a	Flowers absent Ovules/seeds borne on scales arranged in cones, or exposed, not in an ovary Pollen sacs borne on scales arranged in cones Trees to woody perennials Leaves mostly needle-, scale- or palm-like
	b	Flowers present Ovules/seeds enclosed in an ovary Pollen borne in anthers Annual herbs to trees

	a	Leaves usually net-veined, simple to variously compound, often with a petiole, base rarely sheathing the stem (e.g. Apiaceae, Ranunculaceae) Stipules present or absent Flower parts usually in 4s or 5s Vascular bundles in stem usually arranged in a cylinder Embryo usually with 2 cotyledons
	b	Leaves usually with parallel-convergent veins, simple or rarely compound or lobed but then leaflets or lobes with parallel, not net-like venation, leaves rarely with a petiole but base usually sheathing the stem at least partly Stipules absent Flower parts usually in 3s Vascular bundles scattered in stem Embryo with 1 cotyledon

	a	Leaves 2, opposite, permanent, sprawling on the ground and often torn lengthwise by the wind	Welwitschiaceae
	b	Leaves indefinite in number, produced in succession from apex of stems

	a	Palm- or fern-like plants with fibrous stems or trunks, or stemless with a tuberous rootstock
	b	Trees or shrubs with hardwood stems and simple leaves along branches

	a	Stemless, somewhat fern-like plants with a tuberous rootstock Leaves deciduous from their base Leaflets with midrib and dichotomously branched lateral veins	Stangeriaceae
	b	Stems above and below ground, covered with persistent leaf bases, sometimes up to 10 m tall, with a crown of palm-like leaves	Zamiaceae

	a	Leaves small and scale-like Ovules/seeds borne between scales of a rounded woody, rarely fleshy cone	Cupressaceae
	b	Leaves well developed, linear to awl-shaped or needle-like

	a	Dioecious trees or shrubs Leaves linear to narrowly ovate Ovules/seeds 1 or 2 borne on a receptacle (often swollen and fleshy), not in cones	Podocarpaceae
	b	Monoecious trees or shrubs Leaves needle-like, linear or awl-shaped Ovules/seeds borne in cones

	a	Leaves mostly needle-like, 1 or few united at base by a membranous sheath Female cones with many spirally arranged scales, leathery or fleshy at first, mostly becoming stiff and woody later, each bearing 2 ovules/seeds	*Pinaceae
	b	Leaves mostly linear to broadly awl-shaped, without a basal sheath, spirally arranged but sometimes appearing 2-ranked Female cones with 5-30 scales, free when young but closely fused later, each bearing 2-9 ovules	*Taxodiaceae

	a	Gynoecium composed of 2 or more free carpels with separate styles and stigmas (in Nymphaeaceae the carpels are sunk in a fleshy disc)
	b	Gynoecium composed of 1 carpel or of 2 or more united carpels with united or free styles, or if carpels free below then styles or stigmas united

	a	Petals absent Perianth members all ± similar
	b	Petals present

	a	Placentation parietal or marginal Ovules 2 or more in the ovary, borne on its outer wall or sometimes on intrusions thereof
	b	Placentation axile, basal or apical Ovules 1 or more in the ovary, borne on the central axis, or the base or apex of the ovary, or placentation indistinct

	a	Ovary superior
	b	Ovary ± inferior

	a	Petals absent Perianth members, if present, all ± similar
	b	Petals free
	c	Petals ± united

	a	Ovary superior
	b	Ovary inferior

	a	Petals absent Perianth members, if present, all ± similar
	b	Petals free
	c	Petals ± united

	a	Petals absent Perianth members, if present, all ± similar
	b	Petals free
	c	Petals ± united

	a	Sepals united below Stamens perigynous, arising at mouth of calyx tube Leaves pinnate or digitate or palmately lobed Stipules present Trees, shrubs or herbs, sometimes scrambling with prickles	Rosaceae
	b	Sepals free Stamens hypogynous

	a	Leaves compound, sometimes decompound Sepals petaloid Herbs or soft-wooded climbing or trailing plants	Ranunculaceae
	b	Leaves simple

	a	Flowers unisexual Plants dioecious Woody climbers with alternate leaves
	b	Flowers bisexual Herbs with opposite or subopposite leaves

	a	Sepals 6-18 in 2 or more whorls Stamens 3-6, free or united into a synandrium Flowers in cymes or racemes Leaves entire or palmately lobed	Menispermaceae
	b	Sepals 4 or 5 in 1 whorl Stamens 10-15, free Flowers in elongated racemes Leaves entire	Phytolaccaceae

	a	Leaves entire Calyx herbaceous Flowers small, in cymes or panicles	Gisekiaceae
	b	Leaves toothed or lobed Calyx petaloid Flowers large and conspicuous, solitary or few together	Ranunculaceae

	a	Leaves opposite Stipules absent Carpels as many as petals Plants often succulent	Crassulaceae
	b	Leaves alternate, sometimes all radical

	a	Aquatic herbs with floating leaves on long petioles Leaf blades ± peltate Flowers solitary, on long scapes, often large and conspicuous
	b	Terrestrial plants Leaf blades not peltate

	a	Carpels sunk in a fleshy disc Petals many Leaf blades cordate as well as peltate	Nymphaeaceae
	b	Carpels not sunk in a fleshy disc Petals 3 Leaf blades peltate, not cordate	Cabombaceae

	a	Stamens perigynous, arising at mouth of calyx tube Leaves pinnate or digitate Stipules present Trees, shrubs or herbs, sometimes scrambling with prickles	Rosaceae
	b	Stamens hypogynous, not arising on calyx

	a	Sepals 6-24 in 2 or more whorls, free or inner ones united Dioecious shrublets or woody climbers with small flowers	Menispermaceae
	b	Sepals 2-5 in 1 whorl, free or united

	a	Leaves compound or deeply divided
	b	Leaves simple, entire

	a	Herbs	Ranunculaceae
	b	Trees or shrubs	Connaraceae

	a	Leaves succulent Stamens 8-12	Crassulaceae
	b	Leaves herbaceous Stamens mostly more than 12

	a	Herbs	Ranunculaceae
	b	Trees or shrubs, sometimes trailing	Annonaceae

	a	Submerged aquatic herbs, fern-like owing to pinnately much-divided leaves Plants dioecious Flowers in elongated, pedunculate spikes Calyx absent	Hydrostachyaceae
	b	Terrestrial plants, not fern-like in habit

	a	Leaves pinnate or 2-foliolate Trees	Fabaceae
	b	Leaves simple or digitately 3-foliolate, sometimes reduced to scales

	a	Flowers unisexual Plants dioecious Leaves simple Trees or shrubs
	b	Flowers bisexual

	a	Calyx absent Flowers in catkins Fruit a 2-valved capsule Seeds with a basal tuft of long, fine hairs	Salicaceae
	b	Calyx present Flowers solitary or in fascicles or short racemes Fruit a berry Seeds glabrous or covered with a woolly indumentum	Flacourtiaceae

	a	Flowers with a fimbriate corona outside stamens Herbs or shrubs, often climbing with tendrils	Passifloraceae
	b	Flowers without corona Tendrils absent

	a	Herbs or low shrublets Fruit a small capsule, either 1-locular with many ovules or 2-locular with 1 or 2 ovules per locule
	b	Shrubs or trees Fruit, if a capsule, with more than 2 seeds per locule

	a	Capsule (silicula) with 2 1- or 2-seeded locules divided by a persistent, often membranous partition	Brassicaceae
	b	Capsule 1-locular, often open at the top, with many ovules on 2-5 placentas	Resedaceae

	a	Ovary borne on a distinct stalk (gynophore)	Capparaceae
	b	Ovary sessile or subsessile	Flacourtiaceae

	a	Stamens 6, tetradynamous (inner 4 long, outer 2 short) Sepals 4 Petals 4 or fewer Leaves without stipules Herbs	Brassicaceae
	b	Stamens not tetradynamous

	a	Gynoecium composed of 1 carpel, thus with only 1 placenta in ovary
	b	Gynoecium composed of 2 or more united carpels, thus with 2 or more placentas

	a	Flowers regular Petals 5 or fewer, sometimes 1 Leaves simple or compound Trees or shrubs or herbs, sometimes climbing	Fabaceae
	b	Flowers irregular

	a	Leaves 2-pinnate Stipules present Trees, shrubs or herbs, sometimes climbing Flowers in spikes or heads	Fabaceae
	b	Leaves simple, 1-pinnate or 1-3-foliolate

	a	Leaves pinnate or 3-foliolate, the leaflets dotted with pellucid glands, at least at margin Trees or shrubs	Rutaceae
	b	Leaves simple or 1-foliolate, without pellucid glands

	a	Leaves toothed Stipules present Stamens as many as and opposite petals, united at base Herbs or small shrubs	Sterculiaceae
	b	Leaves entire Stipules absent Stamens more numerous than petals Trees or shrubs, sometimes climbing

	a	Sepals 5 Petals 5 Flowers in few-flowered racemes	Connaraceae
	b	Sepals 3 Petals 6 Flowers solitary, axillary	Annonaceae

	a	Leaves scale-like, dense Shrubs or small trees	Tamaricaceae
	b	Leaves not scale-like

	a	Leaves opposite or whorled, simple, not all radical Herbs
	b	Leaves alternate or all radical

	a	Leaves dotted with pellucid glands Stamens more than twice as many as petals, often ± grouped into bundles Terrestrial plants	Clusiaceae
	b	Leaves not gland-dotted Herbs, often hydrophytes

	a	Leaves bladdery, whorled Stamens as many as petals Free-floating aquatics	Droseraceae
	b	Leaves small, opposite or whorled, not bladdery Stamens (4 or 5)6	Frankeniaceae

	a	Flowers unisexual
	b	Flowers bisexual or plants sometimes polygamous

	a	Stamens twice as many as petals or more numerous Petals free in all flowers Trees or shrubs without tendrils	Flacourtiaceae
	b	Stamens as many as petals

	a	Petals smaller than sepals Leaves sometimes digitate or palmately lobed Herbaceous or woody climbers with tendrils	Passifloraceae
	b	Petals larger than sepals Leaves simple, not lobed Trees or shrubs without tendrils	Pittosporaceae

	a	Ovary borne on a distinct gynophore
	b	Ovary sessile or subsessile

	a	Flowers with a fimbriate or hairy corona outside stamens Styles 3-6 Leaves simple Trees or shrubs, sometimes climbing	Passifloraceae
	b	Flowers without a corona Style 1 or stigma sessile Leaves simple or digitate Trees, shrubs or herbs, sometimes climbing	Capparaceae

	a	Flowers ± irregular
	b	Flowers regular

	a	Leaves 2- or 3-pinnate Flowers in axillary panicles Stamens 5, alternating with 5 staminodes Trees	Moringaceae
	b	Leaves simple or digitate Herbs or sometimes shrubs or small trees

	a	Connective of anthers prolonged above thecae into an appendage Flowers mostly solitary Fruit a 3-valved capsule Leaves simple	Violaceae
	b	Connective of anthers not prolonged above thecae Flowers in terminal racemes or spikes

	a	Fruit a capsule dehiscing throughout its length by 2 valves Leaves simple or digitate	Capparaceae
	b	Fruit a capsule gaping at apex Leaves simple, sometimes pinnately lobed or divided	Resedaceae

	a	Stamens 10, with filaments connate into a tube ± as long as the 10 petals	Canellaceae
	b	Combination of characters not as above

	a	Stamens more numerous than petals, or as many and opposite them
	b	Stamens as many as and alternating with petals

	a	Flowers with a disc or a corona
	b	Flowers without a disc or a corona

	a	Climbers with tendrils Corona fimbriate, outside stamens	Passifloraceae
	b	Shrubs or small trees Disc cupular, crowned by 10 gland-like processes Stamens arising from within disc	Greyiaceae

	a	Prickly herbs Leaves often pinnately lobed Sepals 2 or 3, caducous Fruit a capsule dehiscing by 4-6 short valves at the top	Papaveraceae
	b	Trees or shrubs Leaves not pinnately lobed Fruit capsular or baccate, or of separate drupelets

	a	Gynoecium of 5-15 ± free, 1-ovulate carpels united by their completely fused styles Fruit of separate 1-seeded drupelets	Ochnaceae
	b	Gynoecium with a 1-locular ovary with 1-many ovules Fruit a capsule or berry	Flacourtiaceae

	a	Styles 2-5, free or shortly united at base
	b	Style 1

	a	Leaves bearing many sticky, stipitate glands Insectivorous herbs	Droseraceae
	b	Leaves without sticky glands Plants not insectivorous

	a	Flowers with a conspicuous, fimbriate or hairy corona outside stamens Herbs or shrubs, often climbing with tendrils	Passifloraceae
	b	Flowers without a corona, or corona very small and inconspicuous Herbs without tendrils	Turneraceae

	a	Stamens variously united, connective of anthers prolonged above thecae into an appendage Leaves with stipules	Violaceae
	b	Stamens ± free, anthers without an appendage Leaves without stipules	Pittosporaceae

	a	Gynoecium consisting of 1 carpel, therefore with only 1 placenta in ovary Leaves with or without stipules
	b	Gynoecium consisting of 2 or more united carpels, therefore with 2 or more placentas in ovary Leaves without stipules

	a	Leaves simple or compound, with stipules or stipular spines Fruit a legume	Fabaceae
	b	Leaves simple Stipules absent Fruit a drupe containing a solitary U-shaped seed	Menispermaceae

	a	Flowers irregular
	b	Flowers regular Stamens as many as corolla lobes or more numerous

	a	Leaves pinnately or ternately compound
	b	Leaves simple, sometimes reduced to scales Herbs

	a	Leaves alternate Annual herbs with watery sap, sometimes with tendrils Outer petals often spurred or saccate at base	Fumariaceae
	b	Leaves opposite Trees Fruit large pendulous, sausage-like	Bignoniaceae

	a	Plants parasitic on roots Leaves reduced to scales Stamens 4	Scrophulariaceae
	b	Plants not parasitic Leaves (or solitary leaf) well developed Stamens 2	Gesneriaceae

	a	Leaves opposite
	b	Leaves alternate or basal, sometimes small and scale-like

	a	Petals many Succulent herbs or shrubs with succulent leaves	Mesembryanthemaceae
	b	Petals 4-6

	a	Shrubs or woody climbers with latex Fruit a large berry	Apocynaceae
	b	Herbs without latex Fruit a capsule, rarely berry-like	Gentianaceae

	a	Flowers unisexual Plants monoecious, herbaceous, subherbaceous or acaulescent herbs	Achariaceae
	b	Flowers bisexual

	a	Leaves small, scale-like Trees or shrubs, often halophytic	Tamaricaceae
	b	Leaves well developed

	a	Stamens more numerous than petals Petals twice as many as sepals Trees or shrubs, sometimes climbing	Annonaceae
	b	Stamens, petals and sepals all 5(6)

	a	Herbs, aquatic or wetland Stamens arising on corolla tube	Menyanthaceae
	b	Small trees or shrubs Stamens free from corolla tube	Pittosporaceae

	a	Plants parasitic on roots of shrubs or trees, low, ± fleshy
	b	Plants not parasitic

	a	Perianth tubular, 3- or 4(5)-lobed, resembling a fungus	Hydnoraceae
	b	Perianth cup-shaped, 4-9-lobed, fused towards base	Rafflesiaceae

	a	Petals absent Perianth members all ± similar
	b	Petals present Perianth differentiated into calyx and corolla

	a	Flowers irregular, usually with an S-shaped tube, medium-sized to large	Aristolochiaceae
	b	Flowers regular Tepals fused only towards base Fruit winged, horned or spiny	Aizoaceae

	a	Flowers unisexual Plants usually climbing with tendrils Leaves often palmately lobed or deeply divided	Cucurbitaceae
	b	Flowers bisexual Plants without tendrils Leaves mostly entire, rarely with palmate venation

	a	Leaves absent or reduced to scales Succulent shrubs or shrublets, sometimes epiphytic	Cactaceae
	b	Leaves mostly well developed

	a	Succulent herbs or shrubs with succulent leaves Leaves mostly opposite Petals many	Mesembryanthemaceae
	b	Plants not succulent Leaves opposite, or alternate Petals fewer than 10

	a	Leaves opposite or whorled, with interpetiolar stipules	Rubiaceae
	b	Leaves alternate or spirally imbricate and ± ericoid, rarely opposite but then without stipules Stipules if present, not interpetiolar

	a	Leaves small, sessile, ± ericoid, densely spirally imbricate	Bruniaceae
	b	Leaves flat, broader than ericoid, alternate, rarely opposite, floating or submerged, if aquatic herbs

	a	Aquatic herbs with usually floating peltate leaves	Nymphaeaceae
	b	Trees or shrubs	Flacourtiaceae

	a	Ovary with 2 or more ovules in each locule
	b	Ovary with 1 ovule in each locule

	a	Plants aquatic Moss-like or liverwort-like in habit, growing on rocks Flowers small and inconspicuous Stamens 1 or 2 Ovary with many ovules Fruit a capsule	Podostemaceae
	b	Plants terrestrial, not moss-like or liverwort-like in habit

	a	Leaves reduced to scales forming toothed sheaths surrounding nodes of pine needle-like jointed branchlets Trees with unisexual flowers Male flowers in spikes Female flowers in heads Stamen 1 Ovary 1-locular with 2 collateral ovules Style with 2 elongated branches	*Casuarinaceae
	b	Leaves well developed, not reduced to scales

	a	Leaves opposite or whorled or all radical
	b	Leaves alternate, not all radical

	a	Flowers unisexual Trees, shrubs or shrublets
	b	Flowers bisexual Herbs

	a	Calyx absent Leaves toothed at apex, fan-like Flowers in catkin-like spikes Ovules many in each locule	Myrothamnaceae
	b	Calyx present Leaves entire, not fan-like Flowers solitary or fasciculate in axils of leaves Ovules 2 in each locule

	a	Leaves with stipules Plants dioecious Stamens very many, spirally arranged on prolonged floral axis	Euphorbiaceae
	b	Leaves without stipules Plants monoecious Stamens 4-6	Buxaceae

	a	Calyx spurred, spur adnate to pedicel Ovary beaked Leaves toothed or lobed	Geraniaceae
	b	Calyx not spurred Ovary without stout central axis Leaves entire

	a	Sepals fused below Stamens perigynous, inserted on calyx tube
	b	Sepals free or almost so Stamens hypogynous

	a	Styles 2-5, or if 1 then ovary 1-locular with few ovules Fruit a circumscissile capsule	Aizoaceae
	b	Style 1 Fruit a capsule

	a	Ovary 1-5-locular, with many ovules in each locule	Lythraceae
	b	Ovary 4-locular, with 2 or 4 basal, erect, or 2 erect and 2 pendulous ovules in each locule	Penaeaceae

	a	Ovary 2-5-locular, with axile placentas	Molluginaceae
	b	Ovary 1- or 4-locular with basal, free-central or apical placentation

	a	Ovary 1-locular with basal or free-central placentation	Caryophyllaceae
	b	Ovary 4-locular, with 2 pendulous ovules in each locule, rarely 1 ovule aborted	Geissolomataceae

	a	Leaves pinnate Trees, polygamous or with flowers all unisexual Ovary 2-locular with 2 ovules in each locule Fruit indehiscent	Sapindaceae
	b	Leaves simple or digitate

	a	Ovary 1-locular Flowers in racemes or spikes
	b	Ovary 2- or more-locular

	a	Flowers mostly bisexual but plants sometimes polygamous
	b	Flowers unisexual Plants dioecious Calyx not scarious Fruit a drupe Trees or shrubs, sometimes climbing

	a	Calyx scarious Fruit a ± circumscissile capsule Herbs	Amaranthaceae
	b	Calyx of 4 thickish lobes Fruit a follicle Gland-dotted shrubs	Rutaceae

	a	Leaves with stipules Calyx imbricate Stamens opposite sepals Styles 3, usually 2-lobed	Euphorbiaceae
	b	Leaves without stipules Calyx valvate Stamens alternating with sepals Style absent, stigma sessile and multiradiate	Icacinaceae

	a	Gynoecium composed of 3 or more loosely united carpels, in fruit separating into as many follicles (or fewer by abortion) Trees or shrubs with flowers both bi- and unisexual Leaves simple or digitate Sepals valvate, united below Stamens united into a column	Sterculiaceae
	b	Gynoecium composed of completely united carpels, in fruit forming a capsule, or indehiscent or finally separating into winged cocci

	a	Ovary borne on a distinct gynophore Flowers bisexual Shrubs with solitary, pedunculate, axillary flowers	Capparaceae
	b	Ovary sessile or subsessile

	a	Flowers bisexual Perianth segments sepaloid externally and petaloid internally	Aizoaceae
	b	Flowers mostly unisexual Plants occasionally polygamous

	a	Leaves with stipules Fruit a capsule, or indehiscent, or separating into 2 winged cocci Trees or shrubs or herbs	Euphorbiaceae
	b	Leaves without stipules Fruit a septicidal capsule with 2 or more longitudinal, membranous wings Shrubs or trees	Sapindaceae

	a	Ovary 2- or more-locular
	b	Ovary 1-locular

	a	Leaves pinnate or 3-foliolate
	b	Leaves simple, sometimes lobed or much divided or reduced to scales or stipular spines

	a	Leaves pinnate, alternate Trees or shrubs	Sapindaceae
	b	Leaves 3-foliolate, opposite Subshrubs	Zygophyllaceae

	a	Flowers unisexual or plants polygamous
	b	Flowers bisexual

	a	Ovary 5-locular, carpels loosely united and becoming separate in fruit Calyx present, valvate, sepals united below Stamens 5-10, united into a column Leaves alternate Trees or shrubs	Sterculiaceae
	b	Ovary 2-4-locular, carpels completely united and not becoming separate in fruit

	a	Small aquatic herbs, sometimes terrestrial in damp situations Leaves opposite Perianth absent Fruit indehiscent, leathery	Callitrichaceae
	b	Trees, shrubs or herbs Leaves alternate or opposite, sometimes reduced to scales or stipular spines Calyx present or absent Fruit mostly dehiscent	Euphorbiaceae

	a	Sepals fused into a very short to long tube Stamens perigynous or hypogynous
	b	Sepals free Stamens hypogynous or almost so

	a	Stamens arising from upper portion of calyx tube, in 2 whorls Fruit a drupe Shrubs	Thymelaeaceae
	b	Stamens not arising on sepals, sometimes in groups Fruit a capsule or flat samara with membranous wings

	a	Trees with dentate leaves Fruit a flattened samara	Ulmaceae
	b	Herbs, shrublets or shrubs with entire, often somewhat succulent leaves Fruit a capsule	Aizoaceae

	a	Leaves ± toothed or pinnately lobed or divided Style 1 Fruit a flattened silicule or separating into 2 cocci Herbs	Brassicaceae
	b	Leaves entire Styles 2 or more, free or united at base

	a	Ovary 7-10-locular Fruit a berry Flowers in spike-like racemes Herbs or shrublets	Phytolaccaceae
	b	Ovary 2-5-locular Fruit a loculicidal capsule or separating into 2 cocci, cocci sometimes winged along back Flowers in lax or dense cymes Herbs	Molluginaceae

	a	Leaves absent or reduced to scales Flowers spicate
	b	Leaves present, well developed, not reduced to scales

	a	Slender, twining, parasitic plants Flowers not immersed in rachis of spike Stamens 6-9, accompanied by staminodes Anthers opening by valves	Lauraceae
	b	Succulent, maritime herbs with articulated branches, not parasitic Flowers immersed in rachis of spike Stamens 1 or 2 Anthers opening by longitudinal slits	Chenopodiaceae

	a	Leaves with stipules, stipules sometimes forming a sheath (ocrea) surrounding the stem
	b	Leaves without stipules

	a	Leaves 3- or 4-pinnate Calyx petaloid Fruit a stipitate achene borne on a slender pedicel Herbs	Ranunculaceae
	b	Leaves simple or digitate

	a	Ovule pendulous from apex or near apex of ovary Flowers unisexual or plants polygamous
	b	Ovule arising from base or near base of ovary

	a	Flowers densely spicate or capitate, or crowded in or on an open or flat receptacle or inside a hollow, almost closed receptacle (fig), female flowers sometimes immersed in tissue of receptacle Calyx sometimes absent Trees, shrubs or herbs	Moraceae
	b	Flowers solitary or fasciculate or in cymes or racemes or panicles Calyx sometimes reduced or absent in female flowers

	a	Annual herbs Leaves opposite or alternate, all or lower ones palmately divided Male flowers in elongated panicles Female flowers spicate, enclosed by bracts Fruit dry, indehiscent	*Cannabaceae
	b	Trees or shrubs Leaves alternate

	a	Stamens as many as calyx segments, 4 or 5 Style 2-branched with simple or divided stigmas Fruit a drupe Trees or shrubs	Ulmaceae
	b	Stamens more numerous than calyx segments Style unbranched, sometimes very short

	a	Flowers solitary or paired in axils of leaves Leaves 1-3-foliolate with small, narrow leaflets Heath-like shrubs	Rosaceae
	b	Flowers in axillary racemes or panicles Leaves simple Trees	Euphorbiaceae

	a	Leaves opposite, marked with cystoliths Flowers unisexual Herbs or shrubs	Urticaceae
	b	Leaves alternate

	a	Calyx absent Flowers minute, in dense spikes Shrubs, sometimes climbing	Piperaceae
	b	Calyx present

	a	Styles 2 or 3, free or united below Stamens 4-8 Fruit a small nut Stipules often forming an ocrea surrounding the stem Herbs or shrubs, sometimes climbing	Polygonaceae
	b	Style 1 or absent Stamens 5 or fewer

	a	Flowers bisexual Sepals united below, free portions alternating with lobes of an epicalyx Style arising laterally from near base of ovary Herbs with palmately lobed leaves	Rosaceae
	b	Flowers unisexual Sepals free or united, without an epicalyx Style or sessile stigma terminal

	a	Leaves palmate or palmately lobed, without cystoliths Plants dioecious Male flowers crowded in branched spikes Female flowers in heads Trees	Moraceae
	b	Leaves simple, sometimes pinnately lobed, often marked with cystoliths Plants monoecious or dioecious Flowers cymose, cymes often dense or head-like Herbs or shrubs or trees, sometimes climbing or epiphytic	Urticaceae

	a	Submerged, aquatic herbs Leaves whorled, deeply and bifurcately divided with linear or filiform segments Flowers unisexual, solitary and sessile in axils of leaves	Ceratophyllaceae
	b	Plants not aquatic Leaves alternate or opposite, undivided or sometimes pinnately divided

	a	Calyx absent Flowers in spikes
	b	Calyx present, at least in male flowers

	a	Flowers unisexual Stamens 3-12 Styles 2, free or shortly united below Leaves alternate Trees or shrubs	Myricaceae
	b	Flowers bisexual Stamens 2 Style absent, stigma sessile Leaves alternate or opposite or whorled Herbs, sometimes trailing or climbing or epiphytic	Piperaceae

	a	Stamens twice as many as calyx segments or more numerous
	b	Stamens fewer than twice as many as calyx segments, sometimes accompanied by staminodes

	a	Ovule erect from base of ovary Fruit enclosed in persistent, longitudinally 4-winged calyx tube Spiny shrubs with small, linear, often fasciculate leaves Plants polygamo-dioecious	Nyctaginaceae
	b	Ovule pendulous from apex of ovary Fruit not enclosed in winged calyx tube Plants not spiny

	a	Flowers bisexual Sepals united into an elongated tube Stamens arising on calyx tube Style elongated, slender Shrubs, often heath-like, or sometimes trees, with alternate or opposite leaves	Thymelaeaceae
	b	Flowers unisexual Plants dioecious Sepals shortly united at base Stamens not arising on calyx tube Style absent, stigma sessile Shrubs or trees with opposite or subopposite leaves	Monimiaceae

	a	Anthers opening by valves Calyx 6-lobed Stamens 6-9, accompanied by staminodes Trees	Lauraceae
	b	Anthers opening by longitudinal slits Calyx with 3-5 segments or lobes

	a	Leaves opposite or subopposite
	b	Leaves alternate

	a	Sepals ± petaloid, united into a tube constricted above ovary, lower portion of tube persistent and enclosing fruit and often glandular on outside Stamens not accompanied by staminodes Herbs or climbing shrubs	Nyctaginaceae
	b	Sepals dry and ± scarious, free or shortly united at base, not forming a tube constricted above ovary Stamens as many as and opposite calyx segments, often alternating with staminodes Herbs or shrubs	Amaranthaceae

	a	Twining herbs Sepals (petals?) united below into a tube with 2 adnate bracteoles outside Flowers in axillary, pedunculate spikes	Basellaceae
	b	Plants not twining Sepals free or united, without adnate bracteoles

	a	Calyx with 2-4 valvate segments Trees or shrubs Flowers bisexual, in large, bracteate heads or in elongated spikes or racemes Stamens 4, free, opposite to and inserted on calyx segments Fruit a nut	Proteaceae
	b	Calyx with 3-5 imbricate segments or sometimes almost completely tubular with indistinct segments Herbs, shrubs or woody climbers

	a	Stamens fewer than calyx segments and mostly alternating with them Leaves small, linear Flowers in elongated, simple spikes	Phytolaccaceae
	b	Stamens as many as or fewer than calyx segments and opposite them

	a	Disc of 4 or 5 fleshy lobes alternating with petals (may be taken for sepals as calyx is reduced to a rim) Woody climbers	Opiliaceae
	b	Disc absent

	a	Sepals dry and ± scarious, free or shortly united at base Leaves entire	Amaranthaceae
	b	Sepals herbaceous, free or ± united into a tube Leaves entire or ± toothed or pinnately divided	Chenopodiaceae

	a	Ovary 1-locular, sometimes septate towards base
	b	Ovary 2- or more-locular

	a	Sepals 1 or 2, free, sometimes caducous
	b	Sepals (or calyx lobes) 3 or more, sometimes ± obsolete (calyx annular)

	a	Flowers unisexual Plants dioecious Sepals 1 or 2 Petals 1-4 Stamens united into a synandrium Leaf blades peltate or subpeltate Woody climbers	Menispermaceae
	b	Flowers bisexual or, if unisexual, then stamens free Sepals 2 Petals 4 or 5 Leaf blades not peltate Herbs

	a	Flowers irregular Ovary with 1 ovule Fruit a nut Leaves much divided	Fumariaceae
	b	Flowers regular Ovary with many ovules Fruit a capsule Leaves entire, fleshy	Portulacaceae

	a	Leaves opposite or whorled, not all radical
	b	Leaves alternate, sometimes all radical

	a	Leaves with stipules Herbs or shrublets	Caryophyllaceae
	b	Leaves without stipules

	a	Petals and stamens perigynous, inserted on calyx tube
	b	Petals and stamens hypogynous or only slightly perigynous, not inserted on calyx

	a	Ovary with 1 apical, pendulous ovule Fruit indehiscent, dry or fleshy Often heath-like	Thymelaeaceae
	b	Ovary with many ovules on a basal or free-central placenta Stamens twice as many as petals or fewer Herbs, shrubs or trees	Lythraceae

	a	Herbs Ovary with 1-many ovules on a basal or free-central placenta Fruit a capsule	Caryophyllaceae
	b	Trees or shrubs Ovary with 1 or 2 ovules Fruit drupaceous Stamens as many as and alternating with petals

	a	Filaments united at base into a tube or cup	Salvadoraceae
	b	Filaments ± free

	a	Ovule 1 Styles 3, free or united at base Flowers unisexual Plants dioecious or polygamous	Anacardiaceae
	b	Ovules 2-8 Style 1 or stigma sessile Flowers bisexual

	a	Ovules 2, pendulous from apex of ovary	Icacinaceae
	b	Ovules 2-8, erect from base of ovary	Celastraceae

	a	Leaves compound with 3 or more leaflets Trees or shrubs, sometimes climbing
	b	Leaves simple or 1-foliolate

	a	Leaves 2-pinnate Flowers bisexual Fruit winged, indehiscent	Fabaceae
	b	Leaves 1-pinnate or 3-foliolate Flowers unisexual Plants polygamous or dioecious Fruit drupaceous	Anacardiaceae

	a	Ovary with 1 ovule
	b	Ovary with 2 or more ovules

	a	Flowers irregular Inner 2 sepals larger than the others, the lowest (median) petal forming a keel, the upper 2 petals vestigial or absent Fruit long-winged, indehiscent Trees or shrubs, sometimes climbing	Polygalaceae
	b	Flowers regular Fruit unwinged, but sometimes surrounded by persistent wing-like sepals

	a	Leaves with stipules Stamens as many as petals Herbs	Caryophyllaceae
	b	Leaves without stipules

	a	Sepals united into an elongated tube Stamens mostly twice as many as petals, inserted on calyx tube Shrubs, sometimes heath-like	Thymelaeaceae
	b	Sepals free or almost so Calyx sometimes reduced to a rim

	a	Stamens united into a synandrium Leaf blade peltate or subpeltate Woody, dioecious climbers	Menispermaceae
	b	Stamens free or almost so Leaf blade not peltate

	a	Plants polygamous or dioecious Stamens 1-10 Trees or shrubs	Anacardiaceae
	b	Plants with bisexual flowers Stamens as many as and opposite petals Woody climbers	Opiliaceae

	a	Leaves with stipules
	b	Leaves without stipules Trees or shrubs

	a	Stamens as many as and opposite petals, united at base Petals and stamens hypogynous Herbs or shrublets with stellate hairs	Sterculiaceae
	b	Stamens more numerous than petals, free Petals and stamens perigynous, inserted at mouth of calyx tube Trees or shrubs	Rosaceae

	a	Petals imbricate Stamens as many as and opposite petals Ovules on a free-central or basal placenta	Myrsinaceae
	b	Petals valvate

	a	Ovules 2 per locule, pendulous from apex of ovary Stamens as many as and alternating with petals	Icacinaceae
	b	Ovules 2-5 per locule, pendulous from apex of a central placenta Stamens as many as and opposite petals, or up to twice as many, or reduced to 3 and accompanied by staminodes	Olacaceae

	a	Stamens opposite and usually as many as petals
	b	Stamens, at least those of inner whorl, alternating with petals, as many as or more numerous or fewer than petals

	a	Filaments ± united into a tube or cup, sometimes alternating with staminodes Calyx lobes valvate Herbs or shrubs, often with stellate hairs	Sterculiaceae
	b	Filaments free, not alternating with staminodes

	a	Ovary with many ovules in each locule Fruit a loculicidal capsule Flowers in mainly terminal panicles Trees or shrubs
	b	Ovary with 1 or 2 ovules in each locule Fruit drupaceous or baccate

	a	Flowers usually unisexual by abortion Sepals and petals (4)5 Disc well developed Capsule rounded	Heteropyxidaceae
	b	Flowers bisexual Sepals, petals and stamens 6 Disc absent Capsule dorsiventrally compressed	Rhynchocalycaceae

	a	Inflorescences leaf-opposed Herbaceous or woody plants, often climbing with tendrils Leaves simple (often lobed or divided) or digitate Ovules 2 in each locule Fruit a berry	Vitaceae
	b	Inflorescences axillary Trees or shrubs, often spiny, without tendrils Leaves simple, undivided Ovules 1 in each locule Fruit drupaceous	Rhamnaceae

	a	Leaves compound, with 2 or more leaflets
	b	Leaves simple or 1-foliolate, sometimes deeply divided

	a	Inflorescences bearing tendrils Climbing shrubs or herbs Leaves pinnate or 2-ternate	Sapindaceae
	b	Inflorescences without tendrils

	a	Herbs Stamens mostly twice as many as petals, sometimes as many as petals
	b	Trees or shrubs, sometimes climbing

	a	Style simple or stigma sessile Leaves mostly opposite, rarely alternate, 2- or 3-foliolate or pinnate	Zygophyllaceae
	b	Styles 5, rarely fewer Leaves alternate or radical, digitately or pinnately compound	Oxalidaceae

	a	Anthers 1-thecous Leaves digitate, 3-9-foliolate Stamens 10 or more, filaments united below	Bombacaceae
	b	Anthers 2-thecous Leaves pinnate or 2-pinnate or 2- or 3-foliolate

	a	Leaves opposite or subopposite
	b	Leaves alternate

	a	Leaves paripinnate, leaflets without pellucid glands Fruit a compressed capsule with winged seeds	Ptaeroxylaceae
	b	Leaves imparipinnate or 3-foliolate

	a	Leaves dotted with pellucid glands at least at margin Fruit baccate or separating into 2-4 mericarps	Rutaceae
	b	Leaves not gland-dotted Fruit a capsule	Cunoniaceae

	a	Leaves with lateral or intrapetiolar stipules, imparipinnate Flowers ± irregular, in racemes Stamens 4 or 5	Melianthaceae
	b	Leaves without stipules

	a	Filaments united into a tube Leaves pinnate or 2-pinnate	Meliaceae
	b	Filaments free or only shortly united at base

	a	Leaflets dotted with pellucid glands Leaves pinnate or 3-foliolate	Rutaceae
	b	Leaflets without pellucid glands

	a	Ovary with 2 or more ovules in each locule
	b	Ovary with 1 ovule in each locule

	a	Ovules many in each locule Styles 5 Fruit baccate Leaves pinnate	Oxalidaceae
	b	Ovules 2 in each locule

	a	Fruit drupaceous Plants resinous	Burseraceae
	b	Fruit a capsule Carpels separating from a persistent central column Plants not resinous	Ptaeroxylaceae

	a	Styles 3-5, free and separated at base Plants polygamous or dioecious	Anacardiaceae
	b	Style or styles central or terminal, not separated at base

	a	Fruit with carpels separating from persistent central column Ovules on axile placenta Seeds winged	Ptaeroxylaceae
	b	Fruit not as above Ovules erect or ascending or pendulous

	a	Ovules erect or ascending Leaves paripinnate or 2-pinnate or 2- or 3-foliolate	Sapindaceae
	b	Ovules pendulous

	a	Leaves 2-foliolate Branches armed with straight spines	Balanitaceae
	b	Leaves imparipinnate, tufted at ends of branchlets Branches unarmed	Kirkiaceae

	a	Perianth strongly irregular Sepals 3 or sometimes 5, the median one spurred Petals 3 Stamens 5 Anthers united around ovary Fruit an explosively dehiscent capsule Herbs	Balsaminaceae
	b	Perianth regular or slightly irregular

	a	Plants viscid Subshrubs Leaves with gland-tipped tentacles which trap insects	Roridulaceae
	b	Plants not viscid

	a	Leaves opposite or whorled, not all radical
	b	Leaves alternate or fascicled, sometimes all radical

	a	Stamens more than twice as many as petals
	b	Stamens up to twice as many as petals

	a	Leaves without stipules Sepals free Stamens and petals hypogynous Filaments irregularly arranged or ± united into bundles Styles 1-5 or absent Leaves usually dotted or streaked with pellucid or opaque glands Trees, shrubs or herbs	Clusiaceae
	b	Leaves with stipules

	a	Trees or shrubs Stipules interpetiolar Petals fringed at apex Stamens 15-45 Filaments not united into bundles	Rhizophoraceae
	b	Herbs Stipules not interpetiolar Petals not fringed Stamens 15 Filaments united below into 5 bundles	Geraniaceae

	a	Sepals united below into a tube
	b	Sepals free or almost so

	a	Petals perigynous, inserted at mouth of calyx tube Ovary with many ovules in each locule
	b	Petals hypogynous, not arising on calyx tube Ovary with 1-3 ovules per locule

	a	Anthers opening by apical pores Connective often appendaged below anther Leaves with 3 or more parallel longitudinal nerves Herbs or shrubs	Melastomataceae
	b	Anthers opening by longitudinal slits Connective unappendaged Leaves without parallel longitudinal nerves Herbs, shrubs or trees	Lythraceae

	a	Succulent annuals	Zygophyllaceae
	b	Trees or shrubs

	a	Stamens twice as many as petals Leaves with interpetiolar stipules Petals fringed at apex Plants not spiny	Rhizophoraceae
	b	Stamens as many as petals Leaves without stipules Petals not fringed Plants spiny	Salvadoraceae

	a	Ovary with 1 ovule in each fertile locule (sometimes 1 or 2 of the locules empty) Stamens twice as many as petals Fruit winged Shrubs, often climbing	Malpighiaceae
	b	Ovary with 2 or more ovules in each locule

	a	Leaves lobed or deeply divided Ovary beaked Herbs or shrublets	Geraniaceae
	b	Leaves not lobed or divided Ovary without a stout central axis

	a	Styles 3-5
	b	Style 1

	a	Ovary with many ovules in each locule Sepals entire Leaves with stipules	Elatinaceae
	b	Ovary with 2 ovules in each locule Sepals toothed or lobed at apex Leaves without stipules	Linaceae

	a	Herbs or subshrubs Leaves succulent or glaucous	Zygophyllaceae
	b	Trees or shrubs, sometimes climbing

	a	Stamens as many as petals, alternating with petaloid staminodes Leaves dotted with pellucid glands	Rutaceae
	b	Stamens as many as or fewer than petals, not alternating with staminodes Leaves without translucent glands	Celastraceae

	a	Ovary with 1 ovule in each fertile locule (sometimes 1 or 2 of the locules empty)
	b	Ovary with 2 or more ovules in each locule

	a	Flowers unisexual or plants polygamous
	b	Flowers bisexual

	a	Leaves without stipules Latex absent Flowers in racemes or narrow panicles Fruit a drupe or capsule, sometimes bladdery or winged	Sapindaceae
	b	Leaves with or without stipules Stipules sometimes spiny, especially in succulent species Milky to reddish latex often present Inflorescences basically cymose, sometimes flowers in cyathia (Euphorbia) Fruit often a 3-lobed capsule dehiscing septicidally into 3 bivalved cocci, often leaving a ± persistent axis	Euphorbiaceae

	a	Anthers 1-thecous Stamens numerous, filaments ± united into a tube around the style Sepals valvate, with or without an epicalyx Plants often with stellate hairs	Malvaceae
	b	Anthers 2-thecous

	a	Styles 2 or more, sometimes fused towards base
	b	Style 1

	a	Herbs or low subshrubs Fruit of 2 hemispherical mericarps, often with a rough surface	Molluginaceae
	b	Trees, shrubs or perennial scramblers Fruit a drupe or separating into 2 or 3 broadly winged mericarps

	a	Perennial scramblers, rarely shrubs with medifixed unicellular hairs Fruit separating into 2(3) broadly winged mericarps	Malpighiaceae
	b	Trees or shrubs, not scrambling, glabrous Fruit a drupe	Erythroxylaceae

	a	Herbs or subshrubs Sepals and petals 4 Stamens 6, tetradynamous (inner 4 long, outer 2 short) Fruit an indehiscent, dehiscent or splitting capsule (silicula)	Brassicaceae
	b	Trees, shrubs or rhizomatous subshrubs Sepals and petals usually 5 Stamens mostly more than 6

	a	Petals and stamens perigynous, arising at mouth of calyx tube Ovary entire, fused on one side to calyx tube	Chrysobalanaceae
	b	Petals and stamens hypogynous Ovary deeply lobed, free from calyx	Ochnaceae

	a	Stamens as many as or fewer than petals
	b	Stamens more numerous than petals

	a	Ovary 5-locular
	b	Ovary 2-4-locular

	a	Trees, monoecious Leaves usually paripinnate Ovules 6-12 per locule	Meliaceae
	b	Herbs or shrublets Ovules 2 per locule

	a	Petals imbricate Leaves lobed or divided Ovary and fruit beaked Herbs or shrublets	Geraniaceae
	b	Petals contorted Leaves simple, entire Ovary and fruit without a stout central axis Herbs	Linaceae

	a	Petals 2-lobed or 2-fid Fruit a drupe Leaves entire	Dichapetalaceae
	b	Petals not 2-lobed

	a	Flowers unisexual Styles 2 or 3, free or united at base, often lobed or branched	Euphorbiaceae
	b	Flowers bisexual Style 1	Celastraceae

	a	Leaves without stipules
	b	Leaves with stipules

	a	Filaments ± united into a tube	Meliaceae
	b	Filaments free

	a	Leaves dotted with translucent glands	Rutaceae
	b	Leaves without translucent glands

	a	Trees or shrubs, secreting resin	Burseraceae
	b	Herbs with tubers or a woody rootstock	Oxalidaceae

	a	Sepals imbricate Plants without stellate hairs Ovary 5-locular with 2 ovules in each locule
	b	Sepals (or calyx lobes) valvate Plants often with stellate hairs

	a	Petals imbricate Ovary beaked, with a 5-branched style Herbs or shrublets	Geraniaceae
	b	Petals contorted Ovary without a stout central axis, with 5 free styles Trees or shrubs, sometimes climbing	Linaceae

	a	Filaments free or almost so Trees, shrubs or herbs	Tiliaceae
	b	Filaments ± united into a tube or into groups of 2 or 3

	a	Anthers 2-thecous Trees or shrubs	Sterculiaceae
	b	Anthers 1-thecous Herbs, shrubs or sometimes trees	Malvaceae

	a	Ovary 1-locular, sometimes septate towards base
	b	Ovary 2- or more-locular

	a	Flowers unisexual Plants dioecious Male flowers with united petals Female flowers with 1-4 free petals Stamens united into a synandrium Leaf blades peltate or subpeltate Woody climbers	Menispermaceae
	b	Flowers bisexual Stamens free or with united filaments

	a	Ovary with 1 ovule
	b	Ovary with 2 or more ovules

	a	Flowers irregular, papilionaceous, lowermost 2 petals united and forming a keel Stamens 10, diadelphous, uppermost 1 free, other 9 with united filaments Herbs	Fabaceae
	b	Flowers regular Stamens not diadelphous

	a	Sepals 2 Petals united only near base ± succulent twining herbs or stout shrubs
	b	Sepals more than 2

	a	Leaves alternate Perennials with twining stems	Basellaceae
	b	Leaves opposite Succulent shrubs with stout, sometimes waxy branches	Portulacaceae

	a	Stamens inserted on elongated calyx tube, usually twice as many as calyx lobes Corolla ring-like, inserted at mouth of calyx tube Ovule pendulous from apex of ovary Shrubs, sometimes climbing	Thymelaeaceae
	b	Stamens not inserted on calyx, as many as calyx lobes Corolla 4- or 5-lobed, not ring-like Ovule arising from base of ovary

	a	Leaves alternate Stamens opposite petals Calyx covered with stalked glands Herbs or shrubs, sometimes climbing	Plumbaginaceae
	b	Leaves opposite Stamens alternating with petals Calyx without stalked glands Shrubs or trees	Salvadoraceae

	a	Stamens fewer than petals Flowers ± irregular Herbs, often aquatic
	b	Stamens as many as petals Flowers regular or almost so

	a	Stamens 2 Corolla strongly irregular, tube spurred Leaves undivided or much divided and often bearing insectivorous bladders	Lentibulariaceae
	b	Stamens 4 Corolla only slightly irregular, tube not spurred Leaves undivided, without bladders	Scrophulariaceae

	a	Stamens opposite petals
	b	Stamens alternating with petals Trees or shrubs

	a	Trees, shrubs or lianes Fruit indehiscent, usually 1-seeded Leaves alternate	Myrsinaceae
	b	Herbs Fruit a many-seeded circumscissile or 5-valved capsule, or sometimes 1-seeded and indehiscent Leaves opposite or alternate	Primulaceae

	a	Leaves densely crowded or in whorls or pseudowhorls, ± ericoid to coarsely so	Stilbaceae
	b	Leaves opposite or alternate, flat or succulent

	a	Leaves opposite
	b	Leaves alternate Stamens 5 or 10 or more Ovules 2 or 10 or more

	a	Shrubs or woody climbers with milky sap	Apocynaceae
	b	Trees or shrubs, sometimes mangroves, sometimes leaves with 5(7) major veins from near the base

	a	Leaves with 1 major vein from the base Mangroves	Avicenniaceae
	b	Leaves with 5(7) major veins from near the base Savanna trees	Strychnaceae

	a	Trees, shrubs or lianas Sepals (3)4 or 5 Stamens 5 Fruit a drupe	Icacinaceae
	b	Subshrubs or perennial herbs, often with fleshy leaves Sepals 2 Stamens 10 or more Fruit a chartaceous capsule	Portulacaceae

	a	Petals 10 or more
	b	Petals fewer than 10

	a	Styles/stigmas 5 Fruit a 5-valved capsule Herbs with fleshy leaves	Mesembryanthemaceae
	b	Style 1 Fruit a berry Trees or shrubs, sometimes climbing

	a	Petals in 2 or 3 series, imbricate Stamens twice as many as inner petals, or as many as and opposite inner petals and alternating with staminodes Ovary with 1 ovule in each locule Leaves alternate	Sapotaceae
	b	Petals in 1 whorl, imbricate Stamens 2 Ovary with 4 or 5 ovules in each locule	Oleaceae

	a	Stamens more numerous than petals
	b	Stamens as many as or fewer than petals

	a	Leaves with stipules, often digitate or palmately lobed Flowers unisexual Trees, shrubs or herbs	Euphorbiaceae
	b	Leaves without stipules

	a	Flowers irregular, lowest (median) petal forming a keel Filaments united into a sheath split on upper side Ovary 2-locular with 1 ovule in each locule Herbs or shrubs	Polygalaceae
	b	Flowers regular Filaments not united into a sheath Trees or shrubs

	a	Ovary with 1 or 2 ovules in each locule Fruit indehiscent, baccate Flowers bisexual or unisexual	Ebenaceae
	b	Ovary with several or many ovules in each locule Fruit a loculicidal capsule Flowers bisexual Anthers opening by apical pores or by longitudinal slits Style unbranched Plants often heath-like	Ericaceae

	a	Stamens fewer than petals: 2-4
	b	Stamens as many as petals: 4 or more

	a	Ovary with more than 4 ovules in each locule Flowers mostly irregular
	b	Ovary with 1-4 ovules in each locule

	a	Leaves pinnate, opposite or ternate Stamens 4 Fruit a loculicidal capsule with winged seeds Trees or shrubs, sometimes climbing	Bignoniaceae
	b	Leaves simple, sometimes deeply divided or reduced to scales

	a	Ovary completely or incompletely 4-chambered, each of 2 original locules becoming divided into 2 by a false septum Stamens 4 Herbs or sometimes shrubs, with mucilaginous glands	Pedaliaceae
	b	Ovary 2-locular, locules not becoming divided by false septa

	a	Ovules arranged in more than 2 series on each placenta Stamens 4 or 2 Fruit a capsule or sometimes a berry, seeds not borne on hardened hook-like funicles Leaves alternate or opposite or whorled, sometimes reduced to scales Herbs or shrubs or sometimes trees	Scrophulariaceae
	b	Ovules arranged in 1 or 2 series on each placenta

	a	Fruit a club-shaped to ellipsoidal, loculicidally, often explosively dehiscent capsule, with seeds mostly borne on hard, hygroscopic, hook-like funicles Leaves opposite, mostly entire Herbs, shrubs or small trees	Acanthaceae
	b	Fruit indehiscent to tardily dehiscent, sometimes a drupe Seeds not borne on hardened hook-like funicles Leaves ± sinuate or lobed to unlobed

	a	Fruit a drupe Flowers regular, small, white, bell-shaped, solitary or in axillary clusters Leaves gland-dotted, entire or toothed Evergreen shrubs or trees	*Myoporaceae
	b	Fruit indehiscent or tardily dehiscent, armed with horns bearing recurved spines Flowers irregular, medium-sized, variously coloured, adaxially often gibbous, usually solitary, axillary Herbs rarely shrubs or small trees	Pedaliaceae

	a	Stamens 3 Peduncles adnate to petioles of subtending leaves Trees or shrubs with alternate leaves	Dichapetalaceae
	b	Stamens 4 or 2 Peduncles not adnate to leaves

	a	Perianth regular
	b	Perianth irregular

	a	Stamens 2 Leaves opposite or sometimes ternate or alternate Trees or shrubs, sometimes climbing	Oleaceae
	b	Stamens 4 Leaves alternate, simple, gland-dotted Evergreen shrubs or trees	*Myoporaceae

	a	Ovary ± deeply 4-lobed, style gynobasic Fruit separating into 4 nutlets (or fewer by abortion) Leaves simple, opposite or whorled or sometimes alternate Herbs or shrubs, often aromatic	Lamiaceae
	b	Ovary not deeply 4-lobed, style not gynobasic

	a	Fruit a capsule, loculicidally dehiscent or sometimes failing to dehisce Seeds often borne on hardened, hook-like funicles Ovary 2-locular with 2-4 ovules in each locule Herbs or shrubs with opposite, simple leaves	Acanthaceae
	b	Fruit separating into 2 or more pyrenes or cocci, or a capsule, but then seeds not borne on hardened hook-like funicles

	a	Flowers solitary, axillary Fruit indehiscent, armed with 2 or 4 spines, or longitudinally 4-winged Stamens 4 Leaves opposite or subopposite, often toothed or pinnately lobed Herbs with mucilaginous glands	Pedaliaceae
	b	Flowers grouped in inflorescences Fruit without spines or wings

	a	Anthers 1-thecous Leaves mostly alternate, simple, narrow Ovary 2-locular with 1 apical, pendulous ovule in each locule Herbs or shrubs	Scrophulariaceae
	b	Anthers 2-thecous, sometimes confluent Leaves opposite or whorled

	a	Herbs, shrubs or trees Leaves simple or digitate Ovary 2-8-locular with 1 basal or axile ovule in each locule	Verbenaceae
	b	Ericoid shrubs or shrublets Leaves simple, whorled on older branches Ovary 1- or 2-locular, sometimes septum incomplete, 2-ovuled Ovules erect, anatropous	Stilbaceae

	a	Leaves absent or reduced to scales
	b	Leaves present, well developed

	a	Slender, twining, parasitic plants Ovary with 2 ovules in each locule Fruit a capsule Corolla with or without infrastaminal scales (Cuscuta)	Convolvulaceae
	b	Shrubs or succulent plants, not parasitic Ovary with many ovules in each locule Fruit formed of 2 separate follicular carpels (or 1 by abortion) Flowers with corona	Apocynaceae

	a	Stamens opposite petals, sometimes with staminodes Trees or shrubs with alternate leaves	Sapotaceae
	b	Stamens alternating with petals, sometimes partly connate

	a	Leaves opposite or whorled, sometimes in opposite or subopposite fascicles on small cushions, not all radical
	b	Leaves (at least lower ones) alternate, sometimes all radical

	a	Stamens hypogynous, not arising on corolla Anthers opening by apical slits Heath-like shrubs	Ericaceae
	b	Stamens arising on corolla tube or variously joined with gynoecium

	a	Petals imbricate
	b	Petals contorted or valvate

	a	Ovary with 1 or 2 ovules in each locule Fruit drupaceous or separating into pyrenes or nutlets
	b	Ovary with several to many ovules in each locule Fruit a septicidal capsule, sometimes a berry

	a	Petals and stamens 5 Herbs, often with bulbous-based hairs	Boraginaceae
	b	Petals and stamens 4 Herbs, shrubs or trees	Verbenaceae

	a	Petals and stamens 5 or more Leaves pinnately compound, or simple and then rigid spiny shrubs with solitary or paired flowers	Bignoniaceae
	b	Petals and stamens 4 Herbs, subshrubs, shrubs or trees, not spiny, and if shrubs, flowers not solitary or paired

	a	Herbs Flowers solitary or paired in leaf axils	Scrophulariaceae
	b	Trees, shrubs or subshrubs Flowers in cymes, racemes or panicles	Buddlejaceae

	a	Petals valvate Leaves usually with 3 major veins from base Fruit a berry, often large, globose and with a woody rind	Strychnaceae
	b	Petals contorted

	a	Herbs with septicidal capsules or rarely trees with berries	Gentianaceae
	b	Herbs, often succulent, shrubs or trees, often with milky latex Flowers often with corona Fruit mostly a pair of follicular mericarps	Apocynaceae

	a	Leaves all radical Flowers small, in pedunculate spikes or heads Fruit a circumscissile capsule Herbs	Plantaginaceae
	b	Leaves not all radical

	a	Ovary with more than 2 ovules in each locule
	b	Ovary with 1 or 2 ovules in each locule

	a	Petals contorted Fruit formed of 2 follicular mericarps Shrubs or trees	Apocynaceae
	b	Petals not contorted Fruit a capsule or berry

	a	Styles 2 or 3 Petals imbricate Fruit a capsule Herbs	Hydrophyllaceae
	b	Style 1

	a	Petals plicate or valvate Herbs, shrubs or trees	Solanaceae
	b	Petals imbricate

	a	Fruit a capsule with winged seeds Leaves simple or 3-foliolate Spiny shrubs	Bignoniaceae
	b	Fruit a berry or capsule, seeds unwinged Leaves simple Herbs or spiny shrubs	Solanaceae

	a	Filaments united into a sheath split on upper side Flowers irregular, lowest (median) corolla lobe forming a keel Fruit drupaceous Shrubs or trees	Polygalaceae
	b	Filaments not united into a sheath

	a	Corolla tube split down front, with 4 lobes Anthers 1-thecous Ovary 2-locular with 1 apical, pendulous ovule in each locule Herbs or shrublets with spicate flowers	Scrophulariaceae
	b	Corolla tube not split Anthers 2-thecous

	a	Style absent Stigma sessile Flowers unisexual Fruit a globose berry	Aquifoliaceae
	b	Style(s) present, terminal or gynobasic Flowers bisexual Fruit a schizocarp or drupaceous or a capsule, rarely indehiscent

	a	Fruit a schizocarp of 4 nutlets or drupaceous with 4, 1-seeded stones, rarely a 2-locular capsule with 1 seed per locule (Wellstedia) Petals imbricate or contorted in bud	Boraginaceae
	b	Fruit a capsule or indehiscent Petals convolute, folded and valvate in bud Plants often twining or trailing	Convolvulaceae

	a	Parasitic plants, either low, ± fleshy, ± leafless and growing on roots of woody plants or shrublets growing on trees or shrubs
	b	Plants not parasitic

	a	Shrublets growing on other trees or shrubs	Viscaceae
	b	Low, ± fleshy, ± leafless root parasites

	a	Flowers unisexual, in many-flowered inflorescences Leaves scale-like Ovule 1	Balanophoraceae
	b	Flowers usually bisexual, solitary, with a tubular 3- or 4(5)-lobed perianth resembling a fungus	Hydnoraceae

	a	Ovary 2- or more-locular
	b	Ovary 1-locular

	a	Flowers unisexual Leaves with stipules
	b	Flowers bisexual Leaves without stipules

	a	Male flowers in catkins Female flowers solitary	*Fagaceae
	b	Flowers in heads, cymes or panicles

	a	Flowers in heads Stamens as many as sepals Ovary with 1 ovule in each locule Trees or shrubs with entire leaves	Hamamelidaceae
	b	Flowers in cymes or panicles Stamens many Ovary with very many ovules in each locule Sepals petaloid Herbs, sometimes epiphytic, with alternate, often unequal-sided leaves	Begoniaceae

	a	Leaves opposite Flowers solitary and subsessile in axils of leaves Herbs	Onagraceae
	b	Leaves alternate

	a	Trees (mangroves) Stamens and staminodes very many, the outer series of staminodes fused and resembling a corolla	Lecythidaceae
	b	Herbs or shrubs Stamens, if many, without fused staminodes

	a	Perianth fused into an S-shaped to ± straight tube Usually twining or scrambling herbs or shrubs Fruit a capsule	*Aristolochiaceae
	b	Perianth members free or fused only in the lower half Fruit a nut, often winged or spiny	Aizoaceae

	a	Ovules 2 or more in the ovary
	b	Ovule 1 in the ovary

	a	Stamens twice as many as calyx lobes
	b	Stamens as many as calyx lobes

	a	Trees, shrubs or scramblers Flowers in racemes, spikes or heads Fruit indehiscent, often with 2-5 longitudinal wings	Combretaceae
	b	Shrubs or shrublets Flowers usually in threes surrounded by an involucre, or in miniature cone-like aggregations Fruit fused to perianth base and fused with adjacent fruits to form a syncarp	Grubbiaceae

	a	Ovules 2-4, pendulous from a free-central placenta Style 1 with an entire or divided stigma Flowers solitary or in cymes or racemes, bisexual or unisexual Herbs or shrubs, often parasitic on roots and sometimes with reduced leaves	Santalaceae
	b	Ovules 4, pendulous from apex of ovary Styles 4 Flowers clustered in axils of leaves, unisexual or plants polygamous Herbs, not parasitic	Haloragaceae

	a	Herbs with basal, long-petiolate, toothed, kidney-shaped leaves Flowers small, paniculate-spicate	Gunneraceae
	b	Trees, shrubs or subshrubs

	a	Leaves opposite Perianth tube deeply urn-shaped Anthers opening by 2 valves	Lauraceae
	b	Leaves mostly alternate

	a	Flowers unisexual, small, enclosed in a syconium or 'fig', or implanted on a flat to top-shaped receptacle, in globose heads or catkins Often with milky or watery latex	Moraceae
	b	Flowers bisexual or unisexual, cymose in axils of upper leaves Latex absent Fruit a bony nut with long wings	Hernandiaceae

	a	Parasitic shrubs growing on other shrubs or trees Ovules scarcely distinguishable from surrounding tissue of ovary Calyx truncate or obsolete Stamens as many as and opposite petals and arising on them Leaves simple, entire, opposite or alternate, sometimes reduced to scales	Loranthaceae
	b	Plants not parasitic Ovule or ovules clearly distinguishable within ovary

	a	Ovary 1-locular
	b	Ovary 2- or more-locular

	a	Trees or shrubs, sometimes climbing Style 1, unbranched
	b	Herbs or subshrubs Styles or style branches 2-6

	a	Leaves alternate or scattered, ± ericoid Stamens 4 or 5
	b	Leaves opposite, rarely alternate but then stamens more than 5, flat, sometimes with 3(5) main veins from base

	a	Sepals, petals and stamens 4 Flowers solitary, axillary	Celastraceae
	b	Sepals, petals and stamens 5 Flowers in dense heads, panicles or spikes, rarely solitary	Bruniaceae

	a	Leaves with 3(5) main veins from base Young branches usually 4-angled Fruit a ± globose berry Ovules 2-12 on central placenta	Melastomataceae
	b	Leaves with 1 main vein from base Fruit usually indehiscent, dry or sometimes fleshy, often variously winged or ridged Ovules usually 2, pendulous	Combretaceae

	a	Ovules many on basal placenta Sepals 2, often deciduous Fruit a circumscissile capsule	Portulacaceae
	b	Ovule or ovules pendulous from apex of ovary or on pendulous, apical placentas Sepals or calyx lobes 2-5 Fruit not circumscissile

	a	Ovules many on pendulous placentas Fruit a capsule dehiscing at apex Leaves opposite Flowers bisexual, in axillary pairs Petals and stamens 5	Vahliaceae
	b	Ovules 1-4, pendulous from apex of ovary Fruit indehiscent Leaves alternate or opposite, sometimes all radical Flowers bisexual or unisexual, paniculate-spicate or in axillary clusters

	a	Leaves small, sessile Flowers in axillary fascicles	Haloragaceae
	b	Leaves large, on long petioles Flowers in terminal heads or compound spikes	Gunneraceae

	a	Ovule 1 in each locule, rarely 2 in Loasaceae
	b	Ovules 2 or more in each locule

	a	Stamens many Scabrous shrubs or shrublets with barbed bristles Fruit woody, ribbed, crowned with persistent calyx	Loasaceae
	b	Stamens as many or twice as many as petals

	a	Stamens twice as many as petals
	b	Stamens as many as petals

	a	Trees or shrubs, mostly mangroves	Rhizophoraceae
	b	Herbs or subshrubs

	a	Petals 5 Stamens 10 Ovary 5-10-locular In dry habitats	Neuradaceae
	b	Petals 2-4 Stamens 4-8 Ovary 1-4-locular

	a	Flowers small to minute, usually unisexual Aquatics or marsh plants	Haloragaceae
	b	Flowers conspicuous with 4 white, usually sharply clawed petals	Onagraceae

	a	Stamens opposite petals Shrubs, often climbing with tendrils Fruit often separating into cocci, sometimes winged	Rhamnaceae
	b	Stamens alternating with petals Plants without tendrils

	a	Flowers solitary in axils of leaves Floating, aquatic herbs Leaves alternate, rosulate, with ± inflated petiole Fruit large, indehiscent, with hard endocarp and armed with 2 or 4 horns	Trapaceae
	b	Flowers grouped in inflorescences Plants not aquatic

	a	Fruit separating into 2 cocci Herbs, sometimes arborescent Flowers in simple or compound umbels, sometimes capitate Leaves often much divided or compound	Apiaceae
	b	Fruit drupaceous or capsular, not separating into cocci Trees or shrubs

	a	Leaves pinnate or digitate or palmately divided Flowers in umbels or racemes or spikes Fruit drupaceous	Araliaceae
	b	Leaves simple, undivided

	a	Petals and stamens 4 Fruit a drupe Leaves opposite, entire or toothed Flowers bisexual or unisexual, in panicles or umbel-like cymes	Cornaceae
	b	Petals and stamens 5 Fruit a capsule

	a	Leaves small, often ericoid, rarely longer than 20 mm, sessile to shortly petiolate Shrubs or shrublets	Bruniaceae
	b	Leaves mostly longer than 25 mm, petiolate Trees or shrubs	Hamamelidaceae

	a	Leaves usually small, often ericoid, densely spirally imbricate	Bruniaceae
	b	Leaves alternate or opposite

	a	Leaves alternate
	b	Leaves opposite

	a	Leaves with stipules, often unequal-sided Flowers unisexual Plants monoecious Stamens many Ovules very many in each locule Herbs, sometimes epiphytic	Begoniaceae
	b	Leaves without stipules

	a	Style absent Stigmas as many as locules, subulate to filiform Leaves ± succulent	Mesembryanthemaceae
	b	Styles 1 or 2

	a	Styles 2 Flowers unisexual or both bisexual and unisexual on same plant, in axillary panicles Stamens as many as petals Ovary 2-locular Shrubs	Escalloniaceae
	b	Style 1, with an entire or lobed stigma Flowers bisexual or sometimes both bisexual and unisexual on same plant

	a	Fruit a drupe Petals 2-fid or 2-lobed Leaves entire	Dichapetalaceae
	b	Fruit a capsule

	a	Stamens as many or twice as many as petals
	b	Stamens many, more than twice as many as petals Fruit a berry or drupe

	a	Herbs or shrubs, sometimes aquatic Flowers bisexual	Onagraceae
	b	Shrub or shrublets, dioecious Flowers small, male corymbose, female solitary	Montiniaceae

	a	Flowers solitary or paired in axils of leaves Ovary 2-locular Leaves gland-dotted Shrublets	Myrtaceae
	b	Flowers in terminal racemes Ovary 4-locular Leaves not gland-dotted Mangroves	Lecythidaceae

	a	Leaves fleshy and succulent	Mesembryanthemaceae
	b	Leaves not succulent

	a	Stamens as many as petals Petals alternating with incurved scales Trees or shrubs	Oliniaceae
	b	Stamens twice as many as petals or more numerous Petals not alternating with scales

	a	Stamens many, more than twice as many as petals Trees or shrubs with gland-dotted leaves Stipules absent or very small	Myrtaceae
	b	Stamens twice as many as petals, if more, then interpetiolar stipules present or a scar line if they have fallen

	a	Leaves with interpetiolar stipules Ovules 2 in each locule Viviparous, mangroves, or forest trees or shrubs	Rhizophoraceae
	b	Leaves without stipules or stipules much reduced Ovules many in each locule Plants not viviparous

	a	Anthers opening by an apical pore Connective often appendaged below anther Leaves with 3 or more parallel, longitudinal nerves Seeds without tuft of hairs Herbs or shrubs or small trees	Melastomataceae
	b	Anthers opening by longitudinal slits Connective unappendaged Leaves without parallel, longitudinal nerves Seeds often with an apical tuft of hairs Herbs	Onaraceaeg

	a	Parasitic shrubs growing on other shrubs or trees Ovules scarcely distinguishable from surrounding tissue of ovary Calyx truncate or shortly lobed Stamens as many as and opposite corolla lobes and arising on them Leaves simple, entire, opposite or alternate, sometimes ternate	Loranthaceae
	b	Plants not parasitic Ovule or ovules clearly distinguishable within ovary

	a	Ovary 1-locular
	b	Ovary 2- or more-locular (sometimes 3-locular with 1 fertile locule and 2 empty locules)

	a	Ovules pendulous Ericoid shrubs or shrublets	Bruniaceae
	b	Ovules not pendulous

	a	Ovule 1 Flowers regular or irregular, in involucrate heads Fruit indehiscent, often crowned by persistent calyx forming a pappus of bristles or scales
	b	Ovules many on basal placenta Flowers regular, not in involucrate heads

	a	Anthers united into tube surrounding style Ovule erect from base of ovary Herbs, shrubs or trees Corolla of outer (ray) flowers often differing from that of inner flowers	Asteraceae
	b	Anthers free Ovule pendulous from apex of ovary Herbs with opposite leaves	Dipsacaceae

	a	Calyx composed of 2 often deciduous sepals Fruit a circumscissile capsule Stamens as many as and alternating with corolla lobes or more numerous Herbs	Portulacaceae
	b	Calyx 4- or 5-lobed Fruit not circumscissile Stamens as many as and opposite corolla lobes

	a	Trees or shrubs Flowers in axillary panicles or racemes Fruit indehiscent, dry or fleshy	Myrsinaceae
	b	Herbs Flowers in terminal racemes Fruit a 5-valved capsule	Primulaceae

	a	Petals united into a deciduous mass (calyptra) Stamens very many Trees or shrubs with gland-dotted leaves	Myrtaceae
	b	Petals more or less united into a tube, not into a deciduous mass Stamens not more than twice as many as corolla lobes

	a	Ovary 3-locular with 2 empty locules, fertile locule with 1 apical, pendulous ovule Stamens 3 Fruit indehiscent, often crowned by persistent calyx forming feathery pappus Herbs with opposite leaves	Valerianaceae
	b	Ovary 2- or more-locular, usually without empty locules

	a	Trailing or climbing herbs or shrubs often with tendrils Flowers unisexual Stamens 3-5, anthers sometimes curved or flexuous or folded Leaves often palmately or pedately lobed or deeply divided	Cucurbitaceae
	b	Plants without tendrils Flowers bisexual or sometimes unisexual

	a	Leaves opposite or whorled, with interpetiolar or intrapetiolar (sometimes leaf-like) stipules and entire margin Trees, shrubs or herbs, sometimes climbing	Rubiaceae
	b	Leaves alternate or opposite, or spirally imbricate, without stipules, sometimes reduced to scales

	a	Stamens indefinite Leaves fleshy	Mesembryanthemaceae
	b	Stamens definite Leaves rarely succulent

	a	Stamens twice as many as corolla lobes Anthers opening by apical pores Flowers in axillary racemes Trees or shrubs with alternate leaves	Ericaceae
	b	Stamens as many as corolla lobes Anthers opening by longitudinal slits

	a	Fruit a drupe
	b	Fruit a capsule

	a	Ovary with 1 ovule in each locule Flowers irregular, corolla tube split down back Maritime shrubs or undershrubs	Goodeniaceae
	b	Ovary with 2 or more ovules in each locule Flowers ± regular Petals bifid or bilobed	Dichapetalaceae

	a	Ovules (1)2(-10) in each locule, pendulous Ericoid shrublets or shrubs	Bruniaceae
	b	Ovules many in each locule

	a	Corolla lobes imbricate Capsule circumscissile Flowers regular, in terminal spikes Anthers free Hydrophytes	Sphenocleaceae
	b	Corolla lobes valvate Capsule dehiscing by valves

	a	Flowers regular Anthers free	Campanulaceae
	b	Flowers irregular, 1- or 2-lipped Anthers cohering in a tube around the style, very rarely free	Lobeliaceae

	a	Flowers white or otherwise brightly coloured Perianth wholly or partly petal-like
	b	Flowers with perianth absent or papery, glumaceous to hyaline or sometimes herbaceous, or reduced to hairs or scales

	a	Ovary superior
	b	Ovary inferior or half-inferior

	a	Land plants, sometimes rooting in water
	b	Aquatic herbs, free-floating or submerged

	a	Flowers (florets) arranged in small spikes (spikelets) subtended or enclosed by bracts Grasses or grass-like plants
	b	Flowers not arranged in spikelets

	a	Aquatic or marsh herbs
	b	Land plants, sometimes rooting in water

	a	Perianth of 6 petal-like tepals in 2 whorls, blue, white or yellow Gynoecium with an ovary of 3 fused carpels	Pontederiaceae
	b	Perianth of 3 coloured sepals or tepals, often accompanied by 3 herbaceous sepals Gynoecium composed of 2-many ± free carpels

	a	Flowers in a simple or 2-branched spike Perianth in a single whorl of 1-3 white to pink tepals	Aponogetonaceae
	b	Flowers whorled or in simple or compound umbels Plants often with white sap

	a	Carpels each with 1 basal ovule Fruit of 3-many achenes	Alismataceae
	b	Carpels each with many ovules on a parietal/marginal placenta Fruit a head of follicles	Limnocharitaceae

	a	Perianth composed of separate calyx and corolla, the calyx usually herbaceous
	b	Perianth composed of similar or subsimilar tepals, all petal-like

	a	Style simple Ovary 2- or 3-locular Flowers in open to congested cymes, with conspicuous corolla often blue or yellow, often subtended by folded or boat-shaped bracts	Commelinaceae
	b	Style branched Ovary 1-3-locular Flowers small, crowded in bracteate heads or spikes on long, leafless peduncles

	a	Flowers unisexual Corolla inconspicuous to minute Ovary 3- or 2-locular	Eriocaulaceae
	b	Flowers bisexual Petals mostly yellow to white Ovary 1-locular	Xyridaceae

	a	Stamens 3 Rootstock often bright orange-red	Haemodoraceae
	b	Stamens 6 Sometimes outer whorl without anthers

	a	Anthers dehiscing by an apical pore, often unequal Filaments short, inserted at mouth of perianth tube Rootstock a corm	Tecophilaeaceae
	b	Anthers dehiscing by longitudinal slits (these rarely very short but then plants leafless) Rootstock a rhizome, bulb or tuber

	a	Fruit a fleshy berry or drupe
	b	Fruit a capsule

	a	Leaves with 2 basal tendrils Flowers unisexual Plants dioecious	Smilacaceae
	b	Leaves without basal tendrils Flowers bisexual

	a	Leaf tips narrowing into a coiled tendril	Flagellariaceae
	b	Leaf tips not as above

	a	Flowers crowded in dense racemes or panicles, longer than 20 mm, tubular below, with exserted stamens Leaves large, tough and crowded Plants rhizomatous or tree-like	(Convallariaceae in part) Dracaenaceae
	b	Flowers few in axillary racemes or cymes, shorter than 10 mm Plants shrubby or scandent

	a	Leaves reduced to scales with a spiny or soft spur Cladodes needle-shaped or leaf-like and without distinct cross-connections between parallel veins	Asparagaceae
	b	Leaves with many prominent parallel veins with distinct cross-connections	(Behniaceae) Luzuriagaceae

	a	Flowers in umbels subtended by 2 spathaceous bracts and borne on naked peduncles
	b	Flowers in spikes or racemes

	a	Flowers perfectly regular with stamens spreading, or anthers sessile Capsule ovoid Plants usually smelling of onion or garlic Rootstock a bulb or rhizome	Alliaceae
	b	Flowers slightly irregular with stamens declinate and recurved at tips Capsule 3-angled or -winged Plants not smelling of onion or garlic Rootstock a rhizome	Agapanthaceae

	a	Rootstock a bulb
	b	Rootstock a rhizome, corm or tuber

	a	Flowers borne on leafy stems Bulb with loose scales	*Liliaceae (in narrow sense)
	b	Flowers borne on naked peduncles Bulb rarely with loose scales	Hyacinthaceae

	a	Seeds woolly Flowering stems leafless except for a clasping basal leafy bract Leaves petiolate, often absent at flowering Rootstock a tuber	(Convallariaceae in part) Eriospermaceae
	b	Seeds glabrous Flowering stems leafy

	a	Rootstock a corm, rarely a tuber Seeds brown Flowers usually opposite the bracts	Colchicaceae
	b	Rootstock a rhizome, sometimes short and with swollen roots Seeds black Flowers in axils of bracts

		a	Flowers borne singly in axils of bracts	Asphodelaceae
		b	Flowers more than 1 in axils of bracts	(including Hemerocallidaceae in part) Anthericaceae

	a	Submerged aquatics rooting from a rhizome Flowers mostly unisexual, submerged or floating	Hydrocharitaceae
	b	Terrestrial plants or emergent aquatics, but then rootstock cormous and stamens 6

	a	Fertile stamens 5(6) or 1, but then supported by and not fused to the style Leaves pseudopetiolate with a broad base, midrib prominent and secondary veins pinnate-parallel
	b	Fertile stamens 3(4)6 or 1, but then fused to the style into a complex columnar structure Leaf venation never pinnate-parallel

	a	Fertile stamen 1
	b	Fertile stamens 5(6)

	a	Outer tepals united into a tube Anther 2-thecous Filament thread-like	Zingiberaceae
	b	Outer tepals free Anther 1-thecous Stamen partly petal-like	*Cannaceae

	a	Flowers unisexual, upper 5 tepals fused below Leaves spirally inserted Stems not woody, drying after fruiting, sometimes suckering Fruit a banana with seeds embedded in pith	Musaceae
	b	Flowers bisexual, lateral inner tepals fused and enclosing style and stamens Leaves distichous Stems and rootstock perennial Seeds pea-like with a tuft of hairs	Strelitziaceae

	a	Stamen 1, united with style into a column (gynostemium) Pollen agglutinated into masses (pollinia) Upper or lower median tepal often elaborated and spurred	Orchidaceae
	b	Stamens 3(4) or 6 Pollen not agglutinated into masses

	a	Flowers unisexual, in spikes or racemes Climbers with ± heart-shaped leaves	Dioscoreaceae
	b	Flowers bisexual

	a	Stamens 3, opposite outer tepals Leaves mostly unifacial Rootstock a corm or rhizome	Iridaceae
	b	Stamens 6 or 3, but then opposite inner tepals

	a	Inflorescence apparently an umbel (sometimes 1-flowered), subtended by 1 or more spathaceous bracts and borne on a naked scape Rootstock a bulb or rhizome	Amaryllidaceae
	b	Inflorescence a corymb, raceme, panicle, cyme or 1-flowered, not subtended by spathaceous bracts Rootstock a corm or rhizome (rarely reduced)

	a	Small saprophytic herbs with a few narrow basal leaves or leaves scale-like	Burmanniaceae
	b	Photosynthetic plants with well-developed leaves

	a	Robust, rosulate plants with tree-like inflorescences and large, spine-tipped, leathery or succulent leaves persisting for several years	*Agavaceae
	b	Smaller plants, often coarsely hairy Leaves never spine-tipped

	a	Flowers many, in helicoid cymes borne on bracteate stalks Ovules 1 or 2 per locule
	b	Flowers mostly solitary or few borne on leafless scapes or pedicels Ovules many per locule

	a	Stamens 3 Pubescence of simple hairs Rhizome often bright red	Haemodoraceae
	b	Stamens 6 Pubescence of plumose hairs	Lanariaceae

	a	Shrublets or short-stemmed perennials Leaves fibrous, abscising below, persistent bases stiffly fibrous and closely imbricate Flowers solitary, purple to mauve or white, with septal nectaries Seeds white to yellowish	Velloziaceae
	b	Acaulescent perennials Leaves softer, decaying irregularly, bases loosely fibrous and not regularly imbricate Flowers 1 to many, yellow, white pink to red, without nectaries Seeds black	Hypoxidaceae

	a	Plants floating freely on the surface, though sometimes attached to the substrate in very shallow water
	b	Plants rooted or freely suspended with leaves submerged or floating

	a	Small, ± disc-shaped to globular annuals not differentiated into stems and leaves Flowers borne in pouches or sheaths	(Araceae in part) Lemnaceae
	b	Rosette-forming, stoloniferous herbs with oblong, hairy leaves Flowers borne on a small spadix surrounded by a tubular spathe	Araceae

	a	Gynoecium composed of 2 or more free carpels with separate styles and stigmas
	b	Gynoecium composed of 1 carpel or of 2 or more united carpels with free or united styles

	a	Perianth absent or cupular Stamens 1 or 2
	b	Perianth present, composed of 1-4 free tepals Stamens 3-many

	a	Flowers bisexual, in spikes above water at anthesis, spikes consisting of 2 naked flowers facing in opposite directions and borne at different heights Carpels 4-8, becoming stipitate in fruit and appearing umbellate Stamens 2, free	Ruppiaceae
	b	Flowers unisexual, submerged, axillary, cymose or solitary Carpels 1-9, stipitate Stamens 1 or 2, united

	a	Marine plants, dioecious Pollen filamentose	Cymodoceaceae
	b	Brackish or freshwater plants, monoecious Pollen globose	Zannichelliaceae

	a	Leaves borne on elongated stems Tepals usually 4 Inflorescence a simple spike not enclosed in a spathe when young	Potamogetonaceae
	b	Leaves all basal Tepals 1-3 Inflorescence a 2-branched or simple spike at first enclosed in a spathe

	a	Flowers in a 2-branched or simple spike on an elongated axillary peduncle at first enclosed in a spathe Flowers without bracts	Aponogetonaceae
	b	Flowers whorled or in simple or compound umbels Plants often with white sap

	a	Carpels each with 1 basal ovule Fruit of 3-many achenes	Alismataceae
	b	Carpels each with many ovules on a parietal placenta Fruit a head of follicles	Limnocharitaceae

	a	Perianth present Ovary inferior, 1-locular with many ovules on parietal placentas Flowers mostly unisexual, submerged in marine species, exserted during anthesis in others Male flowers sometimes becoming detached and free-floating	Hydrocharitaceae
	b	Perianth absent Ovary superior, with a solitary ovule

	a	Leaves opposite or verticillate, often toothed Flowers solitary or few together in leaf axils Freshwater plants	Najadaceae
	b	Leaves alternate Inflorescence a spike of alternating male and female flowers enclosed in a spathe Marine plants	Zosteraceae

	a	Leaves reduced to sheaths with free margins Plants dioecious Florets with a perianth of 6 tepals in 2 whorls	Restionaceae
	b	Leaves usually with a well-developed blade and a sheathing base Plants very rarely dioecious Florets mostly with 2-6 scale-like bracts or bristles

	a	Leaves 2-ranked Leaf sheaths usually with free, overlapping margins Stems terete or compressed, usually with hollow internodes Style branches and stigmas usually 2, feathery Anthers deeply sagittate and therefore appearing dorsifixed	Poaceae
	b	Leaves often 3-ranked, mostly crowded in a basal tuft Leaf sheaths usually closed Stems often 3-angled, with solid internodes Style branches and stigmas 2 or 3, not feathery Anthers basifixed	Cyperaceae

	a	Leaves pinnately or palmately compound Palms	Arecaceae
	b	Leaves simple

	a	Inflorescence a very dense cylindrical spike with female florets below and male ones above Perianth segments reduced to bristles	Typhaceae
	b	Inflorescence various, not as above

	a	Inflorescence a dense fleshy spike (spadix) subtended by a conspicuous or long, leaf-like spathe
	b	Inflorescence various, not a spadix

	a	Leaves arranged in 2 vertical rows, not differentiated into petiole and blade Spathe leaf-like, much longer than spadix	*Acoraceae
	b	Leaves alternate, differentiated into petiole and blade Spathe conspicuous, of various colours	Araceae

	a	Perianth segments herbaceous Fruit separating into 3 cocci Leaves radical	Juncaginaceae
	b	Perianth segments dry and glumaceous to hyaline Leaves basal, cauline or reduced to sheaths Plants often rush-like

	a	Tufted herbs with radical leaves and small to minute flowers crowded in terminal, compact, head-like inflorescences borne on naked peduncles
	b	Combination of characters not as above

	a	Flowers unisexual Ovary 3- or 2-locular	Eriocaulaceae
	b	Flowers bisexual Ovary 1-locular	Xyridaceae

	a	Leaves reduced to sheaths Flowers unisexual, sexes on separate plants Ovary 1- or 3-locular with 1 ovule per locule	Restionaceae
	b	Leaves with blades Flowers bisexual Ovary 1-3-locular with 3 or more ovules per locule

	a	Plants caulescent, up to 2 m or higher, with apical leaf rosette Leaves serrate Ovules few Stigmas sessile or subsessile	(Juncaceae in part) Prioniaceae
	b	Plants rhizomatous, with basal, entire leaves Ovules many Style short or long	Juncaceae