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.

69. Saxifrageceae

The saxifrage family. Approx. 33 genera and 640 species, many native to the American west coast and known for their flowers. Saxifraga (saxifrage), Bensoniella, Heuchera (coral bells), Lithophragma (woodland stars), Mitella (miterworts).

68. Santalaceae

The sandalwood family. Approx. 43 genera and 1000 globally distributed species, many of them parasitic or semi-parasitic. Santalum (sandalwood, the fragrant oils of which are used to make incense), Osyris lancolata (African sandalwood, also used for incense), Buckleya distichophylla (piratebush), Arceuthobium (dwarf mistletoes), Comandra (used as a narcotic by the Navajos), Nestronia (leechbrush), Phoradendron (also mistletoe), Viscum (more species of mistletoe, including the most common - Viscum album, European mistletoe - all of which are toxic).

67. Ranunculaceae

The buttercup or crowfoot family. 43 genera and approx. 2000 species, mostly familiar for their flowers, but also a source of herbal remedies. Ranunculis (buttercups), Delphinium (larkspur), Clematis, Consolida (also larkspur), Helleborus (Christmas rose), Thalictrum (meadow-rue), Actaea racemosa (black cohosh), Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal), Nigella sativa (used as a spice in Asia). Some genera, such as Aconitum and Delphinium, are mostly very toxic.

66. Rafflesiaceae

A family of rare, tropical, parasitic Asian plants consisting of three genera and 15 species. It is famous for the species Rafflesia arnoldii, the largest single flower on earth, commonly known as corpse flower due to its smell of rotting flesh. This is not to be confused with Corypha umbraculifera in the Arecaceae family, which produces the largest inflorescence (multiple flowers) on earth, or Amorphophallus titanum in the Araceae family (also smelling of rotting flesh), which produces the largest unbranched inflorescence on earth.

65. Primulaceae

The primrose family. Approx. 53 genera and 2790 species, including many striking flowers - scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), rock jasmine (Androsace), Cyclamen, shooting star (Dodecatheon), loosestrife (Lysimachia), primrose (Primula), snowbells (Soldanella).

64. Portolacaceae

The purslane family. A single genus family - Portulaca - with 115 species. The familiar North American succulent weed - Portulaca oleracea - is found throughout the world and in many places used as a nutritious food. Not only is it high in vitamins and minerals, but it is said to have the highest omega-3 fatty acid content of any plant. Another species, Portulaca grandiflora, is grown as an ornamental.

63. Pontederiaceae

The water hyacinth family (distinct from hyacinths). Six genera and 34 species. Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinths), a fast-growing aquatic plant from South America, invasive in other areas. In an effort to solve that problem in Louisiana, a bill was proposed in the 1880's to import hippopotamus from Africa. The hippopotamus in turn would be used as food. The bill did not pass.

62. Polemoniaceae

The phlox or Jacob's-ladder family. Approx. 25 genera and 300 mostly American species. Among the genera grown ornamentally are Ipomopsis (scarlet gilia), Phlox and Polemonium. The national flower of Peru and Bolivia is Cantua buxifolia (kantuta).