SUMMMARY OF MAJOR TROPICAL PLANT FAMILIES, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO COSTA RICAN PLANTS 01/2004
Note presence and type of: Latex; Spines; Odors; Stipules; Leaves in 2 ranks; Marginal Teeth
Life form
|
Family
|
Common name
|
Latex
|
Sp
|
Odors
|
St
|
2-r
|
T
|
Genera
|
Comments
| Comp Opp |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tree,liana
|
Bignoniaceae
|
jicaro, corteza
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tabebuia, Crescentia, Adenocalymna, Amphitecna, Tecoma
|
major liana family, some trees; some have simple leaves
|
Tree
|
Cunoniaceae
|
|
|
|
|
x
|
|
x
|
Weinmannia
|
winged rachis, serrate marg, cloud forest tree
|
Tree
|
Hippocastanac
|
horsechestnut
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Billia (only tropical genus)
|
trifoliate lvs., lg nut with starchy endosperm
| Comp Alt |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tree
|
Anacardiac
|
mango, cashew
|
white dries blk
|
|
turp
|
|
|
|
Anacardium, Spondias, Tapirira, Mangifera
|
some species have simple leaves, sap often irritating (mango, cashew, poison ivy)
|
Tree,epi,liana
|
Araliaceae
|
ivy, ginseng
|
|
|
carrot
|
|
|
|
Oreopanax, Dendropanax, Didymopanax, Schefflera
|
one genus (Dendropanax) w/simple lvs; lg triangular lf scars; unequal petiole lengths; double pulvinus; inflorescence an umbel
|
Tree
|
Arecaceae
|
palms
|
|
x
|
|
|
|
|
Bactris, Cocos, Attelea, Geonoma, Acrocomia
|
monocots; unbranched, colonial or arborescent, meristem often edible (palmito)
|
Tree
|
Bombacaceae
|
balsa, silk cotton
|
|
x
|
|
|
|
|
Ceiba, Pseudobombax, Pochota, Ochroma
|
order Malvales, bat pollinated, wind dispersed; pochote common living fencepost
|
Tree
|
Burseraceae
|
indio desnudo
|
white dries white
|
|
turp
|
|
|
|
Bursera
|
peeling, photosynthesizing bark; living fencepost
|
Tree,liana
|
Caesalpiniace
|
legumes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cassia, Bauhinia, Hymenaea
|
monkey ladder vine, cloven hoof shaped lvs
|
Herb,epi,liana
|
Cyclanthaceae
|
cyclanth
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cyclanthus, Asplundias
|
monocots, use leaf venation to distinguish from palms
|
Tree
|
Fabaceae
|
legumes (Papil.)
|
|
|
beans
|
|
|
|
Gliricidia, Lonchocarpus, Andira
|
simply pinnate
|
Tree
|
Mimosaceae
|
legumes, mimosa
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inga, Pithecellobium, Enterolobium
|
nectaries, many bi or tripinnate
|
Tree
|
Meliaceae
|
mahogany
|
|
|
garlic; sweet
|
|
|
|
Cedrela, Guarea, Trichilia
|
not consistently even/odd pinnate; Guarea has unfolding leaflet at tip of leaf
|
Life form
|
Family
|
Common name
|
Latex
|
Sp
|
Odors
|
St
|
2-r
|
T
|
Genera
|
Comments
|
Tree,epi,liana
|
Rutaceae
|
citrus
|
|
x
|
citrus
|
|
|
|
Zanthoxylum, Citrus, Casimiroa
|
Zanthoxylum-volcanic spines on trunk, translucent oil glands in lvs, greasy to touch
|
Tree,liana
|
Sapindaceae
|
soapberry
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cupania, Paullinia, Serjania
|
Cupania has alternate leaflets; lianas--Paullinia, Serjania--have opposite leaflets
|
Tree
|
Simaroubac
|
|
|
|
incense
|
|
|
|
Simarouba, Picramnia
|
bitter taste
| Simp Opp |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Herb
|
Acanthaceae
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Justicia, Aphelandra
|
no stipules, swollen nodes, bilabiate flowers
|
Tree,epi,liana
|
Apocynaceae
|
dogbane
|
white
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plumeria, Tabernaemontana
|
paired fruit look like Dutch shoes
|
Herb,tree
|
Asteraceae
|
sunflower, daisy
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Montanoa, Vernonia
|
rough lvs, opp or alt, smelly, daisy type flowers
|
Shrub,tree
|
Chloranthac
|
|
|
|
primitive
|
x
|
|
x
|
Hedyosmum
|
opposite, dentate lvs, enlarged sheath between petioles; very primitive family, fossils from mid-Cretaceous
|
Epi,liana
|
Clusiaceae
|
clusia
|
yellow, orange
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clusia, Symphonia, Garcinia, Vismia
|
terminal bud arises from b/w bases of terminal pr of petioles, Clusia--thick,paddle-shaped lvs, used for sending written messages
|
Epi,liana
|
Gesneriaceae
|
African violets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Columnea, Drymonia
|
lvs sometimes opp and unequal; flowers tubular, sometimes hairy
|
Tree
|
Malpighiaceae
|
|
|
|
|
x
|
|
|
Malpighia, Bunchosia
|
T-shaped hairs
|
Tree
|
Melastomatac
|
lengua de vaca
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Miconia, Conostegia, Melastoma
|
3-7 veined, tertiary veins nicely parallel
|
Tree
|
Monimiaceae
|
|
|
|
lemon
|
|
|
|
Siparuna
|
no stipules, dehiscent fruits
|
Tree
|
Myrtaceae
|
eucalyptus, guava
|
|
|
spicy apple
|
|
x
|
|
Eugenia, Psidium, Eucalyptus
|
pellucid dots (lens), medicinal smells, often with flaky bark
|
Shrub
|
Phytolaccac
|
pokeberry
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Phytolacca
|
succulent plant, small purple fruits
|
Shrub,tree,
Liana
|
Rubiaceae
|
coffee
|
|
|
|
x
|
|
|
Coffea, Psychotria, Hamelia, Posoqueria, Randia, Calycophyllum
|
leaves entire, opposite and decussate; shape of stipules identifies genus
|
Herb,tree
|
Verbenaceae
|
verbena
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Citharexylum, Lantana, Stachytarpheta, Gmelina
|
square stems, paired glands at leaf base
|
Life form
|
Family
|
Common name
|
Latex
|
Sp
|
Odors
|
St
|
2-r
|
T
|
Genera
|
Comments
| Simp Alt |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tree
|
Actinidaceae
|
kiwifruit
|
|
|
|
|
|
x
|
Saurauia
|
rough, pubescent lvs, drops white corolla, high elev
|
Tree
|
Annonaceae
|
guanabana
|
|
|
primitive
|
|
x
|
|
Annona, Anaxagorea
|
strong bark, lvs never serrate, long thin lvs
|
Epi,liana
|
Araceae
|
houseplants
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Philodendron, Monstera, Dieffenbachia
|
monocot; large succulent lvs, spadix inflorescence, sheathing petioles
|
Tree
|
Betulaceae
|
alder
|
|
|
|
|
x
|
x
|
Alnus
|
high elevation on disturbed soil
|
Tree
|
Boraginaceae
|
borage
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cordia, Ehretia
|
asperous lvs, ant domatia
|
Epi,shrub
|
Bromeliaceae
|
pineapple
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bromelia, Vriesea, Tillandsia, Guzmania
|
monocot; rosette form, coriaceous leaves, bat pollinated
|
Epi,shrub
|
Cactaceae
|
cactus
|
|
x
|
|
|
|
|
Cereus, Opuntia, Epiphyllum
|
succulent, leafless, spiny plants; spines arise from felty pads called aureoles, fleshy fruits
|
Shrb,tree
|
Capparidaceae
|
capers
|
|
x
|
|
|
|
|
Capparis, Forchhammeria
|
flexed pulvinus, unequal petiole lengths, simple or compound lvs, many with tan lepidote scales, seeds like commas
|
Tree
|
Cecropiaceae
|
cecropia
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cecropia, Pourouma
|
lobed leaves, Azteca ant symbionts, hollow stems, food bodies at base of petiole, sometimes placed in Urticaceae
|
Tree
|
Combretaceae
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Terminalia, Conocarpus
|
lvs clustered near ends of twigs
|
Herb
|
Commelinac
|
commelina, tradescantia, wandering jew
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commelina, Tradescantia
|
monocot; closed cylindrical sheathing petiole base, jointed stem, involute vernation, flowers w/ small, delicate blue/pink petals with bract
|
Herb
|
Costaceae
|
costus
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Costus
|
monocot; lvs ascend in 1-sided spiral, showy infloresc, closed leaf sheath like Commelinaceae
|
Liana
|
Cucurbitaceae
|
cucumber, gourd
|
|
|
|
|
|
x
|
Gurania, Cucurbita
|
vines w/strongly coiling tendrils at rght angles to leaf axil, palmate venation, lobed leaves
|
Herb
|
Cyperaceae
|
sedges
|
|
|
|
|
|
x
|
Cyperus, Fimbristylis
|
monocot; triangular stem, linear lvs, some w/teeth
|
Tree
|
Ebenaceae
|
ebony
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diospyros
|
coriaceous lvs, wood with black inner bark, fruit like persimmon, some w/ grooved trunk, lg dark glands on lower lf surface
|
Life form
|
Family
|
Common name
|
Latex
|
Sp
|
Odors
|
St
|
2-r
|
T
|
Genera
|
Comments
|
Tree
|
Elaeocarpac
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
x
|
Sloanea, Muntingia
|
order Malvales, flexed pulvinus
|
Epi,liana
|
Ericaceae
|
blueberry, heath
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cavendishia
|
small, leathery, roundish lvs, common epiphyte at mid-high elevation
|
Tree
|
Euphorbiaceae
|
poinsettia, yuca
|
white
|
x
|
|
|
|
x
|
Sapium, Croton, Hieronyma
|
order Malvales, some with glands at base of lf; some with 3-5 veins; some with latex; some w/stellate hairs
|
Tree
|
Fagaceae
|
oaks
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quercus
|
acorns, leathery lvs, high elev genus in tropics
|
Tree
|
Flacourtiaceae
|
|
|
x
|
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Casearia, Hasseltia, Xylosma
|
always simple, sml teeth, branches perp to stem, single plane
|
Herb
|
Heliconiaceae
|
heliconias
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Heliconia
|
monocots; long banana-like leaves
|
Tree
|
Lauraceae
|
avocado
|
|
|
primitive
|
|
|
|
Nectandra, Ocotea, Beilshmiedia, Persea
|
kinked petiole, oily fruit w/ red cupule and single lg seed, no latex, always entire margin, stipules always absent; some genera with opposite leaves; fruit eaten by quetzals
|
Tree
|
Magnoliaceae
|
magnolia
|
|
|
primitive
|
x
|
|
|
Magnolia
|
high elevation, large leaves
|
Herb,shrb,
Tree
|
Malvaceae
|
hibiscus
|
|
|
|
|
|
x
|
Hampea, Malvaviscus, Hibiscus
|
order Malvales, strong bark, 3-4 veined lvs, showy flowers with fuzzy stigma
|
Herb
|
Marantaceae
|
prayer-plant, rattlesnake plant
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Calathea
|
monocot; jointed petiole, loud noise when ripped, ripping exposes hairs; ant dispersed
|
Epi,liana
|
Marcgravac
|
marcgravia
|
|
|
|
|
x
|
|
Marcgravia, Noratea
|
bat pollinated, looks like simp alt clusia
|
Tree
|
Moraceae
|
fig
|
white, cafe con leche
|
|
|
x
|
|
x
|
Ficus, Brosimum, Trophis, Perebea, Sorocea, Pseudolmedia
|
conical terminal stipule, thickish twigs
|
Treelike Herb
|
Musaceae
|
bananas
|
clear sap
|
|
|
|
|
|
Musa
|
monocot; cultivated bananas and plantains
|
Tree
|
Myristicaceae
|
nutmeg
|
|
|
primitive
|
|
|
x
|
Virola
|
fruit with plush red interior
|
Tree
|
Myrsinaceae
|
|
|
|
|
|
x
|
|
Ardisia, Myrsine
|
black punctations on leaves, pale underside
|
Shrub
|
Nyctaginaceae
|
bougainvillea
|
|
x
|
|
|
|
|
Neea, Pisonia, Bougainvillea, Boerhavia
|
ferrugin pubescence on terminal bud, lvs dry black, smaller lf paired with larger lf
|
Epi,liana
|
Orchidaceae
|
orchids
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epidendrum, Pleurothallis, Oerstedella, Cattleya
|
monocot; succulent lvs, pseudobulbs, roots covered with thick white velamen
|
Life form
|
Family
|
Common name
|
Latex
|
Sp
|
Odors
|
St
|
2-r
|
T
|
Genera
|
Comments
|
Shrub
|
Papaveraceae
|
poppy, opium
|
orange
|
|
|
|
|
x
|
Bocconia
|
paniculate inflorescence; weedy shrub at high elev
|
Epi,liana
|
Passifloraceae
|
passionfruit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Passiflora
|
showy flowers, fleshy fruit, some with odd shaped leaves, host to Heliconia butterflies
|
Epi/liana,shrb
|
Piperaceae
|
black pepper
|
|
|
pepper
|
|
x
|
|
Piper, Pothomorphe, Peperomia
|
erect white inflorescence, arcuate venation, uneq lf bases, swollen nodes, strong smells
|
Herb
|
Poaceae
|
grass
|
|
|
|
|
x
|
|
Cynodon, Panicum
|
monocot; linear leaves in 2-ranks
|
Tree
|
Rhizophorac
|
mangroves
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rhizophora
|
mangrove family
|
Shrub,tree
|
Rosaceae
|
rose, blackberry
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prunus, Rubus
|
Prunus--smells of cyanide (almonds)
|
Tree
|
Sapotaceae
|
chicle
|
white
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pouteria, Sideroxylon, Manilkara
|
seeds with characteristic single scar
|
Vine
|
Smilacaceae
|
smilax
|
|
x
|
|
|
|
|
Smilax
|
monocot; broad, leathery 3-veined leaves, infl. spadix, fleshy fruits, climbs with spines on wiry stem
|
Shrub,tree
|
Solanaceae
|
tomato
|
|
x
|
tomato
|
|
|
|
Solanum, Acnistus, Markea, Capsicum, Witheringia, Cestrum
|
often with beige pubescence, small lvs near tips of twigs, strong smells
|
Tree
|
Sterculiaceae
|
cacao
|
|
|
|
|
x
|
x
|
Sterculia, Theobroma, Guazuma
|
order Malvales, flexed pulvinus
|
Tree
|
Tiliaceae
|
basswood, linden
|
|
|
|
|
x
|
x
|
Heliocarpus, Apeiba, Mortoniodendron, Luehea, Goethalsia
|
order Malvales, assymmetrical lvs
|
Tree
|
Ulmaceae
|
elm
|
|
|
|
|
x
|
x
|
Trema
|
asperous, assymmetrical lvs, weedy tree
|
Tree, shrub
|
Urticaceae
|
nettle
|
|
x
|
|
|
|
x
|
Urera
|
urticating lvs, fruits, flowers; lvs 3-veined; wind pollinated, fleshy fruits, tree stems may be spiky
|
Tree
|
Winteraceae
|
|
|
|
winter-green
|
|
|
|
Drimys
|
white underside of leaf, living fencepost, primitive family lacks vessels in wood
|
Herb
|
Zingiberaceae
|
ginger
|
|
|
|
|
x
|
|
Renealmia
|
monocot; open leaf sheath, distichous lvs, ginger odor
| |
Yüklə 130 Kb.