Flowering Plants and Civilization

Coffee• The most commonly “drunk” food in the world.

� 350 million cups per day

• Where does it come from?

� Originally from Ethiopia. Now mostly cultivated in Brazil and Columbia.

� Two species cultivated.

� Not “beans” at all but drupes.

• How much caffeine is in coffee?

� A 7-ounce cup contains 115-175 mg caffeine.

� Instant coffee contains 65-110 mg.

� Decaffeinated instant contains 2-3 mg.

• Why do people drink it?

� Caffeine is a mild stimulant. It increases heart rate, respiration, and basal metabolic rate. It also increases stomach acid and urine.

� Will make you feel less fatigued and will make you more alert and focused for a short time. Doesn’t seem to be harmful in small doses.

Caffeine Content

Caffeine in Soft Drinks (for comparison)

Origin of Cultivated Plants

• Cultivated Plants appear to have originated in six major regions:

� Chinese Region

� African Continent

� South Asia and Pacific Islands

� North America

� South and Central America

Major Centers of Cultivated Plants

Chinese Region

• Bamboo, peach, litchi, walnut, persimmon, ginger, ginseng, gourds, camphor, tea, tung, soybean, buckwheat, horseradish, chinesecabbage, cucumber.

• Rice most likely came from somewhere else in Asia.

African Region

• Yam, sorghum, okra, oil palm, baobab, sweet melons, coffee, some cotton, castor bean

South Asia and the Pacific Islands Region

• Sugar cane, eggplant, mango, banana, citrus fruits, safflower, nutmeg, clove, cardamom, turmeric, black pepper, jute, hemp, coconut, taro, rice, mung bean, sesame, betel nut, onion, jackfruit

South and Central America Region

• Corn, peanut, white potato, lima bean, common bean, cashew, pineapple, papaya, avocado, red pepper, tomato, cotton, cocaine, amaranth, quinoa, cacao (chocolate), guava, sweet potato, pumpkin, squash, rubber, prickly pear, peyote, chayote, vanilla, sisal, cassava.

North America Region

• Few cultivated plants originated in North America.

• The few that are cultivated primarily came from tropical and subtropical areas.

• Sunflower, cranberry, blueberry, tobacco.

Major Plant Families

Ranunculaceae Family

• Buttercups

� Nearly all 1,500

member species are

herbaceous.

- Most members

are at least

slightly poisonous.

Fig. 24.3

Lauraceae Family

• Several important spices:

� No petals, 6 sepals

� Cinnamon

� Cassia

• Camphor

• Sassafras Trees

• Sweet Bay

Papaveraceae Family

• Most member species are herbs distributed throughout the temperate and subtropical regions north of the equator.

� Opium Poppies

- Morphine and Codeine

�Heroin

- Papaverine and and Noscapine

� Note: The seeds of opium poppies contain virtually no opium. It is very rare to fail a drug test, but it is possible.

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Brassicaceae Family

• Four flower petals are arranged in a cross.

• Nearly all 2,500 species are herbs distributed primarily throughout the temperate and cooler regions of North America.

� Many cultivated edible plants.

- Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, Radish, Turnip, Horseradish, Watercress, and Rutabaga.

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Shepherd’s

Purse

Rosaceae Family

• Rose Family

� Includes more than 3,000 species.

- Family is subdivided into subfamilies on the basis of flower structure and fruits.

� Enormous economic impact.

- Garden Ornamentals

- Fragrances

- Hips

�Vitamin C

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Fabaceae Family

• Legume Family

� Third largest of flowering plant families.

- 13,000 members.

- Many important crop plants.

�Peas

�Beans

�Peanuts

�Alfalfa

�Carob

Papilionaceous Flowers

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Papilionaceous Flowers

Euphorbiaceae Family

• Spurge Family

� Widespread in temperature regions both north and south of the equator.

- Several economically important plants.

�Cassava

�Para Rubber Tree

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Cactaceae Family

• The Cactus Family

� Potentially more than 1,500 species.

- Most occur in dry, subtropical regions.

- Usually showy flowers.

- Most have edible fruit.

Lamiaceae Family

• Mint Family

� Easy to distinguish because of a unique combination of angular stems that are square in cross section, opposite leaves, and bilaterally symmetrical flowers.

- Mint oils have been used medicinally and as an antiseptic in different parts of the world.

�Menthol

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Solanaceae Family

• Nightshade Family

� Belladonna drug complex.

- Atropine

- Scopalamine

� Capsicum

� Jimson Weed

� Tobacco

� Tomatoes

Harvesting Tomatoes

The White Russet Potato

(Not from Idaho!)

Angel’s Trumpet

Apiaceae Family

• Carrot Family

� Approximately 2,000 members.

- Dill

- Celery

- Carrot

- Parsley

- Caraway

- CorianderCopyright © McGraw-Hill Companies Permission

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Cucurbitaceae Family

• Pumpkin Family

� Includes many important edible plants.

- Many have been cultivated for so long they

are unknown in a wild state.

� Pumpkins

� Squash

� Cucumbers

� Cantaloupes

Squash Flower

Asteraceae Family

• Sunflower Family

� Second largest flowering plant family.

- Individual flowers - florets.

Composite Head

Poaceae Family

• Grass Family

� Highly specialized flowers.

� Contains nearly all cereals.

� Sugar Cane

� Citronella

� Fibers

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Liliaceae Family

• Lily Family

� Approximately 4,550 members.

- Occur in almost any area supporting vegetation.

�Asparagus

�Sarsaparilla

�Meadow Saffron (colchicine)

�Aloe

�Onions and Garlic

Tiger Lily

Sansevieria Plants

California Soaproot

Asparagus

Aloe Vera

Orchidaceae Family

• Orchid Family

� Very large family with > 35,000 species.

- Widely distributed with diverse habitats.

- Flowers are exceptionally varied in size and form.

- Vanilla

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THE END!

• This is the end of Botany!

• Prepare yourself for the Final Exam!

• Don’t forget to hand in your Plant Collection!

• Thanks for being a great class!