Core Asterids Diversity and Evolution of Asterids gentians milkweeds and potatoes two well supported lineages of the true true or core asterids lamiids appear to have the typical fused corolla derived independently and via two different floral developmental pathways campanulids Early vs Late Sympetaly euasterids II campanulids lamiid lamiid or Asterid I group campanulid campanulid or Asterid II group Gentianales euasterids I lamiids order within lamiid lamiid or Asterid I group lamiids 5 families and nearly 17 000 species dominated by Rubiaceae coffee and Apocynaceae milkweed iridoids iridoids opposite leaves contorted corolla campanulids Calendula Calendula Asteraceae early Anchusa Anchusa Boraginaceae late Rubiaceae Apocynaceae Gentianales Gentianaceae gentians Cosmopolitan family of 87 genera and nearly 1700 species Herbs to small trees in the tropics or mycotrophs Gentiana Symbolanthus Voyria corolla aestivation Gentianaceae gentians opposite leaves glabrous no hairs flowers right contorted Gentiana Gentianaceae gentians CA 4 5 CO 4 5 A 4 5 4 5 G 2 Gentiana Gentianopsis Blackstonia Gentiana flowers 4 or 5 merous pistil superior of 2 carpels parietal placentation fruit capsular Gentianaceae gentians Gentianaceae gentians Gentiana is 5 merous with plaits between each petal lobe Gentiana andrewsii Bottle gentian Gentiana puberulenta Prairie gentian Gentianaceae gentians Gentianella is 4 5 merous without fringe and without plaits between petal lobes Gentianopsis is 4 merous with fringed petals Gentianopsis procera fringed gentian Gentianaceae gentians woody gentians common in cloud forests of the Neotropics hummingbird bat and bee pollinated radiations Symbolanthus Lisianthius Gentianopsis crinita fringed gentian Gentianella quinquefolia stiff gentian Apocynaceae milkweeds Apocynaceae milkweeds Worldwide family of trees vines herbs with opposite leaves 415 genera 4600 species Worldwide family of trees vines herbs with opposite leaves 415 genera 4600 species Vinca minor periwinkle Introduced ground cover often spreading Pachypodium Periploca Caralluma europea cactus mimic Asclepias syriaca common milkweed Apocynaceae milkweeds Milky latex commonly poisonous and source of medicinal drugs Apocynaceae milkweeds Family is broadly defined and includes distinctive milkweeds of old family Asclepiadaceae Asclepias monarch cardiac glycosides Catharanthus roseus Malagasy periwinkle Transition to more elaborated milkweed milkweed flowers Curare vine South America Apocynaceae milkweeds CA 5 CO 5 A 5 G 2 Apocynaceae milkweeds CA 5 CO 5 A 5 G 2 primitive flowers 5 merous left contorted perianth 2 separate carpels follicles primitive pollen presentation presentation style plunger or bottle brush to expose pollen Periploca 5 stamens begin to be connivent Apocynum androsaemifolium Spreading dogbane Vinca Apocynaceae milkweeds CA 5 CO 5 A 5 G 2 Apocynaceae milkweeds derived stamens fuse to each other and to style region gynostegium pollen forms pollinia more seeds with tufts of hairs Asclepias milkweed Note 2 free carpels slightly fused at top Apocynaceae milkweeds Apocynaceae milkweeds crest hood Corona for nectar reward Corona hood crest Apocynaceae milkweeds Gland is attached to 2 pollinia Corona hood crest Gynoestegium A G Pollinia pollen mass Fusion of 5 stamens and top of gynoecium Corona hood crest Gynostegium A G Apocynaceae milkweeds Gland is attached to 2 pollinia Corona hood crest Gynoestegium A G Pollinia pollen mass Apocynaceae milkweeds Apocynaceae milkweeds Las Vegas Vegas strategy of pollination but when occurs all ovules are fertilized Typically few follicles are produced per plant Note seeds with coma attached for wind dispersal Bee removing pollinia or inserting pollinia into stigmatic cleft Asclepias amplexicaulis Clasping milkweed Apocynaceae milkweeds Apocynum androsaemifolium Spreading dogbane Apocynum sibiricum Hemp dogbane Apocynaceae milkweeds Apocynum androsaemifolium Spreading dogbane Apocynum sibiricum Hemp dogbane Apocynaceae milkweeds Rubiaceae coffee Cosmopolitan family most diverse in tropics of 550 genera and over 10 000 species trees shrubs lianas and herbs important drug family Psychotria nervosa Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly weed Asclepias syriaca Common milkweed Asclepias incarnata Houstonia caerulacaerulaazure bluets Cinchona quinine Swamp milkweed Rubiaceae coffee Cosmopolitan family most diverse in tropics of 550 genera and over 10 000 species opposite whorled leaves with inter petiolar stipules Rubiaceae coffee CA 4 5 CO 4 5 A 4 5 G 2 4 merous in temperate regions 5 merous in tropics tendency to cluster only epigynous family in Gentianales fruit usually a 2 seeded drupe Galium bedstraw are these stipules Pentagonia Panama Galium bedstraw Wisconsin Rubiaceae coffee Rubiaceae coffee Galium aparine cleavers Cleavers and bedstraws are numerous separated by number of whorled leaves and fruit type Rubiaceae coffee Mitchella repens Partridge berry twin berry Note paired flowers above with connate pistils twin twin berry to right Houstonia caerulacaerula azure bluets Rubiaceae coffee Cephalanthus occidentalis buttonbush Only shrub in Wisconsin note heads heads of tiny 4 merous flowers Rubiaceae coffee Rubiaceae coffee Isertia Psychotria nervosa Coffea arabica coffee Solanales 5 families and nearly 5 000 species dominated by Solanaceae nightshade and Convolvulaceae morning glory no iridoids iridoids alternate leaves plicate corolla calyx persistent in fruit Solanaceae the giant genus Psychotria is paraphyletic and includes more specialized genera e g condensed bracted inflorescences Solanaceae nightshades order within lamiids lamiids or Asterid l group lamiids Cephaelis tomentosa hotlips Large cosmopolitan family of herbs shrubs or trees with nasty compounds Important for source of foods potato tomato pepper and drugs Alternate leaved Cyme or dichasium inflorescence Convolvulaceae campanulids Brugmansia Nicotiana tobacco Solanaceae nightshades CA 5 CO 5 A 5 G 2 Solanaceae nightshades CA 5 CO 5 A 5 G 2 5 merous flowers axile placentation berry fruited stamens often terminal pored for buzz pollination by bees Capsicum pepper Solanum dulcamara Bittersweet Solanum carolinense Horse nettle Solanaceae nightshades Solanum carolinense Horse nettle Solanaceae nightshades CA 5 CO 5 A 5 G 2 often calyx persistent in fruit Solanum dulcamara Bittersweet Physalis alkekengi Japanese lantern Solanum dulcamara bitterweet Solanaceae nightshades Solanaceae nightshades Physalis