From Seed to Seed:
Plant Science for K-8 Educators

Some Familiar Families

Following is a list of plant families, a few of their distinguishing characteristics, and some of their more well-known members.

Potato or nightshade family: Solanaceae

Annuals and perennials with star-shaped flowers. Plants in this family produce alkaloids as a chemical defense against herbivores (plant eaters).

Members include potato, tomato, eggplant, peppers (including chilies and sweet peppers, but not peppercorns), tomatillo, and cape gooseberry. Also, petunia, salpiglossis, schizanthus, solanum, physalis (Chinese lantern plant), and nicotiana (tobacco). The toxic alkaloid nicotine is present in several nicotiana species; it is sometimes used as a powerful insecticide. Poisonous plants in this family include deadly nightshade (belladonna), jimson weed, and mandrake.

Daisy or sunflower family: Compositae (also called Asteraceae)

One of the largest families of plants, with about 25,000 species. In many members of this family, what appears to be a single flower is, botanically speaking, a cluster of flowers made up of many small central disk flowers surrounded by showy, often sterile ray flowers.


Members include lettuce (very easy to grow in your garden or classroom), chicory, endive, salsify, globe artichoke, Jerusalem artichoke, and tarragon. A huge number of ornamentals, including daisies of all types, sunflower (harvest and roast seeds with students), dahlia, zinnia, marigold, calendula, cosmos, aster, gerbera, globe thistle, and artemisia are also in this family. In addition, many troublesome weeds such as dandelion, thistle, cocklebur, and ragweed are members.

Carrot family: Umbelliferae (also called Apiaceae)

Many members used for food and flavoring; plants have deeply cut leaves and strongly scented foliage. Flowers are borne in flat, terminal clusters called umbels.

Members include carrot, parsnip, celery, parsley, fennel, dill, anise, angelica, cumin, coriander, lovage, chervil, and caraway. Also, Queen Anne's lace (cow parsley), and hemlock (the poison responsible for the death of Socrates).

Mustard family: Cruciferae (also called Brassicaceae)

Includes several common vegetables, some of which are sharp, bitter, or otherwise strong-tasting. Four-petaled flowers are cross-shaped and borne in clusters.

Members include mustard, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, turnip, Chinese cabbage, and kale. The family also includes many annual and perennial flowers such as nasturtium (recommended for classroom growing), candytuft, alyssum, and wallflower.

Heath family: Ericaceae

Cool-climate trees and shrubs; some are evergreen, others are deciduous. The leaves of many species have a leathery texture, and plants in this family generally prefer part shade and acid soil.

Members include heath, rhododendron, azalea, mountain laurel, wintergreen, and heather. Although the family includes blueberries and cranberries, many other species in the family are poisonous. (Some species of laurel are very poisonous to sheep, and are known as "lambkill.")

Grass family: Gramineae (also called Poaceae)

Annuals and perennials with narrow, ribbon like leaves, flowers in spikes, and intercalary meristems. This is the most economically important plant family. Most of the world's population depends on a single type of grass-rice-as their staple food.

Family members include wheat, rice, corn, oats, barley, millet, sorghum, sugar cane, bamboo, and lemon grass. Also, lawn grasses such as fescue and bluegrass. The grass Arundo donax is used to make clarinet reeds.

Lily family: Liliaceae

Many members have narrow, grasslike leaves and showy flower parts that occur in threes. Some types form scaly bulbs.

Members include asparagus, onion, leek, and garlic. Also, lily, aloe, daylily, liriope (lilyturf), and trillium.

Rose family: Rosaceae

Hardy perennials, shrubs, and trees, many with compound leaves.

Members include apple, plum, quince, cherry, plum, peach, almond, apricot, blackberry, raspberry, and strawberry. Also, rose, spiraea, cotoneaster, potentilla, lady's mantle, pyracantha (firethorn), photinia, and mountain ash.

Pea family: Leguminosae (also called Fabaceae)

Includes many important food and forage plants. Plants have compound leaves; their seeds are borne in pods. Plants in this family form a relationship with soil-borne, nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Members include garden peas, chick peas, and all sorts of beans, including string bean and soybean, lentils, alfalfa, and clover. Also, sweet pea, baptisia, acacia, mimosa, wisteria, cassia, and lupine.

Citrus or rue family: Rutaceae

Members of this family include trees, shrubs, and a few perennials; many are evergreen, and most are native to tropical and subtropical climates. Leaves possess numerous oil glands, and give off a strong aroma when crushed.

Members include lemon, orange, grapefruit, citron, mandarin, satsuma, tangerine, lime, kumquat, and bergamot. Also rue, which is poisonous.

Buttercup family: Ranunculaceae

Most members have cut-leaf foliage and thrive in moist soils. Some go dormant after flowering.

Members include ranunculus, clematis, globe flower, delphinium, love-in-a-mist, anemone, hellebore, pulsatilla, and columbine. Some plants in the family, such as Aconitum (monkshood), are poisonous.

Short-lived annuals or perennials; prefer full sun and alkaline soil. Leaves arranged in opposite pattern, petals of flowers often notched, and stem nodes swollen.

Members include carnation, pinks, sweet William, snow-in-summer, baby's breath, lychnis, and soapwort.

Pumpkin or gourd family: Cucurbitaceae

Quick-growing vines with trumpet-shaped, unisexual flowers (there are separate male and female flowers), and large, fleshy fruits. Most members have tendrils.

Members include pumpkin, squash, gourd, zucchini, melon, cantaloupe, honeydew, cucumber, watermelon, and citron.

Foxglove or figwort family: Scrophulariaceae

Herbaceous plants, flowers bilaterally symmetrical and borne in spikes or clusters. Most prefer cool temperatures.

Members include foxglove, snapdragon, verbascum, veronica (speedwell), penstemon, linaria (toad flax), mimulus (monkey flower), and nemesia. Foxgloves are the source of the powerful heart stimulants digitalis and digoxin.

Mint family: Labiatae (also called Lamiaceae)

Herbs, shrubs, and perennials with square stems and two-lipped flowers. Leaves often aromatic; some members can be invasive.

Members include mint, rosemary, basil, thyme, sage, oregano, and marjoram. Also lavender, coleus, salvia, stachys (lamb's ears), monarda (bee balm), and patchouli.

Here are some other examples of plant "relatives" that might surprise you:

Oleaceae: Includes olive, ash, lilac, jasmine, forsythia, privet.

Convolvulaceae: Includes morning glory, bindweed, and sweet potato.

Rubiaceae: Includes gardenia and coffee.

Would you like to know more?
Additional Online Resources

• Internet Directory For Botany: Vascular Plant Families-Database of Web sites.
  http://www.botany.net/IDB/subject/botvasc.html