorescence 
                        --Sapindaceae         

                  4. Leaves paripinnate; tendrils solitary, not produced at the base of inflorescence --Fabaceae (Senegalia)

           3.  Leaves simple (sometimes deeply bilobed)

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

                5. Leaves alternate; xylem not containing islands of phloem

                      6. Stipules connate around the stem to form a tubular ochrea; tendrils formed at distal ends of inflorescence
                           --Polygonaceae (Antigonon)

                      6. Stipules not forming a tubular ochrea; tendrils not as above

                          7. Leaves commonly retuse at apex to deeply bilobed (sometimes resembling two separate leaflets); stem
                           cross-section with a cross-shaped medulla --Fabaceae (Schnella)

                          7. Leaves not retuse nor deeply bilobed; stem cross-section with a cylindrical medulla

                                8. Inflorescences axillary, cymose; peduncles elongate, bearing two triads and a hook-like,
                                      circinate tendril; flowers 4-merous, with a tubular laciniate corona and a short
                                      androgynophore; fruit a capsule --Passifloraceae (Ancistrothyrsus)

                                8.  Inflorescence axillary or terminal, spicate, racemose or paniculate thyrses, tendrils solitary
                                        at the end of short branches or associated to the inflorescences; fruit a septicidal, 
                                        trigonous capsule --Rhamnaceae  

      2. Tendrils helicoidal or filiform

            9. Tendrils axillary-lateral (usually at 90° angle with petiole), mostly branched; stems mostly fleshy,
                  herbaceous; cross-sections commonly with axial vascular elements divided in radial segments by
                  broad strips of ground tissue --Cucurbitaceae

            9. Tendrils axillary, commonly unbranched; stems herbaceous to woody; cross-sections with abundant
                 wide rays within the xylem and most species with phloem wedges --Passifloraceae

         

                                    

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

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

        3. Leaves not peltate; calyx not bearing a spur

             4. Flower formed by a tubular perianth, deep pink, large (> 2 cm long), constricted below the middle;
                    fruits an ellipsoid or ovoid anthocarp --Nyctaginaceae (Belemia)

             4. Flower with distinct calyx and corolla; corolla gamopetalous, bilabiate; fruit capsular
                 (Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras) --Plantaginaceae (Lophospermum)

   2. Leaves compound, opposite

      5. Corolla wanting; stamens numerous; gynoecium of several free carpels; bark shaggy peeling off in
            fibrous strands --Ranunculaceae

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

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

          6. 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)
          --Oleandraceae

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

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

           --Blechnaceae (Lomaridium)

        3. Sori dispersed on lower leaf surface; indusium absent

            4. Leaflets margins serrate or serrulate; veins free or bifurcate --Lomariopsidaceae

            4. Leaflet margins crenate; veins polygonal-areolate without free veinlets --Dryopteridaceae

1. Plant an anthophyte (flowering plant)

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

    5.  Leaves present; stems not as above

         6. Leaves compound

             7. Leaves alternate --Anacardiaceae

             7. Leaves opposite --Bignoniaceae (Campsis, Dolichandra)

        6. Leaves simple

            8. Leaves opposite

               9. Corolla of free petals

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

                    10. Leaf venation pinnate

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

                          11. Leaves entire; inflorescences without large, showy bracts

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

                                      --Malpighiaceae (Mascagnia vacciniifolia)

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

                                     13. Fruit indehiscent --Calophyllaceae

                                      13. Fruit dehiscent --Clusiaceae

            9. Corolla sympetalous

                 14. Stipules interpetiolar --Rubiaceae

                 14. Stipules wanting

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

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

                              --Schlegeliaceae

     8. Leaves alternate

         16. Plant a monocot; stems with an atactostele

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

                     or umbels --Orchidaceae

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

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

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

        16. Plant a dicot; stems with an eustele

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

             19. Plants with watery sap

                   20. Flowers naked or with minute perianth

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

                               in spikes; stems and leaves not stinging --Piperaceae

                       21. 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

                20. Flowers with well-developed perianth

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

                      22. Inflorescence not a capitulum, flowers all similar

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

                                  the pedicels --Marcgraviaceae

                            23. Inflorescences not carrying nectaries

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

                                24. Leaves symmetrical; flowers bisexual; corolla present

                                      25. Corolla of free petals --Araliaceae

                                      25. Corolla sympetalous

                                            26. Ovary inferior; corolla not plicate --Ericaceae

                                            26. Ovary superior; corolla plicate --Solanaceae

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

     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 if present not voluble

    3. Leaves alternate

        4. Plants with white latex

            5. Leaves entire; corolla actinomorphic--Convolvulaceae (most genera)

            5. Leaves serrate or denticulate; corolla bilabiate -- Campanulaceae (Siphocampylus)

        4. Plants with clear latex or latex not visible

            6. Leaves compound

               7. Leaves palmately compound; stipules lacking --Dioscoreaceae

               7. Leaves variously compound (commonly trifoliolate), not palmate; stipules present --Fabaceae

            6. Leaves simple

              8. Petioles pulvinate at both ends --Menispermaceae 

              8. Petioles not pulvinate or if pulvinate, only at base

                  9. Leaves with numerous, secondary veins that are parallel to the midvein

                       10. Leaves resupinate or semi-resupinate, not sheathed at base; perianth formed by tepals of similar
                              coloration; ovary semi-inferior; seeds with orange-red sarcotesta --Alstroemeriaceae

                       10. Leaves not resupinate, with sheathing or clasping bases; perianth of sepals and petals, usually
                              of different coloration; ovary superior; seeds not sarcotestal --Commelinaceae

                 9. Leaves palmately veined (plinerved, subtriplinerved or acrodromous) or with pinnate secondary venation

                       11. Plant scabrid, glochidiate, scabrid-glochidiate with stinging (splinter or glandular) hairs --Loasaceae

                       11. Plant not as above                       

                             12. Leaves palmately veined (plinerved, subtriplinerved or acrodromous)

                                   13. Flower large (often > 2 cm long), formed by an enlarged inflated calyx (an utricle);
                                         corolla wanting; stem with axial vascular elements in radial segments --Aristolochiaceae

                                   13. Flowers not as above; stem not as above

                                          14. Leaves plinerved or acrodromous; stems herbaceous or wiry; stem cross-section
                                                with collateral vascular bundles scattered in the ground tissue; flowers formed
                                                by 6 distinct or connate tepals in 2 whorls-- Dioscoreaceae

                                          14. Leaves subtriplinerved; stems woody or subwoody; stem cross-section with xylem
                                                forming a continuous large cylinder traversed by narrow or inconspicuous rays;
                                                flowers with well develop calyx and corolla, 5-merous -- Malvaceae

                             12. Leaves pinnately veined

                                      15. Leaves with entire or crenate margins

                                           16. Stipules wanting

                                                    17. Corolla sympetalous

                                                          18. Fruit a capsule or leathery berry --Convolvulaceae

                                                          18. Fruit a berry

                                                                19. Inflorescence a scorpioid cyme; corolla not plicate;
                                                                      anthers loculicidal --Boraginaceae

                                                                19. Inflorescence not scorpioid; corolla plicate; anthers
                                                                      poricidal or loculicidal--Solanaceae

                              17. Corolla wanting or petals free

                                      20. Plant aromatic; flowers without perianth, produced in spikes --Piperaceae

                                      20. Plant not aromatic, or with unpleasant smell; flowers with perianth, not produced in spikes

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

                                                              and stamens numerous --Cactaceae (Pereskia)

                                                21. Plant lacking thorns; petals wanting or petals and stamens 5-merous

                                                        22. Plant with strong disagreeable smell; flower
                                                               lacking petals --Phytolaccaceae (Agdestis)

                                                        22. Plant without disagreeable smell; flowers with 5 petals

                                                               23. Sepals with 2 large, abaxial oil glands; fruits of 3 samaroid mericarps
                                                                     --Malpighiaceae (Barnebya)

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

                                                                      24. Stem woody, cross-section with successive rings of xylem and phloem

                                                                              25. Stem cross-sections with discontinuous rings of vascular tissue;
                                                                                     fruit a circumscissile membranous utricle --Amaranthaceae   

                                                                              25. Stem cross-sections with continuous rings of vascular tissue;
                                                                                    fruit a fleshy or leathery berry --Polygalaceae

                                                                      24. Stems fleshy, cross-sections with vascular elements divided
                                                                             in radial segments --Basellaceae

                                      16. Stipules present

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

                                            26. Stipules, free, not forming an ochrea; petals present

                                                  27. Leaves crenate; petals entire at the apex, cucullate,
                                                         enveloping the stamens; inflorescences axillary or terminal
                                                         racemose or paniculate thyrses -- Rhamnaceae (Berchemia)

                                                  27. Leaves entire; petals bifid at the apex, not enveloping the stamens;
                                                         inflorescences dichotomously branched, often adnate to the petiole,
                                                         fasciculate, corymbose or paniculate cymes --Dichapetalaceae

                             15. Leaves with serrate, lobed, or dentate margins

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

                                   28. Inflorescence otherwise

                                         29. Flowers unisexual --Euphorbiaceae

                                         29. Flowers bisexual

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

                                                30. Petals equal, not forming a spur

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

                                                                   rectangular plates --Dilleniaceae

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

                                                                32. Stems with successive rings of vascular tissue, producing
                                                                      a mucilaginous secretion; flowers lacking a nectary disc;
                                                                      fruit a drupe --Icacinaceae

                                                                32. Stems without successive growth of vascular tissue;
                                                                       flower with an annular nectary disc; 
                                                                       fruit a capsule --Celastraceae (Celastrus)

     3. Leaves opposite, verticillate or fasciculate

          33. Leaves verticillate or fasciculate

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

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

          33. Leaves opposite

                 35. Inflorescence a capitulum --Asteraceae

                 35. Inflorescence of racemose or paniculate cymes

                       36. Stipules present

                             37. 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

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

                                     not samaroid

                                   38. Corolla of unequal, free petals, one of them spurred; ovary superior; fruit a capsule
                                           --Trigoniaceae

                                   38. Corolla sympetalous; ovary inferior; fruit a berry, capsule or drupe --Rubiaceae

                       36. Stipules wanting

                            39. Stems with successive production of vascular tissues

                                  40. Stems producing a cream or white latex

                                         41. "Inflorescences" (strobili) axillary, paniculate, with whorled spike-like units (cones)  bearing
                                                 verticels of naked "flowers" subtended by cupular or annular involucral collars;
                                                 leaf blades with areoles lacking free veinlets --Gnetaceae

                                         41. Inflorescences axillary and/or terminal, frequently 2 per node, a dichasial cyme or a thyrse,
                                               with 5 to 30 large gamopetalous flowers, subtended by bracts; leaf blades with areoles
                                               containing free veinlets --Apocynaceae (Odontadenia).   .                                

                                  40. Stems not producing latex --Amaranthaceae

                            39. Stems without successive rings of vascular tissues

                                  42. Stem cross section with interxylary phloem islands --Gelsemiaceae

                                  42. Stem cross section with regular anatomy

                                        43. Plant parasitic; in addition to twining branches climbing through the aid
                                              of stout epicortical roots equipped with haustoria -- Loranthaceae (Struthanthus)

                                        43. Plants not parasitic; without epicortical roots or haustoria

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

                                             44. Leaf venation pinnate or palmate, not acrodromous

                                                   45. Corolla of free petals, or absent

                                                         46. Pubescence never of stinging or glochidiate hairs; woody lianas; stem
                                                                cross-section with perimedular phloem and usually with mucilaginous exudate; 
                                                                cortex usually with layers of sclereids; inflorescence racemose or
                                                                paniculate -- Combretaceae

                                                         46. Pubescens of stinging, glochidiate or scabrid hairs; herbaceous vines; stem
                                                                 cross-section without a perimedular phloem, lacking mucilaginous exudate;
                                                                 cortex lacking bundles of sclereids; inflorescence of
                                                                 dichasiate cymes or flowers solitary --Loasaceae

                 45. Corolla gamopetalous

                       47. Leaves compound

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

                             48. Stems herbaceous; ovary inferior (petioles sometimes prehensile) --Caprifoliaceae

                       47. Leaves simple

                             49. Flowers subtended by two, large bracteoles --Acanthaceae (Mendoncia, Thunbergia)

                             49. Flowers not subtended by large bracteoles

                                   50. Calyx relatively large, spathaceous, slightly inflated --Orobanchaceae (Vellosiella)

                                    50. Calyx not as above

                                          51. Corolla gibbose (lower portion forming a large pouch) --Calceolariaceae

                                          51. Corolla not gibbose

                                                 52. Inflorescences dichotomously branched cymes; placentation
                                                        parietal --Gentianaceae (Bisgoeppertia)

                                                  52. Inflorescences not dichotomously branched; placentation axial

                                                        53. Ovary not lobed; style terminal --Verbenaceae

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

1. Scrambling fern; leaves rachides armed with prickles -- Lindsaeaceae (Odontosoria)

1. Scrambling flowering plant; plants armed with axillary or stipular spines, or with prickle along stems or leaves 

    2. Inflorescence a capitulum --Asteraceae (Dasyphyllum)

    2. Inflorescence not a capitulum

        3. Leaves simple

           4. Leaves opposite --Acanthaceae (Oplonia)

           4. Leaves alternate

               5. Leaves with serrate margins

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

                        bicarpellate; fruit a fleshy drupe --Cannabaceae

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

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

                              --Malvaceae (Byttneria)

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

              5. Leaves with entire margins

                   8. Corolla sympetalous; anthers poricidal --Solanaceae (Solanum)

                   8. Corolla wanting; anthers opening by longitudinal slits

                       9. Calyx tubular --Nyctaginaceae

                       9. Calyx of free sepals -- Petiveriaceae

     3. 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. Scrambling fern or fern ally

     2. Plant climbing through 3-pinnate scrambling leaves that are up
         to 3 m long; leaves megaphyllous --Lindsaeaceae (Odontosoria) 

     2. Plant climbing through elongated, slender, brittle stems
         that are 5 to 10 m long; leaves microphyllous -- Selaginellaceae

1. Scrambling flowering plant

    2. Plant a monocot

         3. Flowers lacking perianth

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

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

         3. Flowers with showy perianth

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

                    5. Plants herbaceous not a palm

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

                                   not petaloid --Commelinaceae

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

                                    modified into a hood --Marantaceae

     2. Plant a dicot

         7. Leaves compound

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

               8. Leaves alternate

                      9. Stipules present; fruit a legume -- Fabaceae

                      9. Stipules absent; fruit not a legume

                             10. Plant herbaceous or sub-woody 1-2.5 m long

                                    11. Leaves bipinnate, ca. 60 cm long; corolla wanting; fruit an achene --Ranunculaceae (Thalictrum)

                                    11. Leaves trifoliolate, < 15 cm long; corolla of 5, free, yellow petals; fruit capsular --Oxalidaceae

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

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

                                    12. Leaflets entire; fruit a follicle --Connaraceae

         7. Leaves simple

                13. Leaves opposite or verticillate

                       14. Inflorescence a capitulum --Asteraceae

                       14. Inflorescence not a capitulum

                              15. Corolla gamopetalous

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

                                    16. Plant with clear or no visible exudate

                                          17. Stipule interpetiolar

                                                 18. Stipules represented by an interpetiolar ridge or line; ovary superior
                                                       or partly inferior

                                                       19. Plant densely tomentose with whitish grey stellate hairs; stem
                                                              cross-section with regular anatomy; leaves pinnately veined
                                                               --Scrophulariaceae

                                                       19. Plant with various indument but not as above; stem cross-section
                                                             with interxylary phloem islands; leaves with acrodromous venation
                                                             --Loganiaceae

                                                 18. Stipules quite variable in size and shape but not represented by a ridge
                                                        line; ovary inferior; --Rubiaceae

                                          17. Stipules absent; ovary superior

                                                20. Fruit a capsule

                                                      21. Corolla bilabiate

                                                            22. Calyx of free sepals

                                                                  23. Leaves often with epidermal cystoliths; capsule
                                                                         with hook placenta --Acanthaceae

                                                                 23. Leaves lacking epidermal cystoliths; capsule without
                                                                      hook placenta --Calceolariaceae

                                                            22. Calyx gamosepalous, spathaceous --Orobanchaceae

                                                      21. Corolla actinomorphic

                                                               24. Inflorescences dichotomously branched cymes;

                                                                        placentation parietal --Gentianaceae

                                                               24. Inflorescences not dichotomously branched;

                                                                       placentation axial --Plantaginaceae

                                                20. Fruit a drupe

                                                       25. Ovary semi-inferior --Viburnaceae

                                                       25. Ovary superior

                                                              26. Ovary, deeply 4-lobed; style gynobasic --Lamiaceae

                                                              26. Ovary not lobed; style terminal --Verbenaceae

                              15. Petals free or wanting 

                                     27. Leaf venation acrodromous or plinerved, with several main veins from base

                                           28. Leaves 5-plinerved; stamens 40-50 per flower
                                                  -- Hydrangeaceae (Philadelphus)

                                                  29. Leaves acrodromous; stamens 8 to 12 per flower

                                                        30. Ovary syncarpous; leaves petioled --Melastomataceae

                                                        30. Ovary completely or partially apocarpous; 
                                                               leaves sessile --Coriariaceae

                                    27. Leaf venation pinnate

                                             31. Leaves serrulate; flowers unisexual --Monimiaceae

                                             31. Leaves entire; flowers bisexual

                                                   32. Stems with successive rings of vascular tissue;

                                                            fruit a circumscissile, membranous utricle --Amaranthaceae

                                                   32. Stems without successive rings of vascular tissue;

                                                            fruit indehiscent, a berry or a capsule

                                                             33. Plant with watery, inconspicuous or mucilaginous exudate

                                                                   34. Cross-section of mature stems with 4(5) conspicuous
                                                                         equidistant phloem wedges; flower zygomorphic;
                                                                         calyx not forming a hypanthium; ovary superior;
                                                                         fruit a septicidal, trigonous capsule; 
                                                                         seeds covered by long, wooly hairs -- Trigoniaceae

                                                                  34. Cross section of mature stems not as above; flowers
                                                                         actinomorphic; calyx forming a hypanthium; ovary inferior;
                                                                         fruit a berry or a dry pseudocarp

                                                                        35. Exudate watery or not visible; stems without perimedular
                                                                              phloem; flowers solitary, pendulous; fruit a berry
                                                                               --Onagraceae

                                                                        35. 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

                                                              36. Fruit indehiscent --Calophyllaceae

                                                              36. Fruit capsular --Clusiaceae

    13.  Leaves alternate

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

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

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

                   38. Flowers naked; leaves usually aromatic --Piperaceae

                   38. Flowers not naked; leaves not aromatic

                          39. Perianth of 3-5 tepals

                                 40. Stems with successive rings of vascular tissue; 
                                       fruit a circumscissile, membranous utricle --Amaranthaceae

                                 40. Stems with regular anatomy; fruit a dry or fleshy achene -- Urticaceae

                          39. Perianth of calyx and corolla or just calyx

                                41. Corolla wanting

                                      42. Xylem with included islands of phloem; calyx gamosepalous, funnel-shaped,
                                            campanulate or nearly hypocrateriform --Nyctaginaceae

                                      42. Xylem regular, not containing islands of phloem; calyx of 4 free sepals
                                             --Petiveriaceae (Trichostigma)

                                41. Corolla present

                                       43. Corolla gamopetalous

                                              44. Flowers produced in capitula --Asteraceae

                                              44. Flowers in racemose or paniculate inflorescence

                                                     45. Plant with white latex --Campanulaceae

                                                     45. Plant with clear latex o no latex

                                                          46. Inflorescences scorpioid --Boraginaceae

                                                          46. Inflorescence not scorpioid

                                                                 47. Corolla plicate --Solanaceae

                                                                 47. Corolla not plicate

                                                                       48. Calyx with 5 longitudinal ribs covered with
                                                                             stipitate glands; fruit a valvate capsule with
                                                                             a single seed --Plumbaginaceae

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

        43. Corolla of free petals

              49. Stipules present

                    50. Stipules forming an ochrea --Polygonaceae

                    50. Stipules not forming an ochrea

                          51. Flower with a nectar spur

                                 52. Nectar spur formed by lower petals --Violaceae

                                 52. Nectar spur formed by sepals --Tropaeolaceae

                          51. Flower lacking a nectar spur

                                53. Petals bifid; inflorescence often born at the apex of

                                       petioles --Dichapetalaceae

                                 53. Petals simple; inflorescence axillary or distal                                     

                                             54. Flowers zygomorphic; calyx forming a tubular hypanthium --Lythraceae 

                                             54. Flowers actinomorphic; calyx not forming a hypanthium

                                                   55. Petals with unguiculate apical appendage; fruits a schizocarp --Malvaceae

                                                   55. Petals lacking an unguiculate apical appendage

                                                         56. Flower with a corona and short androgynophore --Pasifloraceae (Mitostemma)

                                                         56. Flower lacking a corona and an androgynophore

                                                               57. Petals unguiculate, concave, partially covering the

                                                                      opposite stamen --Rhamnaceae

                                                              57. Petals not as above 

                                                                     58. Stipules elongated, early caducous, leaving numerous
                                                                            conical colleters along the scar that extends around the stem;
                                                                            flowers 5-merous; sepals of same size; stamens 10;
                                                                            anthers dehiscing by a single apical pore
                                                                            --Ochnaceae

                                                                   58. Stipule early caducous or absent, colleters absent;
                                                                          flowers 3-5-merous; sepals unequal; stamens numerous,
                                                                          anthers dehiscing along longitudinal slits --Dilleniaceae

               49. Stipules absent

                           59. Flowers unisexual --Griseliniaceae    

                           59. Flowers bisexual

                                 60. Flower zygomorphic --Polygalaceae

                                 60. Flower actinomorphic

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

                                               various shape --Marcgraviaceae

                                        61. Flower not subtended by a nectary

                                              62. Ovary subtended by a gynophore --Capparaceae

                                              62. Ovary sessile

                                                    63. Flower apocarpous, with numerous stamens --Annonaceae

                                                    63. Flower syncarpous; stamens 5 or 10

                                                           64. Stem cross-sections with successive concentric rings of xylem and phloem;
                                                                 petals early caducous; fruit a valvicidal capsule --Stegnospermataceae

                                                           64. Stem cross-section regular; petals persistent; fruit a fleshy berry or drupe

                                                                  65. Anthers dehiscing by one or two pairs of hinged valves;
                                                                        fruit a fleshy berry not subtended nor enclosed by an
                                                                        accrescent calyx --Lauraceae

                                                                  65. Anthers dehiscing through longitudinal slits; fruit a fleshy
                                                                       drupe subtended or enclosed by an accrescent calyx

                                                                        66. Fruit with an accrescent, reflexed calyx at

                                                                              the base --Erythropalaceae

                                                                         66. Fruit totally enclosed by a fleshy accrescent
                                                                                (not reflexed) calyx -- Olacaceae

   1. Leaves absent or reduced to scales

       2. Stems yellow to orangish without visible chlorophyll; flowers 4- or 5-merous with distinctive calyx and corolla;
            corolla inside with fimbriate or crenulate, membranous, infrastaminal scales at base of tube, anthers
            dehiscing longitudinally -- Convolvulaceae (Cuscuta)

       2. Stems green or yellowish green; flowers of 6 tepals in two series, not bearing scales internally; anther dehiscing
             by a pair of hinged valves --Lauraceae (Cassytha)

    1. Leaves fully developed with coriaceous or fleshy blades -- Loranthaceae