PLANT FAMILY NAMES

FROM AgnesdeLanvallei
April 2005

NOTE
Plant classification is undergoing rapid
change right now. The number of
families, the names of genera and the
names of species are in a state of flux.
This is chiefly because DNA evidence is
demonstrating errors in the classical
classification of plants. In 10 or 15 years
all the common species will have been
analyzed with the latest methods, but for
now surprises keep turning up, resulting
in revisions.AdeL4/11

Plants are grouped into about 383 families

(Woodland 2000). Members of the same
family are similar. Thus, apples, pears
and roses are in the same family (Rose
Family, Rosaceae), crabgrass, Kentucky
bluegrass and seagrasses are in the
same family (Grass Family, Poaceae) and
sunflowers, asters and calendulas are all
in another family (Sunflower Family,
Asteraceae).

All plant families are based on the

name of one genus in the family,
with ceae added to the
stem.AsterAsteraceae,JuglansJugl
andaceae;LiliumLiliaceae;MalvaMal
vaceae;OrchisOrchidaceae;RosaRo
saceae;SalixSalicaceae etc 383
families

EXCEPT
There was a system before this system was
imposed (Interntional Code of Botanical
Nomenclature Article 18).The family
names of the biggest most common plant
families in the old system were in such wide
use that there was a battle among the
delegates at the International Botanic
Congress over whether ALL families had to
conform to the new system.The reformists
did not win, they compromised.For 6 big
families BOTH the new name or the
traditionalname areEQUALLY
acceptable.Thus