Classification

Dicentra is Greek for "double spurred," and formosa is comes from the Latin word formosus meaning "beautiful."

Domain: Eurkarya
  Super group: Archaeplastida
    Kingdom: Virdiplante
       Subkingdom: Tracheobionta
          Phylum: Magnoliophyta
            Class: Magnoliopsida
              Order: Papaverales
                 Family: Fumariaceae
                    Genus: Dicentra
                       Species: Dicentra formosa (Pacific Bleeding Heart)

Domain: Eurkarya
Organisms a part of this domain have characteristics that include true nuclei and membrane bound organelles. Majority of the organisms in this domain are multi-cellular. In particular to plants, the organisms have cell walls made up of cellulose. An example of an organism in this domain is Cymbopogon citratus ("lemongrass").

Supergroup: Archaeplastida
Organisms in super group Archaeplastida underwent endosymbiosis with a cyanobacteria millions of years ago. Now these organisms can photosynthesize. An example of an organism in this supergroup is green algae (Spriogyra longata).

Kingdom: Virdiplante
Organisms in kingdom Virdiplante are all the land plants plus green algae. These organisms have pigments chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and caroteniods which give them a green color. Examples of organisms that are a part of this kingdom are Juniperus communis, otherwise known as Juniper, and Tea plants (Camellia sinensis).

Subkingdom: Tracheobionta
Organisms in subkingdom Tracheobionta are known as the "vascular plants." These organisms have vascular tissue, xylem and phloem, as conducting tissues. Xylem tissue is responsible for the upward conduction of water. Phloem is responsible for the conduction of sugars and nutrients. An example of an organism in this subkingdom is Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans). To learn more about the subkingdom Tracheobionta, click here.

Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Organisms in phylum Magnoliophyta have flowers and/or fruits that protect their seeds. Examples of organisms in this phylum are Purple Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata) and Mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum).

Class: Magnoliopsida
  Organisms in class Magnoliopsida have a more common name called the "dicots." Dicots have two cotyledons or "embryonic leaves" that form inside the seed and become the first two leaves of the plant. Dicot leaves have net pattern veins. Example of organisms in this class are Passion Fruit  (Passiflora edulis) and Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa).

Order: Papaveralas
  Organisms in order Papaveralas are marked by their syncarpous gynoecium (multiple carpels fused together), parietal placentation (placentas in ovary wall), and only two sepals. An example of an organism in this order is Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum).

Family: Fumariaceae
  Organisms in family Fumariaceae are primarily distinguished by their zygomorphic flowers and their watery juice that it produces.

Genus: Dicentra
Organisms in genus Dicentra are acaulescent, which means they have no apparent stem or trunk above-ground. Also, species in genus Dicentra are poisonous. 

Species: Dicentra formosa
Also know as the "Pacific Bleeding Heart," this species is primarily known for its location on the West Coast of the United States

Dicentra formosa Phylogeny: 

 

In the phylogeny above, it arranges the organisms of the family Fumariaceae by morphology. For genus Dicentra, it has the derived characteristics of bilateral symmetry and closed corolla. The significance of bilateral symmetry in plants and their flowers is the higher fitness and more pollinators, measured by number of seeds produced and number of seeds surviving the juvenile stage (Gomez, 2006). Closed corolla is the fused petals of the flower.

In the phylogeny above, it breaks down the species of Dicentra by evolution of pollen grains and roots. The pollen grains of Dicentra  are 6-rugate. The roots of Dicentra have plants that are rhizomatous. The rhizome is a specialization (Stern, 14).

Continue to Habitat of the Pacific Bleeding Heart
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