CHUCK'S
PLANT FAMILIES
OF
NEW YORK STATE

 Hops image

Caution!


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

 KEY
Class Liliopsida
(MONOCOTS) (5)		    
Subclass I. Alismatidae
(4) (500)		    
Flowers either with apocarpous flowers, or more or less aquatic,
or very often both; always herbaceous; endosperm wanting.
Alismatales (3) (100)    
Perianth generally differentiated into evident sepals and petals;  
flowers often bracteate; flowers hypogynous; carpels distinct.
ALISMATACEAE
(WATER-PLANTAIN FAM.)

 a; pf; mo, di, or po
3, 3; 6--#; 6--#
aggr ach

  
  Sagittaria latifolia Willd. WAPATO, DUCK POTATO
  Sagittaria graminea Michx. ARROWHEAD
BUTOMACEAE
(FLOWERING RUSH FAM.)

 a; pf
-3 +3-; 9 or (9); 6
aggr fol

  
  * Butomus umbellatus L. FLOWERING RUSH
(St. Law. River)
(Naturalized in NYS)
Hydrocharitales (1) (100)    
Perianth generally differentiated into evident sepals and petals;
flowers often bracteate; flowers epigynous; compound ovary.
HYDROCHARITACEAE
(FROG'S-BIT FAM.)

 a; di
3, 0 or 3; (2--#) or 2--#
(3--6)
ber cap

  
  Elodea canadensis
Rich. ex Michx.		 ELODEA
  * Hydrocharis morsus-ranae L. COMMON FROG'S-BIT
(Naturalized in NYS)
  Vallisneria americana Michx. EELGRASS, TAPEGRASS
Najadales (10) (200)    
Perianth, when present, not differentiated into sepals and petals; bracts wanting or small and inconspicuous.
SCHEUCHZERIACEAE
(SCHEUCHZERIA FAM.)

 a; pf
-3 + 3-; 6; 3 or 6 apo to syn
aggr fol

  
  Scheuchzeria palustris L. POD-GRASS,
RANNOCH-RUSH
JUNCAGINACEAE
(ARROW-GRASS FAM.)

 a; di or po-mo
-0--6-; 6 or 3; 6, 4 or 1 syn or apo
aggr or not aggr:sch fol ach

  
  Triglochin maritimum L. ARROW-GRASS
  Triglochin palustre L. ARROW-GRASS
POTAMOGETONACEAE
(PONDWEED FAM.) (1) (100)

 a; pf
-4- or 0; 4
aggr: ach drupaceous bac

  
  Potamogeton epihydrus Raf. RIBBONLEAF PONDWEED
RUPPIACEAE
(DITCHGRASS FAM.)

a; pf
-0-; 2; 4
aggr: ach bac
  Ruppia maritima L. DITCH GRASS,
WIDGEON-GRASS
NAJADACEAE
(NAIAD FAM.)

 i; mo or di; tepals or abs; 1; 1
ach 

  
  Najas flexilis (Willd.)
Rostk. & Schmidt		 NODDING WATER NYMPH,
NAIAD
ZANNICHELLIACEAE
(HORNED PONDWEED FAM.)

 mo or di
vestigial or abs; 1 or 2--3; 1--9
ach or fol

  
  Zannichellia palustris L. HORNED PONDWEED
ZOSTERACEAE
(EELGRASS FAM.)

 mo or di
vestigial or abs; 1; 1
ach

  
  Zostera marina L. EELGRASS, GRASSWRACK
Subclass II. Arecidae
(4) (5600)		    
Flowers syncarpous; usually terrestrial; endosperm; flowers mostly
numerous, subtended by a spathe, often aggregated into a spadix.
Arecales (1) (3000)    
Leaves with a plicate blade; inflorescence usually large and branched.
PALMAE (PALM FAM.)

 P+-a; pf, mo, di, or po-mo
tepals or vest. or abs or dist
ca and co 4--9; 3--#; 3--10 syn or apo
aggr or not

  
  Cocos nucifera L. COCONUT PALM (Tropical)
(Not wild in NYS)
  Phoenix dactylifera L. DATE (Tropical)
(Not wild in NYS)
  Sabal palmetto (Walt.) Lodd.
ex J.A. & J.H. Schultes		 PALMETTO (Tropical)
(Not wild in NYS)
Arales (3) (1800)    
Leaves without a plicate blade; inflorescence a spadix; leaves not appearing to be spiraled.
ARACEAE (ARUM FAM.)

 a; pf or mo
-0 or 4--6- or -(4--6)-; (1--6) or 1--6; 1--(3)
ber

  
  Arisaema triphyllum (L.)
Schott ex Schott & Endl.		 JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT
  Calla palustris L. CALLA-LILY
LEMNACEAE
(DUCKWEED FAM.)

 +-z; di; -0-; 1; 1
utr

  
  Lemma minor L. DUCKWEED
Subclass III.
Commelinidae
(7) (15,000)		    
Flowers syncarpous; usually terrestrial; endosperm; flowers never aggregated into a spadix; nectar mostly
wanting; perianth in the more advanced families reduced and chaffy, adapted to wind-pollination.
Commelinales (4) (1000)    
Flowers commonly perfect, with showy petals well differentiated from the sepals; adapted to insect pollination.
XYRIDACEAE
(YELLOW-EYED GRASS FAM.)
(700+)

 z; pf
3, (3 or 3; 3 + 3*; (3)
cap

  
  Xyris montana Ries YELLOW-EYED GRASS
COMMELINACEAE
(SPIDERWORT FAM.) (700)

 a or z; pf
3, 3; 6 or 3 + 3*; (3)
cap

  
  * Commelina communis L. DAYFLOWER
(Naturalized in NYS)
Eriocaulales (1) (1200)    
Flowers perfect or unisexual, without showy petals; flowers adapted to wind-pollination or self-pollination
or water pollination; ovules never solitary; ovary with 1--3 fertile locules and as many stigmas.
ERIOCAULACEAE
(PIPEWORT FAM.)

 a to +-z; di
(2 or 3) or 2 or 3, (2 or 3)
or 2 or 3; 2--6; (2 or 3)
cap

  
  Eriocaulon aquaticum
(Hill) Druce		 PIPEWORT
Juncales (2) (303)    
Flowers perfect or unisexual, without showy petals; flowers adapted to wind-pollination
or self-pollination or water pollination; ovules never solitary; ovary with 1--3 locules
and 3--many ovules; fruit capsular; pollen-grains in tetrads.
JUNCACEAE
(RUSH FAM.) (300)

 a; pf, di or mo
-6-; 3 or 6; (3)
cap

  
  Juncus effusus L. SOFT RUSH
  Juncus trifidus L. HIGHLAND RUSH
Cyperales (2) (12,000)    
Flowers perfect or unisexual, without showy petals; flowers adapted to wind-pollination or
self-pollination or water pollination; ovules never solitary; ovary with a single locule and
ovule; fruit indehiscent; pollen-grains in monads.
CYPERACEAE
(SEDGE FAM.) (4000)

 a; pf or mo
-0 or bristles/scales; 3; (2 or 3)
ach

  
  Carex L. spp. SEDGE
  Carex bigelowii
Torr. ex Schwein.		 BIGELOW'S SEDGE
  Eleocharis L. spp. SPIKE RUSH
  Eriophorum vaginatum L. COTTONGRASS
  Scirpus L. spp. BULRUSH
  Scirpus cespitosus L. DEER'S HAIR SEDGE
POACEAE
(GRASS FAM.) (8000)

 z; pf or mo
-1--3-; 1--3; (2 or 3)
grain

  
  * Agropyron repens
(L.) Beauv.		 QUACKGRASS
(Naturalized in NYS)
  * Agrostis capillaris L. REDTOP, COLONIAL BENT
(Naturalized in NYS)
  Agrostis mertensii Trin. NORTHERN BENT
  Avena sativa L. OATS
(Not wild in NYS)
  Bambusa vulgaris
Schräd. ex Wendl.		 BAMBOO
(Not wild in NYS)
  Calamagrostis canadensis
(Michx.) Beauv.		 BLUE-JOINT
  Cinna latifolia (Trev. ex Goepp.)
Griseb. ex Ledeb.		 DROOPING REEDGRASS
  * Dactylis glomerata L. ORCHARD GRASS
(Naturalized in NYS)
  Deschampsia flexuosa
(L.) Trin.		 HAIRGRASS
  * Digitaria ischaemum
(Schreb. ex Schweig.)
Schreb. ex Mühl.		 SMOOTH CRABGRASS
(Naturalized in NYS)
  * Festuca ovina L. SHEEP FESCUE
(Naturalized in NYS)
  Festuca obtusa Biehl. NODDING FESCUE GRASS
  Glyceria canadensis
(Michx.) Trin.		 RATTLESNAKE GRASS
  Anthoxanthum monticolum
(Bigel.) Veldkamp		 ALPINE SWEETGRASS
  Hordeum distichon L. BARLEY
(Not wild in NYS)
  * Lolium perenne L. PERENNIAL RYEGRASS
(Naturalized in NYS)
  Milium effusum L. MILLETGRASS
  Oryza sativa L. RICE
(Not wild in NYS)
  Panicum miliaceum L. MILLET
(Not wild in NYS)
  * Phleum pratense L. TIMOTHY
(Naturalized in NYS)
  * Phragmites australis
(Cav.) Trin ex Steud.		 GREAT REED
(Naturalized in NYS)
  * Poa pratensis L. KENTUCKY BLUE GRASS
(Naturalized in NYS)
  Saccharum officinarum L. SUGARCANE
(Not wild in NYS)
  Secale cereale L. RYE
(Not wild in NYS)
  Sorghum vulgare Pers. SORGHUM
(Not wild in NYS)
  Triticum spp. L. WHEAT
(Not wild in NYS)
  Zea mays L. CORN
(Not wild in NYS)
Typhales (2) (25)    
Flowers perfect or unisexual, without showy petals; flowers adapted to
wind-pollination or self-pollination or water pollination; ovules solitary.
SPARGANIACEAE
(BUR-REED FAM.)

 a to z; mo
-1--6-; 1--6; 1 or 2 apo or syn
dru nut

  
  Sparganium americanum Nutt. AMERICAN BUR-REED
  Sparganium angustifolium
Michx.		 NARROW-LEAF BUR-REED
TYPHACEAE (CATTAIL FAM.)

 a; di
-3 or 4 or bristles/scales-; (1--6); (2)
fol dru

  
  Typha latifolia L. COMMON CATTAIL
Subclass IV.
Zingiberidae
(2) (3800)		    
Flowers syncarpous; usually terrestrial; endosperm; flowers never aggregated into a spadix; nectar generally
present; perianth generally well developed, not reduced and chaffy, flowers adapted to pollination by insects,
etc.; sepals usually will differentiated from the petals, often green; plants not obviously mycotrophic.
Bromeliales (1) (2000)    
Functional stamens 6; flowers usually regular; xerophytes and epiphytes.
BROMELIACEAE
(PINEAPPLE FAM.) (2000)

 a to +-z; pf
(3 or 3, (3 or 3; (6 or 6; epi or hyp
ber cap

  
  Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. PINEAPPLE (Tropical)
(Not wild in NYS)
  Tillandsia usneoides (L.) L. SPANISH-MOSS (South)
(Not wild in NYS)
Zingiberales (8) (1800)    
Functional stamens 1 or 5; flowers usually irregular; mesophytes.
ZINGIBERACEAE
(GINGER FAM.) (1000)

 z; pf
(3), (3); 1 + (2)* + 2*
(3)
cap ber

  
  Zingiber officinale Roscoe GARDEN GINGER (Tropical)
(Not wild in NYS)
  Curcuma longa L. COMMON TURMERIC (India)
(Not wild in NYS)
CANNACEAE (CANNA FAM.)

 i; pf
3, (3); (1/2 + 1/2* +3# or (1/2* + 4*
(3)
cap

  
  * Canna x generalis LH Bail. CANNA LILY
(Naturalized in NYS)
  Canna edulis Ker-Gawl. CANNA, ARROWROOT
(Sub. & tropical tubers)
(Not wild in NYS)
MARANTACEAE
(ARROWROOT FAM.) (400)

 i; pf
3, (3); (1/2 + 1/2* +3* or (1/2* + 4*
(3)
cap nut ber

  
  Calathea zebrina (Sims) Lindl. ZEBRAPLANT (Tropical)
(Not wild in NYS)
Subclass V. Liliidae
(2) (25,000)		    
Flowers syncarpous; usually terrestrial; endosperm; flowers never aggregated into a spadix; nectar
generally present; perianth generally well developed, not reduced and chaffy, flowers adapted to
pollination by insects, etc.; sepals usually petaloid, rarely green; plants often strongly mycotrophic.
Liliales (15) (8000)    
Plants not obviously mycotrophic; seeds of ordinary number and structure,
usually with well-developed embryo and endosperm; ovary superior or inferior.
PONTEDERIACEAE
(PICKEREL-WEED FAM.)
(250 to 600)

 a to z; pf
-(6)-; 6; (3)
cap nutl

  
  Pontederia cordata L. PICKERELWEED
HAEMODORACEAE
(BLOODWORT FAM.)
(250 to 600)

 a to z; pf
-6- or -(6)-; 3 or 6; epi or hyp
cap

  
  Lachnanthes caroliniana
(Lam.) Dandy		 REDROOT
IRIDACEAE
(IRIS FAM.) (1500)

 a or z; pf
-6- or -(6)-; 3 or (3)
(3)
cap

  
  Colchicum autumnale L. AUTUMN CROCUS
(Poisonous)
(Ornamental in NYS)
  Crocus L. spp. CROCUS
(Ornamental in NYS)
  Crocus sativus L. SAFFRON
(Not wild in NYS)
  Gladiolus L. spp. GLADIOLUS
(Ornamental in NYS)
  Iris versicolor L. BLUE FLAG
  Sisyrinchium angustifolium Mill. BLUE-EYED GRASS
LILIACEAE
(LILY FAM.) (4000)

 a to +-z; pf
-3 + 3-; 6; (3)
cap ber

  
  Abelmoschus esculentus
(L.) Moench.		 OKRA
(Not wild in NYS)
  Allium cepa L. ONION
(Not wild in NYS)
  Allium tricoccum Ait. WILD LEEK
  Allium sativum L. GARLIC
(Not wild in NYS)
  Allium schoenoprasum L. CHIVES
(Not wild in NYS)
  * Allium vineale L. WILD GARLIC
(Naturalized in NYS)
  Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. ALOE VERA
(Not wild in NYS)
  Asparagus officinalis L. ASPARAGUS
(Not wild in NYS)
  Clintonia borealis (Ait.) Raf. CLINTON'S LILY
  * Convallaria majalis L. LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY
(Naturalized in NYS)
  Erythronium americanum Ker TROUT LILY
  Hemerocallis fulva (L.) L. DAY-LILY
(Ornamental in NYS)
  Hosta Tratt. spp. HOSTA
(Ornamental in NYS)
  Lilium canadense L. CANADA LILY
  Lilium lancifolium Thunb. TIGER LILY
(Ornamental in NYS)
  Maianthemum canadense Desf. CANADA MAYFLOWER
  Medeola virginiana L. INDIAN CUCUMBERROOT
  Polygonatum biflorum
(Walt.) Ell.		 SOLOMON'S SEAL
  Polygonatum pubescens
(Willd.) Pursh		 HAIRY SOLOMON'S SEAL
  Smilacina racemosa (L.) Desf. FALSE SOLOMON'S SEAL
  Trillium erectum L. RED TRILLIUM
  Trillium undulatum Willd. PAINTED TRILLIUM
  Trillium grandiflorum
(Michx.) Salisb.		 WHITE TRILLIUM
  Uvularia sessilifolia L. SESSILE-LEAVED BELLWORT
  Veratrum viride Ait. FALSE HELLEBORE,
INDIAN POKE
SMILACACEAE
(GREENBRIER FAM.)
(250 to 600)

 a; di
-6- or -(6-; 6 or (6; (3)
ber

  
  Smilax herbacea L. JACOB'S LADDER
AGAVACEAE
(CENTURY PLANT FAM.)
(250 to 600)

 a to +-z; pf
-6- or -(6)-; 6; epi or hyp
cap ber

  
  Agave atrovirens
Karw. ex Salm-Dyck		 PULQUE PLANT
(Mescal, tequila)
(Not wild in NYS)
  Yucca filamentosa L. ADAM'S-NEEDLE YUCCA
(Ornamental in NYS)
DIOSCOREACEAE
(YAM FAM.) (250 to 600)

 a; di
-6- or -(6)-; 6
(3)
cap

  
  Dioscorea alata L. YAM
(Not wild in NYS)
  Dioscorea villosa L. WILD YAM (NY?)
Orchidales (4) (15,150)    
Plants strongly mycotrophic, seeds very numerous and tiny, usually
undifferentiated; embryo and very little or no endosperm; ovary inferior.
BURMANNIACEAE
(BURMANNIA FAM.)

 a; pf or mo
-6 or 3-; 3; (3) partly inferior
cap

  
  Burmannia L. spp. BLUETHREAD (SE U.S.)
(Not wild in NYS)
ORCHIDACEAE
(ORCHID FAM.) (15,000)

 z; pf
3, 3/-6-; 1 or 2
(3)
cap

  
  Arethusa bulbosa L. SWAMP PINK,
DRAGON'S MOUTH
  Calopogon tuberosus
(L.) BSP.		 GRASS PINK
  Corallorhiza maculata
(Raf.) Raf.		 SPOTTED CORALROOT
(Saprophytic)
  Cypripedium acaule Ait. PINK LADY'S SLIPPER
  * Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz HELLEBORINE
(Shade tolerant)
(Naturalized in NYS)
  Goodyera repens (L.) R. Br. DWARF RATTLESNAKE-
PLANTAIN (shade tol.)
  Platanthera blephariglottis
(Willd.) Lindl.		 WHITE FRINGED ORCHID
  Platanthera clavellata
(Michx.) Luer		 GREEN WOODLAND ORCHID
  Platanthera dilatata (Pursh)
Lindl. ex Beck		 WHITE BOG ORCHID,
BOG CANDLE
  Platanthera lacera
(Michx.) G. Don		 RAGGED FRINGED ORCHID
  Platanthera orbiculata
(Pursh) Lindl.		 LARGE ROUND-LEAF ORCHID
(shade tolerant)
  Pogonia ophioglossoides
(L.) Juss.		 ROSE POGONIA,
SNAKE MOUTH
  Spiranthes cernua (L.) Rich. AUTUMN LADIES' TRESSES
     



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.



Home | Forward | History  | Introduction | Non-Plant Kingdoms
Non-Seed Plants | Gymnosperms  | Magnoliidae | Hamamelidae | Caryophyllidae
Dilleniidae | Rosidae | Asteridae | Liliopsida  | References  | Search  | NYS Rare Plants