Rutaceae (Rue Family)

     150 Genera
     1500 species (1 on campus)

I. Leaves
     A. Alternate, some opposite
     B. Compound, some simple
     C. Estipulate
     D. Glandular-punctate dots on leaflets
     E. Aromatic, bitter, volatile oil

II. Flowers
     A. Regular
     B. Perfect or imperfect
     C. 4-5 sepals & petals
     D. 8-10 stamens
     E. 1 pistil

III. Fruits
     A. Drupe, follicle, samara, hesperidium

IV. Economic importance
     A. Citrus has edible fruit
           (orange, tangerine, lemon, lime, grapefruit)
     B. Tropical general - lumber for structural timber
          & cabinets

V. Range
     A. World wide

Phellodendron amurense (Amur corktree)
     [Grk = "cork tree"]

     A. Lateral buds hidden by petiole base
     B. No terminal buds
     C. Black drupe
     D. Deeply furrowed bark with corky ridges

Simaroubaceae (Quassa, Bitterwood Family)

     25 Genera (1 on campus)
     150 species

I. Leaves
     A. Alternate
     B. Pinnately compound or simple
     C. Stipulate or estipulate

II. Flowers
     A. Regular
     B. Imperfect polygamous or dioecious
     C. small in large showy panicles

III. Fruits
     A. Capsule, drupe, berry, samara

IV. Economic Importance
     A. Water soluble bitter compound used in insecticides
          & medicine

V. Range
     A. Tropical & Subtropical

VI. Ailanthus altissima (Tree of heaven, Stink Tree)
     [Reaching to the heaven-G, tall-se]

     A. 30-60 cm pinnately compound leaves
     B. leaflets smell bad, have 1-5 round teeth with apical
          glands at base
     C. Cream to reddish brown twisted samaras in large clusters
     D. Introduced from E. Asia, now naturalized in disturbed areas
          throughout temperate N. America
     E. Difficult to eradicate because of numerous seeds & root  sprouts, rapid growth "A Tree
          Grows in Brooklyn"

 Tiliaceae (Linden, Basswood Family)
     [Latin name, meaning "wing"]

     50 Genera (1 on campus)
     450 species

I. Leaves

     A. Alternate
     B. Simple
     C. Stipulate
     D. Serrate
     E. Inequilateral base

II. Flowers

     A. Perfect
     B. Regular
     C. 5-merous
     D. 1, 2- to 10-celled pistil

III. Fruits

     A. Capsule, drupe, berry, or nutlike
          Tilia has nutlike fruits associated with
          distinctive ovate bract
 
 

IV. Economic importance

     A. Wood
          1. Plywood - glues easily
          2. Boxes & crates for foodstuff
               doesn't smell
          3. Concealed parts of furniture
               doesn't warp, check
          4. Excelsior - shaves easily

     B. Soil improvement through high Ca, Mg, P, N, K
          content in leaves

     C. Nectar source for honey bees

     D. Ornamental

V. Range

     A. World wide, mostly in tropics
 

Species Comparison - if you're looking for a taxonomy project,
     have I got the genus for you!

I. Tilia americana {T. glabra} (American basswood)

     A. 10-15 cm long broadly ovate leaves
     B. Axillary tufts of hair

II. T. tomentosa {T. argentea, T. alba,
                     T. americana var. heterophylla}
                    (White, Silver Basswood, Beetree)

     A. 7.5-11.5 cm long orbicular leaves
     B. White/tan stellate tomentose underside of leaf
 
 

III.  T. cordata {T. ulmifolia, T. parvilolia, T. europea}
                         [small flowered]
                    (Small Leaved Linden)

     A. 3.7-7.25 cm long orbicular leaves
     B. Dark green above
     C. Dark blue/green below
     D. Glaucous & glabrous with axillary tufts of brown hair
     E. Fruit with fragile shell

IV. T. platyphyllos {T. grandifolia, T. europea}
     [broad leaved]
          (Large Leaved Lime)

     A.  7.5-10 cm long orbicular-ovate leaves
     B. Dull green above
     C. light green below
     D. lightly pubescent with axillary tufts
     E. Fruit with thick shell

IV.  T. europaea -> hybrid T. cordata X T. platyphyllos
               (European Linden)

     A. 5-10 cm long broadly ovate leaves
     B. Dark green above
     C. Bright green below
     D. Glabrous with axillary tufts of hair
     E. Fruit with thick shell

V.  T. euchlora -> hybrid T. dasystyla X probably T. cordata
               (Crimean Linden)

     A. 5-10 cm long broadly ovate leaves
     B. Shiny pale green above
     C. Pale green below
     D. Glabrous with axillary tufts of brown hair
     E. Fruit with thick shell