Habit
Herb
Woody vine
Shrub
Tree

Habitat
Terrestrial
Aquatic
Epiphytic

Type
Simple
(or unifoliate)
Ternately compound1
(3 leaflets)
Pinnately compound2
(4 or more leaflets)
Palmately compound
(4 or more leaflets)

1 including bi- or triternately compound
2 including bi- or tripinnately compound

Position
All or mostly basal
All or mostly cauline

Arrangement
Opposite or whorled
Alternate

Phyllotaxy
Spiral
Distichous
Decussate

Venation (in leaves or leaflets)
Parallel
Campylodromous or acrodromous
Pinnate (incl. penni-parallel)
Palmate (incl. palmate-parallel)

Ultimate veinlets reticulate (netted)

Edges
Lobed or divided
Margin smooth
(but possibly still lobed)
Margin not smooth
(dentate, serrate, etc.)

Stem sides (if angled/flattened)
3 4 5

Miscellaneous
Stems jointed
Stems succulent
Leaves peltate
Leaves succulent
Leaves punctate or glandular
Foliage aromatic
Stipules present
(only scars may be left)
Sheath enclosing the stem
(open or closed)
Chlorophyll absent
(parasite or saprophyte)
Bulb present (monocots only)
Milky sap present
Spines present
Tendrils present
Cladodes or phyllodes present

Sexuality
Bisexual (perfect)
Unisexual (imperfect)

Symmetry
Actinomorphic (radial)
Zygomorphic (bilateral)

Aggregation
Flowers solitary
Flowers in an inflorescence

Position
(of the solitary flower or inflorescence)
Axillary
Terminal
Scapose

Features
Nectary (disc or glands)
Free hypanthium [dicots]
or perigone tube [monocots]
Epicalyx
Subtended by bract or spathe
Other bracteole(s)

Composition
Perianth absent
Perianth of similar segments
Perianth of distinct calyx and corolla

Perianth series
1 2 3 or more

Aestivation
Imbricate-alternate
Convolute/contorted
Quincuncial
Valvate
Involute

Fusion
Sepals fused (synsepalous)
Petals fused (sympetalous)

Corolla type (not all shapes/types listed)
Bilabiate
Infundibular (funnelform)
Rotate
Salverform
Unguiculate (clawed)
Urceolate

Fertile stamens
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
more than 10

Infertile stamens (staminodes) present

Arrangement
Epipetalous, episepalous, or epitepalous
Spirally arranged
Arranged in 2 whorls (biseriate)
Arranged in 3(+) whorls (triseriate, etc.)

Anthers
Basifixed
Dorsifixed
Versatile
Introrse
Latrorse
Extrorse
Opening by longitudinal slits
Opening by apical pores
Opening by valves
Bearing a conspicuous appendage

Fusion
Stamens entirely distinct, no parts connate (apostemonous)
Anthers connate, filaments distinct (syngenesious)
Filaments partially or entirely connate into 1 tube or bundle (monadelphous)
Stamens otherwise arranged (diadelphous, triadelphous, etc)

Carpels
1 (unicarpellous)
2 3 4
5 6 7 or more

Carpel fusion
Apocarpous Syncarpous

Locules per ovary
1 2 3
4 5 6 or more

Ovules per loculus
1 2 3 or more

Ovary position
Superior (hypogynous or perigynous)
+/- Half-inferior
Inferior (epigynous or epiperigynous)

Stylar fusion
Styles absent, stigmas sessile
Style(s) 1 per carpel and free
(carpels free or connate)
Styles more-or-less connate into 1 style
(carpels 2 or more and connate)

Pistil features
Gynophore present
Style gynobasic

Placentation
Axile Free-central Laminar Marginal Parietal
Apical Basal

Structure
Simple
Multiple
Aggregate

Pericarp
Dry at maturity
Fleshy at maturity

Dehiscence
Dehiscent
Indehiscent

Seeds per unit fruit
1 2 or more

Fruit features
Wings
Hairs for wind dispersal
Spines, hooks, barbed hairs, etc for physical dispersal

Seed features
Wings
Hairs
Arillus or aril-like organ
Embryo straight
Embryo curved
Endosperm absent
Endosperm ruminate