Forbs

Description

Vegetative characteristics for important families/genera of herbaceous plants for bio552. For importance to wildlife, read through the powerpoints.
Wes Smalley
Flashcards by Wes Smalley, updated more than 1 year ago
Wes Smalley
Created by Wes Smalley over 5 years ago
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Resource summary

Question Answer
What's a Forb? An Herbaceous plant that isn't a grass. (Wildflowers)
Apocynaceae (Dogbane family) Any habit, Milky Sap. Leaves Simple, Entire, Opp/Whorled Fruits follicles, berries, or drupes. Contain alkaloids & cardiac glycocides Milkweed (Asclepias)
Asclepias (Milkweeds) Perennial herb, Milky sap. Simple, opp/whorled, entire. Flowers bisexual w/5 drooping petals, Fruits follicles w/ many tufted seeds. Alkaloids & Cardiac Glycogins
Asteraceae (Sunflower and Aster family) Any habit, annual/biannual/perennial. Fibrous Taproots. Alt or Opp, s/t basal rosette, mostly simple leaves. Composite head inflorescence. Fruits Cypsela (Artemisia, Cirsium, Helianthus)
Artemisia (Sagebrush) Herbs, aromatic when handled. Leaves alt, entire, toothed, or dissected Flower heads small, on branched/unbranched clusters, yellowish. Small, hard, 1 seeded fruit.
Cirsium (Thistle) Herbs w/any growth cycle, s/t w/ narrow spiny wings. Leaves alt or basal w/ spiny tips & lobes. Head w/ Disc Florets only. Fruits w/ persistent plumose pappas
Helianthus (Sunflower) Annual/Perennial herb, erect & branched. Leaves basal/cauline. Opp, alt, or both on same plt. Head w/ both discs, and sterile rays. Pappas falls before fruit is ripe
Fabaceae Any habit, Nitrogen Fixation Alt, usu. Comp (pinnate) Flowers radial/bilateral, 5merous. Legume fruit (Chamaecrista, Desmodium)
Chamaecrista (Sensitive pea/bean) Annual/Perennial w/taproot. Alt, Pinnate, w/nectar glands & stipules. Irregular, 5merous yellow flowers. Flattened, twisty legumes.
Desmodium (Tick Trefoil) Mostly upright perennials. Leaves alt, trifoliate, w/ stipules Flowers pink, bilateral, 5merous. Fruits legumes w/hooked hairs that break apart. (Loments)
Polygonaceae (Buckwheat family) Any habit, prostrate & erect stems. Leaves mostly alt w/ an Ocrea of stipules. Flowers usually bisexual. Fruits w/3 rounded sides. (Polygonum)
Polygonum (Smartweed/Knotweed) Herbs/subshrubs, Annual w/prostrate stems. Leaves alt w/ocrea Flowers small, white-green-pink, bisexual. Small seeds, VERY numerous.
Rosaceae (Roses) Shrbs/trees, few herbs. Alt, Simple/comp, toothed, w/Stipules. Showy bisexual flowers, 5merous, hypanthium. Fruits include hypanthium (hips) (Fragaria)
Fragaria (Strawberries) Low-growing perennial from rhizomes. Erect petioles, 3 coarse-toothed leaflets. Flowers w/5 white petals on domed receptacle, w/20 stamens. Fruits Aggregates w/accessories.
Give examples of drupes. Apples, cherries, plums, dogwood fruit, holly, hackberries, etc.
How does a nurse plant compare to a nurse log? Both provide favorable habitat that facilitates the growth of other species.
What nutrients are found in nectar? Sugar and Amino Acids
What's a pappus. A specialized structure in Asteraceae deriving from a calyx atop an inferior ovary.
What's a Stipule? Paired appendages at the node end of the petiole.
What genus has prominent, paired nectar glands on the petioles? Prunus in Rosaceae
What's an aggregate fruit? Give an example. A fruit developed in a single flower from several fused carpels. For example, raspberries, blackberries, etc.
What is an accessory fruit? A fruit developed from other tissues in addition to the ovary.
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