List of Canadian plants by family I–K facts for kids

Canada is home to an amazing variety of plants, from tiny mosses to giant trees! Scientists group these plants into different families based on their shared features, like how their flowers look or how they grow. This helps us understand the plant world better. Below, you'll find some of the plant families found in Canada, starting with those whose names begin with 'I' or 'J'.

Families: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I J K | L | M | N | O | P Q | R | S | T | U V W | X Y Z

Iridaceae: The Iris Family

The Iridaceae family is famous for its beautiful, often brightly colored flowers. These plants usually have sword-shaped leaves and flowers with three petals and three sepals (which look like petals). Many popular garden flowers belong to this family.

In Canada, you can find several types of irises and blue-eyed-grass. Irises are known for their large, showy blooms. Blue-eyed-grass plants are smaller, but they also have pretty, star-shaped flowers, often in shades of blue or purple.

Isoetaceae: The Quillwort Family

The Isoetaceae family includes plants called quillworts. These are small, grass-like plants that often grow in aquatic (water) or semi-aquatic environments. They look a bit like clumps of stiff grass or rushes.

Quillworts are unique because they are a type of lycophyte, which are ancient plants related to ferns. They have a short, underground stem and long, slender leaves that grow in a cluster. Many quillwort species live underwater in lakes or ponds.

Jubulaceae: A Liverwort Family

The Jubulaceae family is a group of small, non-flowering plants called liverworts. Liverworts are very simple plants, often found in damp, shady places. They don't have true roots, stems, or leaves like most plants you know.

Instead, many liverworts have flat, ribbon-like bodies, or tiny, scale-like leaves. The species in this family, like Frullania, often grow on tree bark or rocks. They are important parts of forest ecosystems, helping to hold moisture and create habitats for tiny creatures.

Juglandaceae: The Walnut and Hickory Family

The Juglandaceae family includes well-known trees like walnuts and hickories. These trees are famous for producing edible nuts. They are also valued for their strong wood.

In Canada, you can find several species of hickory and walnut trees. Hickory trees are known for their tough wood and tasty nuts. The shagbark hickory, for example, has bark that peels off in long strips. Walnut trees, like the black walnut, produce large, round nuts and dark, valuable wood.

Juncaceae: The Rush Family

The Juncaceae family is commonly known as the rush family. These plants often look like grasses, but they are different. Rushes typically have round, unjointed stems and small, greenish-brown flowers. They often grow in wet or damp areas, like marshes, bogs, and along the edges of streams.

Many species of rushes can be found across Canada. They play an important role in wetland ecosystems. They provide habitat for wildlife and help to stabilize soil. Some common rushes include the soft rush and the jointed rush.

Juncaginaceae: The Arrow-Grass Family

The Juncaginaceae family is a small group of plants often called arrow-grasses. These plants are typically found in wet, salty, or brackish (slightly salty) environments, such as salt marshes and coastal areas.

Arrow-grasses have long, narrow leaves that look a bit like grass blades. Their small flowers grow on a tall stalk. The common bog arrow-grass is one species you might find in Canada's wetlands.

Jungermanniaceae: Another Liverwort Family

The Jungermanniaceae family is another group of liverworts, similar to the Jubulaceae family. These are also small, non-flowering plants that thrive in moist, cool places. They are often found growing on rocks, soil, or decaying wood.

Liverworts in this family can have different forms. Some have flat, leafy bodies, while others have tiny, overlapping leaves that make them look a bit like moss. They are an important part of the plant life in many Canadian forests and damp environments.