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Lamiaceae (Labiatae)

The large mint family contains many economically important plants, particularly culinary herbs such as oregano (Origanum sp.) and rosemary (Rosemarinus maritima). Many horticulturally important plants are in this family, including the genus Salvia. Culinary mint (Mentha sp.) is a member of this group.

Coleus is a common garden plant with velvety multicolored leaves and racemes of blue flowers. It is an excellent subject for laboratory exercises and anatomy dissections. Easily rooted, it may be propagated for classroom use.

Leaves are somewhat thick with scalloped edges on this plant. A trailing plant, it must be pinched back regularly for fuller growth, but cuttings root readily.

Lauraceae

A primitive family with several economically important plants, including cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylandicum) and Laurus nobilis, bayleaf. The family contains many important rainforest and subtropical forest trees and shrubs.

Economicallly important tropical fruit from tropical America. The fruit is rich in protein and fat and is a favorite food of coatimundis, kinkajous and olingoes.

Lemnaceae

The watermeal family comprises the smallest flowering plants known, often reduced to just a few minute leaves and roots. Many of the species are carried from pond to pond by migrating waterfowl.

One of the smallest flowering plants. Aquatic floater. Flowers in early spring.

Malvaceae

The hibiscus family contains many horticulturally important shrubs as well as important tropical trees and shrubs. The flower exhibits partially fused filaments and petals. The state flower of Hawaii is a hibiscus.

Star-shaped leaf hairs typical of the family. Reliable source of stipules. Origin likely se Asia. Hundreds of flower colors and cultivars.

Moraceae

The mulberry or mahogany family is primarily tropical and encompasses many important timber trees. The fruits are variable, multiple fruits in mulberry, synconia in figs and multi-dehiscing capsules in mahoganies. Ecologically, the most interesting group is the figs. They are important in support of canopy birds and mammals in rainforests. The flowers are hidden in berry-like synconia and are pollinated by minute mini-wasps, which lay their eggs in the developing fruit. Usually the fruits mature at irregular intervals, and provide the residents with a small, but reliable supply of fruit throughout the year between the flushes of fruit production by other trees and shrubs.

A common houseplant, as a tree in topical locales, often covers an acre or more. May start as a hemiepiphyte, using another tree as a prop and support.

Large leafed fig with pink leaf sheaths. Easy to air-layer and grow as a large indoor tree.

A large fig with broad, shiny leaves and wide stipules from Africa.

Small, drought tolerant fig that is deciduous when stressed.

Nyctaginaceae

The four-o-clock family contains important horticultural plants as well as many plants adapted for dry desert conditions. Many are hawkmoth pollinated.

Vining, flowering plant with pink bracts and white tubular flowers. The vine often has sharp thorns. Withholding water will often encourage bloom.

Piperaceae

The pepper family includes culinary pepper, Piper nigrum and kava-kava (Piper kava), the antianxiety drink used by Polynesians. Many species are vines or shrubs, but there are a few tropical trees. Many succulent species are epiphytes in tropical rainforests. The inflorescences are spicate and fleshy, often providing food when pollinated, for bats and tree possums.

Epiphyte from Florida Everglades and Fahkahatchee Swamp. Blooms in spring-summer.

Epiphyte blooms in winter. Reliable spike inflorescence.

Rubiaceae

The coffee family includes many tropical trees and shrubs as well as important horticultural plants such as Gardenia jasminoides from se Asia. It is a large family of woody plants from the tropics and subtropics.

Small tree, source of coffee. Interesting peeling bark, dark green opposite leaves with quilt-like venation. Flowers are star-like, white and fragrant, followed by bright red coffee berries.

Rutaceae

Family of citrus and relatives. Source of citrus oils, fragrances and fruits. Important tropical trees and shrubs. Fruits are hesperidia; leaves have unusual punctate glands.

Shows typical rutaceous leaves with oil secreting glands. Economically important for sour, but pleasantly scented fruit.

Small lemon tree with enormous fruit. Often produces thorns and white flowers with pinkish blush.

Solanaceae

Another economically important family, with peppers (Capsicum annuum), potatoes (Solanum sp.), tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) and many others. Also an important source of common garden weeds and noxious plants.

Fragrant giant funneliform flowers hang from this small tree. Every small village in South America has one of these.

Famous bloomer with penetrating night fragrance which attracts moths as pollinators.

Verbenaceae

The verbena family includes many horticulturally important plants as well as tropical trees, shrubs and vines.

Beautiful vine from India with interesting flowers: red tubular corolla and white bracts. Blooms Spring through Fall

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