Habit: tree, shrub
Important diagnostics: spiny stems or leaves
Taxon group: dicots
Plant: dioecious
Leaf: position: opposite, alternate, verticillate/whorled
Leaf: nature: simple
Leaf: blade: margin: entire
Leaf: stipules: absent
Flowers: inflorescence: solitary, raceme, fascicle, cyme, panicle
Flowers: sexuality: bisexual, unisexual, polygamous
Flowers: symmetry: actinomorphic
Flowers: sepal number/calyx lobes: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7+
Flowers: petal number/corolla lobes: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Flowers: petal nature: contorted, valvate, imbricate
Stamen: number: 2, 3, 4
Stamen: arrangement: alternate or antesepalous, same number as petals or sepals, twice or more number as petals or sepals
Stamen: anthers: introrse, opening by longitudinal slits
Stamen: filaments: inserted on the corolla, free
Stamen: other characters: staminodia present
Pistil: style: styles more than 1
Pistil: ovary: 2-loculed, 3-loculed, 4-loculed, 5-loculed, 6-loculed, 7+ loculed
Pistil: ovule: 1 per locule, 2 per locule
Pistil: pistil: ovules attached to the central axis
Ovary: position: superior
Stigma: indehiscent, 2-cleft
Fruit: types and characters: a nut (incl. achene, caryopsis, schizocarp, pyrene, etc.), fleshy (berry, drupe, pome)
Google Image Search: Link
Dictionary of The Families & Genera of Chinese Seed Plants: Link
Vascular Plant Type Catalog at NYBG: Link
