CHUCK'S
PLANT FAMILIES
OF
NEW YORK STATE

 Hops image

Caution!


Division
Magnoliophyta
(ANGIOSPERMS)
(2) (220,000)		  

 KEY
Class
Magnoliopsida
(DICOTS) (6)		    
Subclass IV.
Dilleniidae
(13) (25,000)		    
Plants without betalains, and the placentation only rarely free-central or basal; plants often with mustard-oils or
iridoid compounds or tannins; pollen-grains usually binucleate; ovules various; plants variously woody or
herbaceous; petals usually polypetalous; seeds seldom with perisperm.
Dilleniales (2) (380)
(Only apocarpous order)		    
Carpels mostly distinct (simple pistil); seeds arillate with well-developed endosperm.
PAEONIACEAE
(PEONY FAM.) (1) (30)

 a; pf
3--7, 5--13; #; 2--15
aggr fol

  
  Paeonia spp. PEONY
(Ornamental in NYS)
Theales (18) (3500)    
Carpels more or less united (compound pistil); flowers mostly polypetalous;
ovules bitegmic; placentation mostly axile; sepals mostly imbricate.
THEACEAE
(TEA FAM.) (600)

 a; pf
5 or (5; 5 or (5; # or (#); (3--5)
cap

  
  Franklinia alatamaha
Bartr. ex Marsh.		 FRANKLIN TREE
(Rare Georgia native;
now mostly cultivated)
(Ornamental in NYS)
  Stewartia pseudocamellia
Maxim.		 JAPANESE STEWARTIA
(Ornamental in NYS)
  Thea sinensis L. TEA
(Not wild in NYS)
ACTINIDIACEAE
(ACTINIDIA FAM.)

 a; var
4--7; 4--7; 10--100; (5--20)
ber cap

  
  Actinidia chinensis Planch. KIWI (China)
(Not wild in NYS)
ELATINACEAE
(WATER-WORT FAM.)

 a; pf
2--6 or (2--6), 2--6; 2--12; (2--6)
cap

  
  Elatine americana (Pursh) Arn. AMERICAN WATER-WORT
(NY south)
GUTTIFERAE
(ST. JOHN'S-WORT FAM.)

 a; var
2--6 or (2--6), 2--6 or (2--6); #; (3) or (5)
cap ber dru

  
  Hypericum canadense L. CANADIAN ST. JOHN'S-WORT
  * Hypericum perforatum L. COMMON ST. JOHN'S-WORT
(Naturalized in NYS)
  Triadenum virginicum
(L.) Raf.		 MARSH ST. JOHN'S-WORT
Malvales (5)
(3000 to 3500)		    
Compound pistil; flowers mostly polypetalous; ovules bitegmic; placentation mostly axile; sepals valvate.
TILIACEAE
(LINDEN FAM.) (450)

 a; pf
5 or (5, 5 or 0; # or (#; (2--5)
ber cap

  
  Corchorus tridens L. JUTE (NJ, PA & deep south)
(Not wild in NYS)
  Tilia americana L. AMERICAN BASSWOOD
  Tilia cordata Mill. LITTLELEAF LINDEN
(Ornamental in NYS)
  Tilia heterophylla Vent. WHITE BASSWOOD
  Tilia tomentosa Moench. SILVER LINDEN
(Ornamental in NYS)
STERCULIACEAE
(CACAO FAM.) (1000)

 a or z; pf or mo or po-mo
5 or (5), 5; 5 or 10 or #; (5) or (10--12)
var

  
  * Melochia corchorifolia L. CHOCOLATEWEED (NY, rare)
(Naturalized in NYS)
BOMBACACEAE (180)

 a; pf
(5 or 5, 5; 5--# or (5--#); (2--5)
cap pod

  
  Durio zibethinus L. DURIAN (Fruit a delicacy;
foul odor; tropical)
(Not wild in NYS)
MALVACEAE
(MALLOW FAM.) (1000 to 1500)

 a; pf
(5 or 5, 5; (#); (2--#)
cap sch

  
  Althaea rosea L. HOLLYHOCK
(Ornamental in NYS)
  Gossypium spp. COTTON
(Not wild in NYS)
  Hibiscus esculentus L. OKRA
(Not wild in NYS)
  Hibiscus syriacus L. ROSE OF SHARON
(Ornamental in NYS)
  * Malva moschata L. MUSK MALLOW
(Naturalized in NYS)
Nepenthales (3) (200)    
Compound pistil; flowers mostly polypetalous; ovules bitegmic; plants insectivorous.
SARRACENIACEAE
(PITCHER-PLANT FAM.) (15)

 a; pf
5, 5; #; (5)
cap

  
  Sarracenia purpurea L. PITCHER PLANT
DROSERACEAE
(SUNDEW FAM.) (100)

 a; pf
(5, 5; 5 (4)
cap

  
  Drosera intermedia Hayne SPATULATE-LEAVED
SUNDEW
  Drosera rotundifolia L. ROUND-LEAVED SUNDEW
Violales (24) (5000)    
Compound pistil; flowers mostly polypetalous; ovules bitegmic; placentation mostly parietal;
flowers with an evident perianth, not borne in catkins; plants usually without mustard-oil and
myrosin-cells; fruit without a replum; carpels most often 3.
CISTACEAE
(ROCK-ROSE FAM.)

 a; pf
3 +- 2, 3 or 5; #; (3 or 5)
cap

  
  Lechea maritima
Leggett ex Britt.		 BEACH PINWEED
VIOLACEAE
(VIOLET FAM.) (800)

 z to a; pf
5, 5; 5 or (5); (3)
cap

  
  Viola canadensis L. CANADA VIOLET
TAMARICACEAE
(TAMARISK FAM.)

 a; pf
5, 5; 5; 1
cap

  
  Tamarix parviflora DC. SMALL-FLOWERED
TAMARIX (PA south)
(Not wild in NYS)
PASSIFLORACEAE
(PASSION-FLOWER FAM.)
(650)

a; pf
Co5
(5 or 5; (5 or 5; (3)
ber cap

  
  Passiflora spp. PASSIONFLOWER
(PA south & west)
(Not wild in NYS)
CUCURBITACEAE
(GOURD FAM.) (700)

 a; mo or di
(5), (5); (1--5) or 1--5
(3)
ber cap (pepo)

  
  Citrullus vulgaris Schrad. WATERMELON
(Not wild in NYS)
  Cucumis melo L. MUSKMELON
(Not wild in NYS)
  Cucumis sativus L. CUCUMBER
(Not wild in NYS)
  Cucurbita pepo L. PUMPKIN
(Not wild in NYS)
  Cucurbita pepo L. SQUASH
(Not wild in NYS)
  Echinocystis lobata
(Michx.) Torr. & Gray		 WILD CUCUMBER
  Sicyos angulatus L. BUR-CUCUMBER
BEGONIACEAE
(BEGONIA FAM.) (1000)

 z; mo
-2--5-; (# or #
epi (3)
caps

  
  Begonia L. spp. BEGONIA (FL, GA)
(Not wild in NYS)
LOASACEAE
(LOASA FAM.)

 a; pf
4--7, 4--7; (5--# or 5--#
epi (1)
cap nut

  
  Mentzelia spp. MENTZELIA
(plains & prairie spp.)
(Not wild in NYS)
Salicales (1) (340)    
Compound pistil; flowers mostly polypetalous; ovules bitegmic; placentation mostly parietal;
flowers much reduced, unisexual, without an evident perianth, borne in catkins; plants woody.
SALICACEAE
(WILLOW FAM.) (2) (340)

 a; di
-0-; (2--# or 2--#; (2--4)
cap

  
  * Populus alba L. WHITE POPLAR
(Naturalized in NYS)
  Populus balsamifera L. BALM-OF GILEAD,
BALSAM POPLAR,
TACAMAHAC
  Populus grandidentata
Michx.		 LARGE-TOOTHED ASPEN
  * Populus nigra L. LOMBARDY POPLAR
(Naturalized in NYS)
  Populus tremuloides Michx. QUAKING ASPEN
  * Salix alba L. 'tristis' GOLDEN WEEPING WILLOW
(Most common weeping
willow in NY)
(Naturalized in NYS)
  * Salix babylonica L. WEEPING WILLOW
(Naturalized in NYS)
  Salix bebbiana Sarg. BEBB'S WILLOW
  Salix discolor Mühl. PUSSY WILLOW
  *Salix fragilis L. CRACK WILLOW
(Naturalized in NYS)
  Salix lucida Mühl. SHINING WILLOW
  Salix nigra Marsh. BLACK WILLOW
  Salix pedicellaris Pursh BOG WILLOW
  Salix pyrifolia Anderss. BALSAM WILLOW
  Salix sericea Marsh. SILKY WILLOW
  Salix uva-ursi Pursh BEARBERRY WILLOW
Capparales (5) (4000)    
Compound pistil; flowers mostly polypetalous; ovules bitegmic; placentation mostly parietal;
flowers with an evident perianth, not borne in catkins; plants with mustard-oil and myrosin-cells;
fruit a capsule with a replum; carpels most often 2.
CAPPARACEAE
(CAPER FAM.) (800)

 a or z; pf
2--6, 2--6; 6--#; (2)
ber silc

  
  Caparis spinosa L. CAPERS
(Not wild in NYS)
  Chlorophytum elatum SPIDER PLANT
(Ornamental in NYS)
CRUCIFERAE
(MUSTARD FAM.) (3000)

 a; pf
4, 4; 2 + 4; (2)
silq silc

  
  * Alliaria officinalis
(Bieb.) Cav. & Grande		 GARLIC MUSTARD
(Naturalized in NYS)
  Armoracia rusticana
P. Gaertn.		 HORSERADISH
(Not wild in NYS)
  * Barbarea vulgaris R. Br. WINTER CRESS
(Naturalized in NYS)
  * Berteroa incana (L.) DC. HOARY ALYSSUM
(Naturalized in NYS)
  Brassica alba Boiss. WHITE MUSTARD
(Not wild in NYS)
  Brassica campestris L. TURNIP
(Not wild in NYS)
  Brassica campestris L. RAPE (Canola oil)
(Not wild in NYS)
  Brassica campestris L. RUTABAGA
(Not wild in NYS)
  Brassica oleracea
var. botrytis DC.		 BROCCOLI
(Not wild in NYS)
  Brassica oleracea
var. botrytis DC.		 CAULIFLOWER
(Not wild in NYS)
  Brassica oleracea
var. capitata DC.		 CABBAGE
(Not wild in NYS)
  Brassica oleracea
var. gemmifera DC.		 BRUSSEL SPROUTS
(Not wild in NYS)
  * Capsella bursa-pastoris
(L.) Medic.		 SHEPARD'S PURSE
(Naturalized in NYS)
  Cardamine diphylla
(Michx.) Wood		 TOOTHWORT
  * Raphanus raphanistrum L. WILD RADISH
(Naturalized in NYS)
  Raphanus sativus L. RADISH
(Not wild in NYS)
RESEDACEAE
(MIGNONETTE FAM.)

 z; pf
4--7, 4--7; 3--40; (2--7)
cap

  
  * Reseda luteola L. DYER'S ROCKET (NY)
(Naturalized in NYS)
Ericales (8) (4000)    
Compound pistil; flowers mostly sympetalous; ovules unitegmic; filaments very often attached
directly to the receptacle; plants strongly mycotrophic and often producing iridoid compounds
and other special compounds.
CYRILLACEAE
(CYRILLA FAM.)

 a; pf
5 or (5, 5 or (5; 5 or 10; (2--5)
cap sam dr

  
  Cyrilla racemiflora L. SOUTHERN LEATHERWOOD
(VA south)
(Not wild in NYS)
CLETHRACEAE
(WHITE-ALDER FAM.)

 a; pf
5, 5; 10; (3)
cap

  
  Clethra alnifolia L. SUMMERSWEET
ERICACEAE
(HEATH FAM.) (3500)

 a to z; pf
(4 or 5), (4 or 5); 8 or 10; (4 or 5)
cap ber dru

  
  Andromeda Polifolia L. BOG ROSEMARY
  Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
(L.) Spreng.		 BEARBERRY
  * Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull HEATHER
(Naturalized in NYS)
  Chamaedaphne calyculata
(L.) Moench		 LEATHERLEAF

  Epigaea repens L. MAYFLOWER
  Gaultheria hispidula
(L.) Mühl. ex Bigel.		 CREEPING SNOWBERRY
  Gaultheria procumbens L. WINTERGREEN
  Gaylussacia baccata
(Wang.) Koch		 HUCKLEBERRY
  Kalmia angustifolia L. SHEEP LAUREL
  Kalmia latifolia L. MOUNTAIN-LAUREL
  Kalmia polifolia Wang. BOG LAUREL
  Ledum groenlandicum Oeder LABRADOR TEA
  Leucothoë fontanesiana
(Steud.) Sleumer		 DROOPING LEUCOTHOE
(Ornamental in NYS)
  Oxydendrum arboreum
(L.) DC.		 SOURWOOD
  Pieris floribunda
(Pursh ex Sims) Benth. & Hook.		 MOUNTAIN PIERIS
(Ornamental in NYS)
  Pieris japonica
(Thunb.) D. Don ex G. Don		 JAPANESE PIERIS
(Ornamental in NYS)
  Loiseleuria procumbens
(L.) Desv.		 ALPINE AZALEA
  Rhododendron carolinianum
Rehd.		 CAROLINA RHODODENDRON
(Ornamental in NYS)
  Rhododendron catawbiense
Michx.		 CATAWBA RHODODENDRON
(Ornamental in NYS)
  Rhododendron lapponicum
(L.) Wahlenb.		 LAPLAND ROSEBAY
  Rhododendron maximum L. ROSEBAY RHODODENDRON
  Rhododendron
mucronulatum Turcz.		 KOREAN RHODODENDRON
(Ornamental in NYS)
  Rhododendron 'P.J.M.' 'P.J.M.' RHODODENDRON
(Popular Weston's Nurseries
introduction)
(Ornamental in NYS)
  Rhododendron
schlippenbachii Maxim.		 ROYAL AZALEA
(Ornamental in NYS)
  Rhododendron vaseyi
Gray		 PINKSHELL AZALEA
(Ornamental in NYS)
  Vaccinium angustifolium
Ait.		 LOWBUSH BLUEBERRY
  Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait. LARGE-FRUITED CRANBERRY
  Vaccinium myrtilloides
Michx.		 SOUR-TOP BLUEBERRY
  Vaccinium oxycoccos L. SMALL-FRUITED CRANBERRY
  Vaccinium uliginosum L. ALPINE BILBERRY
EMPETRACEAE
(CROWBERRY FAM.)

 a; di, mo or po-mo
3, 3; 2 or 3; (2--9)
dr

  
  Empetrum nigrum L. BLACK CROWBERRY
PYROLACEAE
(WINTERGREEN FAM.)

 a; pf
(4 or 5, 5; 6--12; (5)
cap

  
  Chimaphila umbellata
(L.) Bart.		 PIPSISSEWA (Protected in NY)
  Orthilia secunda (L.) House ONE-SIDED SHINLEAF
  Pyrola elliptica Nutt. SHINLEAF
MONOTROPACEAE
(INDIAN-PIPE FAM.)

 a; pf
(4 or 5, 5; 6--12; (5)
cap

  
  Monotropa hypopithys L. PINE SAP
  Monotropa uniflora L. INDIAN PIPE
Diapensiales (1) (18)    
Compound pistil; flowers mostly sympetalous; ovules unitegmic; filaments nearly always attached
to the corolla-tube; plants not strongly mycotrophic; without iridoid compounds and mostly without
special ericoid chemicals; placentation mostly axile; functional stamens various; perennial herbs,
accumulating aluminum; functional stamens alternate with the corolla-lobes.
DIAPENSIACEAE
(DIAPENSIA FAM.) (18)

 a; pf
5, 5 or (5); 5 or 10; (3)
cap

  
  Diapensia lapponica L. MOUNTAIN BRIDE
Ebenales (5) (2000)    
Compound pistil; flowers mostly sympetalous; ovules unitegmic; filaments nearly always attached to the
corolla-tube; plants not strongly mycotrophic; without iridoid compounds and mostly without special ericoid
chemicals; placentation mostly axile; functional stamens various; trees or shrubs, not accumulating aluminum
except in the Symplocaceae; functional stamens opposite the corolla-lobes.
SAPOTACEAE
(SAPODILLA FAM.) (1100)

 a; pf
(4--8 or 4--8, (4--8); 4--10; (4--5)
ber

  
  Bumelia lycioides (L.) Pers. CAROLINA BUCKTHORN
(IL to VA south)
(Not wild in NYS)
EBENACEAE
(EBONY FAM.) (450)

 a; pf or di or po
(3--7, (3--7; 6--20; (3--#)
ber

  
  Diospyros virginiana L. COMMON PERSIMMON
STYRACACEAE
(STORAX FAM.)

 a; pf
(4--5, (4--5; 8--10
(4)
dr

  
  Halesia carolina L. CAROLINA SILVERBELL
(Ornamental in NYS)
  Styrax japonicus
Sieb. & Zucc.		 JAPANESE SNOWBELL
(Ornamental in NYS)
SYMPLOCACEAE
(SWEET-LEAF FAM.)

a; pf
(5, (5) or (10); 5--10
(2--5)
dru ber 

  
  Symplocos tinctoria (L.) L'Hér. SWEET-LEAF (DE to LA)
(Not wild in NYS)
Primulales (3) (1900)    
Compound pistil; flowers mostly sympetalous; ovules unitegmic; filaments nearly always attached
to the corolla-tube; plants not strongly mycotrophic; without iridoid compounds and mostly without
special ericoid chemicals; placentation free-central or basal in a unilocular ovary; functional stamens
as many as and opposite the corolla-lobes.
PRIMULACEAE
(PRIMROSE FAM.) (800)

a; pf
 S5
(5), (5) or 5; (2--6)
cap

  
  Lysimachia spp. LOOSESTRIFE
  Trientalis borealis Raf. STAR FLOWER
Subclass V. Rosidae    
     


KEY TO SPECIES SYMBOLS

Blue Background

Grows wild in New York State, but
not in the Adirondack upland region.
An asterisk (*) indicates the plant
is naturalized (not native to NYS).

Green Background

Grows wild in the
Adirondack upland region.
An asterisk (*) indicates the plant
is naturalized (not native to NYS).

White Background

Grows wild in the
Adirondack alpine region,
and found above 4000
feet in elevation).

Pink Background

Cultivated as an ornamental plant
in NYS; usually non-native.

Brown Background

The plant does not grow in NYS.
Selected familiar plants are included in the
database either to show representatives of
taxa not represented by NYS plants, or to
show their relatedness to their NYS relatives.



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