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Title: The Plants of Michigan

Author: Henry A. Gleason

Release date: April 19, 2010 [eBook #32050]
Most recently updated: January 6, 2021

Language: English

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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PLANTS
OF MICHIGAN ***

THE PLANTS OF MICHIGAN

SIMPLE KEYS FOR THE
IDENTIFICATION OF THE NATIVE SEED
PLANTS
OF THE STATE

By HENRY ALLAN GLEASON, Ph. D.
Associate Professor of Botany and Director of the Botanical
Gardens
and Arboretum in the University of Michigan

1918

Copyright, 1918
GEORGE WAHR

Published by
GEORGE WAHR
ANN ARBOR

PRINTED BY
The Ann Arbor Press

PREFACE

This book is not intended for the expert botanist. He should consult one of
the regular Manuals which give full descriptions of each species of plant.
Neither is it intended for the merely curious. Only those who have sufficient
interest in a plant to observe it can find its name by this book.
Furthermore, it is not a textbook. It does not attempt to convey botanical
information, but offers merely an opportunity to learn the names of plants.
Its mission is fully accomplished if, through its use, students, vacationists,
and plant-lovers in general are able to recognize by name the plants about
them.

HOW TO USE THE BOOK

One recognizes a plant by the presence of structural features peculiar to
itself, and not found on any other kind of plant. In such a book as this, these
characters are given one or a few at a time, and contrasted with the
characters which other sorts of plants possess. Such a presentation is called
a Key, and by its proper use the name may be learned of any plant
considered in it. This process is called Identification.
Keys are constructed in several different ways, although the principle of all
is the same. In this book, the user will begin with lines 1a and 1b on the
page headed Key to the Groups. Each of these lines includes some
descriptive matter, but only one of them can apply to the plant being
identified. For example, if the plant to be identified is an Oak, line 1a will
apply perfectly, and the same line will also apply to any other kind of tree
or to any shrub. But if the plant is a Violet, a Buttercup, or any other herb,
line 1b agrees and line 1a will not apply. At the end of each line is a
reference to be consulted next. If the plant is a tree or shrub, one turns
accordingly to Group 1, on page ix, and begins again at the first number

given. If the plant is an herb, he follows the reference to line 2, just below,
and again compares the plants with lines 2a and 2b.
Under every number at least two lines of description are given, designated a
and b, and under a few numbers additional lines appear, designated c, d, etc.
In every case, the user of the key will select from the different lines under
the same number that particular line which agrees with the structure of the
plant, and follow up the reference given at the end of that line. Eventually
one finds at the end of a line, instead of a number, the name of a family of
plants, to which this particular plant belongs, and then turns over to the
page where this family is treated. Under each family is a similar key, to be
followed in exactly the same way, until finally one finds instead of a
number the common name and the scientific name of the plant in hand. The
process of identification is now completed, and the student has found the
name of the plant.
In some cases, a reference is made in the key to a particular portion of the
family key. One then turns directly to this particular number in the family
key, and continues his identification in the usual way.
As a definite example of the use of the key, suppose that one has in hand a
branch of the White Oak, and that he does not know its name. To determine
its name, he will trace it through the following steps in the key. Under the
Key to the Groups, it agrees with line 1a, which refers to Group 1, Woody
Plants. Under this group it agrees in structure with line 1a, which refers to
2; with line 2b, referring to 21; with line 21b, referring to 22; with 22b,
referring to 29; with 29b, referring to 32; with 32c, referring to 47; with
47b, referring to 48; with 48b, referring to 51; with 51b, referring to number
1b in the Beech Family. Turning to the proper number in this family, the
plant is referred to line 3; it agrees with line 3c, referring to 10; with 10a,
referring to 11; and with 11b, which gives the name of the plant. White
Oak, Quercus alba.
As a second example, suppose one has a common yellow-flowered plant
blooming on lawns and roadsides in spring. Under the Key to the Groups, it
agrees with 1b, referring to 2; with 2b, referring to 3; and its net-veined
leaves place it in 3b, referring to Group 4, Dicotyledones. Under this group,
its basal leaves place it in 1b, referring to 2; its simple leaves in 2b,

referring to 18; the absence of stem-leaves places it in 18b, referring to 23;
its solitary flowers on each flower-stalk place it in 23b, referring to 24; its
yellow flowers agree with 24a, referring to 25; and its milky juice refers the
plant to number 16, in the Composite Family. In the key to this family, its
lobed leaves agree with 16b, referring on to 17; its large flowers with 17b,
giving one the common name Dandelion, and referring on to 18 to
determine which kind of Dandelion the plant may be.
At some point in the key there will be found for each plant a statement in
parentheses. This is general information concerning the height of the plant,
the color of the flowers, or the season of bloom. It must be remembered that
the height of plants is subject to great variation; that most plants have
white-flowered varieties; and that the month of bloom depends largely on
the latitude and the climate. Therefore this general information should not
be used as means of distinguishing species.
The names of plants. Each plant bears a scientific name. This is composed
of two parts and is usually of Latin or Greek derivation. In some cases these
names are taken directly from the Latin language, as Quercus, the Oak, or
Acer, the Maple. In other cases the name may indicate some characteristic
feature of the plant, as Polygonum, many joints, for the Knotweed, or
Ammophila, sand-loving, for the Beach Grass.
An English name is also given for almost every kind of plant. In a few cases
there is no accepted English name, and none has been given. In many cases
the same English name applies to several kinds of plants and has been
repeated for each. When this is so, the common name is given in the key in
parentheses before the scientific name is reached. Thus, if one is satisfied to
know merely that his plant is a dandelion, he learns it in line 17b of the key
to the Composite Family, but to discover which kind of a dandelion he has,
he must follow through the key and use the scientific name.
There is in this book, therefore, no necessity of learning or using scientific
names. The less critical may be satisfied with an English name, and others
may use the scientific names as they see fit.
Possible Errors. In using this book, care must be taken to compare all the
lines under each number with the plant, and to use judgment in selecting the
right one. While faulty observation or poor judgment may lead to error, a

mistake is usually due to carelessness in not following correctly the
reference at the end of the line chosen. If one reaches a number in which
none of the lines of description agrees with the plant, it is very probable that
he has made a mistake at an earlier stage of the identification, and he should
then begin anew.
It has been the intention of the author to make the key as nearly as possible
proof against errors of judgment. For example, the Indian Turnip may be
sought under either Group 3 or Group 4; the Matrimony Vine may be
identified either as a shrub or as an herb, and numerous other similar
examples may be discovered.
Botanical Information Needed. It is presumed that those using the book
will be familiar with the parts of the flower and with the commoner
descriptive terms applied to leaves. Unusual terms have been avoided as far
as possible, but those which do occur, as well as the simpler ones, are
explained in the glossary.
In general, only those characters have been used in the keys which can be
observed without a magnifying glass and without dissection of the flower.
In several groups of plants, reference is made to the fuller descriptions to be
found in the Manuals. The standard manuals for Michigan are Gray's New
Manual of Botany, 7th edition (American Book Company, $2.50), and
Britton and Brown, Illustrated Flora of the Northern States and Canada
(Chas. Scribner's Sons, $13.50). These books may be consulted in most
school or public libraries.
All dimensions are expressed in the metric system. For convenience, it may
be stated that 25 millimeters (mm.) are about equal to one inch; 1
centimeter (cm.) to two-fifths of an inch; 1 decimeter (dm.) to 4 inches; and
1 meter (m.) is a little more than 3 feet.

KEY TO GROUPS

1a. Trees, shrubs, or woody climbers,
Group 1, WOODY
with stems which last from
PLANTS, p. ix
year to year
1b. Herbaceous plants, with stems
which live above ground only
a single season — 2.
2a. Plants with unusual
habits or structures,
including leafless,
colorless, Group 2, UNUSUAL
submerged, PLANTS, p. xxiii.
floating, parasitic,
or hollow-leaved
plants
2b. Ordinary terrestrial or
swamp plants,
without unusual
structural
peculiarities — 3.
3a. Leaves parallel-veined (or net-
veined in a few species); parts
of the flower usually in threes
or sixes, never in fives; wood-
fibers scattered through the
Group 3,
stem; seed with one
MONOCOTYLEDONES,
cotyledon. All plants with
p. xxvii.
definitely parallel-veined
leaves may be identified
through this division, unless
the parts of the flower are
distinctly in fives.
3b. Leaves net-veined (or parallel- Group 4,
veined in a few species); parts DICOTYLEDONES,
of the flower usually in fours p. xxx.
or fives; wood-fibers arranged
in a circle in the stem; seeds
with two cotyledons. All

plants with definitely net-
veined leaves may be
identified through this
division.
Note:—In order to avoid possible chances of error, many plants have been
treated under both of the above groups. The following hints may also be
useful in distinguishing Groups 3 and 4:
All herbaceous plants with deeply lobed, dissected or compound leaves may
be sought under the Dicotyledones.
All herbaceous plants with five stamens in each flower, or with seven or
more stamens and one ovary in each flower, may be sought under
Dicotyledones.

GROUP 1, WOODY PLANTS

1a. Trees, with erect stem and central
trunk, attaining a height of 6 m.
(20 ft.) or more — 2.
1b. Shrubs or woody vines, without
true tree habit, or attaining
heights of less than 6 m. (20 ft.)
— 52.
2a. Key for use in earliest
spring, for trees which
have flowers but no
leaves — 3.
2b. Key for use with trees
bearing leaves — 21.
3a. Flowers in catkins, without brightly
colored or petal-like parts — 4.
3b. Flowers not in catkins, either with
or without petals — 14.

4a. Leaf-scars and lateral
buds 2-ranked, i. e., in
two longitudinal rows
with the third leaf
above the first — 5.
4b. Leaf-scars and buds in
three or more
longitudinal rows
— 9.
5a. From 1 to 3 bud-scales visible on 2b, in FAGACEAE, p.
each leaf-bud 22.
5b. From 4 to 7 bud-scales visible on
each leaf-bud — 6.
5c. From 8 to 20 bud-scales visible on
each leaf-bud; buds long and
slender; bark of the trunk
smooth — 8.
2b, in URTICACEAE,
6a. Bundle-scars 5 or more
p. 23.
6b. Bundle-scars 3 — 7.
7a. Twigs bearing numerous dwarf
branches thickly covered with BETULACEAE, p. 21.
crowded leaf-scars (Birch)
7b. Twigs without dwarf branches 9a, in BETULACEAE,
(Ironwood) p. 22.
8a. Trunk cylindrical or 2a, in FAGACEAE, p.
nearly so 22.
8b. Trunk prominently fluted
1b, in BETULACEAE,
with longitudinal
p. 21.
ridges
9a. Bundle-scars 3 in each leaf-scar
— 10.
9b. Bundle scars more than 3 in each
leaf-scar — 12.
10a. Pith divided into 1a, in
separate cavities by JUGLANDACEAE, p.

transverse partitions 21.
10b. Pith not partitioned
— 11.
11a. Buds small, with only one external 1b, in SALICACEAE,
bud-scale p. 19.
11b. Buds with more than one outer 1a, in SALICACEAE, p.
bud-scale 19.
12a. Buds clustered near the 1b, in FAGACEAE, p.
tips of the twigs 22.
12b. Buds not clustered at the
tips of the twigs
— 13.
13a. Buds with about 3 visible bud- 2b, in FAGACEAE, p.
scales 22.
1b, in
13b. Terminal bud large, with 4 or more
JUGLANDACEAE, p.
visible bud-scales
21.
14a. Flowers conspicuous,
brightly colored, at
least 8 mm. wide.
with both calyx and
corolla — 15.
14b. Flowers inconspicuous,
seldom brightly
colored, and then less
than 8 mm. wide
— 17.
3a, in
15a. Flowers irregular, pink or red LEGUMINOSAE, p.
58.
15b. Flowers regular, white — 16.
16a. Ovary one, superior, in
32b, in ROSACEAE, p.
the center of the
54.
flower
16b. Ovary inferior, 42b, in ROSACEAE, p.
appearing as a 55.

swelling below the
calyx at the summit of
the pedicel
17a. Leaf-scars and buds opposite
— 18.
17b. Leaf-scars and buds alternate
— 19.
18a. Bundle-scar one in each
1b, in OLEACAE, p. 88.
leaf-scar
18b. Bundle-scars 3 or more
ACERACEAE, p. 70.
in each leaf-scar
1b, in LAURACEAE, p.
19a. Bundle-scar 1 in each leaf-scar
41.
19b. Bundle-scars 3 in each leaf-scar
— 20.
7a, in
19c. Bundle-scars 5 in each leaf-scar LEGUMINOSAE, p.
58.
5a, in
20a. Branches thorny LEGUMINOSAE, p.
58.
3a, in URTICACEAE,
20b. Branches not thorny
p. 24.
— 21—
21a. Leaves narrow, needle-like or
scale-like; trees mostly PINACEAE, p. 1.
evergreen
21b. Leaves broader, flat, never needle-
like or scale-like, falling in
winter — 22.
22a. Leaves compound — 23.
22b. Leaves simple — 29.
23a. Leaves opposite — 24.
23b. Leaves alternate — 26.
24a. Leaves palmately SAPINDACEAE, p. 70.
compound with 5-7

leaflets
24b. Leaves pinnately
compound — 25.
1a, in ACERACEAE, p.
25a. Leaflets 3-5
70.
1b, in OLEACEAE, p.
25b. Leaflets 7-11
88.
4a, in
26a. Stem or branches thorny LEGUMINOSAE, p.
58.
26b. Stem or branches not
thorny — 27.
7a, in
27a. Leaflets entire LEGUMINOSAE, p.
58.
27b. Leaflets entire except for a few
SIMARUBACEAE, p.
large glandular teeth near their
65.
base
27c. Leaflets serrate their entire length
— 28.
28a. Upper leaflets less than 4b, in ROSACEAE, p.
25 mm. wide 51.
28b. Upper leaflets more than JUGLANDACEAE, p.
25 mm. wide 21.
29a. Leaves opposite — 30.
29b. Leaves alternate — 32.
30a. Leaves entire CORNACEAE, p. 83.
30b. Leaves toothed or lobed,
not entire — 31.
1b, in ACERACEAE, p.
31a. Leaves lobed
70.
27b, in
31b. Leaves merely toothed CAPRIFOLIACEAE,
p. 111.
32a. Leaves entire — 33.

32b. Leaves toothed — 36.
32c. Leaves lobed — 47.
3a, in
33a. Leaves heart-shape LEGUMINOSAE, p.
58.
33b. Leaves not heart-shape — 34.
34a. Twigs and foliage spicy- 1b, in LAURACEAE, p.
aromatic 41.
34b. Twigs and foliage not
aromatic — 35.
3a, in FAGACEAE, p.
35a. Pith 5-angled; fruit an acorn
22.
1a, in CORNACEAE, p.
35b. Pith not 5-angled; fruit a berry
83.
36a. Leaves oblique at base,
i. e., one side of the
leaf larger than the
other — 37.
36b. Leaves symmetrical, not
oblique at base — 38.
37a. Leaves heart-shape, about as broad
TILIACEAE, p. 72.
as long
37b. Leaves oval or ovate, much longer 1a, in URTICACEAE,
than wide p. 23.
41b, in ROSACEAE, p.
38a. Stems thorny
54.
38b. Stems not thorny — 39.
39a. Leaves finely toothed, with 3-
many teeth per centimeter of
margin — 40.
39b. Leaves coarsely toothed, with 1-2
teeth per centimeter of margin
— 46.
40a. Petioles laterally 2a, in SALICACEAE, p.
compressed 19.

40b. Petioles not compressed
— 41.
41a. Leaves, or many of them, crowded
on short spur-like branches
— 42.
41b. Leaves scattered, not on short
spur-like branches — 43.
42a. Bark of the trunks
separating in thin
BETULACEAE, p. 21.
papery or leathery
sheets
42b. Bark of the trunk not 24b, in ROSACEAE, p.
papery or leathery 53.
43a. Lateral leaf-veins straight and
parallel, and terminating in the BETULACEAE, p. 21.
teeth
43b. Lateral veins more or less curved,
and not ending in the teeth
— 44.
44a. Leaves palmately
veined, about as broad 2b, in URTICACEAE,
as long; juice p. 23.
somewhat milky
44b. Leaves pinnately veined;
juice not milky — 45.
45a. Willows, with slender leaves and 8a, in SALICACEAE, p.
brittle twigs 19.
45b. Trees with lanceolate, ovate, or 30, in ROSACEAE, p.
oblong leaves and tough twigs 54.
45c. Cottonwoods, with broad, heart- 1a, in SALICACEAE, p.
shape or rounded leaves 19.
46a. Petioles laterally 2a, in SALICACEAE, p.
compressed 19.
46b. Petioles not compressed; FAGACEAE, p. 22.
lateral veins straight

and parallel, running
directly to the teeth
41b, in ROSACEAE, p.
47a. Stem thorny
54.
47b. Stem not thorny — 48.
48a. Leaves palmately veined
— 49.
48b. Leaves pinnately veined
— 51.
1b, in LAURACEAE, p.
49a. Lobes of the leaf entire
41.
49b. Lobes of the leaf serrate — 50.
50a.Juice somewhat milky; 2b, in URTICACEAE,
lateral buds visible p. 23.
50b.Juice not milky; lateral
buds covered by the PLATANACEAE, p. 51.
base of the petiole
51a. Leaves with 4 large entire lobes;
MAGNOLIACEAE, p.
stem marked with a ring at each
40.
node
51b. Leaves with many lobes; stem not 1b, in FAGACEAE, p.
ringed 22.
— 52—
52a.For specimens bearing
leaves only — 53.
52b. For specimens bearing
flowers only — 140.
52c.For specimens with both
leaves and flowers
— 155.
53a. Leaves narrow, needle-like or
scale-like, mostly evergreen
— 54.
53b. Leaves broader, flat or rolled, but
not needle-like or scale-like
— 56.

54a. Foliage densely gray-
pubescent; low bushy 2a, in CISTACEAE, p.
shrubs with yellow 74.
flowers
54b.Foliage green — 55.
55a. Leaves opposite or whorled PINACEAE, p. 1.
55b. Leaves scattered on the stem TAXACEAE, p. 2.
56a.Twining or climbing
vines — 57.
56b. Not climbing or twining
— 66.
57a. Thorny vines — 58.
57b. Not thorny — 60.
58a.Climbing by tendrils at 4b, in LILIACEAE, p.
the base of the leaves 11.
58b.Tendrils none — 59.
5a, in SOLANACEAE,
59a. Leaves simple
p. 100.
8a, in ROSACEAE, p.
59b. Leaves compound
52.
60a.Leaves compound — 61.
60b.Leaves simple — 63.
1a, in VITACEAE, p.
61a. Leaves with 5 leaflets
71.
61b. Leaves with 3 leaflets — 62.
1a, in
62a. Plant climbing by
RANUNCULACEAE,
tendril-like leaf-stalks
p. 35.
5b, in
62b. Plant climbing by hold-
ANACARDIACEAE, p.
fast roots
69.
5a, in
63a. Leaves opposite CAPRIFOLIACEAE,
p. 110.
63b. Leaves alternate — 64.

64a. Plants climbing by 1b, in VITACEAE, p.
tendrils 71.
64b. Twining plants — 65.
1a, in
65a. Leaves ovate-oblong, attached by
CELASTRACEAE, p.
the base
69.
65b. Leaves almost round, peltate near MENISPERMACEAE
the edge p. 40.
66a. Leaves opposite — 67.
66b. Leaves alternate — 84.
67a. Leaves compound — 68.
67b. Leaves simple — 69.
STAPHYLEACEAE, p.
68a. Leaflets 3
69.
1a, in
68b. Leaflets 7 or more CAPRIFOLIACEAE,
p. 109.
69a. Leaves palmately veined, or at
least with a pair of prominent
lateral veins from the base
— 70.
69b. Leaves pinnately veined — 72.
1b, in RHAMNACEAE,
70a. Leaves not lobed
p. 71.
70b. Leaves more or less
lobed — 71.
22a, in
71a. Leaves with stipules CAPRIFOLIACEAE,
p. 111.
2a, in ACERACEAE, p.
71b. Leaves without stipules
70.
72a. Leaves serrate — 73.
72b. Leaves entire — 77.
1b, in RHAMNACEAE,
73a. Stem thorny
p. 71.

73b. Stem not thorny — 74.
1b, in
74a. Bark of the ripe twigs
CELASTRACEAE, p.
green
69.
74b. Bark of the ripe twigs
brown, reddish, or
gray — 75.
75a. Twigs with a prominent hairy
13a, in
ridge extending downward from
CAPRIFOLIACEAE,
the middle of the line
p. 110.
connecting the petiole bases
75b. Twigs without any pubescent ridge
— 76.
11b, in
76a. Erect shrubs; leaves
CAPRIFOLIACEAE,
obviously toothed
p. 110.
76b. Spreading shrubs; most
of the leaves entire, 18b, in
and only here and CAPRIFOLIACEAE,
there some with p. 110.
serrate margins
77a. Leaves silvery beneath with a ELAEAGNACEAE, p.
dense coating of scales 77.
77b. Leaves green beneath, or
somewhat hairy and light-
colored — 78.
78a. Aquatic plant with
lanceolate leaves, and 1a, in LYTHRACEAE,
stems bending over p. 77.
and into the water
78b. Not truly aquatic,
although frequently in
wet places — 79.
79a. Leaves evergreen, as shown by
18a, in ERICACEAE, p.
their presence on the older
85.
stems

79b. Leaves deciduous each year — 80.
80a. Leaves dotted with
1a, in
translucent dots,
HYPERICACEAE, p.
easily seen when the
73.
leaf is held to the light
80b. Leaves not dotted with
translucent dots
— 81.
81a. Lateral veins curved forward and
running almost parallel to the CORNACEAE, p. 83.
leaf-margin
81b. Lateral veins spreading, and not
paralleling the leaf-margin
— 82.
1a, in RUBIACEAE, p.
82a. Leaves with stipules
108.
82b. Leaves with a prominent
ridge connecting them
at the base — 83.
82c. Leaves with neither
1a, in OLEACEAE, p.
stipules nor
88.
connecting ridges
18b, in
83a. Bundle-scar one in each leaf-scar CAPRIFOLIACEAE,
p. 110.
12, in
83b. Bundle-scars three in each leaf-
CAPRIFOLIACEAE,
scar (Honeysuckle)
p. 110.
84a. Leaves compound — 85.
84b. Leaves simple — 95.
85a. Stems prickly or thorny — 86.
85b. Stems without prickles or thorns
— 88.
1a, in ARALIACEAE,
86a. Leaves twice-pinnate
p. 80.

5b, in
86b. Leaves evenly pinnate LEGUMINOSAE, p.
58.
86c. Leaves odd-pinnate or
trifoliate — 87.
1a, in RUTACEAE, p.
87a. Leaflets entire 1a,
65.
3b, in ROSACEAE, p.
87b. Leaflets serrate 3b,
51.
88a. Leaflets 3 — 89.
88b. Leaflets 5 to many
— 91.
89a. Tall shrubs; leaflets entire or 1b, in RUTACEAE, p.
minutely toothed 65.
89b. Shrubs 2 m. high or less; leaves
conspicuously toothed — 90.
17b, in ROSACEAE, p.
90a. Stipules present
53.
1b, in
90b. Stipules none ANACARDIACEAE, p.
68.
91a. Leaflets 6-25 mm. long — 92.
91b. Leaflets 30 mm. long, or more
— 93.
92a. Leaflets mostly 5, rarely 7a, in ROSACEAE, p.
3 or 7 52.
26a, in
92b. Leaflets mostly 9-19, 15
LEGUMINOSAE, p.
mm. long or more
60.
8a, in
92c. Leaflets mostly 25-45,
LEGUMINOSAE, p.
less than 15 mm. long
58.
3a, in
93a. Leaflets entire ANACARDIACEAE, p.
68.

93b. Leaflets entire, except for 1-4
SIMARUBACEAE, p.
large glandular teeth near their
65.
base
93c. Leaflets toothed throughout — 94.
1a, in
94a. Juice milky ANACARDIACEAE, p.
68.
3a, in ROSACEAE, p.
94b. Juice not milky
51.
95a. Leaves minute, scale-like, 2a, in CISTACEAE, p.
appressed 74.
95b. Leaves 3-10 mm. long, spreading, EMPETRACEAE, p.
completely rolled into a tube 68.
95c. Leaves normal in shape, green in
color — 96.
96a. Leaves evergreen, as
shown by their 4b, in ERICACEAE, p.
presence on the older 84.
parts of the stem
96b. Leaves deciduous — 97.
97a. Stems or branches thorny — 98.
97b. Stems or branches without thorns
or thorny leaves — 103.
98a. Leaves conspicuously
palmately veined
— 99.
98b. Leaves pinnately veined,
or sometimes with
smaller lateral veins
arising from the end
of the petiole — 100.
1a, in
99a. Leaves 5 cm. wide or less SAXIFRAGACEAE, p.
49.
1a, in ARALIACEAE,
99b. Leaves 15 cm. wide or more
p. 80.

5a, in SOLANACEAE,
100a. Leaves entire
p. 100.
100b. Leaves toothed or
somewhat lobed
— 101.
2a, in
101a. Leaves with bristly margins;
BERBERIDACEAE, p.
some of the thorns three-pointed
40.
101b. Leaves not bristly on the margin;
thorns not branched — 102.
102a. Only lateral thorns 41b, in ROSACEAE, p.
present 54.
102b. Only terminal thorns 2a, in RHAMNACEAE,
present p. 71.
103a. Leaves palmately veined, or with
one or more pairs of lateral
veins from the base of the leaf
— 104.
103b. Leaves pinnately veined — 111.
104a. Leaves entire — 105.
104b. Leaves toothed — 106.
104c. Leaves palmately lobed
— 108.
105a. Foliage fragrant when crushed; 1b, in LAURACEAE, p.
leaves ovate 41.
3b, in
105b. Foliage not aromatic; leaves
LEGUMINOSAE, p.
heart-shape
58.
106a. Lateral veins straight
3a, in BETULACEAE,
and parallel, running
p. 22.
to the teeth of the leaf
106b. Lateral veins curved or
branched, and not
running straight to the
teeth — 107.

107a. Tall shrubs with somewhat milky 2b, in URTICACEAE,
juice and broadly ovate leaves p. 23.
107b. Low shrubs less than 1 m. high 1b, in RHAMNACEAE,
with watery juice p. 71.
108a. Leaves with 2 or 3
1b, in LAURACEAE, p.
entire lobes, spicy-
41.
fragrant when crushed
108b. Leaves with milky 2b, in URTICACEAE,
juice p. 23.
108c. Leaves neither spicy-
fragrant nor with
milky juice — 109.
29, in ROSACEAE, p.
109a. Stem covered with brown bristles
54.
109b. Stem not bristly — 110.
110a. Sides of the petiole
strongly decurrent on
the stem; bundle-scars 28b, in ROSACEAE, p.
crowded or nearly in 53.
contact in the leaf-
scars
110b. Sides of petiole little
2b, in
decurrent or not at all;
SAXIFRAGACEAE, p.
bundle-scars
49.
distinctly separate
111a. Leaves aromatically fragrant
when crushed — 112.
111b. Leaves not aromatically fragrant
when crushed — 113.
112a. Leaves broadly
obovate, entire; a 1a, in LAURACEAE, p.
common woodland 41.
shrub
112b. Leaves linear- MYRICACEAE, p. 20.
lanceolate or
oblanceolate,

conspicuously toothed
or entire
113a. Leaves entire — 114.
113b. Leaves toothed or lobed — 121.
114a. Base of the petiole
covering the axillary THYMELAEACEAE,
buds; twigs marked p. 77.
with rings
114b. Base of petiole not
covering the bud, and
twigs not marked with
rings — 115.
115a. Pith with prominent partitions;
tall shrubs with fetid bark;
ANONACEAE, p. 40.
leaves obovate, 10 cm. long or
larger
115b. Pith not partitioned; leaves
smaller — 116.
116a. Leaves waxy or 24b, in ERICACEAE, p.
resinous underneath 86.
116b. Leaves not waxy or
resinous — 117.
117a. Lateral veins curved forward and
2a, in CORNACEAE, p.
almost parallel to the margin of
83.
the leaf
117b. Lateral veins spreading — 118.
118a. Leaves lanceolate or
linear, much longer
than wide — 119.
118b. Leaves ovate or
elliptical — 120.
5a, in SOLANACEAE,
119a. Stem weak, spreading or trailing
p. 100.
3b, in
119b. Stems, or some of them, erect LEGUMINOSAE, p.
58.

120a. Leaves with purple
1a, in
petioles, which are at
AQUIFOLIACEAE, p.
least one-fourth as
69.
long as the leaf-blade
120b. Leaves with short 24c, in ERICACEAE, p.
petioles or sessile 86.
121a. Lateral veins straight and
parallel, mostly ending in the
teeth of the leaf — 122.
121b. Lateral veins not straight and
parallel — 129.
122a. Leaves 2-ranked, i. e.,
in two longitudinal
rows, with the third
leaf directly above the
first — 123.
122b. Leaves not 2-ranked
— 127.
123a. Leaves unsymmetrical, oblique at
HAMAMELIDACEAE,
the base, i. e., with one side of
p. 51.
the leaf larger than the other
123b. Leaves symmetrical or nearly so
at the base — 124.
124a. Lateral leaf-veins
ending in the leaf-
teeth — 125.
124b. Lateral veins not 42b, in ROSACEAE, p.
ending in the teeth 55.
125a. Bark smooth and fluted on the 1b, in BETULACEAE,
large stems p. 21.
125b. Bark rough or warty or glandular
— 126.
126a. Leaves 4 cm. long or 3a, in BETULACEAE,
less p. 22.
126b. Leaves 5 cm. long or 9b, in BETULACEAE,
more p. 22.

6a, in BETULACEAE,
127a. Pith 3-angled
p. 22.
13b, in FAGACEAE, p.
127b. Pith 5-angled
23.
127c. Pith cylindrical — 128.
42b, in ROSACEAE, p.
128a. Leaves finely serrate
55.
128b. Leaves coarsely or 41a, in ROSACEAE, p.
doubly serrate 54.
129a. Leaves coarsely or doubly serrate
— 130.
129b. Leaves simply serrate — 131.
130a. Leaves 2-ranked, i. e.,
in two longitudinal
9b, in BETULACEAE,
rows, with the third
p. 22.
leaf directly over the
first
41a, in ROSACEAE, p.
130b. Leaves not 2-ranked
54.
131a. Leaves with glands on the petiole
or at the base of the leaf-blade
— 132.
131b. Leaves with small dark glands on 42a, in ROSACEAE, p.
the upper side of the mid-vein 54.
131c. Leaves without glands — 133.
132a. Willows; with usually
slender leaves,
frequently
conspicuous broad 13, in SALICACEAE,
stipules, and lateral p. 20.
buds protected by a
single external bud-
scale
132b. Plums and cherries; 30, in ROSACEAE, p.
with leaves lanceolate 54.
or broader, and

stipules minute and
falling early in the
season; lateral buds
with more than one
bud-scale
133a. With stipules or with stipular
scars indicating where stipules
have been detached — 134.
133b. Without stipules or stipular scars
— 138.
134a. With three bundle-scars
in each leaf-scar
— 135.
134b. With one bundle-scar
in each leaf-scar
— 136.
135a. Willows; usually with slender
leaves and twigs and frequently
13, in SALICACEAE,
with large conspicuous stipules;
p. 20.
lateral buds covered by a single
external bud-scale
135b. Juneberries; with oblong or ovate
leaves and small stipules which 42b, in ROSACEAE, p.
fall early; lateral buds with 55.
more than one external scale
136a. Leaves mostly entire, 1a, in
only a few here and AQUIFOLIACEAE, p.
there with low teeth 69.
136b. Leaves sharply toothed
— 137.
137a. Axillary buds superposed, i. e., 1b, in
with a second one just above the AQUIFOLIACEAE, p.
first 69.
2b, in RHAMNACEAE,
137b. Axillary buds not superposed
p. 71.

138a. Leaves with purple
1a, in
petioles, which are at
AQUIFOLIACEAE, p.
least one-fourth as
69.
long as the blade
138b. Leaves short-petioled
or sessile — 139.
139a. Stems erect and straight,
27, in ROSACEAE, p.
unbranched or with very few
53.
branches
139b. Stems more or less crooked and
25, in ERICACEAE, p.
freely branched, making a
86.
spreading shrub
— 140—
140a. Flowers appearing in
HAMAMELIDACEAE,
autumn, after the
p. 51.
leaves have fallen
140b. Flowers appearing in
spring, before the
leaves have opened
— 141.
141a. Flowers in catkins, without
brightly colored or petal-like
parts — 142.
141b. Flowers not in catkins, either
with or without brightly colored
or petal-like parts — 149.
142a. Leaves 2-ranked, as
shown by the
arrangement of buds
and leaf-scars in two
longitudinal rows, so
that the third bud is
directly over the first
— 143.
142b. Leaves and leaf-scars
not 2-ranked — 146.

143a. Bundle-scars three in each leaf-
scar — 144.
143b. Bundle-scars several in each leaf- 2b, in URTICACEAE,
scar p. 23.
144a. Leaf-buds with only 1- 10, in BETULACEAE,
3 visible bud-scales p. 22.
144b. Leaf-buds with more
than 3 visible scales
— 145.
145a. Bark of the branches smooth and
dark gray, the larger stems 1b, in BETULACEAE,
fluted with projecting p. 21.
longitudinal ridges
145b. Branches without projecting 4, in BETULACEAE, p.
ridges 22.
8, in BETULACEAE, p.
146a. Pith 3-angled
22.
13b, in FAGACEAE, p.
146b. Pith 5-angled
23.
146c. Pith cylindrical — 147.
147a. Visible outer bud-scales 2 or
more — 148.
147b. Buds with a single visible outer 13, in SALICACEAE,
scale p. 20.
148a. Bundle-scars 3 in each
MYRICACEAE, p. 20.
leaf-scar
148b. Bundle-scars more than 2b, in URTICACEAE,
3 in each leaf-scar p. 23.
149a. Flowers dark red-purple, about 3
ANONACEAE, p. 40.
cm. wide
3a, in
149b. Flowers bright pink, irregular,
LEGUMINOSAE, p.
about 1 cm. wide
58.
149c. Flowers white, with 5
conspicuous petals — 150.

149d. Flowers greenish or yellowish,
small, inconspicuous — 152.
150a. Ovary 1, superior, i. e.,
in the center of the
36, in ROSACEAE, p.
flower and not
54.
attached to
surrounding parts
150b. Ovary inferior,
appearing as a
swelling below the
calyx at the apex of
the pedicel — 151.
42b, in ROSACEAE, p.
151a. Flowers in racemes or solitary
55.
151b. Flowers in flattened or rounded 42a, in ROSACEAE, p.
branching clusters 55.
1a, in RUTACEAE, p.
152a. Stems thorny
65.
152b. Stems not thorny
— 153.
153a. Bark pleasantly aromatic when
crushed; perianth with 6 parts
— 154.
153b. Bark not pleasantly aromatic; THYMELAEACEAE,
perianth with 4 short lobes p. 77.
154a. Flowers in sessile 1a, in LAURACEAE, p.
lateral clusters 41.
154b. Flowers in peduncled 1b, in LAURACEAE, p.
terminal clusters 41.
— 155—
155a. Leaves narrow, needle-like or
scale-like, mostly evergreen
— 54.
155b. Leaves broader, flat or rolled, but
not needle-like or scale-like
— 156.

156a. Twining or climbing
vines — 56.
156b. Not twining or
climbing — 157.
157a. Leaves opposite — 158.
157b. Leaves alternate — 165.
158a. Leaves compound
— 68.
158b. Leaves simple — 159.
159a. Leaves broad, palmately lobed
— 160.
159b. Leaves not palmately lobed
— 161.
160a. Flowers greenish-
2a, in ACERACEAE, p.
yellow, in racemes or
70.
panicles
160b. Flowers white, in 22a, in
rounded or flattened CAPRIFOLIACEAE,
clusters p. 111.
161a. Flowers in close clusters,
4b, in CORNACEAE, p.
subtended by four large white
83.
petal-like bracts
161b. Flowers small, white, in dense 1a, in RUBIACEAE, p.
spherical heads 108.
161c. Flowers not in dense heads, and
not subtended by petal-like
bracts — 162.
162a. Petals separate from
each other — 163.
162b. Petals united with each
other — 164.
1b, in
163a. Flowers dark purple-red CELASTRACEAE. p.
69.
163b. Flowers bright yellow 1a, in
HYPERICACEAE, p.

73.
163c. Flowers pink-purple; aquatic 1a, in LYTHRACEAE,
shrubs p. 77.
5, in CORNACEAE, p.
163d. Flowers white
83.
163e. Flowers minute, greenish; twigs 1b, in RHAMNACEAE,
usually thorny p. 71.
163f. Flowers small, yellowish; leaves ELAEAGNACEAE, p.
silvery beneath 77.
1a, in OLEACEAE, p.
164a. Stamens 2
88.
11, in
164b. Stamens 4 or 5 CAPRIFOLIACEAE,
p. 110.
18a, in ERICACEAE, p.
164c. Stamens 10
85.
165a. Leaves once-compound — 166.
165b. Leaves simple — 172.
165c. Leaves twice- or thrice- 4a, in ARALIACEAE,
compound p. 80.
166a. Flowers small, greenish
or greenish-yellow
— 167.
166b. Flowers conspicuous,
white, or brightly
colored — 170.
1a, in RUTACEAE, p.
167a. Stems thorny
65.
167b. Stems not thorny — 168.
168a. Leaflets 3, entire or 1b, in RUTACEAE, p.
minutely toothed 65.
1b, in
168b. Leaflets 3,
ANACARDIACEAE, p.
conspicuously toothed
68.
168c. Leaflets more than 3
— 169.

169a. Leaflets entire except for 1-4
SIMARUBACEAE, p.
large glandular teeth near their
65.
base
169b. Leaflets entire, or toothed for ANACARDIACEAE, p.
their entire length 68.
8a, in
170a. Flowers with a single
LEGUMINOSAE, p.
bright-blue petal
58.
170b. Flowers with several
petals — 171.
3, in ROSACEAE, p.
171a. Flowers regular
51.
171b. Flowers irregular, the upper petal 4, in LEGUMINOSAE,
the largest p. 58.
172a. Leaves minute, scale- 2a, in CISTACEAE, p.
like, appressed 74.
172b. Leaves 3-10 mm. long,
EMPETRACEAE, p.
spreading, completely
68.
rolled into a tube
172c. Leaves normal in
shape, green in color
— 173.
173a. Leaves evergreen, as shown by
4b, in ERICACEAE, p.
their presence on the older parts
84.
of the stem
173b. Leaves deciduous — 174.
174a. Flowers in catkins,
without petal-like
parts — 142.
174b. Flowers not in catkins,
either with or without
petal-like parts
— 175.
175a. Flowers small, inconspicuous,
yellowish or greenish in color
— 176.

175b. Flowers white or colored, with
conspicuous petals — 180.
176a. Leaves broad and
1a, in ARALIACEAE,
palmately lobed; stem
p. 80.
thorny
176b. Leaves entire, toothed,
or with 2-3 entire
lobes; stem not thorny
— 177.
177a. Flowers in small axillary clusters;
foliage not spicy-aromatic
— 178.
177b. Flowers in clusters terminating
1b, in LAURACEAE, p.
last year's twigs; foliage spicy-
41.
aromatic
178a. Petals none; sepals 2b, in RHAMNACEAE,
present p. 71.
178b. Petals present but small
— 179.
2a, in RHAMNACEAE,
179a. A stamen in front of each petal
p. 71.
179b. A stamen between each two AQUIFOLIACEAE, p.
petals 69.
180a. Petals united with each 24, in ERICACEAE, p.
other; stamens 8-10 86.
180b. Petals separate from
each other — 181.
181a. Petals 4 — 182.
181b. Petals 5 — 183.
181c. Petal-like sepals 6; real petals 1b, in LAURACEAE, p.
none; foliage spicy-aromatic 41.
181d. Petals 6; sepals also present
— 187.
182a. Flowers in late spring 2a, in CORNACEAE, p.
or early summer 83.

HAMAMELIDACEAE,
182b. Flowers in autumn
p. 51.
3b, in
183a. Corolla irregular, the upper petal
LEGUMINOSAE, p.
largest
58.
183b. Corolla regular, all petals alike in
size and shape — 184.
184a. Stamens 5 — 185.
24, in ROSACEAE, p.
184b. Stamens 10 or more
53.
2, in
185a. Flowers in loose racemes or
SAXIFRAGACEAE, p.
axillary clusters
49.
185b. Flowers in branching clusters
— 186.
186a. Leaves palmately 1a, in ARALIACEAE,
lobed; stem thorny p. 80.
186b. Leaves not lobed; stem 1b, in RHAMNACEAE,
not thorny p. 71.
187a. Flowers dark red-purple ANONACEAE, p. 40.
2a, in
187b. Flowers yellow BERBERIDACEAE, p.
40.

GROUP 2, UNUSUAL PLANTS

1a. Small brown leafless plants,
growing as parasites on the LORANTHACEAE, p. 25.
tamarack or black spruce
1b. Aquatic plants, with all or most
of the leaves submerged, or
leafless — 2.
1c. Aquatic plants, with the leaves or
the whole plant floating on or

near the surface — 20.
1d. Terrestrial or marsh plants,
without floating or
submerged leaves — 29.
2a. Submerged aquatics,
without leaves
— 3.
2b. Submerged aquatics,
with the leaves
linear or dissected
— 4.
LENTIBULARIACEAE,
3a. Flowers showy, yellow or purple
p. 105.
3b. Flowers small and 3a, in
inconspicuous, sessile, HALORAGIDACEAE, p.
purplish or greenish 79.
4a. Leaves linear or
lanceolate, not
lobed or dissected
— 5.
4b. Leaves more or less
lobed or dissected
— 13.
5a. Leaves all basal — 6.
5b. Stem-leaves present — 7.
6a. Flowers blue, 1 cm.
long or more;
leaves cylindrical, 1a, in LOBELIACEAE, p.
blunt, hollow, 113.
partitioned
lengthwise
6b. Flowers yellow; leaves LENTIBULARIACEAE,
minute p. 105.
6c. Flowers white, in 1b, in ALISMACEAE, p.
clusters; leaves 3.

linear-lanceolate,
acute, not hollow
6d. Flowers greenish,
solitary at the end
of elongated 1a, in
peduncles; leaves HYDROCHARITACEAE,
very long and p. 3.
ribbon-like, flat or
trough-shape
6e. Flowers minute,
whitish or lead- ERIOCAULACEAE, p. 9.
color, in heads
7a. Leaves alternate — 8.
7b. Leaves opposite — 10.
7c. Leaves whorled — 12.
8a. Leaves with thin 1b, in NAJADACEAE, p.
sheathing stipules 2.
8b. Leaves without
stipules — 9.
9a. Flowers greenish, in a head SPARGANIACEAE, p. 2.
1b, in
9b. Flowers pale yellow PONTEDERIACEAE, p.
10.
2b, in NAJADACEAE, p.
10a. Leaves serrate
2.
10b. Leaves entire — 11.
CALLITRICHACEAE, p.
11a. Leaves 2 cm. long or less
68.
11b. Leaves thread-like, 2-8 cm. 2a, in NAJADACEAE, p.
long 2.
11c. Leaves linear to elliptical, more 1b, in NAJADACEAE, p.
than 2 cm. long 2.
12a. Leaves in whorls of 3,
2b, in NAJADACEAE, p.
abruptly widened
2.
at the base

12b. Leaves in whorls of 3, 1b, in
widest near the HYDROCHARITACEAE,
middle p. 3.
12c. Stems straight and
erect, at leaves the 2a, in
flowers emerged; HALORAGIDACEAE, p.
leaves in whorls of 79.
4 or more
13a. Leaves with numerous small
LENTIBULARIACEAE,
bladders attached, each
p. 105.
bladder 1-3 mm. long
13b. Leaves without bladders — 14.
14a. Leaves alternate
— 15.
14b. Leaves opposite or
whorled — 18.
15a. Delicate and rare plants
PODOSTEMACEAE, p.
growing attached to stones in
48.
running water
15b. Plants 2 dm. high or more, with
roots in mud or sand — 16.
16a. Leaves once-pinnate
— 17.
16b. Leaves 2-3 times 15b, in UMBELLIFERAE,
pinnate p. 81.
1b, in
16c. Leaves palmately
RANUNCULACEAE, p.
dissected
35.
34, in CRUCIFERAE, p.
17a. Taste peppery or mustardy
45.
1a, in
17b. Taste not peppery or mustardy HALORAGIDACEAE, p.
79.
3b, in
18a. Leaves pinnately
HALORAGIDACEAE, p.
compound
79.

18b. Leaves palmately
compound — 19.
19a. Leaves opposite or in whorls of 119a, in COMPOSITAE,
four p. 123.
CERATOPHYLLACEAE,
19b. Leaves in whorls of 5-12
p. 34.
20a. Plants small,
flattened, rounded
or ovate, without
distinction of stem LEMNACEAE, p. 9.
and leaf; the whole
plant floating on or
near the surface
20b. Plant attached to the
soil, with
differentiated stem
and leaves — 21.
21a. Leaves on long slender stalks,
which bear also a cluster of 1b, in GENTIANACEAE,
slender tubers near the leaf- p. 88.
base; leaves heart-shape
21b. Leaf-stalks without a cluster of
tubers — 22.
22a. Leaves all basal
— 23.
22b. Stem-leaves present
— 24.
1b, in ALISMACEAE, p.
23a. Leaves parallel-veined
3.
1b, in
23b. Leaves net-veined NYMPHAEACEAE, p.
35.
24a. Leaves opposite or
whorled — 25.
24b. Leaves alternate
— 26.

CALLITRICHACEAE, p.
25a. Leaves less than 2 cm. long
68.
1b, in NAJADACEAE, p.
25b. Leaves more than 2 cm. long
2.
26a. Leaves attached by 2b, in
the center to the NYMPHAEACEAE, p.
stalk 35.
26b. Leaves attached by
the margin — 27.
27a. Leaves parallel-veined — 28.
27b. Leaves net-veined, with a single
29b, in
mid-vein; lanceolate or
POLYGONACEAE, p. 28.
elliptical in outline
28a. Leaves not over 2 dm. 1b, in NAJADACEAE, p.
long 2.
28b. Leaves very long and 14a, in GRAMINEAE, p.
grass-like 5.
29a. Brown, yellow, or white plants,
without green color — 30.
29b. Plants with normal green color,
at least in some parts — 33.
30a. Stemless and leafless
plants, consisting
4a, in ARACEAE, p. 8.
of flowers only and
partly underground
1b, in
30b. Stems climbing on
CONVOLVULACEAE, p.
other plants
91.
30c. Stem and flower-
stalks erect, not
climbing — 31.
31a. Corolla regular; stamens 6-12 1a, in ERICACEAE, p. 84.
31b. Corolla irregular — 32.
32a. Sepals and petals each
5a, in ORCHIDACEAE, p.
3; flowers in
16.
simple racemes

32b. Sepals 5; corolla of OROBANCHACEAE, p.
united petals 106.
33a. Stem thick and fleshy, leafless,
CACTACEAE, p. 77.
thorny
33b. Stem not thorny — 34.
34a. Leaves none — 35.
34b. Leaves reduced to
small scales — 40.
34c. Leaves thick and
fleshy — 44.
34d. Leaves hollow — 45.
34e. Leaves small, all
basal, bearing large
DROSERACEAE, p. 48.
glandular hairs on
the upper surface
35a. Stem none, the flowers
appearing at or partially
4a, in ARACEAE, p. 8.
beneath the surface of the
soil
35b. Stem present — 36.
36a. Stem freely branched 2a, in LILIACEAE, p. 10.
36b. Stem unbranched,
except possibly in
the flower-clusters
— 37.
37a. Flowers greenish or brownish,
without obvious colored
petals — 38.
37b. Flowers with conspicuous white
or colored petals — 39.
38a. Each flower with 6
4, in JUNCACEAE, p. 10.
small chaffy petals
38b. Petals none; each
flower in the axil 2a, in CYPERACEAE, p.
of a single chaffy 7.
bract

39a. Flowers regular 34a, in LILIACEAE, p. 11.
10a, in ORCHIDACEAE,
39b. Flowers irregular
p. 16.
40a. Stem erect,
unbranched or with
one or two
branches only
— 41.
40b. Stem freely branched
— 42.
41a. Plants of moist soil, with
opposite scales; corolla 1a, in GENTIANACEAE,
regular, with 4 petal-like p. 88.
lobes
41b. Swamp plants, with a few
LENTIBULARIACEAE,
alternate scales; corolla
p. 105.
irregular
42a. Leaves numerous and
close, concealing 2a, in CISTACEAE, p. 74
the stem
42b. Leaves spreading, not
concealing the
stem — 43.
43a. Leaf-scales in small clusters;
flowers greenish, with 6 2a, in LILIACEAE, p. 10.
petals
43b. Leaf-scales distinctly opposite; 7a, in HYPERICACEAE,
petals 5, yellow p. 74.
3, in PORTULACACEAE,
44a. Sepals 2
p. 34.
44b. Sepals 4 or 5 CRASSULACEAE, p. 48.
45a. Leaves pitcher-shape, open at SARRACENIACEAE, p.
the top 48.
45b. Leaves tubular, closed at the
37b, in LILIACEAE, p. 13.
end

GROUP 3, MONOCOTYLEDONES

1a. Twining plants, with flowers in DIOSCOREACEAE, p.
panicles or racemes 14.
13a, in COMPOSITAE,
1b. Plants with milky juice
p. 115.
1c. Plants not twining (some climb by
tendrils) and not with milky
juice. — 2.
2a. Flowers in close spikes
or heads, surrounded
or subtended by a
green or colored
bract, the whole
resembling a single ARACEAE, p. 8.
flower; petals
minute or wanting;
leaves broad, not
grass-like, linear, or
sword-shape
2b. Plants with narrow,
linear, grass-like, or
sword-shape leaves
(a few species of
Carex have broader,
lanceolate to ovate
leaves); flowers
greenish, yellowish,
or brownish, never
brightly colored, and
frequently dry or
chaffy in texture;
perianth small or
wanting; individual

flowers
inconspicuous in
size, but sometimes
grouped into
conspicuous clusters
— 3.
2c. Plants with leaves of
various widths, but
the flowers petaloid,
i. e., with a white or
colored, more or less
conspicuous
perianth, and never
chaffy in texture. In
a few cases the
flowers are greenish,
but the size and
conspicuousness of
the perianth
identifies them in
this class — 9.
3a. Flowers in the axils of dry,
membranous or chaffy scales,
which are regularly arranged
into spikes or spikelets of
uniform size and structure,
which are variously grouped
or clustered; fruit an achene;
grasses and sedges, with
joined stems and sheathing
leaves, or leafless and the
stems not jointed — 4.
3b. Flowers not subtended
individually by dry,
membranous, or chaffy scales,
and otherwise not agreeing
with 3a — 5.

4a. Leaf-sheaths split on the
side opposite the
leaf; leaves usually
2-ranked, i. e., in 2
longitudinal rows
GRAMINEAE, p. 4.
with the third leaf
above the first;
stems rounded or
flat, never triangular,
usually hollow
4b. Leaf-sheaths closed into
a continuous tube;
leaves usually 3-
ranked; stems CYPERACEAE, p. 7.
frequently
triangular, usually
solid
5a. Flowers in dense spikes — 6.
5b. Flowers in heads, racemes, or
panicles — 7.
6a. Spike terminal, with
pistillate flowers at
the base and TYPHACEAE, p. 2.
staminate ones at the
apex
6b. Spike short, apparently
lateral, near the apex 3a, in ARACEAE, p. 8.
of the stem
7a. Flowers in globose heads which
are arranged in spikes, the
lowest heads pistillate, the SPARGANIACEAE, p. 2.
upper staminate; ovary 1-
celled
7b. Flowers in globose woolly heads
ERIOCAULACEAE, p.
terminating leafless
9.
unbranched stalks

7c. Flowers in a spike-like raceme;
JUNCAGINACEAE, p.
ovaries 3-6, separate or nearly
3.
so
7d. Flowers in heads or panicles, all
perfect, not woolly, with one
ovary — 8.
8a. Leaves less than 1 cm.
wide, or none;
JUNCACEAE, p. 10.
divisions of the
perianth 6
8b. Leaves 2 cm. wide or 2a, in UMBELLIFERAE,
more; petals 5 p. 80.
9a. Flowers regular, with all the petals
of approximately the same
size and shape — 10.
9b. Flowers irregular, with the petals
of each flower not of the same
size or shape — 22.
10a. Ovaries 3 or more,
separate or barely
united with each
other at the base
— 11.
10b. Ovary one in each
flower — 12.
11a. Ovaries 3-6 in number; flowers
JUNCAGINACEAE, p.
in spikes or racemes; leaves
3.
linear
11b. Ovaries more than 6 ALISMACEAE, p. 3.
12a. Flowers or flower-
clusters lateral,
axillary or
apparently so — 13.
12b. Flowers or flower-
clusters terminal or

on leafless stalks
— 14.
13a. Leaves minute and scale-like;
2a, in LILIACEAE, p. 10.
flowers greenish-yellow
3b, in IRIDACEAE, p.
13b. Leaves linear, grass-like
13.
13c. Leaves lanceolate or broader, not
2b, in LILIACEAE, p. 10.
grass-like or scale-like
14a. Divisions of the
perianth 5-12 cm.
long — 15.
14b. Divisions of the
perianth less than 5
cm. long — 16.
15a. Flowers blue, or blue marked 1a, in IRIDACEAE, p.
with yellow 15.
12a, in LILIACEAE, p.
15b. Flowers not blue
11.
16a. Flowers solitary — 17.
16b. Flowers 2 or more, in
some kind of a
cluster — 18.
1b, in
17a. Leaves 2, broadly heart-shape,
ARISTOLOCHIACEAE,
basal, on long stalks
p. 25.
17b. Leaves not heart-shape 20, 20, in LILIACEAE, p. 12.
18a. Divisions of the
perianth (4 to 6) all
essentially alike
— 19.
18b. Perianth differentiated
into sepals and 2 or
3 colored petals
— 21.
19a. Flowers in umbels — 20.

19b. Flowers in dense round heads; 2a, in UMBELLIFERAE,
petals 5 p. 80.
19c. Flowers in spikes, racemes, or
38, in LILIACEAE, p. 13.
panicles
20a. Ovary inferior,
appearing below the
perianth as a
AMARYLLIDACEAE,
swelling at the apex
p. 14.
of the stalk; flowers
bright yellow; leaves
linear
20b. Ovary inferior; flowers
blue or white,
3a, in IRIDACEAE, p.
terminating a
15.
flattened winged
leafless flower-stalk
20c. Ovary superior, i. e., in
the center of the
31, in LILIACEAE, p. 13.
flower and separate
from the perianth
21a. Flowers in dense heads, yellow, 1
XYRIDACEAE, p. 9.
cm. wide or smaller
21b. Flowers in umbels, blue or white, COMMELINACEAE, p.
2 cm. wide or larger 9.
22a. Flowers blue; ovary
superior (defined
under 20c); stamens
distinct from the
other parts of the
flower — 23.
22b. Ovary inferior (defined ORCHIDACEAE, p. 15.
under 20a); floral
structure complex;
stamens attached to
other parts of the
flower and not

resembling ordinary
stamens in form or
structure
1a, in
23a. Leaves triangular-heart-shape at
PONTEDERIACEAE, p.
base; marsh plants
10.
COMMELINACEAE, p.
23b. Leaves not heart-shape at base
9.

GROUP 4, DICOTYLEDONES

1a. Foliage leaves all or principally
basal; flower-stalk either
completely leafless, or
bearing a single pair of
opposite leaves only. Bracts
and scale-leaves are not
considered foliage leaves
— 2.
1b. Stem-leaves present on the stem,
either one or more in number,
and not limited to a single
opposite pair — 3.
2a. Leaves compound — 7.
2b. Leaves simple — 18.
3a. Stem-leaves all or chiefly
opposite or whorled (the
bracts of the flower clusters
may be alternate) — 4.
3b. Stem-leaves all or chiefly
alternate — 5.
4a. Flowers small and
inconspicuous, the
perianth none or
greenish or chaffy,
and never petal-like
in appearance
— 50.
4b. Flowers with a white or
colored petal-like
perianth — 66.

5a. Flowers small and inconspicuous,
without any white or colored
petal-like perianth — 118.
5b. Flowers large or small, but with a
white or colored petal-like
perianth — 6.
6a. Flowers small, not
exceeding 3 mm. in
length or breadth
— 144.
6b. Flowers larger, more
than 3 mm. in
length or breadth
— 166.
— 7—
7a. Leaves twice to three times
compound or dissected — 8.
7b. Leaves once-compound — 11.
2b, in FUMARIACEAE,
8a. Flowers in racemes
p. 41.
8b. Flowers in umbels — 9.
9a. Flowers about 3 mm. wide, white
or greenish-white — 10.
45b, in
9b. Flowers 10-20 mm. wide,
RANUNCULACEAE, p.
conspicuous
39.
5b, in ARALIACEAE, p.
10a. Leaflets 5-15 cm. long
80.
10b. Leaflets not over 2 16a, in
cm. long UMBELLIFERAE, p. 81.
3a, in
11a. Leaflets 2 BERBERIDACEAE, p.
40.
11b. Leaflets three or more — 12.
12a. Leaflets entire or very
finely toothed

— 13.
12b. Leaflets coarsely
toothed or lobed
— 15.
13a. Flowers irregular, in dense head- 37a, in LEGUMINOSAE,
like umbels p. 61.
13b. Flowers consisting of a greenish
or purplish bract wholly or 2, in ARACEAE, p. 8.
partly enclosing a fleshy spike
13c. Flowers regular, solitary or in
loose clusters — 14.
14a. Leaflets reverse heart-
shape, not over 2 OXALIDACEAE, p. 64.
cm. long
1c, in GENTIANACEAE,
14b. Leaflets 4-10 cm. long
p. 88.
15a. Flowers with colored or white
petals and green or colored
sepals — 16.
15b. Flowers with one kind of 32, in
perianth only (calyx), with RANUNCULACEAE, p.
broad and petal-like parts 38.
15c. Flowers with white petal-like 38b, in
sepals and small RANUNCULACEAE, p.
inconspicuous petals 39.
16a. Petals and sepals each 31, in CRUCIFERAE, p.
4 44.
16b. Petals and sepals each
5 or more — 17.
17a. Leaves with stipules ROSACEAE, p. 51.
23b, in
17b. Leaves without stipules RANUNCULACEAE, p.
37.
— 18—
18a. Stem-leaves a single
opposite pair (basal

leaves may also be
present) — 19.
18b. Stem-leaves none
— 23.
19a. Leaves entire — 20.
19b. Leaves toothed or lobed — 21.
20a. Flowers solitary;
ARISTOLOCHIACEAE,
leaves broadly
p. 25.
kidney-shape
20b. Flowers in racemes;
PORTULACACEAE, p.
leaves linear or
34.
lanceolate
23b, in
21a. Flowers in racemes; petals
SAXIFRAGACEAE, p.
deeply toothed
51.
21b. Flowers solitary or few in a
cluster; petals entire or nearly
so — 22.
22a. Petals 5 GERANIACEAE, p. 64.
2b, in
22b. Petals 6 or more BERBERIDACEAE,
p.40.
23a. Flowers or flower-clusters
sessile, at or partly beneath 4a, in ARACEAE, p. 8.
the surface of the ground
23b. Flowers or flower-heads solitary
at the ends of the flower-
stalks — 24.
23b. Flowers or flower-heads
numerous or several on each
flower-stalk — 38.
24a. Flowers yellow — 25.
24b. Flowers not yellow
— 29.
16, in COMPOSITAE, p.
25a. Juice milky
115.

25b. Juice not milky — 26.
26a. Aquatic or mud plants,
NYMPHAEACEAE, p.
with large entire
35.
leaves 1-4 dm. wide
26b. Land plants, with
smaller or lobed
leaves — 27.
110, in COMPOSITAE, p.
27a. Flower-stalk scaly
122.
27b. Flower-stalk bare or with 1 to 2
minute bracts — 28.
10, in
28a. Flowers regular RANUNCULACEAE, p.
36.
28b. Flowers irregular, with 3a, in VIOLACEAE, p.
a spur 75.
29a. Flowers obviously irregular,
with a spur — 30.
29b. Flowers regular or nearly so,
without a spur — 31.
30a. Leaves sessile or LENTIBULARIACEAE,
nearly so; stamens 2 p. 105.
30b. Leaves petioled;
VIOLACEAE, p. 75.
stamens 5
16a, in
31a. Flowers 3 mm. wide or smaller;
SCROPHULARIACEAE,
leaves thread-like
p. 103.
31b. Flowers 6 mm. wide or larger
— 32.
32a. Ovary 1 — 33.
32b. Ovaries numerous
— 37.
33a. Leaves lobed or cleft — 34.
33b. Leaves entire or toothed — 35.
34a. Leaves deeply 2-cleft; 3a, in
stamens 8 BERBERIDACEAE, p.

40.
34b. Leaf 1, palmately
1a, in PAPAVERACEAE,
lobed; stamens
p. 41.
numerous
ARISTOLOCHIACEAE,
35a. Flowers dull red
p. 25.
35b. Flowers white or pinkish — 36.
13, in
36a. Leaves entire; stamens
SAXIFRAGACEAE, p.
with good anthers 5
50.
36b. Leaves minutely
14a, in ERICACEAE, p.
toothed; stamens 8-
85.
10
RANUNCULACEAE, p.
37a. Leaves lobed or divided
35.
64a, in ROSACEAE, p.
37b. Leaves crenate or toothed
56.
— 38—
38a. Flowers of the
composite type,
with several or
many small
flowerets closely 10, in COMPOSITAE. p.
aggregated into a 114.
dense head
surrounded by a
calyx-like involucre
of small bracts
38b. Flowers separate;
variously clustered,
but never crowded
into involucred
heads — 39.
39a. Flowers in dense close spikes
— 40.

39b. Flowers in open loose clusters
— 42.
40a. Flower-stalk leafless PLANTAGINACEAE, p.
below the spike 107.
40b. Flower-stalk with
several bracts
— 41.
9c, in ORCHIDACEAE,
41a. Leaves entire
p. 16.
6a, in
41b. Leaves toothed SCROPHULARIACEAE,
p. 102.
42a. Flowers in umbels
— 43.
42b. Flowers in racemes,
panicles, flat-topped
clusters, or merely 1
or 2 — 45.
43a. Leaves almost round, peltate, 3a, in UMBELLIFERAE,
palmately veined p. 80.
43b. Leaves at least twice as long as
broad, with a single mid-vein
— 44.
44a. Stamens 5 PRIMULACEAE, p. 87.
15, in ERICACEAE, p.
44b. Stamens 10
85.
45a. Leaves cylindrical, hollow, 1a, in LOBELIACEAE, p.
obtuse. 113.
45b. Leaves beset on the upper side
with long glandular hairs; bog DROSERACEAE, p. 48.
plant with flowers in racemes
45c. Leaves flat, pubescent or
smooth, but not with long
glandular hairs — 46.
46a. Sepals and petals each 53, in CRUCIFERAE, p.
4 46.

46b. Sepals and petals each
5 — 47.
46c. Sepals 6; petals none;
flowers minute,
4, in POLYGONACEAE,
green; leaves
p. 25.
frequently lobed at
the base
47a. Petals united with each other in LENTIBULARIACEAE,
an irregular corolla p. 105.
47b. Petals separate from each other
— 48.
48a. Stamens 10; style 1 ERICACEAE, p. 84.
48b. Stamens 5 or 10; SAXIFRAGACEAE, p.
styles 2 49.
48c. Stamens and pistils
each very numerous
— 49.
64a, in ROSACEAE, p.
49a. Flowers white
56.
13a, in
49b. Flowers yellow RANUNCULACEAE, p.
36.
— 50—
50a. Leaves compound or
deeply lobed — 51.
50b. Leaves entire or
toothed — 54.
51a. Flowers in axillary racemes,
URTICACEAE, p. 23.
spikes, or panicles
51b. Flowers terminal, or in terminal
clusters — 52.
52a. Flowers in umbels;
leaves palmately ARALIACEAE, p. 80.
compound
52b. Flowers in racemes or
spikes, or solitary

— 53.
53a. Leaves deeply pinnatifid; swamp
HALORAGIDACEAE, p.
plants with flowers in spikes
79.
or solitary
53b. Leaves lobed, or irregularly
pinnately cut or dissected; 2, in COMPOSITAE, p.
weedy plants with flowers in 114.
racemes
3, in EUPHORBIACEAE,
54a. Juice milky
p. 67.
54b. Juice not milky or
colored — 55.
55a. Leaves whorled — 56.
55b. Leaves all opposite — 58.
2a, in
56a. Aquatic or mud plants
HALORAGIDACEAE, p.
with erect stems
79.
56b. Prostrate weedy
AIZOACEAE, p. 31.
terrestrial plants
56c. Erect or ascending
terrestrial plants
— 57.
4a, in CORNACEAE, p.
57a. Leaves more than 2.5 cm. long
83.
3a, in PRIMULACEAE,
57b. Leaves 2 cm. long or less
p. 87.
58a. Flowers in terminal or
axillary spikes,
racemes, or other
clusters — 59.
58b. Flowers solitary or
few in the axils of
the leaves — 61.
1a, in GENTIANACEAE,
59a. Leaves less than 5 mm. long
p. 88.

59b. Leaves more than 2 cm. long
— 60.
60a. Inflorescence chiefly 2, in COMPOSITAE, p.
terminal, panicled 114.
60b. Inflorescence chiefly
URTICACEAE, p. 23.
axillary
2, in
61a. Flowers on long pedicels CARYOPHYLLACEAE,
p. 31.
61b. Flowers on short pedicels or
sessile — 62.
62a. Stem erect, repeatedly
ILLECEBRACEAE, p.
branched; leaves
31.
linear to oblong
62b. Stem decumbent or
prostrate — 63.
63a. Leaves round, ovate, or kidney- 12a, in
shape, rounded at the base, SAXIFRAGACEAE, p.
crenate or lobed 50.
63b. Leaves of a narrower shape,
entire, tapering toward the
base — 64.
64a. Principal leaves 2-3 1a, in ONAGRACEAE, p.
cm. long 78.
64b. Principal leaves 1 cm.
long or less — 65.
65a. Petals present ELATINACEAE, p. 74.
CALLITRICHACEAE,
65b. Petals none
p. 68.
— 66—
66a. Plants of the
composite type,
with several or
many small
flowerets closely
aggregated into a

dense head
surrounded or
subtended by a
calyx-like involucre
of small bracts
— 67.
66b. Flowers solitary or
variously clustered,
but not in
involucred heads
— 70.
67a. Involucre of 4 conspicuous
4a, in CORNACEAE, p.
white bracts, much larger than
83.
the small flower-cluster
67b. Involucral bracts green or
somewhat colored — 68.
68a. Stem more or less
DIPSACACEAE, p. 112.
prickly
68b. Stem and leaves not
prickly — 69.
69a. Stem square; foliage aromatic
LABIATAE, p. 95.
when crushed
69b. Stem not square; foliage not
COMPOSITAE, p. 113.
with the odor of mint
70a. The conspicuous
portion of the
perianth[1]
composed of
separate parts
— 71.
70b. The conspicuous
portion of the
perianth[1]
composed of united
parts — 97.

71a. Stem-leaves compound, or cleft
to the very base — 72.
71b. Stem-leaves simple — 78.
72a. Stamens more than 10
in each flower
— 73.
72b. Stamens 5-10 in each
flower — 75.
2a, in PAPAVERACEAE,
73a. Ovary 1 in each flower
p. 41.
73b. Ovaries several in each flower
— 74.
74a. Leaves pinnately 68a, in ROSACEAE, p.
compound 57.
74b. Leaves palmately RANUNCULACEAE, p.
compound 35.
31, in CRUCIFERAE, p.
75a. Stamens 6
44.
75b. Stamens 5 or 10 — 76.
76a. Leaflets reverse heart-
shape; flowers OXALIDACEAE, p. 64.
yellow
76b. Leaflets not reverse
heart-shape; flowers
white, greenish, or
pink — 77.
77a. Flowers greenish or white, about
ARALIACEAE, p. 80.
2 mm. broad
77b. Flowers 5 mm. broad or larger GERANIACEAE, p. 64.
78a. Juice milky — 79.
78b. Juice not milky — 80.
79a. A 3-lobed ovary with 3 short
EUPHORBIACEAE, p.
styles visible in some of the
66.
flowers
79b. Ovaries 2 in the center of each
flower (sometimes concealed

by other organs); sepals and
petals each 5 — 104.
80a. Perianth with one
circle of parts only
— 81.
80b. Each flower with both
calyx and corolla
— 82.
81a. Stem prostrate; flowers only 2
AIZOACEAE, p. 31.
mm. broad
81b. Stem erect; flowers at least 20 4a, in CORNACEAE, p.
mm. wide 83.
82a. Petals 2 or 4 — 83.
82b. Petals 3 22, in LILIACEAE, p. 12.
82c. Petals 5 or 6 — 84.
MELASTOMACEAE, p.
83a. Leaves with 3-5 principal veins
77.
83b. Leaves with 1 principal mid-
ONAGRACEAE, p. 78.
vein
84a. Leaves palmately
lobed — 85.
84b. Leaves entire or
toothed, or with 1-2
small lobes near the
base only — 86.
85a. Petals entire or notched at the
GERANIACEAE, p. 64.
end
23b, in
85b. Petals conspicuously fringed SAXIFRAGACEAE, p.
51.
86a. Ovary 1 — 87.
86b. Ovaries 2, surrounded
ASCLEPIADACEAE, p.
and concealed by
90.
other organs
2b, in CRASSULACEAE,
86c. Ovaries 4-5
p. 48.

87a. Leaves dotted with translucent
dots (easily seen when the HYPERICACEAE, p. 73.
leaf is held to the light)
87b. Leaves not dotted with
translucent dots — 88.
88a. Leaves only 1-3 mm.
long, closely
2a, in CISTACEAE, p. 74.
appressed and
concealing the stem
88b. Leaves larger, not
concealing the stem
— 89.
89a. Style 1 or none — 90.
89b. Styles 2 to 7 — 94.
90a. Stamens 5 — 91.
90b. Stamens 10 — 92.
90c. Stamens neither 5 nor
10 — 93.
91a. Flowers blue, sessile in terminal
LYTHRACEAE, p. 77.
spikes with leaf-like bracts
91b. Flowers not in terminal bracted
PRIMULACEAE, p. 87.
spikes
92a. Leaves entire LYTHRACEAE, p. 77.
92b. Leaves toothed or
ERICACEAE, p. 84.
crenate
93a. Flowers irregular; petals 3 POLYGALACEAE, p. 65.
93b. Flowers regular; petals 5 or
LYTHRACEAE, p. 77.
more
94a. Sepals 2, partly
PORTULACACEAE, p.
attached to the
34.
ovary
94b. Sepals 5, free from the
ovary — 95.
95a. Stamens 5 — 96.

CARYOPHYLLACEAE,
95b. Stamens not 5
p. 31.
96a. Flowers blue or
LINACEAE, p. 63.
yellow
96b. Flowers white or CARYOPHYLLACEAE,
pinkish p. 31.
— 97—
97a. Perianth with but one circle of
floral leaves — 98.
97b. Perianth consisting of both calyx
and corolla — 101.
98a. Flowers small, in
dense heads
subtended by
conspicuous bracts
— 99.
98b. Flowers 2-5, in a
NYCTAGINACEAE, p.
colored spreading
31.
5-lobed involucre
98c. Flowers in various
sorts of clusters or
solitary, but never
in heads with a
conspicuous
involucre — 100.
99a. Bracts 4, white and conspicuous; 4a, in CORNACEAE, p.
stem not thorny 83.
99b. Bracts green; stem thorny DIPSACACEAE, p. 112.
VALERIANACEAE, p.
100a. Stamens 3
111.
100b. Stamens 4 or 5 RUBIACEAE, p. 108.
101a. Anthers more numerous than
the lobes of the corolla
— 102.
101b. Anthers just as many as the
lobes of the corolla — 103.

101c. Anthers fewer than the lobes of
the corolla — 110.
102a. Leaves simple POLYGALACEAE, p. 65.
102b. Leaves compound
OXALIDACEAE, p. 64.
with 3 leaflets
102c. Leaves finely
2a, in FUMARIACEAE,
dissected; stems
p. 41.
climbing
103a. Ovaries 2 — 104.
103b. Ovary 1, but very deeply 4-
LABIATAE, p. 95.
lobed, with a single style
103c. Ovary 1, not deeply lobed
— 105.
104a. Stamens united,
surrounding and
more or less
ASCLEPIADACEAE, p.
concealing the
90.
ovaries, and not
resembling ordinary
stamens
104b. Stamens separate, of
APOCYNACEAE, p. 90.
ordinary structure
105a. Ovary inferior, appearing as a
swelling below the calyx at
the apex of the pedicel
— 106.
105b. Ovary superior, located in the
center of the flower — 107.
106a. Corolla 3-4-lobed RUBIACEAE, p. 108.
3b, in
106b. Corolla 5-lobed CAPRIFOLIACEAE, p.
109.
107a. Leaves toothed or deeply cut VERBENACEAE, p. 99.
107b. Leaves entire — 108.
108a. A stamen in front of PRIMULACEAE, p. 87.
the middle of each

petal
108b. Stamens located
between the petals
or lobes of the
corolla, or else so
far down in the
tubular corolla that
their position is not
easily ascertained
— 109.
109a. Corolla salver-form, with a
POLEMONIACEAE, p.
very slender tube, and
92.
abruptly spreading lobes
109b. Corolla salver-form, with a
wide tube and fringed blue GENTIANACEAE, p. 88.
petals
109c. Corolla rotate, funnel-form, or
GENTIANACEAE, p. 88.
bell-shape
110a. Ovary deeply 4-
lobed, appearing
LABIATAE, p. 95.
like 4 separate
ovaries; style 1
110b. Ovary not 4-lobed
— 111.
111a. Stamens 2 — 112.
VALERIANACEAE, p.
111b. Stamens 3
111.
111c. Stamens 4 — 113.
112a. Flowers in dense 1a, in ACANTHACEAE,
heads p. 107.
112b. Flowers solitary or in SCROPHULARIACEAE,
loose clusters p. 101.
113a. Corolla distinctly 2-lipped and
irregular — 114.
113b. Corolla not distinctly 2-lipped,
its 5 lobes all alike or nearly

so — 115.
114a. Calyx 2-lipped; the
upper lip with 3
awl-shape teeth, the
lower with 2 short PHRYMACEAE, p. 107.
teeth; flowers in
slender terminal
spikes
114b. Calyx not obviously
SCROPHULARIACEAE,
2-lipped, its teeth
p. 101.
equal or nearly so
115a. Flowers sessile or nearly so, in
spikes — 116.
3a, in
115b. Flowers in nodding pairs at the
CAPRIFOLIACEAE, p.
top of a slender stalk
109.
115c. Flowers solitary or in clusters;
not in spikes or nodding pairs
— 117.
116a. Corolla not over 1
VERBENACEAE, p. 99.
cm. long
116b. Corolla 1.5 cm. long SCROPHULARIACEAE,
or more p. 101.
117a. Calyx-lobes 15-25 mm. long;
2, in ACANTHACEAE, p.
flowers blue, 3-5 cm. long;
107.
calyx without an obvious tube
117b. Calyx-lobes united below into SCROPHULARIACEAE,
an obvious calyx-tube p. 101.
— 118—
118a. Leaves deeply lobed,
compound, or
dissected — 119.
118b. Leaves simple and
not deeply lobed
— 129.

119a. Leaves once-pinnately
compound or lobed — 120.
119b. Leaves once-palmately
compound or lobed — 124.
119c. Leaves dissected or 2-3 times
compound — 125.
120a. Leaves merely lobed
— 121.
120b. Leaves actually
compound — 123.
121a. Flowers axillary; marsh or HALORAGIDACEAE, p.
swamp plants 79.
121b. Flowers in terminal clusters
— 122.
122a. Stamens 2-6; taste 52b, in CRUCIFERAE, p.
mustard-like 46.
122b. Stamens 10 or more RESEDACEAE, p. 48.
LIMNANTHACEAE, p.
123a. Leaflets entire
68.
70a, in ROSACEAE, p.
123b. Leaflets serrate
57.
31a, in
124a. Flowers solitary RANUNCULACEAE, p.
38.
124b. Flowers in dense
terminal umbels or UMBELLIFERAE, p. 80.
heads
124c. Flowers in terminal 2a, in COMPOSITAE, p.
racemes 114.
124d. Flowers in axillary 9b, in URTICACEAE, p.
spikes or panicles 24.
125a. Leaves merely dissected, not
truly compound with distinct
leaflets — 126.
125b. Leaves truly compound, with
distinct petiolate leaflets

— 127.
126a. Flowers in axillary CHENOPODIACEAE, p.
clusters 28.
126b. Flowers in terminal
COMPOSITAE, p. 113.
clusters
127a. Stamens 5; flowers in umbels
— 128.
3b, in
127b. Stamens 6; flowers in small
BERBERIDACEAE, p.
clusters
40.
127c. Stamens many; flowers in RANUNCULACEAE, p.
racemes or panicles 35.
128a. Styles 5 ARALIACEAE, p. 80.
128b. Styles 2 UMBELLIFERAE, p. 80.
129a. Flowers in dense cottony
79, in COMPOSITAE, p.
heads; plants more or less
120.
white-woolly
129b. Pistillate flowers in an ovoid
3a, in COMPOSITAE, p.
spiny involucre, ripening into
114.
a bur
1a, in
129c. Flowers minute, subtended by
EUPHORBIACEAE, p.
palmately cleft axillary bracts
66.
129d. Plants without any of the
preceding characters — 130.
10, in
130a. Plants with milky or
EUPHORBIACEAE, p.
colored juice
67.
130b. Plants with tendrils,
at least on the upper 4a, in LILIACEAE, p. 11.
leaves
130c. Plants of nettle-like
8b, in URTICACEAE, p.
character, with
24.
stinging hairs
130d. Plants with sheathing POLYGONACEAE, p.
stipules, 25.

surrounding the
stem above the base
of each leaf
130e. Plants with smooth,
12a, in URTICACEAE, p.
pale, juicy, almost
24.
translucent stems
130f. Plants without any of
the preceding
structures or habits
— 131.
131a. Flowers axillary, solitary or in
few-flowered clusters — 132.
131b. Flowers in terminal, or
terminal and axillary clusters
— 138.
CHENOPODIACEAE, p.
132a. Leaves linear
28.
132b. Leaves of a broader
shape than linear
— 133.
133a. Flower-clusters with bracts as
long as or longer than the
flowers — 134.
133b. Flowers without conspicuous
bracts — 135.
134a. Leaves broadest 8a, in URTICACEAE, p.
below the middle 24.
2, in
134b. Leaves broadest
AMARANTHACEAE, p.
above the middle
30.
135a. Principal leaves 3 cm. long or
more — 136.
135b. Principal leaves 2.5 cm. long
or less — 137.
136a. Flowers nodding in 1a, in VIOLACEAE, p.
the axils of the 75.

leaves
136b. Flowers erect in the 2a, in ONAGRACEAE, p.
axils 78.
1a, in
137a. Leaves narrowly oblong HALORAGIDACEAE, p.
79.
12a, in
137b. Leaves roundish and somewhat
SAXIFRAGACEAE, p.
heart-shape
50.
138a. Flowers in racemes
or simple spikes
— 139.
138b. Flowers in panicles
or other branched
clusters — 141.
52b, in CRUCIFERAE, p.
139a. Leaves toothed or lobed
46.
139b. Leaves entire — 140.
140a. Flowers sessile;
PIPERACEAE, p. 19.
leaves heart-shape
140b. Flowers pedicelled; 8b, in PRIMULACEAE,
leaves obovate p. 87.
141a. Individual flowers distinct
from each other, on pedicels
— 142.
141b. Individual flowers crowded in
close clusters, or separate and
sessile — 143.
3b, in CRASSULACEAE,
142a. Leaves finely serrate
p. 49.
142b. Leaves entire 1b, in CISTACEAE, p. 74.
143a. Flower-clusters mingled with AMARANTHACEAE, p.
sharp-pointed bracts 30.
143b. Flower-clusters without bracts,
CHENOPODIACEAE, p.
or (rarely) with bracts which
28.
are not sharp-pointed

— 144—
144a. Juice not milky
— 145.
144b. Juice milky; apparent
flowers consisting
of a few white or
colored petal-like
bracts, inclosing a
few inconspicuous
flowers without
petals. In some of
them a 3-lobed
ovary with 3 styles
may be plainly seen
145a. Plants of the composite type,
with several or many small
flowerets closely aggregated EUPHORBIACEAE, p.
into a dense head subtended 66.
by a calyx-like involucre of
small bracts — 146.
145b. Flowers solitary or in clusters,
but not in involucred heads
— 147.
146a. Leaves compound
with 3 leaflets; LEGUMINOSAE, p. 58.
stipules present
146b. Stipules none COMPOSITAE, p. 113.
147a. Leaves compound or deeply
lobed — 148.
147b. Leaves simple and not deeply
lobed — 154.
148a. Flowers irregular LEGUMINOSAE, p. 58.
148b. Flowers regular
— 149.
LIMNANTHACEAE, p.
149a. Petals 3
68.

149b. Petals 4 — 150.
149c. Petals 5 or more — 151.
70a, in ROSACEAE, p.
150a. Stamens 4
57.
150b. Stamens 6 CRUCIFERAE, p. 42.
43, in
150c. Stamens numerous RANUNCULACEAE, p.
39.
151a. Flowers in heads or umbels
— 152.
151b. Flowers in slender spikes or
racemes — 153.
152a. Styles 2 UMBELLIFERAE, p. 80.
152b. Styles 5 ARALIACEAE, p. 80.
43, in
153a. Leaves ternately compound RANUNCULACEAE, p.
39.
153b. Leaves once-pinnately 50b, in ROSACEAE, p.
compound 55.
154a. Flowers irregular
— 155.
154b. Flowers regular
— 156.
40b, in
155a. Stamens 2 SCROPHULARIACEAE,
p. 104.
SAXIFRAGACEAE, p.
155b. Stamens 5 or 10
49.
155c. Stamens 6 or 8 POLYGALACEAE, p. 65.
156a. With sheathing
stipules surrounding POLYGONACEAE, p.
the stem at the base 24.
of each leaf
156b. Stipules not
encircling the stem,
or none — 157.

157a. Petals 3 CISTACEAE, p. 74.
157b. Petals 4 — 158.
157c. Petals 5 — 161.
158a. Stamens 2 — 159.
158b. Stamens 6 CRUCIFERAE, p. 42.
158c. Stamens 8 — 160.
159a. Corolla perfectly regular;
flowers in terminal clusters 52a, in CRUCIFERAE, p.
without bracts, becoming 46.
racemes; taste peppery
159b. Corolla slightly irregular; 40b, in
flowers in bracted clusters, or SCROPHULARIACEAE,
axillary; taste not peppery p. 104.
160a. Delicate trailing
evergreen, with
flowers solitary in 22b, in ERICACEAE, p.
the axils and nearly 85.
or quite hidden
beneath the leaves
160b. Erect or nearly so;
12b, in ONAGRACEAE,
flowers in terminal
p. 78.
clusters
161a. Leaves sword-shape, finely
2a, in UMBELLIFERAE,
parallel-veined, with bristly
p. 80.
margins
161b. Leaves not sword-shape
— 162.
162a. Leaves toothed or
lobed — 163.
162b. Leaves entire — 164.
2b, in UMBELLIFERAE,
163a. Stems creeping
p. 80.
SAXIFRAGACEAE, p.
163b. Stems erect or nearly so
49.
164a. Flowers in open SAXIFRAGACEAE, p.
panicles; leaves 49.

principally basal
164b. Flowers in rounded
or flattened clusters;
SANTALACEAE, p. 24.
leaves principally
on the stem
164c. Flowers in racemes,
which become
elongated at
maturity — 165.
8b, in PRIMULACEAE,
165a. Foliage glabrous
p. 87.
165b. Foliage pubescent BORAGINACEAE, p. 93.
— 166—
166a. Juice milky or
colored — 167.
166b. Juice watery, not
colored — 172.
167a. Apparent flowers consisting of
a few petal-like bracts,
inclosing a few inconspicuous EUPHORBIACEAE, p.
flowers without petals. In 66.
some of them a 3-lobed ovary
with 3 styles may be seen
167b. Plants of the composite type,
with several or many small
flowerets closely aggregated 11, in COMPOSITAE, p.
in dense heads subtended by a 115.
calyx-like involucre of small
bracts
167c. Flowers never aggregated in
involucred clusters
resembling a single flower
— 168.
168a. Corolla very
irregular; stamens LOBELIACEAE, p. 113
protruding

168b. Corolla regular
— 169.
169a. Stamens with ordinary visible
anthers; ovary 1 — 170.
169b. Stamens so grown together and
ASCLEPIADACEAE, p.
to the stigma as to be almost
90.
unrecognizable; ovaries 2
170a. Petals separate PAPAVERACEAE, p. 41.
170b. Petals united — 171.
171a. Stamens attached to the tube of CONVOLVULACEAE, p.
the corolla 91.
171b. Stamens attached at the very CAMPANULACEAE, p.
base of the corolla 112.
172a. Plants of the
composite type,
with several or
many small
flowerets closely
aggregated into
dense heads
subtended by a
calyx-like involucre
of small bracts
— 173.
172b. Flowers solitary or
clustered, but not in
involucred heads
— 174.
173a. True composites, without a
COMPOSITAE, p. 113.
normal calyx
173b. A normal calyx with each
floweret; leaves compound LEGUMINOSAE, p. 58.
with 3 leaflets
174a. Flowers irregular, i.
e., the conspicuous
lobes of the

perianth unlike in
size or shape
— 175.
174b. Flowers regular
— 185.
SCROPHULARIACEAE,
175a. Stamens 2 or 4
p. 101.
175b. Stamens 5 — 176.
175c. Stamens 6 — 181.
175d. Stamens 8; leaves simple POLYGALACEAE, p. 65.
175e. Stamens 10; leaves usually
LEGUMINOSAE, p. 58.
compound
175f. Stamens more than 10 — 183.
176a. Petals separate
— 177.
176b. Petals united — 179.
177a. Flowers greenish or purplish, SAXIFRAGACEAE, p.
in a panicle 49.
177b. Flowers white or purplish, in
UMBELLIFERAE, p. 80.
compound umbels
177c. Flowers solitary, or in few-
flowered clusters — 178.
178a. Flowers blue, yellow,
VIOLACEAE, p. 75.
or white, in spring
178b. Flowers red-orange
BALSAMINACEAE, p.
or yellow, in
71.
summer
178c. Flowers small and 1a, in VIOLACEAE, p.
greenish, in spring 75.
179a. Anthers united; stamens
protruding from the very LOBELIACEAE, p. 113.
irregular corolla
179b. Anthers separate; corolla
almost regular — 180.
180a. Corolla rotate; some 2, in
or all filaments SCROPHULARIACEAE,

hairy p. 101.
180b. Corolla funnel-form,
dull yellow and 12a, in SOLANACEAE,
purple; filaments p. 101.
not hairy
180c. Corolla funnel-form,
7b, in BORAGINACEAE,
blue or violet;
p. 94.
filaments not hairy
181a. Leaves compound or dissected FUMARIACEAE, p. 41.
181b. Leaves simple — 182.
ARISTOLOCHIACEAE,
182a. Flowers solitary
p. 25.
182b. Flowers in spikes,
POLYGALACEAE, p. 65.
heads, or racemes
183a. Leaves truly compound — 184.
6a, in
183b. Leaves palmately cleft; flowers
RANUNCULACEAE, p.
15 mm. wide or larger
36.
183c. Leaves irregularly cleft;
RESEDACEAE, p. 48.
flowers about 5 mm. wide
184a. Petals prolonged 6b, in
backward into RANUNCULACEAE, p.
hollow spurs 36.
184b. Petals not prolonged CAPPARIDACEAE, p.
into spurs 47.
— 185—
185a. Perianth consisting of one
circle of parts only (usually
considered to be the calyx)
— 186.
185b. Perianth consisting of both
calyx and corolla — 192.
186a. Leaves with POLYGONACEAE, p.
sheathing stipules 25.
encircling the stem

above the base of
every leaf
186b. Leaves without
sheathing stipules
— 187.
187a. Leaves entire — 188.
187b. Leaves toothed, lobed, or
compound — 190.
188a. Stamens 5 SANTALACEAE, p. 24.
188b. Stamens 6 — 189.
PHYTOLACCACEAE, p.
188c. Stamens 10
30.
189a. Perianth-lobes 3; perianth-tube ARISTOLOCHIACEAE,
curved p. 25.
189b. Perianth-lobes 6, spreading 4a, in LILIACEAE, p. 11.
190a. Stamens 5 UMBELLIFERAE, p. 80.
190b. Stamens 6 — 191.
RANUNCULACEAE, p.
190c. Stamens more than 6
35.
191a. Climbing plant with heart- 2a, in FUMARIACEAE,
shape perianth p. 41.
3b, in
191b. Erect plant, with spreading
BERBERIDACEAE, p.
perianth
40.
192a. Corolla composed of
united petals
— 193.
192b. Corolla composed of
separate petals
— 208.
SCROPHULARIACEAE,
193a. Stamens 2 or 4
p. 101.
CUCURBITACEAE, p.
193b. Stamens 3; climbing vines
112.
193c. Stamens 5 — 194.

2a, in FUMARIACEAE,
193d. Stamens 6
p. 41.
22b, in ERICACEAE, p.
193e. Stamens 8
85.
193f. Stamens 10 — 207.
193g. Stamens very numerous MALVACEAE, p. 72.
194a. Ovaries 2; flowers 7a, in
orange-red, in ASCLEPIADACEAE, p.
umbels 91.
194b. Ovary 1, deeply 4-
lobed; flowers in BORAGINACEAE, p. 93.
racemes
194c. Ovary 1, not deeply
lobed — 195.
195a. Climbing or scrambling vines
— 196.
195b. Not climbing or scrambling
— 198.
196a. Flowers about 1 cm.
wide — 197.
196b. Flowers 2-8 cm. CONVOLVULACEAE, p.
wide 91.
2b, in
197a. Leaves 1 cm. wide or less CAMPANULACEAE, p.
112.
4a, in SOLANACEAE, p.
197b. Leaves 2 cm. wide or more
100.
198a. Flowers solitary,
either terminal or
axillary — 199.
198b. Flowers in terminal
clusters — 201.
CONVOLVULACEAE, p.
199a. Calyx concealed by 2 bracts
91.
199b. Calyx not completely
concealed by bracts — 200.

200a. Ovary inferior,
appearing as a
swelling below the CAMPANULACEAE, p.
calyx at the base of 112.
the flower, 3-celled;
stigma 3-lobed
200b. Ovary superior,
located in the center SOLANACEAE, p. 100.
of the flower
201a. Some or all filaments hairy
— 202.
201b. Filaments not hairy — 203.
202a. Leaves lobed or HYDROPHYLLACEAE,
divided p. 93.
2, in
202b. Leaves not lobed SCROPHULARIACEAE,
p. 101.
203a. Anthers close together, longer 2, in SOLANACEAE, p.
than the filaments 100.
203b. Anthers separate from each
other — 204.
204a. Leaves compound or
very deeply lobed
— 205.
204b. Leaves simple or
with shallow lobes
only — 206.
205a. Leaf-segments linear or HYDROPHYLLACEAE,
oblong, irregular p. 93.
1a, in
205b. Leaves truly compound with
POLEMONIACEAE, p.
separate leaflets
92.
206a. Flowers greenish-
SOLANACEAE, p. 100.
yellow
206b. Flowers blue, violet, CAMPANULACEAE, p.
white, or 112.

intermediate tints
207a. Leaves simple ERICACEAE, p. 84.
207b. Leaves compound OXALIDACEAE, p. 64.
— 208—
208a. Petals 4 — 209.
208b. Petals 5 — 212.
208c. Petals 6 or more
— 227.
209a. Stamens 4 or 8 — 210.
209b. Stamens 6, 4 long and 2 short CRUCIFERAE, p. 42.
CAPPARIDACEAE, p.
209c. Stamens 9 or more
47.
210a. Leaves compound ROSACEAE, p. 51.
210b. Leaves simple
— 211.
211a. Ovary 1, inferior, appearing as
ONAGRACEAE, p. 78.
a swelling below the calyx
211b. Ovaries 4 or 5, in the center of
CRASSULACEAE, p. 48.
the flower
212a. Stamens with good
anthers 5 — 213.
212b. Stamens 6 to 10
— 217.
212c. Stamens more than
10 — 222.
12b, in
213a. Flowers solitary, terminating
SAXIFRAGACEAE, p.
the stem
50.
213b. Flowers axillary, solitary or in
small clusters — 214.
213c. Flowers several, in loose
irregular terminal clusters; LINACEAE, p. 63.
leaves simple
213d. Flowers in slender spike-like 50b, in ROSACEAE, p.
racemes; leaves compound 55.

20a, in
213e. Flowers in panicles SAXIFRAGACEAE, p.
50.
213f. Flowers in umbels — 216.
25b, in LEGUMINOSAE,
214a. Leaves compound
p. 60.
214b. Leaves simple
— 215.
215a. Flowers blue or yellow, erect or
LINACEAE, p. 63.
spreading
1a, in VIOLACEAE, p.
215b. Flowers greenish, nodding
75.
216a. Flowers pink or
GERANIACEAE, p. 64.
purple
216b. Flowers yellow or
UMBELLIFERAE, p. 80.
white
217a. Leaves compound with 3
leaflets — 218.
217b. Leaves pinnately compound
— 219.
217c. Leaves deeply palmately lobed GERANIACEAE, p. 64.
217d. Leaves simple and not deeply
lobed — 220.
218a. Leaflets reverse
heart-shape; flowers OXALIDACEAE, p. 64.
yellow
218b. Leaflets taper-
pointed; flowers 73, in ROSACEAE, p. 57.
white or pink
24, in LEGUMINOSAE,
219a. Leaflets entire
p. 60.
50b, in ROSACEAE, p.
219b. Leaflets toothed
55.
220a. Prostrate plants, with 3, in
thick, fleshy, entire PORTULACACEAE, p.
leaves 34.

220b. Bushy branched
plants, with small
2a, in CISTACEAE, p. 74.
gray leaves
concealing the stem
220c. Erect or spreading
plants — 221.
4a, in ERICACEAE, p.
221a. Ovary 1, style 1
84.
SAXIFRAGACEAE, p.
221b. Ovary with 2 distinct styles
49.
221c. Ovaries 5; styles 5 CRASSULACEAE, p. 48.
222a. Stamens united by
their filaments into MALVACEAE, p. 72.
a tube
222b. Stamens separate
from each other
— 223.
223a. Leaves with stipules; ovaries
ROSACEAE, p. 51.
more than 1
223b. Leaves without stipules
— 224.
224a. Leaves toothed,
RANUNCULACEAE, p.
deeply lobed, or
35.
compound
224b. Leaves entire — 225.
RANUNCULACEAE, p.
225a. Ovaries numerous
35.
225b. Ovary 1 — 226.
PORTULACACEAE, p.
226a. Sepals 2
34.
226b. Sepals 3 or 5 CISTACEAE, p. 74.
— 227—
227a. Leaves entire LYTHRACEAE, p. 77.
227b. Leaves lobed, divided,
dissected, or compound
— 228.

228a. Flowers in slender
RESEDACEAE, p. 48.
racemes
228b. Flowers solitary or
clustered, but not in
slender racemes
— 229.
3b, in
229a. Stamens 6 BERBERIDACEAE, p.
40.
RANUNCULACEAE, p.
229b. Stamens numerous
35.

THE PLANTS OF MICHIGAN

PINACEAE, the Pine Family

Trees or shrubs, usually evergreen, with needle-like or scale-like leaves;
fruit a cone or berry.
1a. Leaves in clusters of 2-5 — 2.
1b. Leaves mostly in clusters of 10 or more,
Tamarack, Larix
on short lateral wart-like branches,
laricina.
deciduous each autumn
1c. Leaves not in clusters — 4.
White Pine, Pinus
2a. Leaves in clusters of 5
strobus.
2b. Leaves in clusters of 2 or 3
— 3.
Norway Pine,
3a. Leaves 8-15 cm. long
Pinus resinosa.
Jack Pine, Pinus
3b. Leaves 2-4 cm. long
banksiana.
4a. Leaves alternate or scattered
— 5.
4b. Leaves opposite or whorled
— 8.
5a. Leaves four-sided — 6.
5b. Leaves flattened — 7.
Black Spruce,
6a. Leaves 6-12 mm. long
Picea mariana.
White Spruce,
6b. Leaves 15-25 mm. long
Picea canadensis.

Hemlock, Tsuga
7a. Leaves short-stalked, 15 mm. long or less
canadensis.
Balsam, Abies
7b. Leaves sessile, 15-30 mm. long
balsamea.
White Cedar,
8a. Leafy twigs soft and flattened
Thuja occidentalis.
8b. Leafy twigs not distinctly
flattened — 9.
9a. Leaves opposite — 10.
9b. Leaves in whorls of three — 11.
Red Cedar,
10a. Erect shrub or tree Juniperus
virginiana.
Creeping Cedar,
10b. Prostrate or spreading shrub Juniperus
horizontalis.
Juniper, Juniperus
11a. Erect shrub or small tree
communis.
Low Juniper,
11b. Spreading or ascending shrub, growing Juniperus
in dense mats communis var.
depressa.

TAXACEAE, the Yew Family

Shrubs, with needle-like evergreen leaves; fruit red and berry-like.
One species in Michigan; straggling shrub 1- Ground Hemlock,
3 m. high Taxus canadensis.

TYPHACEAE, the Cat-tail Family

Erect plants 1-2 m. high, with linear leaves and terminal spikes of brown
flowers, appearing in summer.
1a. Staminate and pistillate portions of the
Common Cat-tail,
flower-spike contiguous, the latter
Typha latifolia.
2.5 cm. in diameter
1b. Staminate and pistillate portions of the Narrow-leaved
spike separated, the latter 2 cm. or Cat-tail, Typha
less in diameter angustifolia.

SPARGANIACEAE, the Bur-reed Family

Marsh plants with linear leaves and spherical heads of inconspicuous
greenish flowers, appearing in summer.
Bur-reed,
About 5 species occur in Michigan, of which
Sparganium
the commonest is
eurycarpum.

NAJADACEAE, the Pondweed Family

Aquatic plants with submerged or floating leaves and inconspicuous
flowers in summer.
1a. Leaves opposite or whorled — 2.
1b. Leaves alternate — 2c.
Horned
2a. Leaves thread-like, 3-8 cm. Pondweed,
long Zannichellia
palustris.
2b. Leaves linear, toothed, abruptly
dilated at the base, 3 cm.
long or less (Naiad) — 3.

2c. Leaves entire, not abruptly [2]
Pondweed,
dilated at base Potamogeton spp.
3a. Leaves about 2 mm. wide, sharply and Naiad, Naias
coarsely toothed marina.
3b. Leaves very narrowly linear, with Naiad, Naias
numerous minute teeth flexilis.

JUNCAGINACEAE, the Arrow Grass Family

Marsh plants, with linear cylindrical leaves and inconspicuous flowers in
spikes or racemes, appearing in early summer.
1a. Leaves all basal; flowers numerous in a
spike-like raceme (Arrow Grass)
— 2.
Scheuchzeria,
1b. Stem-leaves present; flowers in a loose
Scheuchzeria
bracted raceme (1-3 dm. high).
palustris.
2a. Fruit (usually to be seen at the
Arrow Grass,
base of the raceme) ovoid
Triglochin
or oblong, rounded at the
maritima.
base
Arrow Grass,
2b. Fruit linear, narrowed at the
Triglochin
base (1-5 dm. high)
palustris.

ALISMACEAE, the Water Plantain Family

Marsh plants, with scape-like stems; flowers with 3 green sepals, 3 white
petals, 6 or more stamens, and several separate pistils.

Water Plantain,
1a. Ovaries in a ring; flowers in panicles (2-8
Alisma Plantago-
dm. high, summer)
aquatica.
1b. Ovaries in a head; flowers in racemes or
umbels — 2.
2a. Flowers all perfect, in a single
Dwarf Water
umbel of 2-8 flowers;
Plantain,
stamens 9 (leaves
Echinodorus
lanceolate; 15 cm. high or
tenellus.
less; summer)
2b. Flowers in a raceme of 3-
flowered whorls, the lower
pistillate, the upper
staminate; stamens usually
more than nine (1-10 dm.
high, summer) (Arrow-
head) — 3.
3a. Leaves ovate to linear, not sagittate at
base — 4.
3b. Leaves broad or narrow, sagittate at base
— 5.
4a. Pistillate (basal) flowers sessile Arrow-head,
or nearly so (2-8 dm. high, Sagittaria
summer) heterophylla.
Arrow-head,
4b. Pistillate flowers with obvious
Sagittaria
pedicels
graminea.
5a. Basal lobes of the leaf conspicuous,
triangular, almost or quite as long as
the terminal portion — 6.
5b. Basal lobes small, short, linear — 4b.
6a. Beak of the achene very short Arrow-head,
and erect; rare species Sagittaria arifolia.
6b. Beak of the achene sharp,
Arrow-head,
incurved at right angles to
Sagittaria latifolia.
the body; common species

HYDROCHARITACEAE, the Frog's Bit Family

Submerged aquatics, with inconspicuous flowers in summer.
Eel Grass,
1a. Leaves all from the base, 2 dm. long or
Vallisneria
more
spiralis.
Water-weed,
1b. Leaves on the stem, 2 cm. long or less
Elodea canadensis.

GRAMINEAE, the Grass Family

Grasses, with linear or narrow sheathing leaves, and very small flowers
without perianth in the axils of chaffy bracts, appearing in late spring and
summer.
Of the large number (over 150) of grasses in Michigan, only the commonest
are included here, and the student is referred to the Manuals for a full
treatment of them.
Their classification depends chiefly upon the structure and arrangement of
the spikelets. These consist typically of a short axis, the rachilla, almost or
quite concealed by several chaffy bracts. The two lower bracts are termed
glumes, and have no flowers in their axils. Above the glumes are two or
more other bracts, the lemmas. In the axil of each lemma, and usually
concealed by it, is a smaller bract, the palea, and between the lemma and
the palea is a single flower. The number of flowers in a spikelet is therefore
normally equal to the number of lemmas. The spikelets are grouped in
racemes, spikes, or panicles of various size.
1a. Spikelets one-flowered — 2.
1b. Spikelets with 2 or more flowers — 24.

2a. Spikelets grouped into dense
solitary cylindrical spikes
— 3.
2b. Spikelets arranged in panicles
or in panicled spikes — 8.
3a. Spikelets without awns or bristles, or
with short awns not more than 3 mm.
long — 4.
Squirrel-tail,
3b. Spikelets with awns 2-5 cm. long,
Hordeum
terminating the bracts
jubatum.
3c. Bracts of the spikelet without terminal
awns, but the spikelets with one or
more long bristles arising from their
base — 6.
4a. Spike-like panicle thickened in Beach Grass,
the middle, more than 1 Ammophila
cm. thick arenaria.
4b. Spike little or not at all
thickened in the middle,
less than 1 cm. thick — 5.
5a. Lower bracts awned; stem erect, Timothy, Phleum
unbranched pratense.
Floating Foxtail,
5b. Lower scales unawned; stem branched at
Alopecurus
the base
geniculatus.
6a. Bristles 5 or more at the base Yellow Foxtail,
of each spikelet Setaria glauca.
6b. Bristles 1-3 at the base of each
spikelet — 7.
7a. Spikelets about 2 mm. long; bristles not Green Foxtail,
much longer, green Setaria viridis.
7b. Spikelets about 3 mm. long; bristles Millet, Setaria
much longer, usually purple italica.
8a. Spikelets numerous, in long
slender symmetrical spikes

— 9.
8b. Spikelets in panicles, racemes,
or loose spikes — 13.
9a. Spikelets without awns; plants 8 dm.
high or less (Crab Grass) — 10.
9b. Spikelets with awns; plants 12 dm. high
or more — 12.
Crab Grass,
10a. Leaf-sheaths all glabrous. Digitaria
humifusa.
10b. Lower leaf-sheaths hairy
— 11.
Crab Grass,
11a. Axis of the spike flat, with wing-like
Digitaria
margins
sanguinalis.
Crab Grass,
11b. Axis of the spike slender, without
Digitaria
winged margins
filiformis.
12a. Spikes numerous, appressed Slough Grass,
to the axis of the panicle; Spartina
tall marsh grass michauxiana.
Blue-joint,
12b. Spikes 2-6, widely divergent;
Andropogon
plant of dry ground
furcatus.
Sand Bur,
13a. Spikelets subtended by an ovoid thorny
Cenchrus
involucre 3-8 mm. wide
carolinianus.
13b. Spikelets without a thorny involucre
— 14.
14a. Lower branches of the panicle
spreading, bearing
staminate flowers, the Wild Rice, Zizania
upper branches erect, with aquatica.
pistillate flowers; aquatic
or marsh grass 2-4 m. high

14b. Panicle uniform throughout
— 15.
15a. Spikelets with awns 2 mm. or more long
— 16.
15b. Spikelets not awned, or with short
inconspicuous awns — 18.
16a. Spikelets in solitary raceme- Beard Grass,
like spikes; awn about 1 Andropogon
cm. long or more scoparius.
16b. Spikelets in branching
clusters; awn less than 1
cm. long — 17.
Drop-seed,
17a. Leaf-blade 4 mm. wide or narrower;
Muhlenbergia
panicle slender
schreberi.
Barnyard Grass,
17b. Leaf-blade 6 mm. wide or more; panicle
Echinochloa crus-
stout and coarse
galli.
18a. Spikelet plump and compact,
its bracts closely folded
about each other — 19.
18b. Spikelet very flat, its two
Cut-grass, Leersia
bracts closely folded
oryzoides.
together
18c. Spikelet loose and open,
somewhat flattened, its 3
bracts ascending or
spreading and not closely
folded about each other
— 20.
19a. Panicle about half as long as the entire Witch Grass,
plant; leaves copiously hairy Panicum capillare.
Panic-grasses,
19b. Panicle of smaller size various species of
Panicum.

20a. Panicle strongly contracted or
spike-like; plants of sand-
dunes — 4a.
20b. Panicle spreading or slightly
contracted; axis of the Reed Grass,
spikelet beset with bristles; Calamagrostis
leaves 2 dm. long or more; canadensis.
marsh grass
20c. Panicle spreading or
somewhat contracted, but
not spike-like; axis of the
spikelet without bristles
— 21.
21a. Panicle-branches erect or ascending
— 22.
21b. Panicle-branches strongly spreading
— 23.
22a. The two outer scales of the
spikelet one-fourth as long
as the third scale, or
sometimes one of them
absent — 17a.
Wood-grass,
22b. The glumes at least half as
Muhlenbergia
long as the lemma
mexicana.
23a. The chief lateral branches of the panicle
Red-top, Agrostis
dividing and bearing flowers below
alba.
their middle
23b. The chief branches of the panicle Hair Grass,
dividing only beyond the middle Agrostis hyemalis.
24a. Spikelets arranged in two
rows to form a definite
spike — 25.
24b. Spikelets in panicles, never in
definite rows — 29.

25a. Spikelets in a single row on one side of Yard Grass,
the axis, forming a one-sided spike Eleusine indica.
25b. Spikelets alternating on opposite sides
of the axis, forming a two-rowed
spike — 26.
26a. Spikelets in pairs at each
joint, forming a dense spike
(Wild Rye) — 27.
26b. Spikelets single at each joint,
forming a loose, open or
interrupted spike — 28.
Wild Rye, Elymus
27a. Glumes lanceolate
canadensis.
Wild Rye, Elymus
27b. Glumes narrowly subulate
virginicus.
28a. Spikelets with their edges Rye Grass, Lolium
toward the axis of the spike perenne.
28b. Spikelets with their sides Quack Grass,
toward the axis of the spike Agropyron repens.
29a. Glumes longer than the lemmas Oats, Avena sativa.
29b. Glumes shorter than the lemmas — 30.
30a. Axis of the spikelet beset with
conspicuous long hairs Reed, Phragmites
about equaling the lemmas; communis.
tall marsh grass 1-4 m. high
30b. Spikelets without conspicuous
long hairs — 31.
31a. Spikelets sessile or nearly so, forming
crowded or spike-like panicles — 32.
31b. Spikelets distinctly panicled — 33.
32a. Spikelets in dense one-sided Orchard Grass,
clusters at the ends of the Dactylis
panicle branches glomerata.
32b. Spikelets in an erect spike- Prairie June-grass,
like cluster Koeleria cristata.

33a. Lemmas, exclusive of the awn when
present, 8 mm. long or more — 34.
33b. Lemmas, exclusive of the awn when
present, 6 mm. long or less — 35.
34a. Awns on the lemmas 12 mm. Brome-grass,
long or more Bromus tectorum.
34b. Awns on the lemmas 8 mm. Cheat, Bromus
long or less, or none secalinus.
35a. Lemmas with 7 sharp conspicuous veins Manna Grass,
from base to apex Glyceria nervata.
35b. Lemmas with 3-5 inconspicuous veins
— 36.
36a. Spikelets with 5 flowers or
more — 37.
36b. Spikelets with 2-4 (rarely 5)
flowers — 40.
37a. Stems tufted and decumbent at base
(Love Grass) — 38.
37b. Stems erect (Fescue Grass) — 39.
Love Grass,
38a. Spikelets 1.5 mm. wide
Eragrostis pilosa.
Love Grass,
38b. Spikelets 3 mm. wide Eragrostis
megastachya.
Fescue Grass,
39a. Lemmas with conspicuous awns
Festuca octoflora.
Fescue Grass,
39b. Lemmas without awns
Festuca elatior.
Spear Grass, Poa
40a. Tufted annual grass
annua.
40b. Perennials, with erect
flowering stems — 41.
Blue Grass, Poa
41a. Stems round
pratensis.
41b. Stems strongly flattened Canadian Blue
Grass, Poa

compressa.

CYPERACEAE, the Sedge Family

Grass-like or rush-like plants, with linear leaves or leafless, and
inconspicuous flowers in small chaffy spikes.
Over 200 species occur in Michigan, of which only the commonest are
included here. For the remaining species the Manuals should be consulted.
1a. Spikes all alike — 2.
1b. The uppermost spike or spikes wholly
staminate, the lower one or more
pistillate; ovary and achene
surrounded by a sac, the perigynium.
Mature fruit is necessary for
satisfactory identification (Sedge)
— 12.
2a. Stems leafless, bearing one or
more spikes at or near the
top — 3.
2b. Stems leafy — 6.
3a. Spike one, terminal and erect (Spike
Rush) — 4.
3b. Spikes usually more than one, lateral and
spreading — 5.
Spike Rush,
4a. Annual, with fibrous roots
Eleocharis obtusa.
Spike Rush,
4b. Perennial, with a running
Eleocharis
rootstock
palustris.
Bulrush, Scirpus
5a. Stem round
validus.
Three-square,
5b. Stem 3-cornered Scirpus
americanus.

Dulichium,
6a. Spikes axillary along the side
Dulichium,
of the stem
arundinaceum.
6b. Spikes terminal — 7.
7a. Spikes subtended by long conspicuous
leaves which greatly exceed the
flower clusters — 8.
7b. Spikes not conspicuously exceeded by
the bract-like leaves — 10.
8a. Spikes in a dense head-like Cotton Grass,
cluster, white-woolly at Eriophorum
maturity virginicum.
8b. Spikes not in dense heads, nor
white-woolly at maturity
— 9.
Nut Grass,
9a. Perennial by a creeping rootstock Cyperus
esculentus.
Cyperus, Cyperus
9b. Perennial by hard basal corms
strigosus.
Twig Rush,
10a. Bracts of the spike chestnut-
Cladium
brown
mariscoides.
10b. Bracts of the spike green or
straw-color (Sedge) — 11.
Sedge, Carex
11a. Spikes 3-8, separate
straminea.
11b. Spikes very numerous and densely Sedge, Carex
crowded vulpinoidea.
Sedge, Carex
12a. Achenes flattened
crinita.
12b. Achenes 3-angled — 13.
13a. Perigynium tipped with a sharp straight
2-toothed beak — 14.
13b. Perigynium with a short soft beak
— 17.

14a. Perigynium thin and papery,
loosely enclosing the
achene — 15.
14b. Perigynium firm, closely
enclosing the achene — 16.
Sedge, Carex
15a. Perigynium less than 1 cm. long
hystericina.
Sedge, Carex
15b. Perigynium more than 1 cm. long
lupulina.
Sedge, Carex
16a. Perigynium smooth
riparia.
Sedge, Carex
16b. Perigynium hairy
filiformis.
17a. Beak of the perigynium bent abruptly to Sedge, Carex
one side laxiflora.
Sedge, Carex
17b. Beak of the perigynium straight
pennsylvanica.

ARACEAE, the Arum Family

Individual flowers small, but crowded on a fleshy spadix to form a
conspicuous spike, usually surrounded by a green or colored spathe.
1a. Leaves compound — 2.
1b. Leaves simple — 3.
2a. Leaflets 3, spathe pale green or Indian Turnip,
purple (3-6 dm. high; Arisaema
spring) triphyllum.
2b. Leaflets 7-11; spathe green; Dragon Root,
spadix long and slender (3- Arisaema
8 dm. high; late spring) dracontium.
3a. Leaves linear, sword-shape; spathe none Sweet Flag, Acorus
(5-15 dm. high; early summer) calamus.

3b. Leaves broader than linear; spathe
present — 4.
4a. Flower clusters partly Skunk Cabbage,
underground, appearing in Symplocarpus
earliest spring foetidus.
4b. Flower clusters peduncled, in
early summer — 5.
5a. Leaves broadly ovate-cordate; spathe Water Arum,
white Calla palustris.
Arrow Arum,
5b. Leaves more or less sagittate; spathe
Peltandra
green
virginica.

LEMNACEAE, the Duckweed Family

Minute leafless plants floating on quiet water; flowers exceedingly small
and seldom seen.
1a. Plant thick, ovoid, less than 2 mm. long;
roots none. Two species are reported Wolffia spp.
from Michigan
1b. Plant flattened, with short roots — 2.
Duckweed,
2a. Roots several from each
Spirodela
rounded plant
polyrhiza.
2b. Root single from each rounded Duckweed, Lemna
plant spp.
Three species are reported from
Michigan, of which the
commonest is Lemna
minor.

ERIOCAULACEAE, the Pipewort Family

Bog or marsh herbs, with small flowers in heads terminating long slender
scapes.
One species in Michigan; leaves linear and Pipewort,
basal; flower-stalk 5-15 cm. high; Eriocaulon
flower-heads whitish or lead-color articulatum.

XYRIDACEAE, the Yellow-eyed Grass Famil

Small herbs with basal leaves and erect flower-stalks bearing a head of
perfect yellow flowers, in summer.
1a. Base of plant bulbous-thickened (3-6 dm. Yellow-eyed Grass,
high) Xyris flexuosa.
1b. Base of plant not bulbous-thickened (1-3 Yellow-eyed Grass,
dm. high) Xyris montana.

COMMELINACEAE, the Spiderwort Family

Leafy-stemmed herbs; flowers with 3 sepals, 3 petals, and 6 stamens,
lasting but a single day; petals blue.
1a. Stamens 6; petals all equal (Spiderwort)
— 2.
1b. Perfect stamens 3, sterile stamens 3; two Day-flower,
of the petals larger than the third (3-6 Commelina
dm. high; summer) virginica.
Spiderwort,
2a. Sepals villous (3-10 dm. high;
Tradescantia
late spring)
virginiana.

2b. Sepals glabrous, or with a tuft Spiderwort,
of hairs at the apex (4-10 Tradescantia
dm. high; late spring) reflexa.

PONTEDERIACEAE, the Pickerel-weed Family

Aquatic herbs, with 6 rather conspicuous petals; flowers in summer.
Pickerel-weed,
1a. Flowers blue; leaves cordate-sagittate (3-
Pontederia
10 dm. high)
cordata.
Mud Plantain,
1b. Flowers yellow; leaves linear
Heteranthera
(submerged)
dubia.

JUNCACEAE, the Rush Family

Grass-like or rush-like plants, with inconspicuous greenish or brownish
flowers, of 3 chaffy or scale-like sepals and as many similar petals.
1a. Leaf-sheaths closed; capsule 1-celled and
3-seeded; stem or leaves usually
hairy at or near the base (1-4 dm.
high). (Wood Rush) — 2.
1b. Leaf-sheaths open; capsule many-seeded;
plants never hairy — 4.
2a. Flowers solitary at the ends of
Wood Rush,
the branches of the umbel-
Luzula saltuensis.
like cluster (spring)
2b. Flowers in spikes or dense
clusters — 3.

3a. Flower-cluster spike-like, nodding at the Wood Rush,
tip (summer) Luzula spicata.
Wood Rush,
3b. Flower-cluster umbel-like (spring) Luzula campestris
var. multiflora.
4. The genus Juncus, or Rush,
contains about 25 species
in Michigan, blooming in
summer or autumn. For
their identification the
Manuals should be
consulted. One of the
commonest species is
Juncus effusus, growing in
marshes, with erect leafless
cylindrical stems, bearing a
lateral cluster of flowers
near the summit. Another
common species is Juncus
tenuis, with slender stems
and linear leaves, growing
in hard ground, especially
in woodland paths.

LILIACEAE, the Lily Family

Herbs or twining shrubs, with generally conspicuous flowers; sepals and
petals each 3, and usually colored alike, stamens 6, ovary 3-celled, superior.
In one species the perianth is 4-parted and the stamens are 4.
1a. Flowers or flower-clusters lateral,
axillary or apparently so — 2.
1b. Flowers or flower-clusters scapose or
terminal — 12.

2a. Leaves minute and scale-like Asparagus,
(7-15 dm. high; flowers Asparagus
greenish-yellow, June) officinalis.
2b. Leaves broad and flat, not
scale-like — 3.
3a. Flowers numerous in rounded umbels;
perianth-segments nearly separate;
leaves long-petioled — 4.
3b. Flowers in clusters of 1-8; leaves short-
petioled, sessile, or clasping — 8.
4a. Stems herbaceous (flowers
greenish-yellow, ill-
scented) (Carrion-flower)
— 5.
4b. Stems woody, thorny, climbing
(flowers greenish-yellow,
early summer) (Green
Brier) — 7.
5a. Stems climbing by tendrils — 6.
5b. Stem not climbing; only the upper Carrion-flower,
leaves, or none, with tendrils Smilax ecirrhata.
Carrion-flower,
6a. Leaves smooth beneath.
Smilax herbacea.
Carrion-flower,
6b. Leaves minutely pubescent
Smilax herbacea
beneath when mature
var. pulverulenta.
Green Brier,
7a. Leaves with 5 principal veins. Smilax
rotundifolia.
Green Brier,
7b. Leaves with 7 principal veins.
Smilax hispida.
8a. Perianth-segments united into a
tube (flowers axillary, late
spring) (Solomon's Seal)
— 9.

8b. Perianth-segments separate (2-
8 dm. high; spring)
(Twisted-stalk) — 10.
9a. Leaves minutely pubescent beneath;
Small Solomon's
filaments rough, inserted at three-
Seal, Polygonatum
fourths the length of the perianth (3-8
biflorum.
dm. high)
9b. Leaves smooth beneath; filaments Great Solomon's
smooth, inserted at the middle of the Seal, Polygonatum
perianth tube (5-15 dm. high) commutatum.
10a. Leaves distinctly clasping the Twisted-stalk,
stem; flowers greenish- Streptopus
white amplexifolius.
10b. Leaves closely sessile;
flowers reddish to purple
— 11.
11a. Rootstock short and thick; berries Twisted-stalk,
spherical Streptopus roseus.
Twisted-stalk,
11b. Rootstock long and slender; berries 3-
Streptopus
angled
longipes.
12a. Perianth-segments 5-12 cm.
long — 13.
12b. Perianth-segments shorter
than 5 cm. — 19.
13a. Leaves all or chiefly basal, stem-leaves
bract-like or none — 14.
13b. Leaves chiefly or entirely on the stem
— 15.
14a. Leaves numerous, linear or Day Lily,
sword-shape (flowers Hemerocallis
orange, summer) fulva.
14b. Leaves a single pair, oblong
or lanceolate — 21.
15a. Leaves a single whorl of 3 (Wake
Robin, Trillium) — 22.

15b. Leaves numerous (6-12 dm. high;
flowers yellow, orange, or red, in
summer) (Lily) — 16.
16a. Flowers erect — 17.
16b. Flowers nodding — 18.
17a. Leaves narrowly lanceolate, 6-15 mm. Wood Lily, Lilium
wide, mostly whorled philadelphicum.
Wood Lily, Lilium
17b. Leaves linear, 5 mm. wide or less,
philadelphicum
almost all alternate
var. andinum.
18a. Perianth-segments strongly Turk's-cap Lily,
revolute Lilium superbum.
18b. Perianth-segments half- Yellow Lily, Lilium
recurved canadense.
19a. Flower solitary — 20.
19b. Flowers in clusters, not solitary — 31.
20a. Stem with a single pair of
basal leaves (Dog's-tooth
Violet) — 21.
20b. Stem with a single whorl of 3
leaves (1-3 dm. high;
spring) (Wake Robin,
Trillium) — 22.
20c. Stem leafy (Bellwort) — 29.
Dog's-tooth Violet,
21a. Perianth yellow Erythronium
americanum.
Dog's-tooth Violet,
21b. Perianth white, bluish, or pinkish Erythronium
albidum.
22a. Flower sessile, red or brown
— 23.
22b. Flower peduncled, white or
pink, rarely red — 24.
Wake Robin,
23a. Leaves sessile, sepals spreading
Trillium sessile.

Wake Robin,
23b. Leaves short-petioled, sepals reflexed Trillium
recurvatum.
24a. Ovary with 6 distinct wing-
like angles — 25.
24b. Ovary obtusely 3-angled or
lobed — 28.
25a. Stamens distinctly longer than the pistil
— 26.
25b. Stamens equaling or shorter than the
pistil — 27.
Wake Robin,
26a. Stigmas erect or nearly so,
Trillium
slender
grandiflorum.
26b. Stigmas strongly recurved or Wake Robin,
spreading Trillium erectum.
Wake Robin,
27a. Filaments about as long as the anthers
Trillium cernuum.
Wake Robin,
27b. Filaments half as long as the anthers or
Trillium
shorter
declinatum.
Dwarf White
28a. Leaves obtuse; petals obtuse,
Trillium, Trillium
white
nivale.
28b. Leaves acuminate; petals Painted Trillium,
acute, purple-striped at Trillium
base undulatum.
29a. Leaves sessile (3-6 dm. high; flowers Bellwort, Oakesia
yellow, spring) sessilifolia.
29b. Leaves perfoliate (4-6 dm. high; flowers
yellow, in spring) — 30.
30a. Leaves minutely pubescent Bellwort, Uvularia
beneath grandiflora.
30b. Leaves glabrous and all Bellwort, Uvularia
glaucous perfoliata.

31a. Stem bearing 2 whorls of 3-9 leaves (3- Indian Cucumber-
6 dm. high; flowers pale yellow, early root, Medeola
summer) virginiana.
31b. Stem-leaves not whorled, or all leaves
basal — 32.
32a. Flowers in umbels — 33.
32b. Flowers in racemes or
panicles — 38.
33a. Plant with the odor of onions or garlic
(leaves all or chiefly basal; flower-
stalks 2-8 dm. high, late spring or
summer) — 34.
33b. Plant not with the odor of onions
(leaves basal; flower-stalks 2-3 dm. Clintonia,
high, with an umbel of 3-6 greenish- Clintonia borealis.
yellow flowers in late spring)
34a. Leaves oblong, 2-5 cm. wide,
not present when the plants Wild Leek, Allium
are in bloom (greenish- tricoccum.
white flowers)
34b. Leaves linear, present with
the flowers — 35.
35a. Umbel nodding or horizontal (petals Wild Onion,
rose-color) Allium cernuum.
35b. Umbel erect — 36.
36a. Pedicels longer than the
flowers — 37.
Wild Chives,
36b. Pedicels equaling or shorter
Allium
than the flowers (petals
schoenoprasum
rose-purple)
var. sibiricum.
Wild Onion,
37a. Leaves flattened; flowers pink to white
Allium canadense.
37b. Leaves cylindrical; flowers greenish to Field Garlic,
purple Allium vineale.

38a. Leaves lanceolate to ovate,
not more than 8 times as
long as broad — 39.
38b. Leaves linear or grass-like, at
least 12 times as long as
broad — 45.
39a. Principal leaves all basal, stem-leaves
none or bract-like — 40.
39b. Principal leaves on the stem — 41.
40a. Flowers in a spike-like
raceme (4-10 dm. high; Colic-root, Aletris
small white flowers in farinosa.
summer)
40b. Flowers in an umbel-like
cluster — 34b.
Wild Lily of the
41a. Perianth-segments 4 (1-2 dm. high; Valley,
flowers white, early summer) Maianthemum
canadense.
41b. Perianth-segments 6 — 42.
42a. Styles 3; flowers dioecious (3- Blazing Star,
10 dm. high; flowers white, Chamaelirium
early summer) luteum.
42b. Style 1; flowers perfect,
white, in spring (False
Solomon's Seal) — 43.
False Solomon's
43a. Flowers panicled (3-6 dm. high) Seal, Smilacina
racemosa.
43b. Flowers racemed — 44.
False Solomon's
44a. Leaves 2-4, usually 3 (1-2
Seal, Smilacina
dm. high)
trifolia.
False Solomon's
44b. Leaves 5-12 (2-5 dm. high) Seal, Smilacina
stellata.

Grape Hyacinth,
45a. Flowers bright blue; perianth-segments
Muscari
united (2-3 dm. high, spring)
botryoides.
45b. Flowers blue, greenish, yellowish, or
white; perianth-segments separate
— 46.
46a. Flowers 1 cm. wide, or
smaller (white or greenish,
in racemes, late spring or
summer) (False Asphodel)
— 47.
46b. Flowers 1.5 cm. wide, or
larger — 48.
False Asphodel,
47a. Stem glabrous (2 dm. high or less)
Tofieldia palustris.
False Asphodel,
47b. Stem viscid-pubescent (1-5 dm. high)
Tofieldia glutinosa.
48a. Perianth-segments with 2
glands near the base (3-8 Zygadenus,
dm. high; greenish-white Zygadenus
panicled flowers in chloranthus.
summer)
48b. Perianth-segments without
glands — 49.
49a. Plant 3-5 dm. tall; flowers blue or Wild Hyacinth,
nearly white, in long racemes (early Camassia
summer) esculenta.
49b. Plant 1-3 dm. tall; flowers greenish- Star of Bethlehem,
white, in short corymb-like racemes Ornithogalum
(spring) umbellatum.

DIOSCOREACEAE, the Yam Family

Twining herbs with net-veined leaves and greenish or white flowers in
panicles or racemes.
One species in Michigan; leaves ovate- Wild Yam,
cordate; flowers in summer Dioscorea villosa.

AMARYLLIDACEAE, the Amaryllis Family

Plants with linear basal leaves, and perfect flowers, with 6-parted perianth,
inferior ovary, and 6 stamens.
One species in Michigan; 1-2 dm. high; Star Grass,
flowers yellow, 1 cm. wide, in spring Hypoxis hirsuta.

IRIDACEAE, the Iris Family

Herbs, with 6-parted perianth, inferior ovary, and 3 stamens.
1a. Flowers blue, 5 cm. wide or larger — 2.
1b. Flowers about 1 cm. wide (blue or white,
from a spathe terminating a 2-edged
stem 2-5 dm. high, spring and early
summer) (Blue-eyed Grass) — 3.
2a. Flowering stems 4-8 dm. high Blue Flag, Iris
(early summer) versicolor.
2b. Flowering stems 2 dm. or less Dwarf Iris, Iris
high (spring) lacustris.
3a. Spathes terminal, sessile — 4.
3b. Spathes long-peduncled, axillary — 8.
4a. Spathe single — 5.
4b. Spathes 2 on each flowering
stem — 7.

Blue-eyed Grass,
5a. Pedicels much longer than the inner
Sisyrinchium
(shorter) bract
mucronatum.
5b. Pedicels equaling or barely exceeding the
inner bract — 6.
Blue-eyed Grass,
6a. Capsule brown; common
Sisyrinchium
species
angustifolium.
Blue-eyed Grass,
6b. Capsule green or yellowish;
Sisyrinchium
rare species
montanum.
Blue-eyed Grass,
7a. Leaves folded lengthwise; stems
Sisyrinchium
narrowly winged
hastile.
Blue-eyed Grass,
7b. Leaves flat; stem broadly winged, 2-3
Sisyrinchium
mm. wide
albidum.
8a. Capsules pale straw-color or
whitish — 9.
8b. Capsules brown, or tinged with
purple — 10.
Blue-eyed Grass,
9a. Plant with straight fibrous bristles at
Sisyrinchium
base; pedicels long-exserted
farwellii.
Blue-eyed Grass,
9b. Plants not bristly at base; pedicels barely
Sisyrinchium
exserted
strictum.
10a. Pedicels scarcely exceeding
the inner bract — 6a.
10b. Pedicels much exceeding the
inner bract — 11.
Blue-eyed Grass,
11a. Stem 2-6 mm. wide; bracts 1.5-2 cm.
Sisyrinchium
long
gramineum.
11b. Stem 1-2 mm. wide; bracts 1-1.5 cm. Blue-eyed Grass,
long Sisyrinchium

apiculatum.

ORCHIDACEAE, the Orchis Family

Herbs, with irregular flowers, one petal, the lip, differing from the others in
size and shape, inferior ovary, and one or two stamens adherent to the style.
1a. Flowers in a spike-like obviously twisted
raceme; small, yellowish or greenish-
white, in late summer and autumn
(except 4a) (Ladies' Tresses) — 2.
1b. Flowers solitary or in clusters, but never
in a twisted raceme — 5.
Ladies' Tresses,
2a. Flowers in 1 row Spiranthes
gracilis.
2b. Flowers in several rows — 3.
Ladies' Tresses,
3a. Lip constricted near the apex Spiranthes
romanzoftiana.
3b. Lip not constricted — 4.
4a. Lip yellow; flowers in spring Ladies' Tresses,
and early summer Spiranthes lucida.
Ladies' Tresses,
4b. Lip white
Spiranthes cernua.
5a. Brown, purple, or yellow plants, without
green color, with scale-like leaves (1-
4 dm. high; summer) (Coral Root)
— 6.
5b. Plants with normal green color — 9.
Coral Root,
6a. Lip white, not spotted Corallorrhiza
trifida.

6b. Lip white, spotted with red
— 7.
Coral Root,
7a. Lip distinctly 3-lobed Corallorrhiza
maculata.
7b. Lip entire, or barely toothed — 8.
Coral Root,
8a. Flower, exclusive of ovary, 4
Corallorrhiza
mm. long
odontorhiza.
Coral Root,
8b. Flower about 10 mm. long. Corallorrhiza
striata.
9a. Leaf 1 or none at flowering time — 10.
9b. Leaves a single pair, basal, or opposite
on the stem; never alternate on the
stem — 19.
9c. Leaves several, all basal, prominently
net-veined, and frequently blotched
with white (scape 1-4 dm. high;
flowers whitish, pubescent, in
summer) (Rattlesnake Plantain)
— 26.
9d. Leaves 2 or more, on the stem — 28.
10a. Foliage leaf absent or
undeveloped at flowering
time, or merely persisting
through the winter from the
previous year — 11.
10b. Foliage leaf present at
flowering time — 12.
11a. Flower rose-purple, 3-5 cm. long,
Arethusa,
solitary or two (1-3 dm. high, early
Arethusa bulbosa.
summer)
11b. Flowers purplish-green, in racemes, Crane-fly Orchis,
with a spur 2 cm. long Tipularia discolor.

11c. Flowers yellowish, purple tinged, in Putty Root,
racemes; spur none (3-4 dm. high, Aplectrum
early summer). hyemale.
12a. Leaf linear or linear-
lanceolate — 13.
12b. Leaf of a broader shape
— 14.
13a. Flower solitary or two; leaf just below
the flower — 11a.
Calopogon,
13b. Flowers in a loose raceme, sometimes
Calopogon
only 2; leaf basal
pulchellus.
14a. Flowers greenish, yellowish,
or white — 15.
14b. Flowers pink to purple, often
variegated — 17.
15a. Flowers 6-10 mm. wide, with a spur
about the same length (1-4 dm. high,
summer) (Rein Orchis) — 35.
15b. Flowers 5 mm. wide or less; spur none
(1-2 dm. high; summer) (Adder's
Mouth) — 16.
16a. Pedicels less than 5 mm. long; Adder's Mouth,
lip broadest below the Microstylis
middle monophyllos.
16b. Pedicels more than 5 mm. Adder's Mouth,
long; lip broadest near the Microstylis
apex unifolia.
17a. Flowers spicate; lip distinctly 3-lobed
(1-2 dm. high; early summer) — 24.
17b. Flowers solitary or two — 18.
18a. Leaf on the stem, lanceolate
to ovate — 34a.
18b. Leaf basal, round-ovate (2
Calypso, Calypso
dm. high or less; early
bulbosa.
summer)

19a. Leaves opposite and sessile near the
middle of the stem (1-3 dm. high;
flowers in summer) (Tway-blade)
— 20.
19b. Leaves basal — 21.
20a. Lip deeply 2-cleft (flowers Tway-blade,
purplish) Listera cordata.
20b. Lip wedge-shape, with 2 Tway-blade,
round shallow lobes Listera
(flowers greenish-yellow) convallarioides.
21a. Lip an inflated sac about 4 cm. long
— 29d.
21b. Lip not sac-like — 22.
22a. Flower with a spur 15-50 mm.
long — 23.
22b. Flower not spurred (1-2 dm.
high; early summer)
(Tway-blade) — 25.
23a. Flowers purple or magenta, or with
white markings — 24.
23b. Flowers greenish, yellowish, or white
(1-4 dm. high; summer) (Rein
Orchis) — 36.
Round-leaved
24a. Leaf 1 (1-2 dm. high; early
Orchis, Orchis
summer)
rotundifolia.
24b. Leaves 2 (-20 cm. high; late Showy Orchis,
spring) Orchis spectabilis.
Tway-blade,
25a. Lip about 10 mm. long, purple
Liparis liliifolia.
Tway-blade,
25b. Lip about 5 mm. long, yellowish-green
Liparis loeselii.
Rattlesnake
26a. Perianth 8-10 mm. long; lip
Plantain, Epipactis
with elongated point
decipiens.

26b. Perianth 4-6 mm. long; lip
sack-like — 27.
Rattlesnake
Plantain, Epipactis
27a. Raceme loosely flowered, one-sided
repens var.
ophioides.
Rattlesnake
27b. Raceme closely flowered, not one-sided Plantain, Epipactis
pubescens.
28a. Lip conspicuously sack-like,
inflated (late spring and
early summer) (Lady's
Slipper) — 29.
28b. Lip not sack-like nor inflated
— 32.
White Lady's
Slipper,
29a. Lip white (1-3 dm. high)
Cypripedium
candidum.
29b. Lip yellow (2-7 dm. high) — 30.
29c. Lip white, with crimson or purple
markings — 31.
Stemless Lady's
Slipper,
29d. Lip pink (1-4 dm. high, late spring)
Cypripedium
acaule.
Small Yellow
Lady's Slipper,
30a. Lip 2-3 cm. long.
Cypripedium
parviflorum.
Large Yellow
Lady's Slipper,
30b. Lip 3.5-5 cm. long Cypripedium
parviflorum var.
pubescens.

Ram's Head
31a. Lip 2 cm. long or less; sepals separate Lady's Slipper,
(1.5-3 dm. high) Cypripedium
arietinum.
Showy Lady's
31b. Lip 3 cm. long or more; the 2 lower Slipper,
sepals united Cypripedium
hirsutum.
32a. Flowers solitary in the axils,
or solitary and terminal; not
spurred — 33.
32b. Flowers in terminal racemes,
spurred — 38.
Whorled Pogonia,
33a. Leaves a whorl of 5 (2-3 dm. high;
Pogonia
petals greenish; late summer)
verticillata.
33b. Leaves alternate — 34.
34a. Leaves lanceolate or narrowly
ovate, 2-8 cm. long,
Snake Mouth,
narrowed at base; flower
Pogonia
terminal (1-4 dm. high;
ophioglossoides.
flowers pink purple, early
summer)
34b. Leaves ovate, 1-2 cm. long,
Nodding Pogonia,
clasping; flowers axillary
Pogonia
(5-20 cm. high; flowers
trianthophora.
purple, summer)
Rein Orchis,
35a. Leaf basal; spur nearly straight Habenaria
obtusata.
Rein Orchis,
35b. Leaf on the stem; spur strongly curved Habenaria
clavellata.
36a. Flower-stalk without bracts Rein Orchis,
below the raceme; flowers Habenaria
yellowish-green hookeri.

36b. Flower-stalk bearing bracts
below the raceme; flowers
greenish-white — 37.
Rein Orchis,
37a. Spur 15-25 mm. long Habenaria
orbiculata.
Rein Orchis,
37b. Spur 30-50 mm. long Habenaria
macrophylla.
38a. Lip fringed (Fringed Orchis)
— 43.
38b. Lip not fringed (Rein Orchis)
— 39.
39a. Lip with 2-3 evident teeth at apex
— 40.
39b. Lip without apical teeth — 41.
Rein Orchis,
40a. Stem-leaves 3 or more Habenaria
bracteata.
40b. Stem-leaves 2 — 35b.
Rein Orchis,
41a. Flowers white Habenaria
dilatata.
41b. Flowers greenish-yellow — 42.
Rein Orchis,
42a. Lip lanceolate, tapering
Habenaria
toward the apex
hyperborea.
42b. Lip oblong, truncate at the Rein Orchis,
apex Habenaria flava.
43a. Lip deeply 3-lobed, toothed or fringed
— 44.
43b. Lip not 3-lobed, but deeply fringed
— 46.
Purple Fringed
44a. Flowers purple Orchis, Habenaria
psycodes.

44b. Flowers white or nearly so
— 45.
Prairie Fringed
45a. Spur 3 cm. long or more Orchis, Habenaria
leucophaea.
Ragged Fringed
45b. Spur 1-1.5 cm. long Orchis, Habenaria
lacera.
Yellow Fringed
46a. Flowers yellow Orchis, Habenaria
ciliaris.
White Fringed
46b. Flowers white Orchis, Habenaria
blephariglottis.

PIPERACEAE, the Pepper Family

Herbaceous plants with alternate leaves, and flowers without either calyx or
corolla.
One species in Michigan, a marsh plant with
Lizard's Tail,
heart-shape leaves and slender
Saururus cernuus.
racemes of white flowers

SALICACEAE, the Willow Family

Trees or shrubs, with dioecious flowers in catkins.
1a. Leaves less than twice as long as broad,
on petioles 3 cm. long or more — 2.
1b. Leaves more than twice as long as broad,
on petioles 2.5 cm. long or less. (The

genus Salix, or Willow, contains
about 30 species in Michigan, of
which only the commoner are
mentioned here. For the others the
Manuals should be consulted.) — 8.
2a. Petioles strongly flattened
laterally — 3.
2b. Petioles not flattened laterally
— 6.
3a. Leaves broadly ovate or nearly circular
— 4.
3b. Leaves broadly triangular or deltoid in
shape — 5.
Large-toothed
4a. Leaves coarsely toothed Aspen, Populus
grandidentata.
Quaking Aspen,
4b. Leaves finely crenulate or
Populus
serrate
tremuloides.
Lombardy Poplar,
5a. Tree with narrow spire-shape crown Populus nigra var.
italica.
Cottonwood,
5b. Tree with spreading crown
Populus deltoides.
6a. Lower side of leaf densely White Poplar,
tomentose Populus alba.
6b. Lower side of leaf glabrous or
nearly so — 7.
Balsam Poplar,
7a. Petioles glabrous Populus
balsamifera.
Balm of Gilead,
7b. Petioles ciliate Populus
candicans.
8a. Trees — 9.
8b. Shrubs — 13.

9a. Petioles without glands — 10.
9b. Petioles with glands — 11.
10a. Petiole short (about 5 mm.), Black Willow,
broad and flat Salix nigra.
Peach-leaved
10b. Petiole slender, about 10-20
Willow, Salix
mm. long
amygdaloides.
Crack Willow,
11a. Leaves green beneath
Salix fragilis.
11b. Leaves pale beneath — 12.
12a. Branches and twigs Weeping Willow,
conspicuously drooping Salix babylonica.
12b. Branches and twigs not Yellow Willow,
conspicuously drooping, Salix alba var.
yellow vitellina.
13a. Shrubs of bogs — 14.
13b. Plants of sand-dunes along the Great
Lakes — 15.
13c. Plants of dry upland hills — 16.
13d. Plants of wet ground, river-banks, and
swamps — 17.
14a. Leaves densely white- Willow, Salix
tomentose beneath candida.
14b. Leaves pale beneath but not Willow, Salix
tomentose serissima.
14c. Leaves glabrous and green Willow, Salix
beneath pedicellaris.
Willow, Salix
15a. Leaves linear
longifolia.
15b. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, tomentose Willow, Salix
beneath syrticola.
Willow, Salix
15c. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, glabrous
glaucophylla.
16a. Leaves about 3 times as long Willow, Salix
as broad rostrata.

16b. Leaves narrower, nearly Willow, Salix
sessile tristis.
16c. Leaves narrower, distinctly Willow, Salix
petioled humilis.
Willow, Salix
17a. Leaves linear or nearly so
longifolia.
Willow, Salix
17b. Leaves shining
lucida.
Willow, Salix
17c. Leaves silky
sericea.
17d. Leaves not as in the preceding 3 species
— 18.
Willow, Salix
18a. Leaves rounded at base
cordata.
18b. Leaves acute at base — 19.
Willow, Salix
19a. Leaves finely serrulate
petiolaris.
Willow, Salix
19b. Leaves remotely serrate or nearly entire
discolor.

MYRICACEAE, the Sweet Gale Family

Shrubs, with monoecious or dioecious flowers in catkins, and aromatic
foliage.
Sweet Fern,
1a. Leaves pinnately lobed Myrica
asplenifolia.
1b. Leaves merely serrate — 2.
2a. Shrub of sandy soil, shore of Bayberry, Myrica
Lake Erie carolinensis.
2b. Shrub of bogs and shores, Sweet Gale,
northern half of state Myrica gale.

JUGLANDACEAE, the Walnut Family

Trees with alternate pinnately compound leaves and flowers in catkins.
1a. Leaflets 11-23; pith divided by partitions
into chambers — 2.
1b. Leaflets 5-11; pith not partitioned
(Hickory) — 3.
2a. Pith brown; bark with flat Butternut, Juglans
longitudinal ridges cinerea.
2b. Pith cream-color; bark of trunk Black Walnut,
without flat ridges Juglans nigra.
3a. Bark of the trunk essentially smooth, not
deeply furrowed or shaggy — 4.
3b. Bark of the trunk deeply furrowed or
shaggy — 6.
4a. Leaflets glabrous beneath; buds
greenish — 5.
4b. Leaflets somewhat pubescent Bitter Nut, Carya
beneath; buds bright yellow cordiformis.
Small-fruited
5a. Twigs hairy Hickory, Carya
microcarpa.
Pignut Hickory,
5b. Twigs smooth
Carya glabra.
6a. Twigs and leaves both
pubescent — 7.
Shag-bark
6b. Twigs nearly smooth; leaves
Hickory, Carya
smooth beneath
ovata.
Mocker-nut
7a. Twigs brownish; buds densely hairy Hickory, Carya
alba.

King-nut Hickory,
7b. Twigs orange; buds very slightly hairy
Carya laciniosa.

BETULACEAE, the Birch Family

Trees or shrubs with alternate simple leaves and inconspicuous monoecious
flowers, the staminate flowers in catkins, and the pistillate in catkins or
small clusters.
1a. Trees, with white or yellowish bark
exfoliating in thin papery plates or
scales — 2.
1b. Tree or shrub, with smooth, dark gray Hornbeam,
bark; trunk fluted with prominent Carpinus
longitudinal ridges caroliniana.
1c. Trees or shrubs; the bark more or less
roughened, but not exfoliating; trunk
not fluted — 3.
Paper Birch,
2a. Bark white or chalky Betula alba var.
papyrifera.
Yellow Birch,
2b. Bark yellowish
Betula lutea.
3a. Shrubs, with leaves 4 cm. long or less
— 4.
3b. Shrubs or trees, with leaves 5 cm. long or
more — 5.
Dwarf Birch,
4a. Twigs glandular-warty
Betula glandulosa.
Swamp Birch,
4b. Twigs not glandular
Betula pumila.
5a. Twigs and bark with the odor of Sweet Birch,
wintergreen Betula lenta.

5b. Twigs and bark without odor of
wintergreen — 6.
6a. Fruit clusters woody, persistent
on the plant for a long time
— 7.
6b. Fruit clusters herbaceous,
dropping in late autumn
— 9.
7a. Leaves rusty or whitish beneath, and Speckled Alder,
pubescent at least on the veins Alnus incana.
7b. Leaves green beneath, and either
pubescent or smooth — 8.
8a. Leaves broadest at or below the Mountain Alder,
middle Alnus crispa.
8b. Leaves broadest above the Smooth Alder,
middle Alnus rugosa.
9a. Tree; fruit a cluster of bladder-like sacs Ironwood, Ostrya
each containing a small achene virginiana.
9b. Shrubs; fruit a nut within a close-fitting
involucre — 10.
10a. Involucre of 2 broad bracts,
Hazel, Corylus
almost separate and not
americana.
much longer than the fruit
10b. Involucre of united bracts,
Beaked Hazel,
prolonged into a bristly
Corylus rostrata.
beak beyond the fruit

FAGACEAE, the Beech Family

Trees (or 1 species shrubby), with alternate simple leaves and monoecious
flowers, the staminate flowers in catkins, and the pistillate solitary or in
small clusters. Fruit a nut (or acorn) enclosed in a cup or bur.

1a. Leaves serrate with numerous sharp-
pointed teeth — 2.
1b. Leaves serrate, lobed, or entire, but never
serrate with sharp-pointed teeth; fruit
an acorn; pith 5-angled in the young
twigs (Oak) — 3.
2a. Bark gray, smooth; buds 3-4 Beech, Fagus
times longer than wide; nut grandifolia.
2b. Bark rough; buds relatively Chestnut,
thicker; nut rounded Castanea dentata.
Shingle Oak,
3a. Leaves entire, except for a bristle at the
Quercus
tip
imbricaria.
3b. Leaves toothed or lobed, the points
bristle-tipped — 4.
3c. Leaves toothed or lobed, the points
without bristles — 10.
4a. Leaves entire below the Black Jack Oak,
middle, with a few shallow Quercus
lobes beyond marilandica.
4b. Leaves deeply lobed
throughout — 5.
5a. Cup of the acorn saucer-shape, covering
less than one-third of the acorn — 6.
5b. Cup of the acorn hemispherical or top-
shape, covering one-third or more of
the acorn — 8.
6a. Length of the lateral leaf-lobes
less than one-third the Red Oak, Quercus
width of the leaf; acorn cup rubra.
2-2.5 cm. wide
6b. Length of the lateral leaf-lobes
more than one-third the
width of the leaf — 7.
7a. Acorn depressed-globose, about 1 cm. in Pin Oak, Quercus
diameter palustris.

Schneck's Oak,
7b. Acorn ovoid, 1.5-2 cm. thick
Quercus schneckii.
Black Oak,
8a. Leaves pubescent beneath
Quercus velutina.
8b. Leaves glabrous beneath — 9.
Hill's Oak,
9a. Buds glabrous; inner bark of the trunk
Quercus
yellow
ellipsoidalis.
9b. Buds pubescent beyond the middle; inner Scarlet Oak,
bark of trunk red Quercus coccinea.
10a. Leaves deeply pinnately lobed
— 11.
10b. Leaves crenate, dentate, or
sinuate, not lobed — 12.
11a. Leaf divided nearly to the middle by a
pair of deep lateral lobes near the Bur Oak, Quercus
middle of the leaf; acorn more than macrocarpa.
half covered by the cup
11b. Leaf without a median pair of deeper
White Oak,
lobes; acorn about one-fourth
Quercus alba.
covered by the cup
12a. Leaves broadest at or near the
Yellow Oak,
middle, with numerous (8-
Quercus
13) sharp coarse teeth on
muhlenbergii.
each side
12b. Leaves broadest above the
middle, with a few shallow,
rounded or subacute teeth
(7 or less on each side)
— 13.
13a. Large tree; leaves densely white- Swamp White
tomentose beneath; acorn on a stalk Oak, Quercus
3-10 cm. long bicolor.
13b. Shrub; leaves thinly white-tomentose Scrub Oak,
beneath; acorn sessile or nearly so Quercus prinoides.

URTICACEAE, the Nettle Family

Herbs or trees, with small inconspicuous apetalous flowers.
1a. Trees or tall shrubs — 2.
1b. Herbs — 7.
2a. Leaves oblong-ovate to
lanceolate, serrate — 3.
2b. Leaves broadly ovate to
rotund, some of them lobed
(Mulberry) — 6.
3a. Leaves thick, coarsely and doubly
serrate, broadest near the middle
(Elm) — 4.
3b. Leaves thin, simply serrate, broadest Hackberry, Celtis
distinctly below the middle occidentalis.
4a. Some of the branches with flat
Cork Elm, Ulmus
corky wings; leaves smooth
racemosa.
above
4b. Branches without corky wings;
leaves more or less rough
above — 5.
White Elm, Ulmus
5a. Petioles and axillary buds glabrous
americana.
5b. Petioles and axillary buds pubescent with Slippery Elm,
rusty hairs Ulmus fulva.
Red Mulberry,
6a. Leaves rough above
Morus rubra.
White Mulberry,
6b. Leaves smooth above
Morus alba.
7a. Leaves alternate — 8.
7b. Leaves opposite — 9.

Pellitory,
8a. Leaves 2-5 cm. long, stems
Parietaria
pubescent
pennsylvanica.
Wood Nettle,
8b. Leaves 8-20 cm. long; stem
Laportea
armed with stinging hairs
canadensis.
Hop, Humulus
9a. Twining plant; leaves serrate or cleft
lupulus.
Hemp, Cannabis
9b. Erect plant; leaves palmately compound
sativa.
9c. Erect plants; leaves not lobed or
compound — 10.
10a. Stems armed with stinging
hairs — 11.
10b. Stems glabrous or rough, but
not with stinging hairs
— 12.
Stinging Nettle,
11a. Leaves ovate, with a heart-shape base
Urtica dioica.
11b. Leaves lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, Slender Nettle,
not heart-shape at base Urtica gracilis.
Clearweed, Pilea
12a. Stems glabrous, pellucid
pumila.
False Nettle,
12b. Stems rough, opaque Boehmeria
cylindrica.

SANTALACEAE, the Sandalwood Family

Low herbs with alternate entire leaves and terminal clusters of small
greenish-white bell-shape flowers without petals in spring and early
summer.

1a. Inflorescence of several-flowered clusters Toad-flax,
terminating the stem and in the upper Comandra
axils umbellata.
1b. Inflorescence of axillary clusters of 1-5 Toad-flax,
flowers Comandra livida.

LORANTHACEAE, the Mistletoe Family

Parasitic plants, attached to the branches of trees.
One species in Michigan, a dwarf brown
Dwarf Mistletoe,
plant 5-20 mm. long, with minute
Arceuthobium
scale-like leaves, growing on the
pusillum.
branches of Black Spruce

ARISTOLOCHIACEAE, the Birthwort Family

Flowers greenish-brown or reddish-brown, at or near the ground, with
inferior 6-celled ovary.
Virginia
1a. Leaves alternate, on the stem; flowers on
Snakeroot,
a basal scaly branch (1-4 dm. high;
Aristolochia
summer)
serpentaria.
1b. Leaves a single basal pair, bearing 1
short-stalked flower between them
(spring)
(Wild Ginger) — 2.
2a. Lobes of the perianth ending in Wild Ginger,
a tubular portion 5-8 mm. Asarum
long canadense.
2b. Lobes of the perianth ending in Wild Ginger,
a tubular portion over 1 cm. Asarum canadense

long var. acuminatum.
2c. Lobes of the perianth Wild Ginger,
triangular, not tubular at the Asarum canadense
end var. reflexum.

POLYGONACEAE, the Buckwheat Family

Herbs with alternate entire leaves, stipules surrounding the stem above the
base of each leaf, and small green, white or pink flowers without petals.
1a. Erect or ascending or prostrate or floating
plants — 2.
1b. Scrambling or climbing plants, clinging
by sharp recurved prickles on the 4-
angled stems (flowers greenish or
pink, summer) (Tear-thumb) — 32.
1c. Twining vines (flowers white or greenish,
summer) — 33.
2a. Sepals 6, the 3 inner ones
enlarging in fruit and
surrounding the achenes;
flowers in panicles — 3.
2b. Sepals 4 or 5 (occasional
flowers may be found with
6 sepals, but the flowers are
not in panicles) (summer)
— 13.
3a. Leaves arrow-shape or halberd-shape,
with 2 basal lobes (Sorrel) — 4.
3b. Leaves without basal lobes (Dock) — 5.
4a. Leaves halberd-shape, the basal Red Sorrel,
lobes directed sidewise Rumex acetosella.
4b. Leaves arrow-shape, the basal Green Sorrel,
lobes directed backward Rumex acetosa.

5a. The projecting wings of the fruiting calyx Bitter Dock,
(known as valves) with sharp slender Rumex
teeth obtusifolius.
5b. Valves entire or finely dentate, but
without sharp slender teeth — 6.
6a. Pedicels straight, thickened
toward the end, all Swamp Dock,
regularly deflexed, 3-4 Rumex
times longer than the verticillatus.
fruiting calyx
6b. Pedicels slender, flexuous,
spreading — 7.
7a. Leaves flat or nearly so — 8.
7b. Leaves with strongly crisped or wavy-
curled margins; plants usually of
cultivated grounds or waste places
(5-10 dm., summer) — 12.
8a. With grain-like tubercles on all
3 valves of the fruit — 9.
8b. With grain-like tubercles on
only one valve, or entirely
lacking — 10.
Water Dock,
9a. Valves broadly cordate, finely toothed
Rumex brittanica.
9b. Valves triangular-ovate, entire or nearly Dock, Rumex
so mexicanus.
Bloody Dock,
10a. Valves oblong Rumex
sanguineus.
10b. Valves broadly heart-shape
— 11.
11a. Grain-like tubercle less than half as long Patience Dock,
as the valve Rumex patientia.
11b. Grain-like tubercle more than half as Tall Dock, Rumex
long as the valve altissimus.

12a. The grain-like tubercle on the
valves of the fruit broadly Sour Dock, Rumex
ellipsoid, with rounded crispus.
apex
12b. Tubercle ovoid with tapering Sour Dock, Rumex
apex elongatus.
13a. Flowers inconspicuous, in small axillary
clusters; leaves jointed at the base
(Knotweed) — 14.
13b. Flowers more or less conspicuous, in
obvious spikes or racemes which
terminate the stems or branches, or
arise from the axils of the upper
leaves — 18.
14a. Leaves sharply folded Knotweed,
lengthwise (1-4 dm. tall) Polygonum tenue.
14b. Leaves flat or nearly so — 15.
15a. The small sepals pink or white at the
margin (stems prostrate or ascending)
— 16.
15b. Sepals greenish or yellowish throughout
(stems erect or ascending) — 17.
Knotweed,
16a. Leaves thin; common weed of
Polygonum
dooryards and gardens
aviculare.
Knotweed,
16b. Leaves thick and fleshy; a Polygonum
plant of sandy shores aviculare var.
littorale.
Knotweed,
17a. Leaves narrowly lanceolate or linear-
Polygonum
oblong; rare species
ramosissimum.
17b. Leaves broadly oblong, oval, or Knotweed,
elliptical; common weed of yards and Polygonum
gardens erectum.

Buckwheat,
18a. Leaves broadly triangular (3-7
Fagopyrum
dm. high; flowers white)
esculentum.
18b. Leaves from linear to ovate or
oblong — 19.
19a. Sepals 4; flowers in very long and Knotweed,
slender spike-like racemes (4-10 dm. Polygonum
high) virginianum.
19b. Sepals 5; flowers in spikes or racemes
— 20.
20a. Flowers on slender pedicels,
forming a loose raceme;
Jointweed,
leaves linear, jointed at the
Polygonella
base (1-3 dm. high; flowers
articulata.
pink or white; chiefly near
the Great Lakes)
20b. Flowers sessile or nearly so,
forming a spike or spike-
like raceme — 21.
21a. Stipular sheaths at the base of the leaves
ciliate at their upper margin — 22.
21b. Stipular sheaths not ciliate at the upper
margin — 28.
22a. Sheaths with spreading
borders — 23.
22b. Sheaths without a spreading
border, appressed to the
stem (Smartweed) — 24.
Prince's Feather,
23a. Leaves ovate, acuminate; stem erect (1-
Polygonum
2 m. high; flowers pink)
orientate.
Water Smartweed,
23b. Leaves oblong, obtuse or subacute;
Polygonum
spreading or ascending plant of wet
amphibium var.
soil
hartwrightii.

24a. Peduncles with glandular Smartweed,
hairs (5-15 dm. high) Polygonum careyi.
24b. Peduncles not glandular (1-8
dm. high) (Smartweed)
— 25.
25a. Sepals beset with minute black dots
— 26.
25b. Sepals white, pink, or red, not black-
dotted — 27.
26a. Racemes drooping or nodding Smartweed,
at the tip; achene dull- Polygonum
colored hydropiper.
26b. Racemes erect; achene Smartweed,
smooth and shining Polygonum acre.
Smartweed,
27a. Sheaths smooth; leaves usually with a
Polygonum
dark spot near the base
persicaria.
Smartweed,
27b. Sheaths hairy; leaves not dark-spotted Polygonum
hydropiperoides.
28a. Leaves obtuse or somewhat
acute at the apex — 29.
28b. Leaves acuminate at the apex
(5-15 dm. high; flowers
white to pink) (Smartweed)
— 30.
29a. Stem unbranched, erect, bearing a Bistort,
single terminal raceme (5-30 cm. Polygonum
high; flowers pink) viviparum.
29b. Stem branched, submerged in water or Water Smartweed,
creeping on muddy shores (flowers Polygonum
pink) amphibium.
30a. Raceme single or two; leaves
Smartweed,
broadly ovate-lanceolate,
Polygonum
about 3 times as long as
muhlenbergii.
wide

30b. Racemes numerous; leaves
lanceolate, 4-6 times as
long as wide — 31.
Smartweed,
31a. Racemes drooping or nodding at the tip Polygonum
lapathifolium.
Smartweed,
31b. Racemes erect Polygonum
pennsylvanicum.
Tear-thumb,
32a. Leaves arrow-shape, the basal
Polygonum
lobes pointing backward
sagittatum.
32b. Leaves halberd-shape, the Tear-thumb,
basal lobes pointing Polygonum
sidewise arifolium.
33a. The three outer sepals becoming
conspicuously winged in fruit (False
Buckwheat) — 34.
33b. The sepals all unchanged in fruit, except
in size (Black Bindweed) — 35.
False Buckwheat,
34a. Wings of the fruit with wavy-
Polygonum
curled margins
scandens.
False Buckwheat,
34b. Wings of the fruit flat Polygonum
dumetorum.
Black Bindweed,
35a. Leaf-sheaths with a ring of bristles at
Polygonum
the base
cilinode.
Black Bindweed,
35b. Leaf-sheaths without a ring of bristles Polygonum
convolvulus.

CHENOPODIACEAE, the Goosefoot Family

Herbs, with inconspicuous greenish or reddish flowers without petals, in
summer.
1a. Leaves linear or nearly so, entire — 2.
1b. Leaves of a broader shape, usually
toothed or lobed — 5.
2a. Leaves rather stiff, narrowly Russian Thistle,
linear or thread-like, with Salsola kali var.
spine-like tips tenuifolia.
2b. Leaves soft, not spine-like
— 3.
3a. Widely branched, rather diffuse, 1-5 dm. Bug-seed,
tall; plant of the shore of the Great Corispermum
Lakes hyssopifolium.
3b. Erect plants with ascending branches
— 4.
Goosefoot,
4a. Leaves glabrous (3-6 dm. tall) Chenopodium
leptophyllum.
4b. Leaves minutely ciliate on the
Kochia, Kochia
margin (bushy branched, 5-
scoparia.
10 dm. tall)
5a. Principal leaves with a broad truncate,
rounded, or hastate base — 6.
5b. Principal leaves narrowed to the base
— 12.
6a. Leaves broadly ovate, with 1-4 Goosefoot,
large sharp projecting teeth Chenopodium
on each side hybridum.
6b. Leaves hastate or triangular-
ovate, entire or with many
teeth — 7.
7a. Leaves entire or merely undulate — 8.
7b. Leaves sharply or sinuately toothed — 9.
8a. Stem erect, simple or sparingly Good King Henry,
branched Chenopodium

bonus-henricus.
8b. Stem diffuse or ascending, Orache, Atriplex
freely branched patula.
9a. Flowers in small heads, in the axils or in Strawberry Blite,
terminal spikes; leaves sinuately Chenopodium
toothed or nearly entire capitatum.
9b. Flowers in terminal panicles; leaves
sharply toothed (Goosefoot) — 10.
Goosefoot,
10a. Panicles short, not as long as
Chenopodium
the subtending leaves
murale.
10b. Panicles long, exceeding the
subtending leaves — 11.
Goosefoot,
11a. Calyx green Chenopodium
urbicum.
Goosefoot,
11b. Calyx red Chenopodium
rubrum.
12a. Foliage glandular and
strongly aromatic — 13.
12b. Foliage not glandular nor
aromatic; sometimes ill-
scented — 15.
Jerusalem Oak,
13a. Flowers in large loose open spreading
Chenopodium
panicles; leaves deeply pinnatifid
botrys.
13b. Flowers clustered in slender axillary or
terminal spikes — 14.
Mexican Tea,
14a. Spikes dense, leafy Chenopodium
ambrosioides.
Wormseed,
Chenopodium
14b. Spikes open, nearly leafless
ambrosioides var.
anthelminticum.

Lamb's Quarters,
15a. Stem erect, 5-20 dm. tall; leaves
Chenopodium
frequently white-mealy
album.
Goosefoot,
15b. Stem prostrate or ascending, succulent;
Chenopodium
leaves glaucous-white beneath
glaucum.
Cycloloma,
15c. Stem widely and diffusely branched;
Cycloloma
leaves green, soon deciduous
atriplicifolium.

AMARANTHACEAE, the Amaranth Family

Herbs, with alternate leaves, and inconspicuous greenish or reddish flowers
without petals, which are axillary or in dense clusters, blooming in summer.
1a. Flower-clusters axillary — 2.
1b. Flower-clusters in terminal spikes or
panicles, sometimes also axillary
— 3.
Pigweed,
2a. Plant prostrate or decumbent;
Amaranthus
seed about 1.5 mm. broad
blitoides.
2b. Plant erect or ascending,
Tumble Weed,
widely branched; seeds
Amaranthus
about 1 mm. broad (3-10
graecizans.
dm. high)
Thorny Amaranth,
3a. Principal leaves with a pair of spines at
Amaranthus
their base
spinosus.
3b. Spines none at the base of the leaves
— 4.
4a. Weedy plants of cultivated or
waste ground; flowers
monoecious or

polygamous; pistillate
flowers with a calyx
(Pigweed) — 5.
4b. Plants of swamps or stream-
banks; flowers dioecious;
pistillate flowers without
calyx (Water Hemp) — 7.
5a. Spikes short, 1-8 cm. long, crowded in
dense ovoid panicles; the terminal Pigweed,
spike not conspicuously elongated Amaranthus
beyond the appressed or ascending retroflexus.
lower ones
5b. Spikes slender, 1-12 cm. long; the
terminal spike greatly exceeding the
short inconspicuous divergent lower
ones — 6.
Pigweed,
6a. Bracts subulate, sharply awned Amaranthus
hybridus.
Pigweed,
6b. Bracts merely acuminate Amaranthus
paniculatus.
Water Hemp,
7a. Flowers in leafy spikes, or the lower in
Acnida
separate clusters
tuberculata.
Water Hemp,
Acnida
7b. Flowers in separate distinct clusters
tuberculata var.
subnuda.

PHYTOLACCACEAE, the Pokeweed Family

Herbs with alternate entire leaves, small flowers without petals, and a
many-celled ovary.

One species in Michigan, 1-2 m. high, with
Pokeweed,
numerous racemes of whitish
Phytolacca
flowers, in late summer, followed by
decandra.
dark-purple berries

NYCTAGINACEAE, the Four-o'Clock Family

Herbs, with opposite entire leaves and flowers in small clusters surrounded
by a broad open calyx-like involucre; the true calyx colored like a corolla;
petals none (4-8 dm. high; flowers purple, in summer).
Umbrella-wort,
1a. Leaves lanceolate or narrower, sessile Oxybaphus
hirsutus.
Umbrella-wort,
1b. Leaves ovate, petioled Oxybaphus
nyctagineus.

ILLECEBRACEAE, the Knotwort Family

Herbs, with opposite entire leaves, and minute flowers without petals.
(Prostrate spreading or freely branched plants, 3 dm. high or less; flowers in
summer.)
Knawel,
1a. Stipules none; leaves slightly connate at
Scleranthus
base, subulate
annuus.
1b. Stipules present, but small; leaves
elliptical or oval (Forked Chickweed)
— 2.
2a. Stems pubescent; internodes Forked
seldom more than 1 cm. Chickweed,
long

Anychia
polygonoides.
Forked
2b. Stems smooth; internodes Chickweed,
about 2 cm. long Anychia
canadensis.

AIZOACEAE, the Carpet-weed Family

Prostrate herbs, with whorled leaves and small whitish axillary flowers
without petals, in summer.
Carpet-weed,
One species in Michigan Mollugo
verticillata.

CARYOPHYLLACEAE, the Pink Family

Herbs, with opposite or whorled entire leaves, and stems frequently swollen
at the nodes. Sepals 4 or 5; petals separate, as many as the sepals, or rarely
none; stamens twice as many as the petals in plants with conspicuous
flowers, sometimes fewer in those with small flowers; ovary 1-celled, with
the ovules on a central axis, and with 2-5 styles.
1a. Calyx spreading, of separate sepals;
flowers 15 mm. wide or less; petals
sometimes none — 2.
1b. Calyx tubular, of united sepals; flowers
in many species more than 15 mm.
wide; petals always present — 22.
2a. Stipules present — 3.
2b. Stipules none — 4.

3a. Leaves opposite; flowers pink (about 1 Sand Spurrey,
dm. high; summer) Spergularia rubra.
3b. Leaves whorled; flowers white (1-5 dm. Spurrey, Spergula
high; leaves linear; summer) arvensis.
4a. Leaves subulate or thread-like
— 5.
4b. Leaves linear to ovate — 7.
5a. Leaves opposite (1 dm. high or less; Pearlwort, Sagina
flowers white, summer) procumbens.
5b. Leaves fascicled in the axils — 6.
6a. Styles 4 or 5 (1 dm. high;
Pearlwort, Sagina
terminal white flowers 5
nodosa.
mm. wide, in summer)
6b. Styles 3 (1-4 dm. high; flowers
Stitchwort,
white, nearly 1 cm. wide,
Arenaria stricta.
summer)
7a. Petals entire (3 dm. high or less; flowers
white, in summer) (Stitchwort) — 8.
7b. Petals notched or 2-cleft at the end, or
none — 11.
8a. Principal leaves 1 cm. long or
less — 9.
8b. Principal leaves 1.5 cm. long
or more — 10.
Stitchwort,
9a. Petals half as long as the sepals Arenaria
leptoclados.
Stitchwort,
9b. Petals almost as long as the sepals Arenaria
serpyllifolia.
Stitchwort,
10a. Leaves oblong-oval, obtuse. Arenaria
lateriflora.
Stitchwort,
10b. Leaves lanceolate, acute. Arenaria
macrophylla.

11a. Capsule splitting by valves at maturity;
styles usually 3 (Chickweed) — 12.
11b. Capsule opening by terminal teeth at
maturity; styles usually 5 (tufted or
matted plants, 1-5 dm. high; flowers
white, in spring and summer)
(Mouse-ear Chickweed) — 18.
12a. Petals distinctly shorter than
the sepals, or none — 13.
12b. Petals as long as the sepals, or
longer — 15.
13a. Leaves ovate (1-3 dm. high; flowers Chickweed,
white, all summer) Stellaria media.
13b. Leaves lanceolate to oblong (in water or
wet places, 1-4 dm. high; flowers
white, in summer) — 14.
14a. Flowers in a leafy terminal Chickweed,
branching cluster Stellaria borealis.
14b. Flowers in a lateral cluster Chickweed,
with minute bracts Stellaria uliginosa.
15a. Flowers in clusters with leaf-like bracts,
Chickweed,
or axillary and solitary (in water or
Stellaria
wet places; 1-3 dm. high; flowers
crassifolia.
white, summer)
15b. Flowers in clusters with scale-like
bracts — 16.
16a. Leaves distinctly linear;
cymes lateral; a common
Chickweed,
species in marshes (2-5 dm.
Stellaria longifolia.
high; flowers white, early
summer)
16b. Leaves distinctly broadest
near the base; flower-
cluster terminal — 17.
17a. Pedicels erect; clusters usually few- Chickweed,
flowered; in extreme northern part of Stellaria longipes.

the state only (1-3 dm. high; flowers
white, summer)
17b. Pedicels spreading; clusters open, Chickweed,
many-flowered (2-6 dm. high; Stellaria
flowers white, in summer) graminea.
18a. Petals distinctly longer than
the sepals — 19.
18b. Petals as long as the sepals, or
shorter than them — 21.
Mouse-ear
19a. Flowers much less than 1 cm. wide Chickweed,
Cerastium nutans.
19b. Flowers more than 1 cm. wide — 20.
Mouse-ear
20a. Stem-leaves linear or Chickweed,
narrowly lanceolate Cerastium
arvense.
Mouse-ear
Chickweed,
20b. Stem-leaves oblong
Cerastium arvense
var. oblongifolium.
Mouse-ear
21a. Bracts green; pedicels short and Chickweed,
inflorescence crowded Cerastium
viscosum.
Mouse-ear
21b. Bracts with transparent white margins;
Chickweed,
pedicels longer than the calyx and
Cerastium
inflorescence open
vulgatum.
22a. Styles 5 — 23.
22b. Styles 3 (3-10 dm. high;
flowers in summer) — 25.
22c. Styles 2 — 29.
23a. Calyx-teeth much longer than the calyx- Corn Cockle,
tube (erect, 4-10 dm. high; flowers Agrostemma
large, red, late summer) githago.

23b. Calyx-teeth shorter than the calyx-tube
(4-10 dm. high; flowers in summer)
— 24.
Mullein Pink,
24a. Flowers crimson
Lychnis coronaria.
White Campion,
24b. Flowers white or pink
Lychnis alba.
25a. Flowers night-blooming, always wilted Catchfly, Silene
during the day noctiflora.
25b. Flowers open during the day — 26.
26a. Flowers 6 mm. wide or less, Catchfly, Silene
white or pink antirrhina.
26b. Flowers 1-2 cm. wide, white
to pink or purple — 27.
26c. Flowers 2 cm. wide or more, Fire Pink, Silene
crimson virginica.
Starry Campion,
27a. Principal leaves in whorls of 4
Silene stellata.
27b. Leaves opposite — 28.
28a. Calyx globular, much inflated Bladder Campion,
or bladder-like Silene latifolia.
Sweet William
28b. Calyx club-shape, not inflated Catchfly, Silene
armeria.
29a. Leaves linear or narrowly lanceolate, 5
mm. wide or less (flowers pink or
white, in summer) — 30.
29b. Leaves lanceolate or ovate (flowers
pink, white, or red, in summer)
— 32.
30a. Flowers in terminal clusters; Deptford Pink,
leaves hairy (2-4 dm. high) Dianthus armeria.
30b. Flowers solitary at the ends of
long pedicels — 31.
31a. Flowers 3-4 mm. wide (1-2 dm. high) Gypsophyll,
Gypsophila

muralis.
Meadow Pink,
31b. Flowers 1 cm. wide or more (1-5 dm.
Dianthus
high)
deltoides.
32a. Flowers less than 1 cm. broad
— 33.
32b. Flowers more than 1 cm.
broad — 34.
Baby's Breath,
33a. Flowers white, in large panicles (4-7
Gypsophila
dm. high)
paniculata.
Cowherb,
33b. Flowers pale red, in loose clusters (4-10
Saponaria
dm. high)
vaccaria.
Soapwort,
34a. Leaves with 3-5 prominent
Saponaria
veins (4-7 dm. high)
officinalis.
Sweet William,
34b. Leaves with one mid-vein (3-
Dianthus
6 dm. high)
barbatus.

PORTULACACEAE, the Purslane Family

Herbs with opposite or alternate leaves and regular flowers with 2 sepals, 5
petals, and a 1-celled ovary with 2 or 3 styles.
1a. Leaves a single pair on each stem (1-2
dm. high; flowers pink, in racemes in
early spring) (Spring Beauty) — 2.
1b. Leaves numerous (prostrate or spreading;
flowers in summer) — 3.
2a. Leaves lance-ovate to oblong, Spring Beauty,
not more than six times as Claytonia
long as wide caroliniana.

2b. Leaves linear or linear- Spring Beauty,
lanceolate, more than six Claytonia
times as long as wide virginica.
Purslane,
3a. Flowers yellow, about 5 mm. wide Portulaca
oleracea.
Portulaca,
3b. Flowers 2-5 cm. wide Portulaca
grandiflora.

CERATOPHYLLACEAE, the Hornwort Family

Submerged aquatics, with whorled, finely dissected leaves and
inconspicuous flowers with neither calyx nor corolla.
Hornwort,
One species in Michigan Ceratophyllum
demersum.

NYMPHAEACEAE, the Water Lily Family

Aquatic plants, with usually large and floating leaves which are round or
elliptical and palmately veined.
1a. Floating and emersed leaves centrally
peltate — 2.
1b. Leaves rounded but not peltate, with a
deep sinus — 3.
2a. Leaves round, 3 dm. in
Lotus, Nelumbo
diameter or more; flowers
lutea.
very large, pale yellow

Water Shield,
2b. Leaves oval, 5-15 cm. long;
Brasenia
flowers small, purple
schreberi.
3a. Flowers yellow (Pond Lily) — 4.
3b. Flowers white or tinged with pink (Water
Lily) — 5.
Pond Lily,
4a. Leaves more than 1 dm. long Nymphaea
advena.
Pond Lily,
4b. Leaves less than 1 dm. long Nymphaea
microphylla.
5a. Flowers very fragrant; leaves purplish Water Lily,
beneath Castalia odorata.
5b. Flowers not fragrant; leaves green Water Lily,
beneath Castalia tuberosa.

RANUNCULACEAE, the Crowfoot Family

Herbs with alternate (rarely opposite) leaves, acrid watery juice, separate
sepals and petals, numerous stamens, and several or many (rarely only 1)
simple pistils. Petals present or absent, in the latter case the sepals are
usually petal-like in appearance.
1a. Climbing plants with opposite leaves
(flowers in late summer) (Virgin's
Bower) — 2.
1b. Aquatic plants with dissected submerged
leaves (flowers in late spring and
summer) (Water Crowfoot) — 3.
1c. Terrestrial or mud plants, not agreeing
with 1a or 1b — 6.
2a. Flowers white, 2-3 cm. wide Virgin's Bower,
Clematis

virginiana.
Virgin's Bower,
2b. Flowers pink-purple, 5-8 cm.
Clematis
wide
verticillaris.
3a. Flowers white — 4.
3b. Flowers yellow — 5.
4a. Leaves rigid, not collapsing Water Crowfoot,
when removed from the Ranunculus
water circinatus.
Water Crowfoot,
4b. Leaves soft, collapsing when Ranunculus
removed from the water aquatilis var.
capillaceus.
Water Crowfoot,
5a. Submerged leaves divided into hair-like
Ranunculus
segments
delphinifolius.
Water Crowfoot,
5b. Submerged leaves palmately divided into
Ranunculus
linear lobes
purshii.
6a. Flowers blue, irregular, with
Larkspur,
one spur (4-8 dm. high,
Delphinium ajacis.
summer)
6b. The five petals each prolonged
into a spur; flowers showy
(4-8 dm. tall) (Columbine)
— 7.
6c. Flowers regular, without spurs
— 8.
Wild Columbine,
7a. Spurs nearly straight; flowers scarlet and
Aquilegia
yellow (spring)
canadensis.
7b. Spurs strongly incurved; flowers blue or Columbine,
white (spring, early summer) Aquilegia vulgaris.
8a. Flowers yellow — 9.
8b. Flowers of various colors, but
never yellow — 28.

9a. Petals none; sepals petal-like; leaves
Cowslip, Caltha
crenate or dentate (2-4 dm. high,
palustris.
flowers in early spring)
9b. Petals small; sepals petal-like; leaves
Globe-flower,
deeply palmately lobed (4-6 dm. tall;
Trollius laxus.
flowers in late spring)
9c. Petals yellow; sepals green or yellowish
— 10.
10a. Leaves linear to narrowly
oblong, entire or with
minute teeth (flowers 10-15
mm. wide, in summer)
— 11.
10b. Leaves broader, some or all of
them lobed or divided, or
cordate-ovate and not lobed
— 12.
11a. Stems ascending (4-8 dm. high), rooting Spearwort,
at the lower joints; fruits pointed with Ranunculus
a long slender beak laxicaulis.
Spearwort,
11b. Stems prostrate and trailing, rooting at
Ranunculus
the joints; fruits tipped with a minute
flammula var.
short beak
reptans.
12a. Basal leaves, or most of them,
merely serrate or crenate,
and not obviously lobed
— 13.
12b. All the leaves lobed or
divided — 16.
13a. Stem-leaves resembling the basal ones, Sea-side Crowfoot,
and not lobed (1-2 dm. high; Ranunculus
summer) cymbalaria.
13b. Stem-leaves deeply divided into oblong
or linear segments — 14.

Buttercup,
14a. Flowers 1.5 cm. wide or more
Ranunculus
(1-3 dm. high; spring)
rhomboideus.
14b. Flowers 1 cm. wide or less (2-
5 dm. high; spring) — 15.
Small-flowered
15a. Foliage glabrous or minutely pubescent; Crowfoot,
basal leaves cordate Ranunculus
abortivus.
Small-flowered
15b. Foliage villous; basal leaves barely Crowfoot,
cordate or not at all Ranunculus
micranthus.
16a. Stem erect or essentially so
— 17.
16b. Stem prostrate, creeping, or
ascending. Early in spring
stems may be found which
appear almost erect.
Common spring-flowering
buttercups are all classified
here — 22.
17a. Flowers 2 cm. broad or larger
(Buttercup) — 18.
17b. Flowers 1 cm. broad or smaller — 19.
18a. Terminal lobe of leaf stalked Buttercup,
(2-5 dm. high, early Ranunculus
summer) bulbosus.
18b. Terminal lobe of leaf sessile
Buttercup,
(5-10 dm. high; all
Ranunculus acris.
summer)
Cursed Crowfoot,
19a. Plant glabrous, succulent; stem hollow
Ranunculus
(1-5 dm. high; spring and summer)
sceleratus.
19b. Plant pubescent (Buttercup) — 20.

20a. Fruits tipped with a prominent
Buttercup,
recurved beak; plant of
Ranunculus
shady woods (2-6 dm.
recurvatus.
high; flowers in late spring)
20b. Fruits tipped with a straight or
slightly curved beak; plants
of marshes or wet soil (3-6
dm. high; flowers in
summer) — 21.
Buttercup,
21a. Fruits in a short-cylindric head on a
Ranunculus
conical receptacle
pennsylvanicus.
Buttercup,
21b. Fruits in a globose or short-ovoid head,
Ranunculus
on an obovoid receptacle
macounii.
22a. Leaves dissected into
numerous linear or
Water Crowfoot,
narrowly wedge-shape
Ranunculus
divisions; plants growing in
delphinifolius.
water or very wet places
(late spring and summer)
22b. Leaves palmately lobed, the
terminal division not
definitely stalked — 23.
22c. Leaves compound, some or
all of the divisions on
definite stalks (Buttercup)
— 24.
Crowfoot,
23a. Stem-leaves numerous (1-2 dm. tall;
Ranunculus
late spring and summer)
purshii.
23b. Stem-leaves one or none, the principal Buttercup,
leaves all basal (about 1 dm. high; Ranunculus
flowers in summer) lapponicus.
24a. Style short, obviously curved
— 25.

24b. Style long and slender,
straight or nearly so
(common spring-flowering
buttercups, 2-5 dm. high)
— 26.
Buttercup,
25a. Stems creeping; flowers 2 cm. wide or
Ranunculus
more (spring)
repens.
Buttercup,
25b. Stems ascending; flowers 1.5 cm. wide
Ranunculus
or less (3-6 dm. high; summer)
macounii.
Buttercup,
26a. The two lateral divisions of
Ranunculus
the leaf sessile or nearly so
fascicularis.
26b. The two lateral divisions of
the leaf on long stalks
— 27.
Buttercup,
27a. Roots fibrous; plants of wet soil Ranunculus
septentrionalis.
Buttercup,
27b. Roots thickened; plants of dry woods or
Ranunculus
thickets
hispidus.
28a. Leaves dissected into
numerous narrowly linear Love-in-a-mist,
acute divisions (4-7 dm. Nigella
high; flowers large, bluish, damascena.
in summer)
28b. Leaves lobed or divided, but
the divisions not separated
by definite stalks — 29.
28c. Leaves truly compound, all
their divisions separated by
distinct stalks — 39.
29a. Leaves all basal, their lobes (usually 3)
entire (1-2 dm. high; flowers pink-

purple, in earliest spring) (Hepatica)
— 30.
29b. Lobes of the leaf serrate or incised
— 31.
30a. Lobes of the leaf obtuse or Hepatica,
rounded Hepatica triloba.
Hepatica,
30b. Lobes of the leaf acute Hepatica
acutiloba.
31a. Petals none; sepals 3, usually falling
Golden Seal,
away as soon as the flower opens (2-
Hydrastis
4 dm. high; flowers greenish-white,
canadensis.
in spring)
31b. Petals none; sepals petal-like, 4 or more
(Anemone) — 32.
31c. Petals present, but much smaller than
the 5 petal-like sepals — 38.
32a. Stem-leaves sessile or nearly
so — 33.
32b. Stem-leaves on definite
petioles — 35.
33a. Ovary tipped with a long slender hairy Pasque Flower,
style; flowers bluish-purple (1-4 dm. Anemone patens
high; early spring) var. wolfgangiana.
33b. Ovary with a short style, densely
woolly; flowers red, greenish, or
white (1-4 dm. high; late spring and
summer) — 34.
33c. Ovary tipped with a short style,
Anemone,
glabrous or nearly so; flowers white
Anemone
(4-7 dm. high; late spring and early
canadensis.
summer)
Anemone,
34a. Stem 1-flowered, sepals white Anemone
parviflora.

Anemone,
34b. Stem 3-flowered; sepals
Anemone
usually red
multifida.
35a. Achenes densely woolly; flowers
appearing in summer — 36.
35b. Achenes merely pubescent; stems 1-
Wood Anemone,
flowered; woodland species
Anemone
blooming in early spring (1-2 dm.
quinquefolia.
high; flowers white)
36a. Segments of the leaf broadly
wedge-shape or ovate;
flowers white (4-8 dm.
high) — 37.
36b. Segments of the leaf linear-
oblong; flower red, Anemone,
greenish, or white; plants Anemone
growing on the shores of multifida.
the Great Lakes
Anemone,
37a. Segments of the basal leaves wedge-
Anemone
lanceolate; head of fruit cylindric
cylindrica.
37b. Segments of the basal leaves ovate- Anemone,
lanceolate; head of fruit ovoid or Anemone
oblong virginiana.
38a. Stem-leaves present — 9b.
38b. Leaves all basal (1-2 dm.
high; leaves 3-divided; Gold-thread,
flowers white, in early Coptis trifolia.
summer)
39a. Flowers numerous, in branching
panicles (Meadow Rue) — 40.
39b. Flowers numerous, in racemes — 43.
39c. Flowers solitary or few, in loose
clusters; woodland plants blooming
in early spring (1-3 dm. high; flowers
white to purple) — 45.

40a. Blooming in spring; stem-
Meadow Rue,
leaves with obvious
Thalictrum
petioles (3-7 dm. high;
dioicum.
flowers white or greenish)
40b. Blooming in late spring or
summer, stem-leaves
sessile or nearly so (8-15
dm. high; flowers white)
— 41.
Meadow Rue,
41a. Filaments club-shape, approximately as
Thalictrum
wide as the anther
polygamum.
41b. Filaments slender or thread-like — 42.
Meadow Rue,
42a. Leaves minutely pubescent
Thalictrum
beneath, but not glandular
dasycarpum.
Meadow Rue,
42b. Leaves minutely glandular
Thalictrum
beneath
revolutum.
Bugbane,
43a. Racemes slender, 10-90 cm. long (8-15
Cimicifuga
dm. high; flowers white, in summer)
racemosa.
43b. Racemes short and stout, 3-8 cm. long
(4-8 dm. high; flowers white, in late
spring) (Baneberry) — 44.
44a. Berries white; pedicels
Baneberry, Actaea
strongly thickened at
alba.
maturity
Baneberry, Actaea
44b. Berries red; pedicels slender
rubra.
Isopyrum,
45a. Flowers white; stem-leaves alternate Isopyrum
biternatum.
Rue Anemone,
45b. Flowers white to pink or purplish; stem-
Anemonella
leaves whorled
thalictroides.

MAGNOLIACEAE, the Magnolia Family

Trees or shrubs, with alternate leaves, and large, frequently showy flowers.
One species in Michigan, with broad 4-lobed Tulip Tree,
leaves and greenish-yellow flowers in Liriodendron
late spring tulipifera.

ANONACEAE, the Custard Apple Family

Trees or shrubs, with alternate simple entire leaves, 3 sepals, and 6 petals.
One species in Michigan; tall shrub or small
Papaw, Asimina
tree, with obovate leaves and large
triloba.
dull-purple flowers in spring

MENISPERMACEAE, the Moonseed Family

Woody climbers, with alternate leaves, 6-8 petals, and numerous stamens.
One species in Michigan, with 5-7-angled
Moonseed,
leaves which are peltate near the
Menispermum
edge, and small white flowers in
canadense.
early summer

BERBERIDACEAE, the Barberry Family

Shrubs or herbs; petals 6 or more; stamens 6-18, frequently opening by two
terminal lids; pistil 1.
1a. Leaves simple — 2.
1b. Leaves compound — 3.
2a. Stem shrubby (flowers yellow, Barberry, Berberis
in racemes, in spring) vulgaris.
2b. Stem herbaceous, with a single
pair of palmately lobed May Apple,
leaves (4-6 dm. tall; flower Podophyllum
white, solitary, terminal, in peltatum.
spring)
3a. Leaves all basal; leaflets 2 (2-4 dm. high; Twin-leaf,
the flower-stalks bearing solitary Jeffersonia
white flowers in spring) diphylla.
3b. The stem-leaf ternately compound, with
Blue Cohosh,
numerous leaflets (4-8 dm. high; with
Caulophyllum
yellowish-green clustered flowers in
thalictroides.
spring)

LAURACEAE, the Laurel Family

Trees or shrubs, with aromatic taste or odor, and alternate simple leaves;
flowers small, imperfect, the anthers opening by lids.
1a. Freely branched shrub; leaves obovate-
Spice Bush,
oblong, entire (flowers yellow, in
Benzoin aestivale.
early spring, before the leaves)
1b. Tree or tall shrub; some or all of the Sassafras,
leaves 2-3-lobed (flowers greenish- Sassafras
yellow, appearing with the leaves) variifolium.

PAPAVERACEAE, the Poppy Family

Herbs with milky or colored juice, regular flowers, 2 sepals, 4, 6, or 8
petals, numerous stamens, and a 1-celled ovary.
1a. Leaves palmately lobed; flower 2.5-5 cm. Bloodroot,
wide, with 8 petals or more (leaf Sanguinaria
basal; flower white, in early spring) canadensis.
1b. Leaves pinnately toothed or lobed;
flower 7-10 cm. wide, with 4-6 petals Poppy, Papaver
(4-8 cm. high; leaves clasping; somniferum.
summer)
1c. Leaves divided pinnately to the mid-rib
into several toothed or lobed
segments; flower 2.5 cm. broad or
less (3-5 cm. high; flowers yellow)
— 2.
Celandine Poppy,
2a. Flowers in clusters of 2-4,
Stylophorum
about 3 cm. wide (spring)
diphyllum.
Celandine,
2b. Flowers in umbels of 3-8,
Chelidonium
about 1.5 cm. wide
majus.

FUMARIACEAE, the Fumitory Family

Herbs with watery juice, compound or dissected leaves, and irregular
flowers; sepals 2, small; petals 4, in two pairs, and one or both of the outer
pair spurred at the base; stamens 6.
1a. Both outer petals spurred or sack-like at
the base — 2.
1b. One outer petal spurred or sack-like at
the base — 4.
2a. A climbing vine with flowers in Climbing
panicles (white or pinkish Fumitory,
flowers in summer) Adlumia fungosa.

2b. Low herbs (2-4 cm.) with basal
leaves and white or pinkish
flowers in racemes (early
spring) — 3.
Dutchman's
3a. Spurs of the corolla triangular, divergent Breeches, Dicentra
cucullaria.
Squirrel Corn,
3b. Spurs of the corolla short and rounded Dicentra
canadensis.
4a. Flowers about 5 mm. long, Fumitory,
pink-purple tipped with red Fumaria
(3-8 dm. high; summer) officinalis.
4b. Flowers 10 mm. long or more,
yellow, at least at the tip (2-
6 dm. high) (Corydalis)
— 5.
Corydalis,
5a. Flowers yellow throughout (spring)
Corydalis aurea.
Corydalis,
5b. Flowers pink, tipped with yellow
Corydalis
(summer).
sempervirens.

CRUCIFERAE, the Mustard Family

Herbs, with alternate, frequently lobed or dissected leaves, and regular
flowers, usually in racemes; sepals and petals each 4, stamens 6, 4 long and
2 short (or rarely 2 only), ovary 1.
1a. Petals yellow or yellowish — 2.
1b. Petals white, pink, or purple, never
yellow — 29.
2a. Leaves simple, entire or
dentate, never lobed — 3.

2b. Leaves deeply lobed or
compound (the bracteal
leaves, at or near the
flower-clusters, may be
simple and unlobed) — 10.
3a. Leaves clasping the stem — 4.
3b. Leaves not clasping at base — 6.
4a. Clasping base and apex of leaf
Hare's Ear,
obtuse or rounded; pod
Conringia
very long and slender (3-8
orientalis.
dm. high; summer)
4b. Clasping base and apex of leaf
acute; pod obovoid (3-7
dm. high; early summer)
(False Flax) — 5.
False Flax,
5a. Stem and leaves glabrous
Camelina sativa.
False Flax,
5b. Leaves and usually the stem pubescent Camelina
microcarpa.
6a. Flowers about 2 mm. wide (1-3
dm. high; flowers in
summer) — 7.
6b. Flowers 5 mm. wide or more
(2-6 dm. high; flowers in
summer) — 8.
7a. Leaves about twice as long as broad, Whitlow Grass,
widest near or below the middle Draba nemorosa.
Yellow Alyssum,
7b. Leaves 3-5 times as long as broad, widest
Alyssum
above the middle
alyssoides.
8a. Leaves lanceolate, gradually
Sand Rocket,
tapering to the base;
Diplotaxis muralis.
flowers about 15 mm. wide
8b. Leaves ovate, acute at base;
flowers about 15 mm. wide

— 22a.
8c. Leaves entire or minutely
toothed; flowers 5-10 mm.
wide — 9.
Worm-seed
9a. Pods 25 mm. long or less, on slender Mustard,
pedicels about 8 mm. long Erysimum
cheiranthoides.
Worm-seed
9b. Pods 20 mm. long or more, on stout Mustard,
pedicels about 4 mm. long Erysimum
parviflorum.
10a. Leaves bipinnate or dissected
into very numerous
divisions (3-8 dm. high;
flowers in summer) — 11.
10b. Leaves simply pinnate — 13.
Herb Sophia,
11a. Flowers about 5 mm. broad; pods about
Sisymbrium
20 mm. long by 1 mm. broad
sophia.
11b. Flowers about 3 mm. broad; pods about
8 mm. long by 2 mm. wide (Tansy
Mustard) — 12.
Tansy Mustard,
12a. Stems gray with a close fine
Sisymbrium
pubescence
canescens.
Tansy Mustard,
Sisymbrium
12b. Stems green
canescens var.
brachycarpon.
13a. Pod short, not more than 3 times as long
as wide (coarse plants, preferring wet
or sandy ground; flowers in summer)
(Yellow Cress) — 14.
13b. Pod elongated, more than 4 times as
long as wide — 17.

14a. Stems creeping, with erect or Yellow Cress,
ascending branches; Radicula
flowers about 8 mm. wide sylvestris.
14b. Stems erect or ascending (3-
10 dm. high); flowers about
4 mm. wide — 15.
Yellow Cress,
15a. Pods about twice as long as the pedicels
Radicula obtusa.
15b. Pods about as long as the pedicels, or
shorter than them — 16.
16a. Plant glabrous or minutely Yellow Cress,
pubescent Radicula palustris.
Yellow Cress,
16b. Plant hirsute Radicula palustris
var. hispida.
17a. Petals 7 mm. long or more; pod
terminating in a conspicuous beak
(coarse, weedy plants, 3-12 dm. high,
blooming in summer) — 18.
17b. Petals of smaller size; pod not
terminating in a conspicuous beak
— 24.
Rutabaga,
18a. Upper stem-leaves clasping at
Brassica
the base
campestris.
18b. Upper stem-leaves not
clasping — 19.
19a. Pod tipped with a slender cylindrical
beak whose base is much narrower
than the pod — 20.
19b. Pod gradually narrowed at its tip into a
stout, flattened or angled beak — 22.
20a. Leaves oblanceolate, rather Sand Rocket,
regularly pinnatifid, the Diplotaxis muralis.
terminal segment about the

same size as the lateral
ones
20b. Leaves broad, irregularly
pinnatifid especially below
the middle, with a large
terminal segment — 21.
Black Mustard,
21a. Beak of pod 3-4 mm. long
Brassica nigra.
Indian Mustard,
21b. Beak of pod 5 mm. long or more
Brassica juncea.
Charlock, Brassica
22a. Leaves dentate or lobed
arvensis.
22b. Leaves deeply pinnatifid
— 23.
23a. Pod dehiscent when ripe by two valves, White Mustard,
tipped with a flat or angled beak Brassica alba.
23b. Pod indehiscent, with spongy cross- Wild Radish,
partitions between the seeds, tipped Raphanus
with a conical beak raphanistrum.
24a. Terminal segment of the
principal leaves much
larger than the lateral
segments; flowers in spring
and summer — 25.
24b. Terminal segment of the
principal leaves equaling or
Sisymbrium,
smaller than the lateral
Sisymbrium
ones (5-10 dm. high; pods
altissimum.
very long and slender;
flowers in summer)
25a. Flowers about 3 mm. wide; pods erect
and closely appressed to the stem (3-
9 dm. high; weed blooming in
summer) (Hedge Mustard) — 26.
25b. Flowers about 7 mm. wide; pods
spreading or ascending (3-6 dm.

high; flowers in spring) (Winter
Cress) — 27.
Hedge Mustard,
26a. Pods pubescent Sisymbrium
officinale.
Hedge Mustard,
Sisymbrium
26b. Pods glabrous
officinale var.
leiocarpum.
27a. Lateral leaf-segments 5-8 pairs on the Winter Cress,
principal leaves Barbarea verna.
27b. Lateral leaf-segments 1-4 pairs on the
principal leaves — 28.
28a. Flowers bright yellow, in
Winter Cress,
racemes; pods spreading or
Barbarea vulgaris.
ascending
28b. Flowers pale yellow, in
corymb-like clusters; pods Winter Cress,
erect and somewhat Barbarea stricta.
appressed
29a. Principal stem-leaves compound or
deeply lobed (the uppermost or
bracteal leaves may be simple) — 30.
29b. Principal stem-leaves entire, dentate,
serrate, or sometimes shallowly lobed
or none (the basal leaves, at the
surface of the ground, may be deeply
lobed or compound) — 42.
30a. Leaves ternately divided or
compound (2-5 dm. high;
flowers in spring)
(Toothwort) — 31.
30b. Leaves pinnately divided or
compound — 33.
31a. Leaf-segments lanceolate or narrowly Toothwort,
oblong Dentaria laciniata.

31b. Leaf-segments ovate or ovate-oblong
— 32.
32a. Stem-leaves 2, opposite or Toothwort,
nearly opposite Dentaria diphylla.
Toothwort,
32b. Stem-leaves 2-5, alternate
Dentaria maxima.
33a. Plants growing in water, or in mud near
water (spring and summer) — 34.
33b. Plants of dry or moist soil — 35.
Water Cress,
34a. Aerial leaves distinctly
Radicula
compound, with 3-11
nasturtium-
leaflets
aquaticum.
34b. Aerial leaves merely serrate to
Lake Cress,
pinnatifid; the submerged
Radicula aquatica.
leaves, if present, dissected
35a. Flowers 5 mm. broad, or less — 36.
35b. Flowers 6 mm. broad, or more — 39.
36a. Stem-leaves irregularly
pinnatifid or lobed; pod
Garden Cress,
about as broad as long (2-4
Lepidium sativum.
dm. high; flowers in
summer)
36b. Stem-leaves distinctly
pinnatifid, with 3-6 pairs of
lateral segments (spring)
(Bitter Cress) — 37.
Bitter Cress,
37a. Leaves chiefly basal, pubescent on the
Cardamine
upper side (1-3 dm. tall)
hirsuta.
37b. Stem-leaves conspicuous, glabrous on
the upper side — 38.
38a. Plant of dry soil; flowers Bitter Cress,
about 3 mm. wide (1-4 dm. Cardamine
high) parviflora.

38b. Plant of moist or wet soil; Bitter Cress,
flowers about 5 mm. wide Cardamine
(2-8 dm. high) pennsylvanica.
39a. Leaves irregularly pinnatifid or lobed,
not segmented into definitely paired
divisions (coarse plants 4-8 dm. high;
flowers in summer) — 40.
39b. Leaves deeply segmented into 3-10
pairs of divisions — 41.
40a. Flowers pink or white from Radish, Raphanus
the first sativus.
Wild Radish,
40b. Flowers yellow at first,
Raphanus
turning white with age
raphanistrum.
Cuckoo Flower,
41a. Flowers pink or white, appearing in
Cardamine
spring (2-5 dm. high)
pratensis.
41b. Flowers yellowish or cream-color; a Sisymbrium,
weed blooming in summer (5-10 dm. Sisymbrium
high) altissimum.
42a. A fleshy, much-branched plant
of the shores of the Great
Lakes, with a pod Sea Rocket, Cakile
transversely divided into edentula.
two joints (2-3 dm. high;
summer)
42b. Pod not transversely divided
into two joints — 43.
43a. Pod short, its length not more than 3
times its diameter — 44.
43b. Pod long and slender, its length more
than 3 times its diameter — 55.
44a. Pods not conspicuously
flattened, thick and plump,
about circular in cross-

section (flowers in
summer) — 45.
44b. Pods distinctly flat — 46.
45a. A plant escaped from cultivation in dry Horse Radish,
or moist soil, with very large basal Radicula
leaves (5-10 dm. high) armoracia.
45b. A plant of water or very wet soil, the
Lake Cress,
largest leaves seldom more than 15
Radicula aquatica.
cm. long (1-5 dm. tall)
46a. Stem-leaves clasping the stem
by an auricled base — 47.
46b. Stem-leaves sessile or
petioled, not clasping, or
none — 49.
47a. Stem and leaves glabrous or pubescent;
pod very flat and circular, about 10 Penny Cress,
mm. wide (1-5 dm. tall; early Thlaspi arvense.
summer)
47b. Stem and leaves glabrous or pubescent;
pod not more than 5 mm. wide (1-6
dm. high; spring and early summer)
— 48.
Field Cress,
48a. Pods broadly ovate Lepidium
campestre.
Shepherd's Purse,
48b. Pods triangular, or slightly
Capsella bursa-
indented at the apex
pastoris.
49a. Pods about circular, or a very little
longer than broad — 50.
49b. Pods ovoid or oblong, broadest near the
middle, and distinctly longer than
wide (Whitlow Grass) — 53.
Yellow Alyssum,
50a. Leaves entire (1-3 dm. high;
Alyssum
flowers in summer)
alyssoides.

50b. Leaves serrate (2-6 dm. high;
flowers in summer) — 51.
Garden Cress,
51a. Stamens 6
Lepidium sativum.
51b. Stamens 2 (Pepper Grass) — 52.
Pepper Grass,
52a. Petals present Lepidium
virginicum.
Pepper Grass,
52b. Petals none Lepidium
apetalum.
53a. Petals deeply 2-cleft (about 1 dm. high; Whitlow Grass,
early spring) Draba verna.
53b. Petals entire or barely notched at the tip
— 54.
54a. Leaves all or chiefly at or near
Whitlow Grass,
the base (about 1 dm. high;
Draba caroliniana.
spring)
54b. Stems leafy up to the flowers Whitlow Grass,
(1-5 dm. high; summer) Draba arabisans.
55a. Stem-leaves cordate or sagittate at the
base and sessile, forming a more or
less clasping leaf (3-10 dm. high)
(Rock Cress) — 56.
55b. Stem-leaves sessile or somewhat
petioled, but not clasping — 63.
56a. Seeds in 2 rows in each cavity
of the pod (early summer)
— 57.
56b. Seeds in 1 row in each cavity
of the pod — 59.
Rock Cress,
57a. Calyx pubescent; the pods reflexed
Arabis holboellii.
57b. Calyx glabrous; the pods spreading or
ascending — 58.

Rock Cress,
58a. Basal leaves densely
Arabis
pubescent
brachycarpa.
Rock Cress,
58b. Basal leaves smooth or nearly
Arabis
so
drummondii.
59a. Petals conspicuous, about twice as long
as the calyx, or longer; straight, erect,
mostly unbranched plants — 60.
59b. Petals inconspicuous, equaling or but
little longer than the calyx — 61.
60a. Pods 3-4 cm. long, ascending Rock Cress,
(summer) Arabis patens.
60b. Pods 8-10 cm. long, recurved Rock Cress,
(late spring) Arabis laevigata.
61a. Pods widely spreading; stem usually
Rock Cress,
sparingly branched near the base
Arabis dentata.
(spring)
61b. Pods erect or appressed; stem usually
unbranched (summer) — 62.
62a. Stem-leaves and stem smooth Rock Cress,
and glaucous Arabis glabra.
62b. Stem-leaves and stem almost
Rock Cress,
always pubescent, and
Arabis hirsuta.
never glaucous
63a. Principal stem-leaves 7-10 cm. long, or
more — 64.
63b. Principal stem-leaves 2-5 cm. long
— 65.
64a. Leaves lanceolate or oblong;
flowers 10 mm. wide or Rock Cress,
less (3-7 dm. high; Arabis canadensis.
summer)
64b. Leaves ovate or ovate- Dame's Rocket,
lanceolate; flowers 15-20 Hesperis
matronalis.

mm. wide (5-8 dm. high;
late spring and summer)
65a. Basal leaves ovate to orbicular or
cordate, not more than twice as long
as broad (1-3 dm. high; spring)
(Bitter Cress) — 66.
65b. Basal leaves oblong, lanceolate, or
oblanceolate, at least 3 times as long
as broad (1-3 dm. high) — 67.
Bitter Cress,
66a. Flowers purple or rose color Cardamine
douglassii.
Bitter Cress,
66b. Flowers white Cardamine
bulbosa.
67a. Basal leaves pinnatifid (spring and Rock Cress,
summer) Arabis lyrata.
67b. Basal leaves entire or toothed — 68.
68a. Leaves narrowly
oblanceolate; rare plant Rock Cress, Braya
occurring from Mackinac humilis.
northward (summer)
Mouse-ear Cress,
68b. Leaves obovate or oblong; an
Sisymbrium
introduced weed (spring)
thalianum.

CAPPARIDACEAE, the Caper Family

Herbs, with alternate compound leaves, 4 petals, and 6 or more stamens,
which are about equal in length; fruit a 1-celled pod.
One species in Michigan, stamens about 11; Clammy-weed,
leaflets 3 (2-4 dm. high; flowers Polanisia
yellowish, in summer) graveolens.

RESEDACEAE, the Mignonette Family

Herbs, with alternate leaves and terminal racemes of small yellowish
flowers; sepals 6, petals 6, stamens numerous.
One species in Michigan, with divided Yellow
leaves and irregularly cleft petals, Mignonette,
blooming in summer Reseda lutea.

SARRACENIACEAE, the Pitcher Plant Family

Insectivorous plants, with hollow, pitcher-shaped leaves, and large purple
flowers at the ends of naked stems.
Pitcher Plant,
One species in Michigan, growing in bogs
Sarracenia
and blooming in late spring
purpurea.

DROSERACEAE, the Sundew Family

Insectivorous herbs, with a rosette of basal leaves bearing gland-tipped
bristles on their upper surface, and with slender racemes of small white
flowers in summer; inhabitants of bogs and swamps (2 dm. high, or less).
Sundew, Drosera
1a. Leaf-blade about as long as wide
rotundifolia.
1b. Leaf-blade about 2-3 times as long as Sundew, Drosera
wide longifolia.
1c. Leaf-blade about 5-8 times as long as Sundew, Drosera
wide anglica.

1d. Leaf-blade narrowly linear, about 10 Sundew, Drosera
times as long as wide linearis.

PODOSTEMACEAE, the River Weed Family

Small submerged aquatics, growing attached to stones in running water,
with dissected leaves and minute flowers.
River Weed,
One species in Michigan Podostemum
ceratophyllum.

CRASSULACEAE, the Orpine Family

Herbs, with usually alternate leaves; the sepals, petals, and pistils each 4 or
5, or in one species the petals none, and the stamens as many or twice as
many as the sepals.
1a. Leaves entire (Stonecrop) — 2.
1b. Leaves toothed — 3.
2a. Leaves 3-5 mm. long, very
thick and fleshy (tufted
Stonecrop, Sedum
plants about 1 dm. high,
acre.
with yellow flowers in
summer)
2b. Leaves 10-30 mm. long, flat
Stonecrop, Sedum
(tufted plants 1-2 dm. high;
ternatum.
flowers white, in spring)
Live-for-ever,
3a. Petals present, purple (2-5 dm. high;
Sedum
summer)
purpureum.

Ditch Stonecrop,
3b. Petals none (3-6 dm. high; summer) Penthorum
sedoides.

SAXIFRAGACEAE, the Saxifrage Family

Herbs or shrubs, with alternate or opposite leaves; petals and sepals each 5,
or the petals none; stamens 5 or 10; styles or stigmas 2-4.
1a. Shrubs with lobed leaves (3-15 dm. high;
flowers in late spring) — 2.
1b. Herbs — 12.
2a. Stems thorny — 3.
2b. Stems not thorny (Currant)
— 8.
Swamp Currant,
3a. Flowers and fruits in racemes
Ribes lacustre.
3b. Flowers and fruit in short clusters
(Gooseberry) — 4.
4a. Ovary and fruit prickly and Gooseberry, Ribes
bristly cynosbati.
4b. Ovary and fruit smooth, or
sometimes a little glandular
— 5.
5a. Stamens equaling the ovate calyx-lobes
in length, or a very little longer — 6.
5b. Stamens distinctly longer than the linear
calyx-lobes — 7.
6a. Leaves glabrous beneath, or Gooseberry, Ribes
nearly so oxyacanthoides.
Gooseberry, Ribes
6b. Leaves softly pubescent
oxyacanthoides
beneath
var. calcicola.

7a. Flowers, including the stamens, about 15 Gooseberry, Ribes
mm. long gracile.
7b. Flowers, including the stamens, about 8 Gooseberry, Ribes
mm. long rotundifolium.
8a. Calyx prolonged above the
ovary into a tube which is
longer than the sepals — 9.
8b. Calyx-tube shorter than the
ovary or none — 10.
9a. Flowers greenish-yellow, inconspicuous; Black Currant,
calyx-tube narrowly bell-shape Ribes floridum.
9b. Flowers bright yellow, conspicuous;
Golden Currant,
calyx-tube narrow, with spreading
Ribes aureum.
lobes
10a. Ovary and berry bristly with Skunk Currant,
glandular hairs Ribes prostratum.
10b. Ovary and fruit smooth, or
with sessile glands — 11.
Black Currant,
11a. Leaves dotted beneath with resinous
Ribes
glands
hudsonianum.
11b. Leaves glabrous or pubescent beneath, Red Currant,
without resinous glands Ribes triste.
12a. Flowers minute, yellowish,
Golden Saxifrage,
without petals, in the axils
Chrysosplenium
of the leaves (1-2 dm. high;
americanum.
flowers in spring)
12b. Flowers large, solitary,
terminating erect stalks
(leaves mostly basal;
flowers white, in late
summer; flower-stalks 1-5
dm. high) (Grass-of-
Parnassus) — 13.
12c. Flowers in terminal racemes,
panicles, or clusters — 15.

Grass-of-
13a. Flowers less than 2 cm. wide; leaves Parnassus,
narrowed to the base Parnassia
parviflora.
13b. Flowers 2-3.5 cm. wide; leaves rounded
or cordate at the base — 14.
Grass-of-
14a. A 3-cleft scale at the base of Parnassus,
each petal Parnassia
caroliniana.
Grass-of-
14b. A many-cleft (9-15) scale at Parnassus,
the base of each petal Parnassia
palustris.
15a. Leaves linear to oblanceolate, 3 times as
long as broad, or more, and pinnately
veined (Saxifrage) — 16.
15b. Leaves broadly ovate to nearly circular,
frequently cordate at the base, and
always palmately veined or lobed
— 20.
16a. Leaves basal; the flower-stalk
bearing no leaves except
small ones at the base of its
branches — 17.
16b. Flower-stalk leafy below (1-3
dm. high; flowers yellow,
summer) — 18.
17a. Petals white; sepals erect; leaves Saxifrage,
conspicuously toothed, 3-10 cm. long Saxifraga
(1-3 dm. high; spring) virginiensis.
17b. Petals greenish; sepals reflexed; leaves Saxifrage,
minutely toothed or entire, 10-30 cm. Saxifraga
long (5-10 dm. high; spring) pennsylvanica.
18a. Leaves with 3 sharp teeth at Saxifrage,
the apex Saxifraga

tricuspidata.
18b. Leaves with numerous teeth
or entire — 19.
Saxifrage,
19a. Leaves linear, chiefly on the stem
Saxifraga aizoides.
19b. Leaves spatulate, chiefly in a basal Saxifrage,
rosette Saxifraga aizoon.
20a. Stamens 5 (leaves mostly
basal; flowers greenish or
purplish in late spring, on
stalks 5-10 dm. high)
(Alum Root) — 21.
20b. Stamens 10 (flowers white, in
spring) — 23.
Alum Root,
21a. Flowers regular Heuchera
americana.
21b. Flowers irregular, the calyx oblique,
longer on the upper side than on the
lower — 22.
Alum Root,
22a. Stamens projecting beyond
Heuchera
the calyx
hirsuticaulis.
22b. Stamens not projecting Alum Root,
beyond the calyx Heuchera hispida.
23a. Stem-leaves alternate or none — 24.
23b. Stem with a pair of opposite leaves (2-4 Bishop's Cap,
dm. high) Mitella diphylla.
24a. Petals deeply fringed (1-2 dm. Bishop's Cap,
high) Mitella nuda.
False Mitrewort,
24b. Petals entire (1-3 dm. high)
Tiarella cordifolia.

HAMAMELIDACEAE, the Witch Hazel Family

Shrubs, with alternate simple leaves; sepals, petals, and stamens each 4;
ovary 2-lobed.
One species in Michigan; tall shrub with Witch Hazel,
obovate leaves and yellow flowers Hamamelis
appearing late in autumn virginiana.

PLATANACEAE, the Plane Tree Family

Trees, with broad, palmately veined and lobed leaves, and minute flowers in
dense spherical heads.
Sycamore,
One species in Michigan Platanus
occidentalis.

ROSACEAE, the Rose Family

Trees, herbs, or shrubs, with alternate, frequently compound leaves; petals
and sepals usually 5, stamens numerous, pistils 1 to many; receptacle
expanded into a saucer-shape or cup-shape organ, bearing the sepals, petals,
and stamens at its margin, the pistils at its center, and resembling a calyx-
tube or flattened calyx.
1a. Shrubs or trees — 2.
1b. Herbaceous plants — 48.
2a. Leaves compound — 3.
2b. Leaves simple — 24.
3a. Flowers in large panicles or corymbs,
each flower 5-10 mm. across; leaflets
7 or more — 4.
3b. Flowers solitary or in small clusters, each
flower usually 20-80 mm. wide;

leaflets frequently only 3 or 5 — 7.
4a. Flowers in a pyramidal or
oblong panicle, the ovaries
superior (1-2 m. high;
flowers white, in summer)
— 70b.
4b. Flowers in rounded or
hemispheric clusters, the
ovary inferior — 5.
Rowan Tree, Pyrus
5a. Leaves pubescent on the lower surface
aucuparia.
5b. Leaves glabrous beneath when mature
(small trees; flowers white, in early
summer or late spring) (Mountain
Ash) — 6.
Mountain Ash,
6a. Leaves acuminate at the apex
Pyrus americana.
6b. Leaves obtuse or acute at the Mountain Ash,
apex Pyrus sitchensis.
Cinquefoil,
7a. Flowers yellow (5-10 dm. high; summer) Potentilla
fruticosa.
7b. Flowers pink or red, rarely white, 4-10
cm. across (shrubs, 5-15 dm. high, or
climbing; stems usually thorny;
flowers in early summer) (Rose)
— 8.
7c. Flowers white, 1-3 cm. across (4-20 dm.
high; flowers in late spring) — 16.
8a. Leaflets on most of the leaves
3; styles cohering in a Climbing Rose,
column which protrudes Rosa setigera.
from among the stamens
8b. Leaflets 5-11; styles not
cohering in a protruding
column — 9.

9a. Sepals persistent on the fruit after
flowering — 10.
9b. Sepals soon deciduous from the young
fruit after flowering — 14.
10a. A pair of spines below each
leaf larger than the other
spines — 11.
10b. Spines all alike in size or
nearly so, or absent
completely — 12.
Wild Rose, Rosa
11a. Sepals entire
woodsii.
Dog Rose, Rosa
11b. Sepals pinnatifid
canina.
12a. Stems with few thorns or Wild Rose, Rosa
none at all blanda.
12b. Stems prickly — 13.
13a. Fruit somewhat pear-shape, narrowed Wild Rose, Rosa
toward the base. acicularis.
Wild Rose, Rosa
13b. Fruit globose, rounded at the base acicularis var.
bourgeauiana.
14a. The pair of spines at the base
Wild Rose, Rosa
of each leaf straight or
humilis.
nearly so
14b. The pair of spines at the base
of each leaf distinctly
recurved or hooked — 15.
15a. Leaves densely glandular-pubescent Sweetbrier, Rosa
beneath rubiginosa.
Swamp Rose, Rosa
15b. Leaves glabrous or minutely pubescent
carolina.
16a. Stems trailing or creeping
— 17.
16b. Stems erect, ascending, or
arched — 19.

17a. Stems distinctly shrubby and thorny
(Dewberry) — 18.
17b. Stems almost herbaceous, without Dwarf Raspberry,
thorns Rubus triflorus.
18a. Leaves thin, dull above; fruit Dewberry, Rubus
black, large and juicy villosus.
18b. Leaves firm or thick, shining
above; fruit reddish, small, Swamp Dewberry,
consisting of a few sour Rubus hispidus.
drupelets
19a. Ripe fruit dropping away from the white
receptacle or core; terminal leaflet of
each leaf with a long stalk, while the
lateral leaflets are sessile or nearly so
(Raspberry) — 20.
19b. Ripe fruit and receptacle or core
dropping together; all the leaflets on
stalks which are approximately equal
in length (Blackberry) — 22.
20a. Stem very glaucous with a Black Raspberry,
whitish or bluish waxy Rubus
deposit; fruit black occidentalis.
20b. Stem not glaucous; fruit red
— 21.
Red Raspberry,
21a. Calyx velvety-pubescent
Rubus idaeus.
Red Raspberry,
21b. Calyx bristly-hispid Rubus idaeus var.
aculeatissimus.
22a. Pedicels with gland-tipped Blackberry, Rubus
hairs, but no prickles allegheniensis.
Blackberry, Rubus
22b. Pedicels with prickles
nigricans.

22c. Pedicels with neither prickles
nor gland-tipped hairs
— 23.
Blackberry, Rubus
23a. Leaves downy beneath
frondosus.
Blackberry, Rubus
23b. Leaves smooth beneath
canadensis.
24a. Ovaries 1 or more, superior
(attached to the surface of
the receptacle, but not
concealed within it or
united to it) — 25.
24b. Ovary 1, inferior
(permanently enclosed
within the receptacle, with
only the styles protruding)
— 38.
25a. Ovaries more than 1 — 26.
25b. Ovary 1 — 30.
26a. Leaves serrate — 27.
26b. Leaves lobed — 28.
27a. Leaves glabrous or very nearly so (8-20
Meadow-sweet,
dm. high; flowers white or pinkish,
Spiraea salicifolia.
summer)
27b. Leaves closely pubescent beneath (5-15 Hardhack, Spiraea
dm. high; flowers pink, summer) tomentosa.
28a. Flowers showy, purple or
white, 3-4 cm. broad — 29.
28b. Flowers white, about 1 cm. Ninebark,
wide (1-3 m. high; flowers Physocarpus
in early summer) opulifolius.
Flowering
29a. Flowers purple Raspberry, Rubus
odoratus.
Salmonberry,
29b. Flowers white
Rubus parviflorus.

30a. Flowers in racemes (trees or
tall shrubs; flowers white,
in late spring) — 31.
30b. Flowers in small umbels or
corymbs (flowers white, in
spring) — 32.
31a. Leaves oblong, the points of their teeth Black Cherry,
incurved Prunus serotina.
31b. Leaves obovate, the points of their teeth Choke Cherry,
spreading Prunus virginiana.
32a. Flowers about 1 cm. wide
— 33.
32b. Flowers about 1.5-2.5 cm.
wide — 36.
33a. Low shrubs, with the spatulate or
oblong leaves widest above the
middle — 34.
33b. Erect tall shrubs or small trees, with the
leaves widest below the middle
— 35.
Appalachian
34a. An erect shrub (5-10 dm.
Cherry, Prunus
high)
cuneata.
34b. A prostrate or ascending shrub Sand Cherry,
(3-15 dm. high) Prunus pumila.
35a. Leaves very broadly ovate, almost as Perfumed Cherry,
wide as long (small tree) Prunus mahaleb.
35b. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, about 3 times Pin Cherry,
as long as broad (shrub or small tree, Prunus
2-10 m. high) pennsylvanica.
36a. Sepals glandular-serrate (tall Wild Plum,
shrub or small tree) Prunus nigra.
36b. Sepals entire — 37.
37a. Leaves with sharp teeth, frequently Wild Plum,
bristle-tipped; a native species (tall Prunus americana.

shrub or small tree, frequently
growing in thickets)
37b. Leaves with obtuse teeth; a species
Cherry, Prunus
escaped from cultivation (widely
cerasus.
branched tree)
38a. Trees, in cultivation or
escaped from cultivation
near roads or dwellings,
with showy flowers 2.5-5
cm. across, edible fruits,
and no thorns (spring)
— 39.
38b. Native species, trees or
shrubs, growing in woods,
fields, or thickets;
frequently with thorns
(spring) — 40.
Pear, Pyrus
39a. Leaves finely serrulate or entire
communis.
39b. Leaves coarsely serrate or somewhat Apple, Pyrus
lobed malus.
40a. Shrubs or small trees, without
thorns — 42.
40b. Bushy trees or shrubs, with
thorns or stiff thorn-like
branches, and with flowers
generally 1.5-2.5 cm.
across — 41.
Wild Crab, Pyrus
41a. Flowers pink, very fragrant
coronaria.
41b. Flowers white (Hawthorn, the genus
Crataegus). Several species of this
genus occur in the state, for the
identification of which the Manual
must be used.

42a. Mid-vein glandular above
(shrubs 1-3 m. tall; flowers
white or pink)
(Chokeberry) — 43.
42b. Mid-vein not glandular
(shrubs or trees, 1-10 m.
tall; flowers white)
(Juneberry) — 44.
Chokeberry, Pyrus
43a. Leaves glabrous beneath
melanocarpa.
Chokeberry, Pyrus
43b. Leaves tomentose beneath arbutifolia var.
atropurpurea.
44a. Petals 15-25 mm. long — 45.
44b. Petals 5-12 mm. long — 46.
Juneberry,
45a. Mature leaves glabrous Amelanchier
canadensis.
Juneberry,
Amelanchier
45b. Mature leaves pubescent beneath
canadensis var.
botryapium.
46a. Flowers in racemes — 47.
Juneberry,
46b. Flowers solitary, or in small
Amelanchier
clusters of 2-4
oligocarpa.
Juneberry,
47a. Leaves coarsely dentate, with about 1
Amelanchier
tooth for each lateral vein
spicata.
Juneberry,
47b. Leaves finely serrate, with about 2-3
Amelanchier
teeth for each lateral vein
oblongifolia.
48a. Flowers yellow — 49.
48b. Flowers white, pink, purple,
or rose, never yellow
— 63.

Barren
49a. Plant with basal trifoliate leaves,
Strawberry,
resembling strawberry (1-3 dm. high;
Waldsteinia
late spring)
fragarioides.
49b. Plants with leafy stems — 50.
50a. Flowers solitary in the axils of
foliage leaves, on long
peduncles (trailing or
creeping plants; flowers in
late spring and summer)
— 51.
50b. Flowers in narrow terminal
spike-like racemes (3-8 dm.
high; summer) (Agrimony)
— 52.
50c. Flowers in irregular or
spreading clusters — 55.
Five-finger,
51a. Leaflets 5 Potentilla
canadensis.
Silver Weed,
51b. Leaflets 7-25 Potentilla
anserina.
52a. Principal leaflets more than 3 Agrimony,
times (about 3-1/2) as long Agrimonia
as wide parviflora.
52b. Principal leaflets less than 3
times (about 2-1/2) as long
as wide — 53.
Agrimony,
53a. Leaves nearly glabrous beneath, or with
Agrimonia
scattered spreading hairs
gryposepala.
53b. Leaves softly pubescent beneath — 54.
54a. Leaves distinctly glandular Agrimony,
beneath Agrimonia striata.

Agrimony,
54b. Leaves not glandular beneath
Agrimonia mollis.
55a. Principal leaves palmately compound
with 5-7 leaflets (Cinquefoil) — 56.
55b. Principal stem-leaves with 3 leaflets, or
pinnately compound with several
leaflets — 58.
56a. Leaves silvery-white beneath,
Silvery Cinquefoil,
laciniately toothed (1-4 dm.
Potentilla
high; late spring and
argentea.
summer)
56b. Leaves not silvery-white
beneath (3-10 dm. high;
summer) — 57.
57a. Terminal leaflet more than 3 times as Cinquefoil,
long as wide Potentilla recta.
Cinquefoil,
57b. Terminal leaflet less than 3 times as
Potentilla
long as wide
intermedia
58a. Flowers about 4 mm. wide (2- Spring Avens,
6 dm. high; spring) Geum vernum.
58b. Flowers 6 mm. wide, or wider
— 59.
59a. Principal leaves with lobed leaflets, of
which the terminal is the largest; leaf-
axis bearing also some small leaflets
between those of usual size (4-12 dm.
high; late spring and summer)
(Avens) — 60.
59b. Principal leaves with toothed or
pinnately cleft leaflets, the lateral
ones about equaling the terminal one
in size, and without any small
scattered leaflets (3-8 dm. tall;
summer) (Cinquefoil) — 61.

60a. Terminal leaflet cordate at Avens, Geum
base macrophyllum.
60b. Terminal leaflet wedge-shape Avens, Geum
or acute at base strictum.
Cinquefoil,
61a. Leaflets 3 Potentilla
monspeliensis.
61b. Leaflets 5-15 — 62.
Cinquefoil,
62a. Leaflets crenate Potentilla
paradoxa.
Cinquefoil,
62b. Leaflets deeply incised Potentilla
pennsylvanica.
63a. Leaves all basal, the flowers on leafless
stalks — 64.
63b. Stem-leaves present — 66.
64a. Leaves simple (1-2 dm. high; Dalibarda,
summer) Dalibarda repens.
64b. Leaves trifoliate (1-2 dm.
high; spring) (Strawberry)
— 65.
65a. Leaflets thick and firm, the petioles and
pedicels pubescent with spreading or Strawberry,
ascending hairs; fruit subglobose, the Fragaria
achenes embedded in pits on its virginiana.
surface
65b. Leaflets thin, the petioles and pedicels
Wood Strawberry,
nearly glabrous or with appressed
Fragaria
hairs; fruit conic, the achenes on its
americana.
surface
66a. Leaves pinnate with
numerous leaflets — 67.
66b. Stem-leaves with 3-5 leaflets
— 72.

67a. Leaflets laciniate or deeply lobed
(flowers pink or purple, early
summer) — 68.
67b. Leaflets merely toothed — 69.
68a. Stem-leaves few, small and Purple Avens,
opposite (2-4 dm. tall) Geum triflorum.
Queen of the
68b. Stem-leaves large and
Prairie,
alternate (5-20 dm. tall)
Filipendula rubra.
69a. Individual flowers small, not exceeding
6 mm. across, in large clusters or
spikes — 70.
69b. Individual flowers more than 10 mm.
wide, in few-flowered clusters
(Cinquefoil) — 71.
Burnet,
70a. Flowers in dense spikes (5-15
Sanguisorba
dm. high; late summer)
canadensis.
Sorbaria, Sorbaria
70b. Flowers in panicles
sorbifolia.
Marsh Cinquefoil,
71a. Flowers red or purple (3-6 dm. high;
Potentilla
summer)
palustris.
71b. Flowers white (5-10 dm. high; early Cinquefoil,
summer) Potentilla arguta.
72a. Pistils 5 (5-10 dm. high;
flowers white or pink, early
summer) — 73.
72b. Pistils 10, in a ring (flowers
pink or purple) — 68b.
72c. Pistils numerous, in a head or
close group — 74.
73a. Stipules linear or subulate, 5-8 mm. Bowman's Root,
long Gillenia trifoliata.
73b. Stipules leaf-like, 10-25 mm. long, American Ipecac,
serrate Gillenia stipulata.

74a. Flowers red or purple — 75.
74b. Flowers white — 76.
75a. Leaflets sharply and irregularly toothed
Purple Avens,
or lobed; petals erect, narrowed at the
Geum rivale.
base (3-9 dm. high; early summer)
75b. Leaflets finely and regularly toothed,
oblong; petals spreading — 71a.
76a. Leaflets entire below, 3- Cinquefoil,
toothed at the apex (1-3 Potentilla
dm. high; summer) tridentata.
76b. Leaflets toothed all around
the margin — 77.
77a. Leaves all trifoliate (2-5 dm. high; late
spring) — 17b.
77b. Some of the upper leaves merely lobed
or dentate (5-8 dm. high) (Avens)
— 78.
78a. Stem bristly-hairy (early Avens, Geum
summer) virginianum.
78b. Stem softly and finely Avens, Geum
pubescent (summer) canadense.

LEGUMINOSAE, the Pulse Family

Trees, shrubs, or herbs, with alternate compound (except 3 species with
simple) leaves and stipules; flowers usually irregular (except in a few
species), with a large upper petal and 4 smaller ones, the 2 lower enclosing
the stamens and pistil; stamens almost always 10, and generally united by
their filaments; pistil 1, simple, ripening into a pod.
1a. Shrubs or trees — 2.
1b. Herbs, twining, but without tendrils — 9.
1c. Herbs; the leaves, or some of them,
tipped with tendrils — 12.

1d. Herbs, not climbing or twining; tendrils
none — 21.
2a. Leaves simple — 3.
2b. Leaves compound — 4.
3a. Leaves broadly cordate (tall shrub or Redbud, Cercis
small tree; flowers pink, early spring) canadensis.
3b. Leaves lanceolate or elliptical (3-6 dm. Dyer's Greenweed,
high; flowers yellow, summer) Genista tinctoria.
4a. Twigs or branches thorny — 5.
4b. Thorns none — 7.
5a. Thorns branched, scattered on the stem Honey Locust,
(tall tree; flowers greenish, early Gleditsia
summer) triacanthos.
5b. Thorns unbranched, a pair of them at the
base of each leaf (late spring) — 6.
Black Locust,
6a. Branches glabrous or nearly so
Robinia pseudo-
(tree; flowers white)
acacia.
6b. Branches glandular-pubescent Clammy Locust,
(tall shrub; flowers pinkish) Robinia viscosa.
6c. Branches bristly (shrub. 1-3 m. Bristly Locust,
high; flowers pink) Robinia hispida.
Kentucky Coffee-
7a. Trees; leaves 2-3-pinnate (flowers
tree, Gymnocladus
greenish-white, spring)
dioica.
7b. Low shrubs; leaves once-pinnate (3-6
dm. high; summer) — 8.
Lead Plant,
8a. Flowers bright-blue, each with
Amorpha
a single petal
canescens.
8b. Flowers yellowish and pink-
purple, petals 5 — 26a.
9a. Leaflets 5-7; flowers in racemes Wild Bean, Apios
(purplish, late summer) tuberosa.
9b. Leaflets 3 (flowers greenish, purple, or
white, late summer) — 10.

10a. Flowers in small capitate Wild Bean,
clusters; lower 2 petals Strophostyles
strongly incurved helvola.
10b. Flowers in racemes (Hog
Peanut) — 11.
Hog Peanut,
11a. Stem pubescent or glabrate; leaflets
Amphicarpa
seldom more than 5 cm. long
monoica.
Hog Peanut,
11b. Stem villous with retrorse hairs; leaflets
Amphicarpa
usually longer than 5 cm.
pitcheri.
12a. Style with a tuft of hairs at the
apex; lateral petals of the
corolla adherent to the
lower ones as far as the
middle; stipules less than
10 mm. long, and usually
less than one-fourth the
length of the lower leaflets
(spring and summer)
(Vetch) — 13.
12b. Style hairy along the inner
side; lateral petals of the
corolla free from the lower
ones or adherent only at the
very base; stipules more
than 8 mm. long and
usually one-third or more
the length of the lower
leaflets (late spring and
summer) — 17.
13a. Flowers axillary, sessile or nearly so
(flowers purple) — 14.
13b. Flowers in peduncled racemes — 15.
14a. Upper leaves oblong-obovate, Spring Vetch,
truncate or notched, and Vicia sativa.

mucronate at the apex
14b. Upper leaves lance-linear, Common Vetch,
sharply acute Vicia angustifolia.
15a. Flowers 15-20 mm. long, 4-8 in a Vetch, Vicia
cluster (flowers purple) americana.
15b. Flowers 8-12 mm. long — 16.
16a. Racemes one-sided; flowers Vetch, Vicia
blue cracca.
16b. Racemes loosely flowered,
not one-sided; flowers Vetch, Vicia
whitish, the lower petals caroliniana.
tipped with blue
Vetchling,
17a. Flowers yellowish-white Lathyrus
ochroleucus.
17b. Flowers purple — 18.
18a. Stipules nearly regularly Beach Pea,
halberd-shape, almost as Lathyrus
large as the leaflets maritimus.
18b. Stipules half-sagittate,
apparently attached
laterally near the middle
— 19.
19a. Leaflets 4-8 pairs, ovate; racemes with Wild Pea,
10 or more flowers Lathyrus venosus.
19b. Leaflets 2-4 pairs, linear to oblong or
elliptical; racemes with 2-9 flowers
(Marsh Pea) — 20.
Marsh Pea,
20a. Stems with a membranous
Lathyrus
wing on the margins
palustris.
Marsh Pea,
20b. Stems angled, but not winged Lathyrus palustris
var. myrtifolius.
21a. Leaves simple (2-3 dm. high; flowers Rattlebox,
yellow, summer) Crotalaria