We are studying the dicots first, then the monocots. Magnoliidae is the first dicot subclass; subclasses are made of families. Unifying characters of the Magnoliidae are mostly primitive ones: often woody, flowers usually showy and with many parts, apocarpy common, etc.
 

1. Magnoliaceae-Many primitive characters: woody, simple alternate leaves, showy flowers, long floral axis, poorly developed style and stigma, leaf-like stamens, spiral arrangement of parts, apocarpy, etc. Ex.: Liriodendron-Tulip Truee with fruit an aggregate of samaras.
 

2. Nymphaeaceae-Aquatic herbs with peltate leaves. Perianth parts numerous, similar; stamens leaf-like. Ex.: Nymphaea-Watelily.
 

3. Ranunculaceae-Crowfoot Family. Herbaceous, fewer perianth parts, differentiated perianth. Still has some primitive features-poorly developed style and stigmas, many stamens, actinomorphy, apocarpy. Ex.: Ranunculus with fruit a cluster of achenes.
 

4. Papaveraceae-Poppy Family. Herbaceous. Has some advanced features: fewer parts, syncarpy, adnation of stamens and corolla. Fruit a poricidal capsule. Ex.: Papaver (poppy) and Eschscholzia (California Poppy)-both have sepals that fall off as the flower opens so that in a mature flower only the ring where they were attached shows.

Back to the Magnoliidae lab exercise

last modified Sept. 27, 2000 by MDR