Taxonomy of Flowering Plants - LECTURE NOTES - Fall, 1998
Hugh D. Wilson - rm. 306, Butler Hall

Liliopsida - 'monocots'
 

Since the two elements of the Magnoliophyta diverged early in the evolutionary history of the group, they are fairly distinct and, in terms flowering plant identification, they represent the the first level of recognition.  Key characters used to circumscribe the two classes include: (overview)
 
 

Character Magnoliopsida Liliopsida
Cotyledons Usually 2 Usually 1
Leaves Often reticulate veined Often parallel veined
Vascular Cambium Often present (ca. 50% woody) Absent
Primary Vascular Bundles Arranged in a ring Often scattered
Pollen Various types Monosulcate
Floral Parts Often in 4s or 5s Usually sets of 3
Root System Primary and adventitious Adventitious only

 
 
Subclass
Features
Orders
Families
Species
Alismatidae
 Aquatics with archaic, many-parted flowers
4
16
500
Arecidae
 Specialized inflorescences
4
5
5,600
Commelinidae
 Mostly herbs with reduced flowers
6
16
16,200
Zingiberidae
 Epigynous herbs of the tropics
2
9
3,800
Liliidae
 Showy with petaloid sepals
2
19
25,000
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