Flora of the Southeastern United States

Ophioglossaceae

Plants epiphytic; sterile leaf blades either simple, or once-dichotomously lobed, or palmately lobed, to 30 cm wide; main areoles of anastamosing veins mostly > 30 mm long; [of peninsular FL]

Plants epiphytic; sterile leaf blades either simple, or once-dichotomously lobed, or palmately lobed, to 30 cm wide; main areoles of anastamosing veins mostly > 30 mm long; [of peninsular FL]

Ophioglossaceae

Plants terrestrial; sterile leaf blades unlobed, to 5 cm wide; main areoles of anastamosing veins mostly < 6 mm long; [collectively widespread]

Plants terrestrial; sterile leaf blades unlobed, to 5 cm wide; main areoles of anastamosing veins mostly < 6 mm long; [collectively widespread]

Ophioglossum

Sterile blade 0.2-1 cm wide, the polygonal venation areoles usually lacking both smaller areoles and free included veinlets

Sterile blade 0.2-1 cm wide, the polygonal venation areoles usually lacking both smaller areoles and free included veinlets

Ophioglossum

Sterile blade (0.5-) 1.2-5 cm wide, the polygonal venation areoles either with smaller areoles or with free included veinlets.

Sterile blade (0.5-) 1.2-5 cm wide, the polygonal venation areoles either with smaller areoles or with free included veinlets.

Ophioglossum

Large areoles of the of the sterile blade subdivided into smaller areoles, these further subdivided into smaller areoles and free veinlets; sterile blade apiculate

Large areoles of the of the sterile blade subdivided into smaller areoles, these further subdivided into smaller areoles and free veinlets; sterile blade apiculate

Ophioglossum

Large areoles of the sterile blade lacking smaller areoles, but with free included veinlets in some areoles; sterile blade obtuse or acute.

Large areoles of the sterile blade lacking smaller areoles, but with free included veinlets in some areoles; sterile blade obtuse or acute.

Ophioglossum

Sterile blade ovate-lanceolate, the base obtuse to nearly truncate, broadest < ¼ of the way from the base to the apex; primary areoles mostly > 2 mm wide, without included veinlets

Sterile blade ovate-lanceolate, the base obtuse to nearly truncate, broadest < ¼ of the way from the base to the apex; primary areoles mostly > 2 mm wide, without included veinlets

Ophioglossum

Sterile blade ovate to elliptic, the base cuneate to obtuse, broadest between one quarter and one half of the way from the base to the tip; primary areoles mostly < 2 mm wide, with included veinlets.

Sterile blade ovate to elliptic, the base cuneate to obtuse, broadest between one quarter and one half of the way from the base to the tip; primary areoles mostly < 2 mm wide, with included veinlets.

Acrostichum

Fertile leaves with sporangia borne only on uppermost 5 or fewer pairs of pinnae; costal areoles of the leaf narrow, > 3× as long as wide

Fertile leaves with sporangia borne only on uppermost 5 or fewer pairs of pinnae; costal areoles of the leaf narrow, > 3× as long as wide

Acrostichum

Fertile leaves with sporangia borne on nearly all pinnae; costal areoles of the leaf broad, < 3× as long as wide

Fertile leaves with sporangia borne on nearly all pinnae; costal areoles of the leaf broad, < 3× as long as wide

Tectaria

Leaf blades 5-12 cm long; areoles without free included veinlets (rarely with).

Leaf blades 5-12 cm long; areoles without free included veinlets (rarely with).

Tectaria

Leaf blades 15-20 cm long; areoles with free included veinlets.

Leaf blades 15-20 cm long; areoles with free included veinlets.

Polypodiaceae

Venation free or with a row of areoles between the pinnae midveins and margins; rhizome 3-6 mm in diameter; leaf blade < 9 cm wide; [subfamily Polypodioideae]

Venation free or with a row of areoles between the pinnae midveins and margins; rhizome 3-6 mm in diameter; leaf blade < 9 cm wide; [subfamily Polypodioideae]

Polypodiaceae

Venation highly reticulate, with 3-4 rows of areoles between the pinnae midveins and margins; rhizome 3-30 mm in diameter; leaf blade 10-50 cm wide.

Venation highly reticulate, with 3-4 rows of areoles between the pinnae midveins and margins; rhizome 3-30 mm in diameter; leaf blade 10-50 cm wide.

Najas

Areoles of the seed coat longer than broad, never ladderlike; [of GA and FL]; [section Americanae]

Areoles of the seed coat longer than broad, never ladderlike; [of GA and FL]; [section Americanae]

Najas

Areoles of the seed coat distinctly wider than long, in ca. 12-18 ladder-like rows; [widespread]; [section Caulinia]

Areoles of the seed coat distinctly wider than long, in ca. 12-18 ladder-like rows; [widespread]; [section Caulinia]

Najas

Leaf-teeth unicellular, not or barely evident at 10× magnification, 18-100 per side; leaves spreading to ascending; seed-coat smooth or pitted, the areoles (if present) longer than wide or about as long as wide; [section Americanae].

Leaf-teeth unicellular, not or barely evident at 10× magnification, 18-100 per side; leaves spreading to ascending; seed-coat smooth or pitted, the areoles (if present) longer than wide or about as long as wide; [section Americanae].

Clematis

Leaf blade coarsely reticulate-veined, the ultimate closed areoles often > 2 mm long in the longer dimension, the tertiary and quaternary veins not prominently raised; achene beak sparsely pubescent to silky, with ascending or appressed hairs

Leaf blade coarsely reticulate-veined, the ultimate closed areoles often > 2 mm long in the longer dimension, the tertiary and quaternary veins not prominently raised; achene beak sparsely pubescent to silky, with ascending or appressed hairs

Clematis

Leaf blade finely reticulate-veined, the ultimate closed areoles mostly < 2 mm long in the longest dimension, the tertiary and quaternary veins often prominently raised; achene beak plumose, with spreading hairs

Leaf blade finely reticulate-veined, the ultimate closed areoles mostly < 2 mm long in the longest dimension, the tertiary and quaternary veins often prominently raised; achene beak plumose, with spreading hairs

Cactaceae

Areoles with detachable glochids (retrorsely barbed bristles, finer than spines) (and also with or without spines), stems segmented into “pads” that are circular, ovate, obovate, or elliptical in outline and flattened in ×-section, at least apically (Consolea) or throughout (Opuntia), or into cylindric-clavate segments that are terete in ×-section (Cylindropuntia, Grusonia); [subfamily Opuntioideae].

Areoles with detachable glochids (retrorsely barbed bristles, finer than spines) (and also with or without spines), stems segmented into “pads” that are circular, ovate, obovate, or elliptical in outline and flattened in ×-section, at least apically (Consolea) or throughout (Opuntia), or into cylindric-clavate segments that are terete in ×-section (Cylindropuntia, Grusonia); [subfamily Opuntioideae].

Cactaceae

Areoles with detachable glochids (retrorsely barbed bristles, finer than spines) (and also with or without spines), stems segmented into “pads” that are circular, ovate, obovate, or elliptical in outline and flattened in ×-section, at least apically (Consolea) or throughout (Opuntia), or into cylindric-clavate segments that are terete in ×-section (Cylindropuntia, Grusonia); [subfamily Opuntioideae].

Areoles with detachable glochids (retrorsely barbed bristles, finer than spines) (and also with or without spines), stems segmented into “pads” that are circular, ovate, obovate, or elliptical in outline and flattened in ×-section, at least apically (Consolea) or throughout (Opuntia), or into cylindric-clavate segments that are terete in ×-section (Cylindropuntia, Grusonia); [subfamily Opuntioideae].

Cactaceae

Areoles lacking glochids (and also with or without spines); stems either cylindrical, or cylindrical but with 3-many ribs, or flattened with 2 wings and an apparent central thickened cord; [subfamily Cactoideae].

Areoles lacking glochids (and also with or without spines); stems either cylindrical, or cylindrical but with 3-many ribs, or flattened with 2 wings and an apparent central thickened cord; [subfamily Cactoideae].

Cactaceae

Areoles lacking glochids (and also with or without spines); stems either cylindrical, or cylindrical but with 3-many ribs, or flattened with 2 wings and an apparent central thickened cord; [subfamily Cactoideae].

Areoles lacking glochids (and also with or without spines); stems either cylindrical, or cylindrical but with 3-many ribs, or flattened with 2 wings and an apparent central thickened cord; [subfamily Cactoideae].

Opuntia

Cladodes spineless; cladodes never easily disarticulating; areoles typically 4-5 per diagonal row at the widest point of the cladode; [central Appalachian Mts. and n. Atlantic Coast, disjunct in nc. MS]

Cladodes spineless; cladodes never easily disarticulating; areoles typically 4-5 per diagonal row at the widest point of the cladode; [central Appalachian Mts. and n. Atlantic Coast, disjunct in nc. MS]

Opuntia

Cladodes generally with 1 or more spines per areole on at least some of the uppermost areoles; cladodes easily disarticulating or not; areoles typically 1-4 per diagonal row at the widest point of the cladode; [widespread in Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain and Atlantic Piedmont].

Cladodes generally with 1 or more spines per areole on at least some of the uppermost areoles; cladodes easily disarticulating or not; areoles typically 1-4 per diagonal row at the widest point of the cladode; [widespread in Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain and Atlantic Piedmont].

Opuntia

Terminal cladodes easily disarticulating, cylindrical or moderately flattened; spines strongly retrorsely barbed to the touch, disposed from areoles in the same plane; terminal cladodes with 1-3 areoles per diagonal row at the widest point of the cladode

Terminal cladodes easily disarticulating, cylindrical or moderately flattened; spines strongly retrorsely barbed to the touch, disposed from areoles in the same plane; terminal cladodes with 1-3 areoles per diagonal row at the widest point of the cladode

Opuntia

Terminal cladodes disarticulating (sometimes falling easily later in the season), 3.1-17.7 cm × 2-9 cm, strongly flattened; spines retrorsely barbed (to the touch) or not; cladodes with 3-4 areoles per diagonal row at the widest point of the cladode.

Terminal cladodes disarticulating (sometimes falling easily later in the season), 3.1-17.7 cm × 2-9 cm, strongly flattened; spines retrorsely barbed (to the touch) or not; cladodes with 3-4 areoles per diagonal row at the widest point of the cladode.

Ilex

Tertiary veins on undersurface of leaf blades reticulate, defining areoles between the raised primary and secondary veins; fruit surface dull; fruiting pedicels 6-14 mm long (averaging about 10 mm); [of blackwater floodplains and clay-based Carolina bays of the Coastal Plain]; ["clade IV"]

Tertiary veins on undersurface of leaf blades reticulate, defining areoles between the raised primary and secondary veins; fruit surface dull; fruiting pedicels 6-14 mm long (averaging about 10 mm); [of blackwater floodplains and clay-based Carolina bays of the Coastal Plain]; ["clade IV"]

Ilex

Tertiary veins on undersurface of leaf blades obscure, not defining obvious areoles between the raised primary and secondary veins; fruit surface shiny; fruiting pedicels either (8-) 10-30 mm long or 2-9 mm long (averaging either < 6 mm or > 15 mm long); [collectively of various habitats, widespread in our area].

Tertiary veins on undersurface of leaf blades obscure, not defining obvious areoles between the raised primary and secondary veins; fruit surface shiny; fruiting pedicels either (8-) 10-30 mm long or 2-9 mm long (averaging either < 6 mm or > 15 mm long); [collectively of various habitats, widespread in our area].

Selenicereus

Areoles on ovary and flower tube bearing long, white, hairlike spines

Areoles on ovary and flower tube bearing long, white, hairlike spines

Selenicereus

Areoles on ovary and flower tube lacking hairs.

Areoles on ovary and flower tube lacking hairs.

Thelypteridaceae

Leaves 1-pinnate (the pinnae entire or serrate, and also often undulate); veins forming parallel rows of more than 5 areoles between the pinna margin and the main vein, the areoles with a single excurrent, free veinlet; sori elongate; [Goniopteroid clade]

Leaves 1-pinnate (the pinnae entire or serrate, and also often undulate); veins forming parallel rows of more than 5 areoles between the pinna margin and the main vein, the areoles with a single excurrent, free veinlet; sori elongate; [Goniopteroid clade]

Campyloneurum

Secondary areoles in the proximal half of blades symmetrical; sori usually in 2 rows between main lateral veins

Secondary areoles in the proximal half of blades symmetrical; sori usually in 2 rows between main lateral veins

Campyloneurum

Secondary areoles in proximal half of blades asymmetrical, or primary areoles with distal veinlet irregularly curved; sori usually in 3 rows between main lateral veins

Secondary areoles in proximal half of blades asymmetrical, or primary areoles with distal veinlet irregularly curved; sori usually in 3 rows between main lateral veins

Campyloneurum

Secondary areoles two times longer than broad; rhizome scales 1-1.5 mm wide, without differentiated marginal cells

Secondary areoles two times longer than broad; rhizome scales 1-1.5 mm wide, without differentiated marginal cells

Campyloneurum

Secondary areoles as long as broad; rhizome scales 1-2.5 mm wide, with slightly differentiated marginal cells

Secondary areoles as long as broad; rhizome scales 1-2.5 mm wide, with slightly differentiated marginal cells

Plantae

Veins anastamosing (rejoining one another) to form a netlike pattern of areoles.

Veins anastamosing (rejoining one another) to form a netlike pattern of areoles.

Pilosocereus

Flowering areoles only tomentose, with tomentose hairs < 5 mm long, these ca. 62-74 µm wide, visibly inconspicuous, and densely matted, intertwined, bent, curled, and irregular; spines to 3 cm long.

Flowering areoles only tomentose, with tomentose hairs < 5 mm long, these ca. 62-74 µm wide, visibly inconspicuous, and densely matted, intertwined, bent, curled, and irregular; spines to 3 cm long.

Pilosocereus

Flowering areoles both tomentose (with tomentose hairs < 5 mm long) and silky with the silken hairs > 8 mm long, these ca. 25-37 µm wide, visibly conspicuous and exserted, dense, and generally parallel and straight to slightly curved; spines to 7 cm long

Flowering areoles both tomentose (with tomentose hairs < 5 mm long) and silky with the silken hairs > 8 mm long, these ca. 25-37 µm wide, visibly conspicuous and exserted, dense, and generally parallel and straight to slightly curved; spines to 7 cm long

Cactaceae

Spines present on at least some areoles, stems various.

Spines present on at least some areoles, stems various.

Cactaceae

Spines absent from all areoles of stems, areoles instead with dense tufts of trichomes; stems spheric-hemispheric and often depressed at apex, or rarely cylindric in deep shade (Lophophora); [s. TX only]

Spines absent from all areoles of stems, areoles instead with dense tufts of trichomes; stems spheric-hemispheric and often depressed at apex, or rarely cylindric in deep shade (Lophophora); [s. TX only]

Cactaceae

Stems speckled with tufts of whitish trichomes outside of areoles; ribs [4-]8-10; inner tepals bright yellow and proximally red

Stems speckled with tufts of whitish trichomes outside of areoles; ribs [4-]8-10; inner tepals bright yellow and proximally red

Cactaceae

Flowers borne from stem apex, areoles with narrow, linear grooves on adaxial surfaces.

Flowers borne from stem apex, areoles with narrow, linear grooves on adaxial surfaces.

Cactaceae

Flowers borne away from stem apex, areoles lacking linear grooves

Flowers borne away from stem apex, areoles lacking linear grooves

Echinocereus

All areoles lacking central spines or very rarely consistently with 1-4 centrals; radial spines brown to black, stem epidermis easily visible on mature plants; [thornscrub in s. TX over alluvial or sandy, often saline substrate]

All areoles lacking central spines or very rarely consistently with 1-4 centrals; radial spines brown to black, stem epidermis easily visible on mature plants; [thornscrub in s. TX over alluvial or sandy, often saline substrate]

Echinocereus

All areoles lacking central spines; radial spines whitish to occasionally brown, dense and long so as to obscure the stem epidermis on mature plants [limestone, sandstone, or igneous outcrops]

All areoles lacking central spines; radial spines whitish to occasionally brown, dense and long so as to obscure the stem epidermis on mature plants [limestone, sandstone, or igneous outcrops]

Symphyotrichum

Leaf areoles elongate and indistinct; leaf margins not revolute; plants 3-9dm, arrays loosely paniculiform; [FL]; [subgenus Virgulus]

Leaf areoles elongate and indistinct; leaf margins not revolute; plants 3-9dm, arrays loosely paniculiform; [FL]; [subgenus Virgulus]

Symphyotrichum

Leaf venation conspicuously reticulate, forming isodiametric areoles; leaf margins revolute; plants 5-15dm, arrays typically densely pyramidal with numerous, dense, often subsecund branches; [widespread]

Leaf venation conspicuously reticulate, forming isodiametric areoles; leaf margins revolute; plants 5-15dm, arrays typically densely pyramidal with numerous, dense, often subsecund branches; [widespread]

Symphyotrichum

Leaf veinlets indistinct or forming irregular, elongate areoles; leaves not waxy, margins plane or revolute; peduncle bracts, if 5 or more, gradually reduced and grading into phyllaries; ray flowers usually white (except S. simmondsii, S. kralii, and S. hesperium).

Leaf veinlets indistinct or forming irregular, elongate areoles; leaves not waxy, margins plane or revolute; peduncle bracts, if 5 or more, gradually reduced and grading into phyllaries; ray flowers usually white (except S. simmondsii, S. kralii, and S. hesperium).

Symphyotrichum

Leaf veinlets conspicuously reticulate, forming isodiametric areoles visible on the lower surface; leaves waxy on upper surface (at least when young), the margins usually revolute and entire or weakly toothed; peduncle bracts 5-12 on well-developed peduncles, foliaceous, crowded, closely subtending and often partially obscuring involucres; ray flowers lavender or purple.

Leaf veinlets conspicuously reticulate, forming isodiametric areoles visible on the lower surface; leaves waxy on upper surface (at least when young), the margins usually revolute and entire or weakly toothed; peduncle bracts 5-12 on well-developed peduncles, foliaceous, crowded, closely subtending and often partially obscuring involucres; ray flowers lavender or purple.