Here are some great examples of plant species from twenty plant families you will come to know. Each family has a scientific name, and many also have one or more common names, for example, the Solanaceae is often known as the nightshade family, and the Lamiaceae is sometimes called the mint family.
Anacardiaceae – Sumac family
Rhus typhina – sumac; Mangifera indica – mango; Anacardium occidentale – cashew
Apiaceae – Carrot family
Daucus carota – carrots Daucus carota – carrot flowers
Asteraceae – Daisy or sunflower family
Disk and ray flowers on Rudbeckia subtomentosa; Echinacea tennesseensis, Tennessee purple coneflower; This flower has disk only! Grindelia squarrosa (gumweed)
Brassicaceae – Mustard family
Brassica oleracea – purple cauliflower
Convulvulaceae – Morning glory family
Ipomoea tricolor ‘Summer Skies” morning glory; Ipomoea quamoclit, cardinal climber
Curcurbitaceae – Squash family
Cucurbita pepo – ornamental gourds; Cucurbita palmata, coyote melon in NM
Ericaceae – Heath or heather family’
Vaccinium macrocarpon – wild cranberries; Kalmia angustifolia, sheep laurel in ME
Fabaceae – Bean family
Lupinus caudatus in NM; Coral pea, Hardenbergia violacea; White clover, Trifolium repens
Fagaceae – Oak family
American beech, Fagus grandifolia; Black oak, Quercus velutina; Bur oak, Quercus macrocarpa; Chestnut oak, Quercus prinus; Notholithocarpus densiflorus – not a typical acorn (Calif)
Lamiaceae – Mint family
Coleus – Solenostemon leaves and stem; Ocimum basilicum – sweet basil; Salvia x ‘Amistad’
Lauraceae – Laurel family
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) fruits in late summer
Liliaceae – Lily family
Tricyrtis hirta ‘toad lily’; Gloriosa rothschildiana, flame lily
Magnoliaceae – Magnolia family
Liriodendron tulipifera – tulip tree in bloom; Magnolia kobus
Orchidaceae – Orchid family
Paphiopedilum culitvar in botanic garden
Poaceae – Grass family
Sorghum bicolor in seed; Corn tassels Zea mays; Sugar cane Saccahrum officinale on Maui
Polygonaceae – Buckwheat family
Polygonatum perfoliataum, Mile-a-minute weed; Eriogonum jamesii, James’ buckwheat
Rosaceae – Rose family
Beach rose, Rosa rugosa; Almond, Prunus amygdalus
Sapindaceae – Soapberry family
Sugar maple, Acer saccharum; Rambutan, Nephelium lappaceum
Solanaceae – Nightshade family
Solanum tuberosum – potato flowers; Solanum elaeagnifolium – silverleaf nightshade; Datura wrightii, sacred datura.
Vitaceae – Grape family
Vitis vinifera “Pinot noir”; Vitis vinifera Muscava bianca; commerical vineyards, CAa
