Vascular Plants - Spermatophyta (PDF)

SPERMATOPHYTA / VASCULAR PLANTS They are vascular plants that bear flowers. Vascular plants possess a conducting system for transporting water, minerals, and photosynthetic products. Their bodies are differentiated into stems, leaves, and roots, and they usually have strengthening tissues that aid...

SPERMATOPHYTA / VASCULAR PLANTS They are vascular plants that bear flowers. Vascular plants possess a conducting system for transporting water, minerals, and photosynthetic products. Their bodies are differentiated into stems, leaves, and roots, and they usually have strengthening tissues that aid in mechanical support. These and other features equip them for life on dry land; however, some moist-land plants also belong to this group. They are photoautotrophic and are often called higher plants. They reproduce and disperse through seeds, multicellular structures containing an embryonic plant. Spermatophyta is classified into two main Divisions: 1.Gymnospermae / Pinophyta / Coniferophyta 2.Angiospermae / Magnoliophyta Gymnospermae In this subdivision, the plants' seeds, which form from the ovule, are naked because the carpel is not closed, and the ovule is not enclosed within the ovary. The absence of a normal carpel leads to the lack of a stigma and style, so the pollen grains fall directly onto the ovule and facilitate germination. Gymnospermae All gymnosperms are woody plants, typically trees or small trees. Some of them have stems with leaves at their apex, while others have very branched stems. Climbers and shrubs are found only in the advanced families of gymnosperms. Gymnospermae The leaves of gymnosperms are generally persistent. Some are large and have pinnate venation, while others are needle-like or scale-like. The flowers are unisexual: the male flowers consist of pollen sacs, and the female ones consist only of ovules. The flowers are generally arranged in the form of a cone. The perianth of the flower is made up of scale appendages that cover the reproductive parts. Angiospermae In this subdivision, the plants have ovules present in a closed ovary, which consists of one or more carpels. The carpel consists of the ovary, style, and stigma, and the pollen grains fall onto the stigma, where they facilitate germination. Angiospermae Among angiosperms, there are woody plants, herbs, and aquatic plants. The flowers exhibit special forms and characteristics; they can be bisexual or unisexual, and the pollen grains fall onto the stigma through various methods, such as anemophily, entomophily, and hydrophily. The leaves and fruits exhibit distinct characteristics in different types. This subdivision is classified into the main classes: 1. Monocotyledonae 2. Dicotyledonae  COMPARISON BETWEEN THE ANGIOSPERM AND GYMNOSPERMS PLANT Character Angiosperm Gymnosperm Flower Bisexual Unisexual Closed Ovary Open seeds Pollen grain present over the Stigma Pollen grains present over the ovule Pollination In different types pollination by wind (anemophily) Stem Woody or herbaceous, erect or Woody, rarely herbaceous, climber or stolon simple or branched Leaf broad and flat needle-like or scale-like Seed Seeds are enclosed in a fruit Seeds are naked (not enclosed in a fruit) Family Ginkgoaceae Taxaceae Pinaceae Cupressaceae Ephedraceae Ginkgoaceae Habit: The tree of this family contains resine chanals, and the stem is tall and branched. Leaves: The leaves are decideus ( shedding its leaves annually) Flowers: They are unisexual, make flowres have two stalked stamen with two pollen sacs and the female one consists of two ovules present over one stalk. In this family there is one genus with one species. Ginkgo biloba: Scientific name: Ginkgo biloba This plant grows in temperate regions of China and Japan. Its characteristics are typical of its family. The plant contains heterosides, such as flavonoids and terpenoid compounds, and is used to increase blood flow to the cerebral parts of the body. Taxaceae Habit: The trees of this family do not contain resin channels. Leaves: The leaves are persistent, linear, or linear-lanceolate. Flowers: The plants are unisexual, with 3 to 14 stamens, each containing 3 to 9 pollen sacs. The ovule is single and located within a fleshy carpel. Taxus baccata (Yew Tree)This plant grows in Europe, with alternate and very closely spaced leaves. It is highly toxic, and its active ingredient, taxol, is used as an antitumoral agent. Pinaceae Trees Leaves: Linear or linear-oblong, always with resin canals, borne in fascicles or whorls on short shoots, or singly on long shoots. Fruit: A woody cone. Pinus Species: General Description: Evergreen trees, branches wherled, leaves in pairs borne on short shoots. Cones fall in their entirety, cylindrical to ovoid. Seeds may be winged or unwinged. Pinus pinea (Italian Stone Pine) Pinus brutia (Calabrian Cluster Pine) Pinus sylvestris (Scotch Pine) Cedrus Species Abies Species Pinus pinea (Italian Stone Pine) The seeds are unwinged, rich in oil, and are used as food after removing the hard testa. Pinus brutia (Calabarion cluster pine ) It is used to produce Terebenthina, which consists of oil and resin. This is processed into Oleum Terebinthinae by steam distillation, and the other product is called Colophonium. Uses: Oleum Terebinthinae is used externally as an antiseptic and in soaps for rheumatic pains. As an inhalant, it is used against bronchitis. Internally, it acts as an expectorant, diuretic, stomachic, and urinary tract antiseptic. The oil used internally must be purified with CaCO₃ and steam-distilled to remove acids. The purified oil is known as Oleum Terebinthinae rectificatum. Pinus sylvestris Its buds (Turio Pini) are used as a diuretic and expectorant. Using dry distillation, Pix liquida is isolated from its wood, which is used in dermatology. Cedrus Species all evergreen trees, with long shoots bearing scattered leaves and short shoots bearing leaves in whorls. The leaves are needle-like. Male cones are erect and cylindrical; ripe female cones are large, with erect, woody, overlapping, fan-shaped scales that fall when ripe. Seeds are two to each scale, with a broad, membranous, apical wing. Cedrus Species Cedrus libani (Cedar of Lebanon) It gives Pix, which is used in traditional medicine as a diuretic and in dermatology. Abies Species Conical evergreen trees with whorled branches. Leaves are linear to linear-oblong, flattened, acute to emarginate, often appearing two-ranked. Leaf scars are circular, and disciform. Female cones are erect, with closely overlapping scales; the bracts may be protruding or enclosed, and the scales fall when ripe. Seeds are winged. Abies alba (Common Silver Fir Tree) This plant’s stem is used to produce Terebenthinae. Cupressaceae Habit: Resinous trees or shrubs. Leaves: Scales-like, ore acicular-lanceolate. Fruit: Somewhat fleshy or woody cane. Cupressus species Juniperus species Cupressus species The trees have scale-like leaves that are depressed. The male cones are cylindrical and terminal, while the female flowers consist of peltate scales with ovules arranged in several rows at the base. The fruit is a globose or ellipsoid cone formed of 6–12 scales, each with a central umbo, which separates when mature. Seeds are winged. Cupressus sempervirens: Cypress tree The cones are rich in tannins, and the branches produce a volatile oil used as a pesticide. Juniperus species Evergreen shrubs or trees with thin bark. Leaves on young branches are acicular and rigid; mature leaves may be acicular, rigid, and jointed at the base, arranged in whorls of three, or scale-like and decussate. Rarely, leaves are short, acicular, and not jointed. Male flowers have numerous stamens. Female flowers are surrounded at the base by small, persistent bracts and are composed of 3–8 scales, forming a hard, fleshy fruit that ripens in 1–3 years. Seeds are unwinged. Juniperus oxycedrus: (Prickly cedar) Through dry distillation, the branches yield Pix Juniperi, which is used in dermatology Juniperus communis: (Common juniper tree) The fruits of this plant, Fructus juniperi, are used as a diuretic. Ephedraceae Habit: Equistoid shrubs, Leaves: They are reduced to sheaths at the nodes. Fruit: Berry-like.  Ephedra species: Sand cherry  Ephedra equisetina, E. sinica, E. intermedia: Ephedra species: (Sand cherry) Equisetoid shrubs with leaves reduced to sheaths at the nodes, arranged oppositely. Male flowers are in fascicles of 2 or more, each consisting of a communal filament bearing numerous anthers. Female flowers are single or in pairs. The fruit is berry-like and 2-seeded. Ephedra equisetina, E. sinica, E. intermedia These species produce an alkaloid known as ephedrine, which is used as a respiratory system stimulant and a vasoconstrictor. The useful part of the plant is the branches, referred to as Herba Ephedra. Ephedra equisetina Ephedra sinica Ephedra intermedia Sequoiadendron giganteum (Giant sequoia) Massive coniferous tree in the cypress family (Cupressaceae) and the largest tree by volume. While once thought to be the oldest living trees, tree- ring studies show they are less than 4,000 years old, younger than bristlecone pines and some clonal trees. CLASS MONOCOTYLEDONAE DICOTYLEDONAE Properties Dicot Monocot Embryo With 2 cotyledons With 1 cotyledons Root Tap root Fibrous root Venation Reticulate pinnate with free Parallel, with no free end of ending of veinlets veinlets Flower Mostly penta-merous Trimerous Vascular bundle In stems, the vascular In stems, the vascular bundles are bundles are collateral and collateral and closed, scattered. In open, arranged in a ring. In roots, they are radial, with many roots, they are radial, with xylem bundles, rarely 5-8. 2-6 xylem bundles. Secondary Present in both stem and Absent (with few exception) growth root MONOCOTYLEDONAE Plants of this class are usually herbaceous, though sometimes they are woody. The seed embryo has one cotyledon, which may be terminal or not well-differentiated. The vascular bundles of the stem, observed in the transverse section, are scattered throughout. The cambium is absent, so secondary growth is absent, and there is no cork tissue in the plant. The leaves are sessile, exstipulate, and usually alternate. The blade is entire and exhibits parallel venation, with veins connected by cross veinlets. The outer two whorls of the flower are called the perianth and consist of 3-numerous structures. MONOCOTYLEDONAE Order: POALES PRINCIPES (ARECALES) LILIIFLORAE: (LILIALES) IRIDACEASE Gramineae (Poaceae) Habit: Herbs, rarely woody. The stem is cylindrical with distinct nodes and internodes (sometimes hollow). Leaves: Simple, alternate, with a sheathing leaf base that splits open on one side opposite the leaf blade. A hairy structure called the ligule is present at the base of the leaf blade. Gramineae (Poaceae) Flowers: The inflorescence is usually a spike or panicle of spikelets. Each spikelet consists of one or a few flowers and bears at the base two empty glumes. Flowers are usually bisexual, sometimes unisexual. Gramineae (Poaceae) Fruit: Caryopsis, and the seed is albuminous. From an economic standpoint, Gramineae is regarded as the most important family, as cereals and millets, which constitute the chief food of mankind, belong to this family. Some species are used as building materials, while others play an important role in feeding domestic animals. Triticum sativum: (Wheat) The useful part of this plant is the starch present in the seed, known as Amylum Tritici. It is used in powder form or in ointments to treat skin irritation. In pharmacy, it is used in the tablet and granule industries. Oryza sativa: (Rice) It is similar to Triticum sativum. The useful part is the seed, which provides starch known as Amylum Oryzae (the starch from rice). It has the same uses as wheat starch. Zea mays: (Maize) The starch obtained from this plant is called Amylum Maydis and is used as food, in tablet formulations, and for the extraction of Vitamin C. From the embryo, we can obtain fixed oil, known as Oleum Maydis, which is used as food and medicinally to decrease cholesterol. The styles found on the fruit are called Stylus Maydis and are used as a diuretic. Agropyron repens: (Couch Grass) The useful part of this plant is the rhizome, known as Rhizoma Graminis, which is used as a diuretic. Palmae (Arecaceae) Habit: Shrubs or trees, except for Calamus, which is a climber. The stem is erect, unbranched, and woody, rarely branched. Leaves: Usually forming a crown, plaited in the bud, sometimes very large. The leaves are either palmately cut or divided (fan palms) or pinnately cut or divided (feather palms). The petiole often has a sheathing base. Flowers: They are sessile, often produced in immense numbers, regular, hypogynous, unisexual or bisexual, in simple or compound spadices, enclosed in one or more sheathing spathes Fruit: Drupe or berry, and the seed is albuminous. Palmae (Arecaceae) Economically, this is one of the most important families. 1.Many palms produce sweet juice from which sugar or syrup is made, and they also yield edible fruits. 2.The fibers of palms are used to make mats, mattresses, and the branches and leaves of many palms are woven into mats, hats, and baskets. 3.Some palms yield oil. Areca catechu: (Areca Palm) The useful part of this plant is the seed, which is called Semen Arecae. The active ingredients in the seed are tannins and alkaloids, which are used in veterinary medicine as an anthelmintic. Cocos nucifera: (Coconut Palm) The useful part is the fruit, which is used as food and provides oil that is used in industry and cosmetics. Phoenix dactylifera: (Date Palm) Its fruits are used as food. Liliaceae Habit: Perennial, rarely annual herbs, usually with rhizomes, corms, bulbs, or tubers, rarely spinose climbers. Leaves: Basal or cauline, sometimes reduced to cauline scales; when present, they are ovate or linear, and cladodes may be present. Flowers: The inflorescence can be a panicle, raceme, umbel, corymb, or solitary flowers. Fruit: A capsule or berry. The seeds are rounded, trigonous, or discoid. Urginea maritima: (Sea Onion) The bulb is the useful part and is called Bulbus Scillae, which contains cardiotonic glycosides and is used as a cardiotonic and diuretic. Colchicum autumnale: (Colchicum) It is a very toxic plant. The seeds, known as Semen Colchici, are the useful part. The active ingredient is colchicine alkaloids, which are used as a tincture in the treatment of gout as an analgesic. Convallaria majalis: (Lily of the Valley) The herb of this plant is called Herba Convallaria and contains cardiotonic glycosides, which are used as a cardiotonic and diuretic. Allium sativum: Garlic The bulb is used as an appetizer and has antihypertensive properties. Iridacease Habit: Herbs with rhizomes, corms, or bulbs. Leaves: They are usually equitant. Flowers: The perianth is biseriate, with the inner and outer segments either similar or markedly different, or the perianth is zygomorphic. Stamens are opposite the outer perianth segments. The ovary is inferior, with many ovules. Leaves may be petiolate or not. The seeds are globose to ellipsoid, angular to flattened, and may be winged or unwinged. Crocus sativus: (Crocus / Saffron) The stigma of the flower is the useful part and is called Stigmata Croci. It is used as a stimulant and to increase uterine contractions. The drug is also used to add color, odor, and taste to food. The ovary is inferior, sessile or minutely stalked, twisted or straight, with parietal placentation. The mature fruit is a capsule. Orchis species: Lizard Orchid They produce tubers called Tubera Salep. The drug is rich in mucilage and is used as a laxative. Vanilla planifolia: (Vanilla) The fruit of the plant is used to isolate vanilla and is called Fructus Vanillae. Vanillin is used to add taste and odor to foods. DICOTYLEDONAE The plants of this class are generally annual or perennial, herbaceous or woody. The embryo of the seed consists of 2 cotyledons. In the transverse section of the stem, the vascular bundles are arranged in a ring. Cambium is present. The leaves are petiolate, with either entire or divided margins, and the venation is generally pinnate. The flower whorls are generally arranged in 5 whorls, with each consisting of 5 parts. In dicotyledonous plants, the stem and root have many branches. The root system consists of a tap root. DICOTYLEDONAE The presence of cambium leads to secondary growth in the plants, which allows them to be perennial. Generally, the vascular bundles are collateral, but in some families, such as Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae, they are bicollateral, which gives a characteristic property to the family. In contrast to the typical ring arrangement of vascular bundles, the vascular bundles in Piperaceae and Berberidaceae are scattered throughout the section. Sometimes the presence of secondary cambium can be seen, and the arrangement of vascular bundles will be mixed, as in Cucurbitaceae. The venation of the leaf blade varies, and the presence of palmate and parallel venation, in addition to pinnate venation, has been recorded. Occasionally, the 5 whorls of the flower are reduced to 3 whorls, as in Monocotyledonae (e.g., Berberidaceae). DICOTYLEDONAE The Dicotyledonae class is divided into 3 subclasses: 1.Monochlamydeae: Flowers are incomplete, with either the calyx or corolla absent, or sometimes both whorls are absent. Flowers are generally unisexual. This subclass usually includes families that do not fall under the above two subclasses. DICOTYLEDONAE The Dicotyledonae class is divided into 3 subclasses: 2. Polypetalae: Both the calyx and corolla are present; petals are free, and stamens and carpels are usually also present, with the former often indefinite and the latter either apocarpous or syncarpous. Within this subclass, progress is indicated by the transition from a polysepalous calyx to a gamosepalous calyx, from an indefinite number of stamens to a definite number, and through hypogyny, perigyny, and epigyny. 3. Gamopetalae: Both the calyx and corolla are present; the corolla is gamopetalous. Stamens are almost always definite and epipetalous; carpels are usually two, but sometimes more, and can be either free or united. The ovary can be inferior or superior.  MONOCHLAMYDEAE ORDER: PIPERALES SALICALES URTICALES CHENOPODIALES CARYOPHYLLALES ORDER: PIPERALES Family Piperaceae The plants are growing in the hot places. Habit: perennial herbs or shrubs with erect or climbing stems. The woody plants always green and the herbaceous plants often fleshy, some of them have a stem with scattered vascular bundles like in monocotyledons. Leaves: the leaves are alternate, petiolate, the lamina is entire with palmate, of pinnate venation and often fleshy- glutinous. Flowers: Bisexual, with spike or compound spike inflorescence, stamens 1-10, the ovaryum is inferior. Fruit: small drupe, the seed is oily in type with large amount of perisperm. Piper nigrum: (Black pepper) The useful part of the plant is the fruit, which is called Fructus Piperis Nigri. This drug contains volatile oils and alkaloids. It is used as an antipyretic and stomachic, but is generally used as a spice. ORDER: SALICALES Family Salicaceae Habit: Deciduous trees or shrubs. Leaves: Alternate or, rarely, opposite; simple and stipulate. Flowers: Unisexual, bracteate, in catkins that are either erect or pendulous. Stamens are numerous, and the ovary is superior, unilocular with 2 or 4 parietal placentas, containing numerous ovules. Fruits: A 2-valved capsule, with seeds that have long, silky hairs. Salix alba: (White willow) The useful part of the plant is the bark of the branches, which is called Cortex Salicis. This drug contains salicin glycoside and is used as an antipyretic, homeostatic, antiseptic, and for treating rheumatic pains. ORDER: URTICALES Family Moraceae Habit: Trees or shrubs with milky juice. Leaves: Alternate, simple, toothed or lobed; stipules often caducous. Flowers: Unisexual, often in heads or hollow, flask-like fleshy receptacles, apetalous. Perianth lobes are 4 or reduced or absent. Male flowers have 1-4 stamens. Female flowers have a syncarpous ovary, which can be superior or inferior, and are bicarpellate with 2 styles. Morus alba (White Mulberry) The leaves are used to feed silkworms. Morus nigra (Black Mulberry) The useful part is the juice of the fruit, called Sirupus Mori, which is used as a mouth gargle for treating fungal infections in children. Ficus carica (Common Fig Tree) The fruits, either fresh or dry, are used as food. They have a laxative ORDER: URTICALES Family Cannabinaceae Habit: Erect or climbing herbs. Leaves: Stipulate, opposite or alternate, simple. Flowers: Inflorescence mostly axillary. Perianth uniseriate, sepaloid. Male flowers: 5-partite perianth, 5 stamens. Female flowers: Perianth undivided, unilocular ovary, solitary ovule, central style with 2 linear stigmas. Fruit: Achene, enclosed in persistent perianth, with seed containing endosperm. Cannabis sativa (Indian Hemp / Marijuana) The flowers and branches with leaves form the drug Herba Cannabis, which is used as a sedative and hypnotic. The fruits, called Fructus Cannabis, contain a high amount of fixed oil. Herba Cannabis contains resin as the active ingredient. ORDER: URTICALES Family Urticaceae Habit: Herbs, or rarely shrubs or small trees; they do not contain milky juice. Leaves: Simple, alternate or decussate. Flowers: Unisexual, generally green, and usually found in small groups. Male flowers have 4 stamens. Female flowers have a superior or inferior ovary with one carpel. Fruit: Achene or drupe, enclosed in the persistent perianth. Urtica dioica: (Stinging nettle) The herb of this plant has an irritant effect on the skin and increases blood flow, so it is used against rheumatic pains. The seeds of this plant, Semen Urtica, are used as a diuretic. ORDER: CHENOPODIALES Family Chenopodiaceae Habit: Herbs or shrubs. Leaves: Alternate or opposite, exstipulate, entire, lobed, or pinnatisect, often reduced to small scales. Flowers: Bisexual or unisexual, in dichasial, spicate, or paniculate inflorescences.  Perianth 0 or 3–5 segments, usually green, herbaceous or scarious, often accrescent in fruit and variously appendaged. Stamens 0–5, opposite the perianth segments.  Ovary superior, ovule solitary. Fruit: Usually an achene; seed horizontal or vertical, embryo curved, annular, or spiral. Beta vulgaris (Beetroot) The roots of this plant are fleshy and tuberous in type, and are called Saccharum. This tuber contains about 12-20% sugar and is used in the isolation of sugar. Chenopodium anthelminthicum: (Goosefoot) The herb of this plant contains volatile oil, which can be isolated by steam distillation and is called Oleum Chenopodii. This oil contains ascaridole, which is toxic and used as an anthelmintic. ORDER: CARYOPHYLLALES Family Caryophyllaceae Habit: Herbs, often shrubs. Leaves: Usually opposite, simple, entire, stipulate, or more commonly exstipulate. Flowers: Actinomorphic, usually hermaphrodite, solitary or in cymes. Sepals 4-5, free or united into a tube. Petals 4-5, free, often clawed, sometimes with appendages on the inner face. Stamens 3-10. Ovary superior, 1-locular or divided near the base into 2-5 loculi, placentation free-central. Ovules numerous, or rarely few. Styles 2-5. Fruit: Usually a capsule opening by as many or twice as many teeth or valves, rarely rupturing irregularly. Seeds many. Gypsophila arrosti: (Egyptian Soap Root ) The root of this plant is called Radix Saponariae alba. This drug contains saponins and is used as a detergent or against fungal infections due to the activity of saponins. Saponaria officinalis: (Soapwort ) The root of this plant is called Radix Saponariae rubrae and is used as a diuretic and detergent. It contains saponins. Herniaria glabra: (Rupture-root ) The useful part of this plant is the herb, called Herba Herniaria, and it is used for kidney and bladder diseases as a diuretic. Dianthus caryophyllus: (Clove Pink) The flowers of this plant contain volatile oil called Oleum Caryophyllii, which is used as an analgesic for tooth pain and in cosmetology. ORDER: CARYOPHYLLALES Family Polygonaceae Habit: Herbs, shrubs, or climbers. Leaves: Usually alternate, simple, with stipules typically united into a membranous sheath around the stem. Flowers: Inflorescences are spikes or panicles, bisexual or unisexual, actinomorphic. Pedicels usually have marked articulation. Perianth is 3-6 merous, with segments united below, often enlarging in fruit. Tepals are absent. Stamens range from 6-9, rarely up to 16. Ovary is superior, unilocular, with 2-4 styles and one basal ovule. Fruit: Nut, often enclosed in the persistent perianth. Rheum palmatum: (Rhubarb) The rhizome of this plant is called Rhizoma Rhei. This drug contains anthraquinone compounds, so it is used as a laxative. Fagopyrum esculentum: (Buckwheat) The leaves of this plant contain flavonoids, which are used to decrease capillary permeability and fragility, thereby providing the activity of vitamin P.  POLYPETALEAE ORDERS: RANUNCULALES LAURALES PAPAVERALES CAPPARALES SAXIFRAGALES ROSALES FABALES GERANIALES RHAMNALES MALVALES PARIETALES MYRTALES ORDER RANUNCULALES Family Ranunculaceae Habits: Mostly perennial herbs or climbing shrubs. Leaves: Simple, often palmately divided, sometimes compound, alternate, rarely opposite, often both radical and cauline, usually with a sheathing base. Flowers: Generally cymose inflorescence, mostly regular, bisexual, and hypogynous. Sepals and petals in whorls, stamens and carpels typically spiral on the elongated thalamus. Sepals usually 5, sometimes more, free. Petals 5 or more, free, sometimes absent, often with nectaries. Stamens numerous, free, spiral. Carpels usually numerous, sometimes few, free, apocarpous, with one or more ovules in each. Fruits: Achenes or follicles, rarely a berry or capsule. Aconitum napellus (Monkshood) The tuber of this plant is very toxic and called Tubera Aconiti. The drug contains alkaloid compounds and is used in small doses as an analgesic and decongestant. Hydrastis canadensis: (Goldenseal) The root of this plant is the useful part and is called Radix Hydrastis. The drug contains alkaloids and is used to stop uterine bleeding. Helleborus orientalis: (Oriental hellebore) The root of this plant is called Radix Helleborus. This plant is toxic, and the drug contains cardiotonic glycosides, used in cardiac diseases. Nigella sativa: (Black cumin) The useful part of this plant is the seeds, called Semen Nigella. The drug contains volatile oil and fixed oil. It is used as a carminative, diuretic, and to improve the taste of food. Order Lauraceae Family Lauraceae Habit: Trees or shrubs. Leaves: Alternate, exstipulate, entire, glandular-pennate, evergreen. Flowers: In axillary clusters, unisexual, actinomorphic, small, greenish, perianth 4-6-10 lobed, stamens 12 in whorls, anthers opening by valves, ovary superior, 1- celled. Laurus nobilis: (Roman Laurel) The fruit and the leaves of this plant are used in medicine, known as Fructus Laurii and Folium Laurii. The fruit is rich in fixed oil and is used as an antirheumatic. The leaves contain volatile oil and are used as a spice. Cinnamomum ceylanicum: (Common Cinnamon Tree) The cortex of this plant, called Cortex Cinnamomi ceylanici, is used as a spice and contains volatile oil known as Oleum Cinnamomi. This oil contains 70% cinnamaldehyde and is used in pharmacy to provide taste and odor to syrups. Cinnamomum camphora: (Camphor Tree) The branches and stems of this plant provide camphor, which is used as a cardiac tonic and externally for rheumatic pains. Commonly used as a counterirritant, has a cooling effect and can irritate the skin slightly to stimulate blood flow to the area. This makes it effective for relieving pain, reducing inflammation, and soothing conditions such as muscle aches, joint pain, and minor skin irritations. It is often found in topical balms, ointments, and liniments for these purposes. ORDER PAPAVERALES Family Papaveraceae Habit: Herbs, often woody at the base, with colored or transparent sap. Leaves: Usually alternate, occasionally opposite, exstipulate, often much divided. Flowers: Sepals 2, free, usually caducous; petals 4, free or slightly united at the base; corolla actinomorphic or zygomorphic. Stamens numerous, or 6 to 4; ovary superior, syncarpous, often with 2-20 carpels. Fruit: A capsule, nut, 10-mentum, or siliquiform; seeds 1 to numerous. Papaver somniferum (Opium poppy) Annual plant with glabrous, bluish-green leaves sheathed at the stem base; flowers are white or violet, and the fruit is a capsule. Opium is derived from immature capsules that produce latex when injured. The latex becomes black and solid upon drying. This drug contains alkaloids such as morphine, codeine, papaverine, and narcotine. Opium is used as an analgesic, narcotic, hypnotic, antitussive, antispasmodic, and is known to cause dependency. The seeds contain alkaloids and fixed oil, which is used as food oil. The leaves, called Folia Papaveris, are used as a mild tranquilizer. Papaver rhoeas (Corn poppy) This plant has red flowers. The flowers, called Flores Rhoeadas, are used as a pectoral remedy and in pharmacy to color syrups. It contains anthraquinone derivatives and alkaloids. ORDER CAPPARALES Cruciferae (Brassicaceae)  Habit: Annual herbs.  Leaves: Radical and cauline, simple, alternate, often 10-lobed.  Flowers: Inflorescence is a raceme, corymbose towards the top. Flowers are regular, cruciform, bisexual, complete, and hypogynous.  Stamens are 6, in two whorls, tetradynamous. Carpels are 2, syncarpous; the ovary is superior, oblong, at first 1-celled, later 2- celled due to the development of a false septum, often with many ovules in each cell, with parietal placentation.  Fruit: A siliqua or silicula. Brassica nigra (Black mustard) The seeds of this plant are irritant and called Semen Sinapis. They are used as a plaster for rheumatic pain and as food.  Some Brassica species are used as food for humans, such as: Brassica oleracea var. capitata Brassica oleracea var. acephala (Cabbage) (Kale)  Some Brassica species are used as food for humans, such as: Brassica oleracea var. botrytis Brassica vopa var. Rapa (Cauliflower) (Field mustard) ORDER SAXIFRAGALES Family Hamamelidaceae Habit: Trees with balsamic sap. Leaves: Evergreen or deciduous, alternate, long-petioled, palmately lobed, stipules deciduous. Flowers: Numerous in globose heads subtended by 4 deciduous bracts; male heads in terminal racemes, female heads solitary. Male flowers have basifixed anthers. Female flowers have 4 staminodes, an ovary of 2 united carpels with axile placentation, and 2 styles. Fruit: Septicidal, bilocular capsule, immersed in the receptacle. Seeds are compressed, angled, and narrowly winged. Liquidambar orientalis (Storax Tree) When the tree's stem is longitudinally injured, it exudes balsam known as Styrax Liquidus. This drug is used internally as an expectorant and externally as an antiseptic and antiparasitic. It is also used in the industry as an odor fixative. Hamamelis virginiana (Witch Hazel): The leaves and bark are used as drugs, known as Folia Hamamelidis and Cortex Hamamelidis. The active ingredient in both is tannin, which is used as an astringent and hemostatic. Extracts of these drugs are also used in cosmetology to prevent skin wrinkles.