Introduction To The Family Key
This key is designed to help narrow down the search for the juvenile plant you have, from all the families on the website. The answers are common family names, (with the scientific name in brackets). Some families appear more than once.
Are the leaves of a rosette opposite or alternate? Occasionally it's hard to tell, so, hold the tips of two leaves that look opposite, pull them up at 90 degrees to the ground and hold the tips together. If they are the same length, the leaf arrangement is opposite.
There are lists of all plant families in scientific and common names at the end of the key.
Opposite |
Alternate |
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Examples below of rosette-like structures, whereby they are not a true rosette, but all foliage emerges from a central point |
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Family Key
1. Plant with a rosette or rosette-like structure
Or click or scroll to go to 2. Plant does not have rosette or rosette-like structure.
Here you have four choices of leaf margin: Spined, toothed, lobed or smooth.
Choose your leaf margin, and under the photo will be lists consisting of the following:
Leaf arrangement: Opposite or alternate.
Leaf tip: Pointed or rounded.
Leaf stalk: With petiole or no petiole. (Even if it's just a couple of mm long, it's 'with petiole')
Choose which sub-heading fits, and there's your list of possibilities.
1a. Leaves with spines
Alternate, pointed, with petiole
Carrot (Apiaceae)
Daisy (Asteraceae)
Alternate, pointed, no petiole
Daisy (Asteraceae)
Holly (Aquifoliaceae)
Alternate, rounded, with petiole
Daisy (Asteraceae)
Alternate, rounded, no petiole
Daisy (Asteraceae)
1b. Leaves with toothed margins
Opposite, pointed, with petiole
Birch (Betulaceae)
Buttercup (Ranunculaceae)
Dead-nettle (Lamiaceae)
Figwort (Scropulariaceae)
Goosefoot (Amaranthaceae)
Honeysuckle (Caprifoliaceae)
Nettle (Urticaceae)
Spindle (Celastraceae)
Spurge (Euphorbiaceae)
Opposite, pointed, no petiole
Broomrape (Orobanchaceae)
Dead-nettle (Lamiaceae)
Figwort (Scropulariaceae)
Vervain (Verbenaceae)
Willowherb (Onagraceae)
Opposite, rounded, with petiole
Dead-nettle (Lamiaceae)
Figwort (Scropulariaceae)
Goosefoot (Amaranthaceae)
Opposite, rounded, no petiole
Dead-nettle (Lamiaceae)
Figwort (Scropulariaceae)
Speedwell (Veronicaceae)
Willowherb (Onagraceae)
Alternate, pointed, with petiole
Beech (Fagaceae)
Cabbage (Brassicaceae)
Alternate, pointed, no petiole
Buttercup (Ranunculaceae)
Cabbage (Brassicaceae)
Daisy (Asteraceae)
Knotweed (Polygonaceae)
Willowherb (Onagraceae)
Alternate, rounded, with petiole
Cabbage (Brassicaceae)
Alternate, rounded, no petiole
Bellflower (Campanulaceae)
Borage (Boraginaceae)
Cabbage (Brassicaceae)
Daisy (Asteraceae)
Mignonette (Resedaceae)
Primrose (Primulaceae)
Stonecrop (Crassulaceae)
Teasel (Dipsacaceae)
1c. Leaves with lobes
Opposite, pointed, with petiole
Goosefoot (Amaranthaceae)
Opposite, pointed, no petiole
Vervain (Verbenaceae)
Alternate, pointed, with petiole
Cabbage (Brassicaceae)
Carrot (Apiaceae)
Daisy (Asteraceae)
Geranium (Geraniaceae)
Alternate, pointed, no petiole
Daisy (Asteraceae)
Plantain (Plantaginaceae)
Alternate, rounded, with petiole
Beech (Fagaceae)
Buttercup (Ranunculaceae)
Cabbage (Brassicaceae)
Carrot (Apiaceae)
Daisy (Asteraceae)
Poppy (Papaveraceae)
St John's-wort (Hypericaceae)
Teasel (Dipsacaceae)
Alternate, rounded, no petiole
Cabbage (Brassicaceae)
Daisy (Asteraceae)
Poppy (Papaveraceae)
Speedwell (Veronicaceae)
St John's-wort (Hypericaceae)
1d. Leaves with smooth edge
Opposite, pointed, with petiole
Borage (Boraginaceae)
Broomrape (Orobanchaceae)
Dogwood (Cornaceae)
Pink (Caryophyllaceae)
Rock-rose (Cistaceae)
Valerian (Valerianaceae)
Willowherb (Onagraceae)
Opposite, pointed, no petiole
Borage (Boraginaceae)
Broomrape (Orobanchaceae)
Dead-nettle (Lamiaceae)
Gentian (Gentianaceae)
Herb Paris (Melianthiaceae)
Knotweed (Polygonaceae)
Pink (Caryophyllaceae)
Primrose (Primulaceae)
Willowherb (Onagraceae)
Opposite, rounded, with petiole
Borage (Boraginaceae)
Dead-nettle (Lamiaceae)
Flax (Linaceae)
Heather (Ericaceae)
Rock-rose (Cistaceae)
Speedwell (Veronicaceae)
Valerian (Valerianaceae)
Opposite, rounded, no petiole
Bastard-toadflax (Santalaceae)
Beech (Fagaceae)
Blinks (Montiaceae)
Borage (Boraginaceae)
Figwort (Scropulariaceae)
Gentian (Gentianaceae)
Goosefoot (Amaranthaceae)
Honeysuckle (Caprifoliaceae)
Knotweed (Polygonaceae)
Pink (Caryophyllaceae)
Primrose (Primulaceae)
Purple-loosestrife (Lythraceae)
Speedwell (Veronicaceae)
Alternate, pointed, with petiole
Daisy (Asteraceae)
Nightshade (Solanaceae)
Pokeweed (Phytolaccaceae)
Alternate, pointed, no petiole
Borage (Boraginaceae)
Cabbage Brassicaceae)
Daisy (Asteraceae)
Dewplant (Aizoaceae)
Heather (Ericaceae)
Herb Paris (Melianthiaceae)
Knotweed (Polygonaceae)
Mezereon (Thymelaeaceae)
Nightshade (Solanaceae)
Orchid (Orchidaceae)
Plantain (Plantaginaceae)
Saxifrage (Saxifragaceae)
Sea-buckthorn (Elaeagnaceae)
Spurge (Euphorbiaceae)
Alternate, rounded, with petiole
Bladderwort (Lentibulariaceae)
Buttercup (Ranunculaceae)
Cabbage (Brassicaceae)
Daisy (Asteraceae)
Figwort (Scrophulariaceae)
Flax (Linaceae)
Nightshade (Solanaceae)
Plantain (Plantaginaceae)
Alternate, rounded, no petiole
Borage (Boraginaceae)
Cabbage (Brassicaceae)
Daisy (Asteraceae)
Dogwood (Cornaceae)
Nettle (Urticaceae)
Orchid (Orchidaceae)
Plantain (Plantaginaceae)
Primrose (Primulaceae)
Spurge (Euphorbiaceae)
Thrift (Plumbaginaceae)
2. Aquatic plant without rosette
Or click or scroll to go to: 3. Non aquatic plant without rosette
2a. Leaves floating on water
Leaves round with smooth edge
Frogbit (Hydrocharitaceae)
Lords and Ladies (Araceae)
Nymphaceae (Water-lily)
Leaves very small
Stonecrop (Crassulaceae)
Water Fern (Salviniaceae)
The rest
Buttercup (Ranunculaceae)
Nymphaceae (Water-lily)
Pennywort (Hydrocotylaceae)
Pondweed (Potamogetonaceae)
Water-plantain (Alismataceae)
2b. Leaves emerging from water
Leaves like an Iris
Bog Asphodel (Nartheciaceae)
Iris (Iridaceae)
Leaf lobed or with leaflets
Bogbean (Menyantheaceae)
Cabbage (Brassicaceae)
Carrot (Apiaceae)
Leaves longer than wide
Knotweed (Polygonaceae)
Water-plantain (Alismataceae)
Leaves thin and feathery
Mare’s-tail (Hippuridaceae)
Water-milfoil (Haloragaceae)
Leaves singlular and round
Pennywort (Hydrocotylaceae)
The rest
Some Loosestrifes
Brooklime
3. Non aquatic plant without rosette
Which of the seven options below is the best fit
3a. Leaves with leaflets
Terminal leaflet present
Ash (Oleacea
Cabbage (Brassicaceae)
Jacob's-ladder (Polemomiaceae)
Moschatel (Adoxaceae)
Pea (Fabaceae)
Poppy (Papaveraceae)
Primrose (Primulaceae)
Rose (Rosaceae)
Valerian (Valerianaceae)
Terminal leaflet absent
Honeysuckle (Caprifoliaceae)
Periwinkle (Apocynaceae)
Tendril present
Grape-vine (Vitaceae)
Pea (Fabaceae)
Leaflets with spines
Barberry (Berberidaceae)
Holly (Aquifoliaceae)
Willowherb (Onagraceae)
Leaflets like Cow Parsley
Carrot (Apiaceae)
Phacelia (Hydrophyllaceae)
Poppy (Papaveraceae)
3b. Leaves in three leaflets
Deeply toothed or dissected
Buttercup (Ranunculaceae)
Crane’s-bill (Geraniaceae)
Looks like Clover
Pea (Fabaceae)
Wood-sorrel (Oxalidaceae)
The rest
Bogbean (Menyanthaceae)
Moschatel (Adoxaceae)
Rose (Rosaceae)
3c. Leaves grass-like
Up to 5mm width
Asparagus (Asparagaceae)
Bog Asphodel (Nartheciaceae)
Iris (Iridaceae)
Plantain (Plantaginaceae)
Scottish Asphodel (Tofieldiaceae)
Thrift (Plumbaginaceae)
Above 5mm width
Asparagus (Asparagaceae)
Daffodil (Amaryllidaceae)
Dewplant (Aizoaceae)
Iris (Iridaceae)
Lily (Liliaceae)
Plantain (Plantaginaceae)
Sea Buckthorn (Elaegnaceae)
3d. Leaves lobed
Bear's-breech (Acanthaceae)
Broomrape (Orobanchaceae)
Buttercup (Ranunculaceae)
Cabbage (Brassicaceae)
Daisy (Asteraceae)
Giant Rhubarb (Polygonaceae)
Grape-vine (Vitaceae)
Hop (Cannabaceae)
Ivy (Araliaceae)
Maple (Sapindaceae)
Poppy (Papaveraceae)
Rose (Rosaceae)
White Bryony (Cucrbitaceae)
3e. Leaves in whorls
Big leaves
Herb Paris (Melianthiaceae)
Medium leaves
Apiaceae (Carrot)
Rutaceae (Rue)
Spurge (Euphorbiaceae)
Small leaves
Bedstraw (Rubiaceae)
Heather (Ericaceae)
Primrose (Primulaceae)
Sea Heath (Frankeniaceae)
3f. Leaves opposite
Leaves toothed
Borage (Boraginaceae)
Daisy (Asteraceae)
Goosefoot (Amaranthaceae)
Speedwell (Veronicaceae)
Spindle (Celastraceae)
Teasel (Dipsacaceae)
Valerian (Valerianaceae)
Willow (Salicaceae)
Leaves simple
Balsam (Balsaminaceae)
Blinks (Montiaceae)
Box (Buxaceae)
Daisy (Asteraceae)
Dead-nettle (Lamiaceae)
Goosefoot (Amaranthaceae)
Honeysuckle (Caprifoliaceae)
Mezereon (Thymelaeaceae)
Monkeyflower (Phrymaceae)
Pink (Caryophyllaceae)
Primrose (Primulaceae)
Spotted-laurel (Garryaceae)
Stonecrop (Crassulaceae)
3g. Leaves alternate
Leaves toothed
Elm (Ulmaceae)
Grape-vine (Vitaceae)
Knotweed (Polygonaceae)
Mallow (Malvaceae)
Pea (Fabaceae)
Primrose (Primulaceae)
Valerian (Valerianaceae)
White Bryony (Cucrbitaceae)
Leaves simple
Asparagus (Asparagaceae)
Bindweed (Convolvulariaceae)
Birthwort (Aristolochiaceae)
Black Bryony (Dioscoreaceae)
Heather (Ericaceae)
Knotweed (Polygonaceaea)
Lords and Ladies (Araceae)
Milkwort (Polygalaceae)
Nettle (Urticaceae)
Orchid (Orchidaceae)
Passionflower (Passifloraceae)
Pea (Fabaceae)
Primrose (Primulaceae)
Rose (Rosaceae)
Sundew (Droseraceae)
Thrift (Plumbaginaceae)
Violet (Violaceae)
List of Plant Families
| Common Family A-Z | Scientific Family |
|---|---|
| Ash | Oleaceae |
| Asparagus | Asparagaceae |
| Balsam | Balsaminaceae |
| Barberry | Berberidaceae |
| Bastard-toadflax | Santalaceae |
| Bear's-breech | Acanthaceae |
| Bedstraw | Rubiaceae |
| Beech | Fagaceae |
| Bellflower | Campanulaceae |
| Bindweed | Convolvulariaceae |
| Birch | Betulaceae |
| Birthwort | Aristolochiaceae |
| Black Bryony | Dioscoreaceae |
| Bladderwort | Lentibulariaceae |
| Blinks | Montiaceae |
| Bog Asphodel | Nartheciaceae |
| Bogbean | Menyanthaceae |
| Borage | Boraginaceae |
| Box | Buxaceae |
| Broomrape | Orobanchaceae |
| Buckthorn | Rhamnaceae |
| Buttercup | Ranunculaceae |
| Cabbage | Brassicaceae |
| Carrot | Apiaceae |
| Crane's-bill | Geraniaceae |
| Daffodil | Amaryllidaceae |
| Daisy | Asteraceae |
| Dead-nettle | Lamiaceae |
| Dewplant | Aizoaceae |
| Dogwood | Cornaceae |
| Elm | Ulmaceae |
| Figwort | Scrophulariaceae |
| Flax | Linaceae |
| Frogbit | Hydrocharitaceae |
| Gentian | Gentianaceae |
| Giant-rhubarb | Gunneraceae |
| Goosefoot | Amaranthaceae |
| Grape-vine | Vitaceae |
| Heather | Ericaceae |
| Herb Paris | Melianthiaceae |
| Holly | Aquifoliaceae |
| Honeysuckle | Caprifoliaceae |
| Hop | Cannabaceae |
| Iris | Iridaceae |
| Ivy | Araliaceae |
| Jacob's-ladder | Polemomiaceae |
| Knotweed | Polygonaceae |
| Lily | Liliaceae |
| Lords-and-Ladies | Araceae |
| Mallow | Malvaceae |
| Maple | Sapindaceae |
| Mare's-tail | Hippuridaceae |
| Mezereon | Thymelaeaceae |
| Mignonette | Resedaceae |
| Milkwort | Polygalaceae |
| Monkeyflower | Phrymaceae |
| Moschatel | Adoxaceae |
| Nettle | Urticaceae |
| Nightshade | Solanaceae |
| Orchid | Orchidaceae |
| Passionflower | Passifloraceae |
| Pea | Fabaceae |
| Pennywort | Hydrocotylaceae |
| Periwinkle | Apocynaceae |
| Phacelia | Hydrophyllaceae |
| Pink | Caryophyllaceae |
| Plantain | Plantaginaceae |
| Pokeweed | Phytolaccaceae |
| Pondweed | Potamogetonaceae |
| Poppy | Papaveraceae |
| Primrose | Primulaceae |
| Purple-loosestrife | Lythraceae |
| Rock-rose | Cistaceae |
| Rose | Rosaceae |
| Rue | Rutaceae |
| Saxifrage | Saxifragaceae |
| Scottish Asphodel | Tofieldiaceae |
| Sea-buckthorn | Elaeagnaceae |
| Sea-heath | Frankeniaceae |
| Speedwell | Veronicaceae |
| Spindle | Celastraceae |
| Spotted-laurel | Garryaceae |
| Spurge | Euphorbiaceae |
| St John's-wort | Hypericaceae |
| Stonecrop | Crassulaceae |
| Sundew | Droseraceae |
| Teasel | Dipsacaceae |
| Thrift | Plumbaginaceae |
| Valerian | Valerianaceae |
| Vervain | Verbenaceae |
| Violet | Violaceae |
| Water Fern | Salviniaceae |
| Water-lily | Nymphaceae |
| Water-milfoil | Haloragaceae |
| Water-plantain | Alismataceae |
| White Bryony | Cucurbitaceae |
| Willow | Salicaceae |
| Willowherb | Onagraceae |
| Wood-sorrel | Oxalidaceae |
| Scientific Family A-Z | Common Family |
|---|---|
| Acanthaceae | Bear's-breech |
| Adoxaceae | Moschatel |
| Aizoaceae | Dewplant |
| Alismataceae | Water-plantain |
| Amaranthaceae | Goosefoot |
| Amaryllidaceae | Daffodil |
| Apiaceae | Carrot |
| Apocynaceae | Periwinkle |
| Aquifoliaceae | Holly |
| Araceae | Lords-and-Ladies |
| Araliaceae | Ivy |
| Aristolochiaceae | Birthwort |
| Asparagaceae | Asparagus |
| Asteraceae | Daisy |
| Balsaminaceae | Balsam |
| Berberidaceae | Barberry |
| Betulaceae | Birch |
| Boraginaceae | Borage |
| Brassicaceae | Cabbage |
| Buxaceae | Box |
| Campanulaceae | Bellflower |
| Cannabaceae | Hop |
| Caprifoliaceae | Honeysuckle |
| Caryophyllaceae | Pink |
| Celastraceae | Spindle |
| Cistaceae | Rock-rose |
| Convolvulariaceae | Bindweed |
| Cornaceae | Dogwood |
| Crassulaceae | Stonecrop |
| Cucurbitaceae | White Bryony |
| Dioscoreaceae | Black Bryony |
| Dipsacaceae | Teasel |
| Droseraceae | Sundew |
| Elaeagnaceae | Sea-buckthorn |
| Ericaceae | Heather |
| Euphorbiaceae | Spurge |
| Fabaceae | Pea |
| Fagaceae | Beech |
| Frankeniaceae | Sea-heath |
| Garryaceae | Spotted-laurel |
| Gentianaceae | Gentian |
| Geraniaceae | Crane's-bill |
| Gunneraceae | Giant-rhubarb |
| Haloragaceae | Water-milfoil |
| Hippuridaceae | Mare's-tail |
| Hydrocharitaceae | Frogbit |
| Hydrocotylaceae | Pennywort |
| Hydrophyllaceae | Phacelia |
| Hypericaceae | St John's-wort |
| Iridaceae | Iris |
| Lamiaceae | Dead-nettle |
| Lentibulariaceae | Bladderwort |
| Liliaceae | Lily |
| Linaceae | Flax |
| Lythraceae | Purple-loosestrife |
| Malvaceae | Mallow |
| Melianthiaceae | Herb Paris |
| Menyanthaceae | Bogbean |
| Montiaceae | Blinks |
| Nartheciaceae | Bog Asphodel |
| Nymphaceae | Water-lily |
| Oleaceae | Ash |
| Onagraceae | Willowherb |
| Orchidaceae | Orchid |
| Orobanchaceae | Broomrape |
| Oxalidaceae | Wood-sorrel |
| Papaveraceae | Poppy |
| Passifloraceae | Passionflower |
| Phrymaceae | Monkeyflower |
| Phytolaccaceae | Pokeweed |
| Plantaginaceae | Plantain |
| Plumbaginaceae | Thrift |
| Polemomiaceae | Jacob's-ladder |
| Polygalaceae | Milkwort |
| Polygonaceae | Knotweed |
| Potamogetonaceae | Pondweed |
| Primulaceae | Primrose |
| Ranunculaceae | Buttercup |
| Resedaceae | Mignonette |
| Rhamnaceae | Buckthorn |
| Rosaceae | Rose |
| Rubiaceae | Bedstraw |
| Rutaceae | Rue |
| Salicaceae | Willow |
| Salviniaceae | Water Fern |
| Santalaceae | Bastard-toadflax |
| Sapindaceae | Maple |
| Saxifragaceae | Saxifrage |
| Scrophulariaceae | Figwort |
| Solanaceae | Nightshade |
| Thymelaeaceae | Mezereon |
| Tofieldiaceae | Scottish Asphodel |
| Ulmaceae | Elm |
| Urticaceae | Nettle |
| Valerianaceae | Valerian |
| Verbenaceae | Vervain |
| Veronicaceae | Speedwell |
| Violaceae | Violet |
| Vitaceae | Grape-vine |