List of Canadian plants by family M facts for kids

This article is part of a bigger list about the amazing plants found in Canada. It focuses on plant families whose names start with the letter 'M'.

You can explore other plant families here: 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

What are Plant Families?

Just like your family has a last name, plants are grouped into "families" based on their shared features. Scientists use these groups to understand how different plants are related. This helps us learn about their history and how they grow.

How Scientists Classify Plants

Plants are classified using a system that goes from very broad groups to very specific ones. It's like sorting books in a library!

• Kingdom: The biggest group, like all plants.
• Phylum: A smaller group within the kingdom.
• Class: Even more specific.
• Order: A group of related families.
• Family: This is where plants share many common traits, like flower structure or leaf shape.
• Genus: A group of very similar species.
• Species: The most specific group, like a single type of plant.

For example, a "tulip-tree" belongs to the Magnoliaceae family. All plants in this family have similar characteristics that link them together.

Magnoliaceae: The Magnolia Family

The Magnoliaceae family includes beautiful trees and shrubs. They are known for their large, often fragrant flowers. These plants are considered very old in terms of plant evolution.

Notable Magnoliaceae Plants in Canada

• Liriodendron tulipifera — This is the tulip-tree. It gets its name because its flowers look a lot like tulips! It's a tall tree that can be found in parts of Canada.
• Magnolia acuminata — Known as the cucumber magnolia, this tree has fruit that looks a bit like a small cucumber.

Malvaceae: The Mallow Family

The Malvaceae family is quite diverse. It includes many plants that are known for their showy flowers. Some members of this family are used for food or fiber.

Common Malvaceae in Canada

• Hibiscus moscheutos — The swamp rosemallow loves wet places. It has big, beautiful flowers.
• Sphaeralcea coccinea — This plant is called red globemallow. It has bright, globe-shaped flowers.

Marchantiaceae: A Liverwort Family

This family belongs to a group of simple plants called liverworts. Liverworts are small, non-flowering plants that usually grow in damp places. They don't have true roots, stems, or leaves like bigger plants.

Marchantiaceae Species in Canada

• Marchantia polymorpha — This is a common liverwort found in many parts of the world, including Canada.

Marsileaceae: The Water Clover Family

The Marsileaceae family includes ferns that grow in water or very wet soil. They often look like four-leaf clovers, which is why they are sometimes called "water clovers."

Marsileaceae Species in Canada

• Marsilea vestita — This is the hairy water fern. It's an aquatic fern that can be found in Canada's wetlands.

Meesiaceae: A Moss Family

This family is made up of different types of mosses. Mosses are small, soft plants that often grow in dense green clumps or mats. They are important for holding soil and providing habitats for tiny creatures.

Meesiaceae Mosses in Canada

• Meesia triquetra
• Meesia uliginosa

Melastomataceae: The Meadowbeauty Family

Plants in the Melastomataceae family are often found in tropical and subtropical regions. However, a few species can be found in Canada. They are known for their unique flowers and leaves.

Melastomataceae Species in Canada

• Rhexia virginica — The Virginia meadowbeauty is a pretty plant with pink or purple flowers.

Menispermaceae: The Moonseed Family

The Menispermaceae family includes climbing plants and shrubs. They are named "moonseed" because their seeds are often crescent-shaped, like a tiny moon.

Menispermaceae Species in Canada

• Menispermum canadense — This is the Canada moonseed. It's a vine that produces dark berries.

Menyanthaceae: The Bogbean Family

This family consists of aquatic or semi-aquatic plants. They are often found in bogs, marshes, and shallow water.

Menyanthaceae Species in Canada

• Menyanthes trifoliata — Known as bog buckbean, this plant has leaves divided into three parts. It grows in bogs.
• Nymphoides cordata — The little floatingheart is a water plant with heart-shaped leaves that float on the surface.

Metzgeriaceae: Another Liverwort Family

Similar to Marchantiaceae, this is another family of liverworts. They are also small, simple plants that prefer moist environments.

Metzgeriaceae Species in Canada

• Metzgeria conjugata
• Metzgeria furcata

Mniaceae: The Leafy Moss Family

The Mniaceae family is a large group of mosses. They are often called "leafy mosses" because their leaves are usually quite distinct and visible. They play an important role in forest ecosystems.

Mniaceae Mosses in Canada

• Plagiomnium cuspidatum — This is the toothed plagiomnium moss, a common moss found in many habitats.
• Rhizomnium punctatum — Known as rhizomnium moss, it's another widespread species.

Molluginaceae: The Carpetweed Family

This family includes small, often sprawling plants. They are sometimes considered weeds, but they are part of Canada's plant diversity.

Molluginaceae Species in Canada

• Mollugo verticillata — The green carpetweed is a low-growing plant that spreads out like a carpet.

Monotropaceae: The Indian Pipe Family

Plants in the Monotropaceae family are very unique. They don't have chlorophyll, which is what makes most plants green. Instead, they get their nutrients from fungi that live on tree roots. This means they don't need sunlight to grow!

Unique Monotropaceae in Canada

• Monotropa hypopithys — This is the American pinesap. It looks like a cluster of pale, yellowish stems.
• Monotropa uniflora — The Indian-pipe is a ghostly white plant that often grows in dark forests. It looks like a pipe!
• Pterospora andromedea — Called giant pinedrops, this plant has a tall, reddish stem with many small, bell-shaped flowers.

Moraceae: The Mulberry Family

The Moraceae family includes trees and shrubs, many of which produce edible fruits. The most famous member is probably the fig tree.

Moraceae Species in Canada

• Morus rubra — The red mulberry is a tree that produces sweet, dark red berries.

Myricaceae: The Bayberry and Sweet-fern Family

This family consists of shrubs and small trees. Many of them have fragrant leaves and can grow in poor soils because they have special roots that help them get nitrogen.

Myricaceae Species in Canada

• Comptonia peregrina — The sweet-fern is a shrub with fern-like leaves that smell sweet when crushed.
• Myrica gale — Known as sweet gale, this shrub grows in wet, boggy areas and has a strong, pleasant scent.

Myriniaceae: A Moss Family

This is another family of mosses found in Canada. Like other mosses, they are small, non-vascular plants that play a role in their ecosystems.

Myriniaceae Species in Canada

• Myrinia pulvinata