Family Characteristics

Sunflower or Aster (Asteraceae)

  • the largest plant family in the US

  • flower heads are made up of a disk of tiny flowers sometimes surrounded by rays to resemble a single flower

Shown - Saffron Senecio

Mustard (Brassicaceae)

  • flowers have four petals and six stamens

  • flowers usually in clusters

Shown - Mountain Candytuft

Parsley, Carrot or Celery (Apiaceae)

  • usually has tiny simple 5-petalled flowers in umbels

  • leaves are divided into many leaflets

Shown - Mountain Parsley

Buttercup (Ranunculaceae)

  • mostly simple flowers with many stamens

  • leaves often divided

Shown - Pasque Flower

Pink (Caryophyllaceae)

  • flowers have five petals and 10 stamens

  • leaves often divided

Shown - Mouse-ear Chickweed

Pea (Fabaceae)

  • flowers are irregular and pea shaped

  • leaves are dissected

  • fruit is bean or pea like

Shown - Lupine

Cactus (Cactaceae)

  • showy flowers

  • spiny and fleshy

Shown - Mountain Ball Cactus

Mint (Lamiaceae)

  • irregular flowers

  • aromatic leaves

Shown - Wild Mint

Evening Primrose (Onagraceae)

  • four petals sometimes forming a tube and eight stamens

Shown - White Evening Primrose

Primrose (Primulaceae)

  • five petals

  • simple leaves, often basal

Shown - Parry's Primrose

Rose (Rosaceae)

  • simple flowers with five petals and many stamens

  • many shrubs are in the Rose family

Shown - Beautiful Cinquefoil

Saxifrage (Saxifragaceae)

  • simple flowers with five petals

  • leaves basal and often veined

Shown - Dotted Saxifrage

Borage (Boraginaceae)

  • regular flowers with five petals, often in coiled clusters with stamens showing

  • leaves are often hairy

Shown - Fendler's Waterleaf

Gentian (Gentianaceae)

  • most commonly bright blue or purple

  • petals are united to form a tubular or saucer shape

  • blooms late in the summer

Shown - Bottle Gentian

Family List