Artificial Group Floriferae Polypetalae    Subclass Rosidae

Rosaceae (Rose Family)
     100 Genera (4 on campus)
     3,100 species 

I. Leaves - very variable
     A. Deciduous -> Evergreen
     B. Alternate -> some Opposite
     C. Simple -> Compound
     D. Stipulate -> Estipulate

II. Flowers
     A. Perfect
     B. Actinomorphic (regular)
     C. 5-merous
     D. Perigenous or Hypogenous 

III. Fruit
     A. Pome, Drupe, Capsule, Follicle, Achene

IV. Economic importance
     A. Relatively unimportant to lumber industry
          except Prunus serotina (Cherry) wood
     B. Extremely important for edible fruits
     C. Highly prized ornamentals

V. Range
     A. Worldwide, most numerous in temperate latitudes

VI. Two Subfamilies
     A. Prunoideae = Drupe fruits
     B. Pomoideae = Pome fruits
Prunoideae

I.  Prunus (Cherry, Plum)
     [Latin name for plum]

     A. Alternate, simple, serrate leaves with
          conspicuous glands on petioles
     B. 1 seeded Drupe

     C. P. serotina (Wild, Black Cherry)
          1. Reddish pubescence on midrib
          2. < 2 cm petioles

     D. P. avium (Sweet, Mazzard Cherry)
          1. Glabrous midrib
          2. > 2 cm petioles

     E. Genus also includes Peach, Almond, Apricot

Pomoideae

I. Malus (Apple)
     [Latin for apple]

     A. M. sylvestris (Pyrus malus in Blackwell) (Apple)
          1. Whitish pubescence on underside of leaf,
               petioles, buds, & twigs

     B. M. coronaria (Pyrus coronaria in Blackwell) 
          (Wild sweet crabapple)
          1. Leaf, petioles, buds, & twigs essentially
               glabrous

II. Pyrus (Pear)
     [Latin for pear]

     A. P. communis (common pear)
          1. Leaves, petioles, buds, & twigs sparsely
               pubescent

III. Sorbus (Mountain Ash)
     [Latin name]

     A. Sorbus aucuparia (European mountain ash)
          1. Odd pinnately compound leaves with
               13-17 serrate leaflets
          2. Clusters of red pomes

IV.  Crataegus (Hawthorn, Thorn Apple)  

     A. Species within this genus hybidize very readily
     B. Small Tree / Shrub
     C. Thorns, except in some horticultural varieties
     D. C. phaenopyrum (Washington Hawthorn)
          1. Lustrous, 3-lobed, serrate leaf
          2. Veins extend to sinuses and lobe tips
          3. Branched Thorns
     E. C. crus-galli ((Cockspur thorn)
          1. Leathery, obovate leaf with wedge shaped base
          2. Veins extend to tips of teeth only
          3. Lots of unbranched thornsArtificial Group Floriferae Polypetalae  Subclass Magnolidae

Lauraceae (Laurel Family)

     45 Genera
     2,200 species (1 on campus)

I. Leaves
     A. Deciduous or evergreen
     B. Alternate
     C. Simple
     D. Estipulate
     E. Usually aromatic

II. Flowers
     A. Perfect or imperfect
     B. Regular
     C. 3 or 4 whorls of 3 stamens
     D. 1 1-celled pistil with single ovule

III. Fruit
     A. 1-seeded berry or drupe

IV.  Economic importance
     A. Aromatic substances from leaves, stems, bark
          roots, and fruits used in perfumes and
          flavoring
          1. Cinnamomum camphora -> camphor
          2. Cinnamomum zeylanicum -> cinnamon
          3. Laurus nobilis -> bay leaves
          4. Sassafras albidum -> oil of sassafras
               used in soaps & flavorings
               -> young leaves used a mucilaginous
                    thickening and flavor in Creole dishes
               -> root bark used to make tea
     B. Persea americana - edible avocado
     C. Lumber
          1. Endiandra palmerstoni (E. Australia)
               substitute for Juglans nigra lumber
          2. Ocotea rodiaei (British Guiana)
               lumber used in marine construction
          3. Sassafras albidum (eastern USA)
               substitute for Fraxinus nigra

V. Range
     A. Mostly tropical
Sassafras albidum

     A. Three leaf forms on same tree
          Entire, Mitten Shaped, 3-Lobed
     B. Green twigs
     C. Dioecious
     D. Blue Drupe
     E. Deeply furrowed, reddish brown, spicy,
          aromatic bark
     F. Readily propagates via root sprouts