76. Zingiberaceae

The ginger family. Approx. 50 genera and 1600 tropical species. The familiar spice comes from the Zingiber genus. Equally important are tumeric (Curcuma longa) and cardamom (Elettaria cardamom, but also sometimes the Amomum genus). There are other spices that come from this family and what they seem to have in common are the health benefits that they bring.

75. Verbenaceae

The verbena or vervain family. Approx. 35 genera and 1200 mostly tropical species. Lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora), Lantana, vervain (Verbena genus).

74. Urticaceae

The nettle family. Approx. 53 genera and 2625 species. The famous stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), ramie, the fiber sorce (Boehmeria nivea), the Hawaiian medicinal mamaki (Pipturus albidus), the Pakistani medicinal ajilai (Debregeasia saeneb), the aluminum plant (Pilea cadierei), and the trumpet tree (Cecropia peltata).

73. Ulmaceae

The elm family. Approx. seven genera and 45 species. Ulmus (elms) and Zelkovas (zelkovas) belong to this family. Elms are used ornamentally, for their wood, and medicinally. The winged elm or wahoo, Ulmus alata, is a species that has always intrigued me. I have seen Japanese zelkova, Zelkova serrata, used as a street tree. The famous Dutch elm disease affects this entire family.

72. Symplocaceae

The sweetleaf family. Another small family with two genera and approx. 300 mostly tropical species. One species native to the US is horse-sugar, Symplocos tinctoria.

71. Styracaceae

11 genera and approx. 160 species native to warmer parts of the Northern Hemisphere, usually in the form of shrubs and trees. Members of the Styrax genus are also commonly known as snowbells. Some species are used ornamentally while others are medicinal. The name snowbells can be confusing because some members of the Primulaceae family also use that name. Members of the Halesia genus are called silverbells or snowdrop trees. The tallest specimen of Halesia monticola is 128 feet high and located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

70. Smilacaceae

The greenbrier family. A single genus family (Smilax) with approx. 300 mostly tropical species. The most economically important product is sarsparilla, which is used to make root beer in Jamaica and other tropical countries (whereas American root beer is made from Sassafras in the Lauraceae family).  Some Smilax species also have medicinal uses.