OUTDOOR PURSUITS PROGRAM
PEOL 453 - Environmental Education
Flower Family Characteristics

Family Name

Scientific Name

Tips to Help Identify Flower Families

LEAF PARTS IN 3'S OR 6'S

Lily

Liliaceae

Monocot with superior ovary. Radially symmetrical.

Iris

Iridaceae

Monocot with inferior ovary. Radially symmetrical.

Orchid

Orchidaceae

Monocot with Inferior ovary, bilaterally symmetrical.

LEAF PARTS IN 4'S

Evening- Primrose

Onagraceae

There are 4 petals, sepals, and stamens.
The style has a 4-part cross (X) at its end, or is bulb-like. Ovary usually inferior.

Mustard

Braccicaceae

Four petals. Superior ovary.

LEAF PARTS IN 5'S

Rose

Rosaceae

Numerous stamens. Periginous.

Buttercup

Ranunculaceae

Numerous stamens Hypogynous.

Mint

Lamiaceae

Square stems and opposite leaves.

Figwort

Scrophulariaceae

Petals mostly joined. Most flowers of this family have fused petals to
form a fat tube opening into two broad lips. If petals are not joined,
one looks much larger than the others. Stems are round.

Heath

Ericaceae

Petals either joined and bell-shaped, or petals free. Flowers with 5 sepals and 10 stamens.

Phlox

Polmoniaceae

Petals joined. Flowers often look trumpet-like. 5 petals, 5 sepals, 5 stamens.

Pink

Caryophyllaceae

Petals not joined. Leaves mostly opposite. Petals often notched at tips.

Joints of stem often swollen.

Carrot

Apiaceae

Umble of Umbles. Hollow stems with palmately compound clasping leaves.

Honeysuckle

Caprifoliaceae

Petals joined. Long funnel or bell-like flowers with 5 sepals and stamens.

Leaves opposite.

Pea

Fabaceae

2 petals (the lower ones which look like a pelicans pouch) joined, 3 are free
of each other. Petals irregularly shaped. 2 sepals. The leaves are alternate and
compound with leaf-like stipules where the leaf stem attaches to the main stem.

Saxifrage

Saxifragaceae

Petals not joined. 5 petals and 5 sepals, with 5 or 10 stamens.
Flowers often cup-like or tube-like because of fused sepals.

Geranium

Geraniaceae

GeraniaceaePetals not joined. Geraniums have flowers with 5 petals, 5 sepals,
and 5 stamens. The central ovary has a long style that often looksbeak-like.

Violet

Violaceae

Petals not joined. Petals are all differently shaped with 2 upper petals,
2 side petals and 1 lower petal. Lower petal often with dark veins.
MANY FLOWERS PER HEAD

Aster

Asteraceae

Sunflower like; composed of many flowers.

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