Flora of the Southeastern United States

Smilax

Leaves glabrous and glaucous beneath, thick in texture, base cordate, tip acute or acuminate; lowest inflorescence from a leaf axil (very rarely from bract axils), upper inflorescences from leaf axils; leaves 4-7, clustered together near the summit of the stem

Leaves glabrous and glaucous beneath, thick in texture, base cordate, tip acute or acuminate; lowest inflorescence from a leaf axil (very rarely from bract axils), upper inflorescences from leaf axils; leaves 4-7, clustered together near the summit of the stem

Polygonatum

Stem robust, 5-13 mm thick below the leaves; plants to 20 dm tall; lower axillary peduncles strongly flattened, with (2-) 3-6 (-15) flowers; lowest peduncle in the axil of the (3rd-) 4th-5th (-8th) leaf; larger leaves 9-25 cm long, 3.5-13 cm wide; lower leaves clasping to 300°

Stem robust, 5-13 mm thick below the leaves; plants to 20 dm tall; lower axillary peduncles strongly flattened, with (2-) 3-6 (-15) flowers; lowest peduncle in the axil of the (3rd-) 4th-5th (-8th) leaf; larger leaves 9-25 cm long, 3.5-13 cm wide; lower leaves clasping to 300°

Polygonatum

Stem slender, 1.5-5 mm in diameter; plants to 9 dm tall; lower axillary peduncles terete or nearly so, with (1-) 2-3 (-5) flowers; lowest peduncle in the axil of the (1st-) 3rd (-5th) leaf; larger leaves 5.5-15 cm long, 1.2-6 cm wide; lower leaves clasping to 90 (-180)°.

Stem slender, 1.5-5 mm in diameter; plants to 9 dm tall; lower axillary peduncles terete or nearly so, with (1-) 2-3 (-5) flowers; lowest peduncle in the axil of the (1st-) 3rd (-5th) leaf; larger leaves 5.5-15 cm long, 1.2-6 cm wide; lower leaves clasping to 90 (-180)°.

Murdannia

Flowers in stalked cymose racemes borne terminally or in the uppermost leaf axil; capsules 4-5 mm long; seeds 1.0-1.5 mm long; pedicels about as long as the capsule.

Flowers in stalked cymose racemes borne terminally or in the uppermost leaf axil; capsules 4-5 mm long; seeds 1.0-1.5 mm long; pedicels about as long as the capsule.

Tridens

Primary pulvini glabrous to sparsely pubescent, tufted only in the axil (the upper surface of the panicle branch); secondary pulvini glabrous; spikelets on pedicels mostly < 3 mm long, these mainly appressed to the inflorescence branchlets; main branches of the inflorescence spreading, ascending or drooping

Primary pulvini glabrous to sparsely pubescent, tufted only in the axil (the upper surface of the panicle branch); secondary pulvini glabrous; spikelets on pedicels mostly < 3 mm long, these mainly appressed to the inflorescence branchlets; main branches of the inflorescence spreading, ascending or drooping

Vicia

Stipules with a dark (purple or blackish) nectariferous patch on the lower surface; inflorescence < 1 cm long (peduncle plus axis), of 1-7 flowers nearly clustered in the leaf axil; [exotic species]; [subgenus Vicia]

Stipules with a dark (purple or blackish) nectariferous patch on the lower surface; inflorescence < 1 cm long (peduncle plus axis), of 1-7 flowers nearly clustered in the leaf axil; [exotic species]; [subgenus Vicia]

Potentilla

Terminal leaflet (of well-developed leaves) toothed for < ½ its length, with 2-7 teeth per leaflet side; terminal leaflet usually < 2× as long as wide; lowest flower produced from the axil of the 1st stem leaf above the plant base, typically with only 1 leaf and pedicel at each subsequent node; plants often flowering on short stolons obscured by basal leaves; stem usually prostrate from the beginning, 0.3-0.8 mm in diameter

Terminal leaflet (of well-developed leaves) toothed for < ½ its length, with 2-7 teeth per leaflet side; terminal leaflet usually < 2× as long as wide; lowest flower produced from the axil of the 1st stem leaf above the plant base, typically with only 1 leaf and pedicel at each subsequent node; plants often flowering on short stolons obscured by basal leaves; stem usually prostrate from the beginning, 0.3-0.8 mm in diameter

Potentilla

Terminal leaflet (of well-developed leaves) toothed for < ½ its length, with 2-7 teeth per leaflet side; terminal leaflet usually < 2× as long as wide; lowest flower produced from the axil of the 1st stem leaf above the plant base, typically with only 1 leaf and pedicel at each subsequent node; plants often flowering on short stolons obscured by basal leaves; stem usually prostrate from the beginning, 0.3-0.8 mm in diameter

Terminal leaflet (of well-developed leaves) toothed for < ½ its length, with 2-7 teeth per leaflet side; terminal leaflet usually < 2× as long as wide; lowest flower produced from the axil of the 1st stem leaf above the plant base, typically with only 1 leaf and pedicel at each subsequent node; plants often flowering on short stolons obscured by basal leaves; stem usually prostrate from the beginning, 0.3-0.8 mm in diameter

Potentilla

Terminal leaflet (of well-developed leaves) toothed for > ½ its length, with 4-8 (-13) teeth per leaflet side; terminal leaflet usually > 2× as long as wide; lowest flower produced from the axil of the 2nd stem leaf above the plant base, typically with 2 leaves and 1 pedicel at each subsequent node; plants only flowering on elongating stolons; stem usually erect initially, 0.9-1.4 mm in diameter

Terminal leaflet (of well-developed leaves) toothed for > ½ its length, with 4-8 (-13) teeth per leaflet side; terminal leaflet usually > 2× as long as wide; lowest flower produced from the axil of the 2nd stem leaf above the plant base, typically with 2 leaves and 1 pedicel at each subsequent node; plants only flowering on elongating stolons; stem usually erect initially, 0.9-1.4 mm in diameter

Potentilla

Terminal leaflet (of well-developed leaves) toothed for > ½ its length, with 4-8 (-13) teeth per leaflet side; terminal leaflet usually > 2× as long as wide; lowest flower produced from the axil of the 2nd stem leaf above the plant base, typically with 2 leaves and 1 pedicel at each subsequent node; plants only flowering on elongating stolons; stem usually erect initially, 0.9-1.4 mm in diameter

Terminal leaflet (of well-developed leaves) toothed for > ½ its length, with 4-8 (-13) teeth per leaflet side; terminal leaflet usually > 2× as long as wide; lowest flower produced from the axil of the 2nd stem leaf above the plant base, typically with 2 leaves and 1 pedicel at each subsequent node; plants only flowering on elongating stolons; stem usually erect initially, 0.9-1.4 mm in diameter

Lythraceae

Flowers or fruits solitary in the leaf axils (never > 1 per axil).

Flowers or fruits solitary in the leaf axils (never > 1 per axil).

Psychotria

Inflorescences with a single peduncle from each leaf axil; upper (fresh) leaf surface medium green, matte to slightly glossy; calyx with 5 obvious triangular lobes

Inflorescences with a single peduncle from each leaf axil; upper (fresh) leaf surface medium green, matte to slightly glossy; calyx with 5 obvious triangular lobes

Psychotria

Inflorescences with several peduncles from each leaf axil; upper (fresh) leaf surface either strongly glossy or grayish-green; calyx either with 5 obvious triangular lobes or nearly truncate, with 5 obscure teeth or undulations.

Inflorescences with several peduncles from each leaf axil; upper (fresh) leaf surface either strongly glossy or grayish-green; calyx either with 5 obvious triangular lobes or nearly truncate, with 5 obscure teeth or undulations.

Convolvulus

Margins of the bracts immediately subtending the flower overlapping > ½ their length; bracts inflated at base (saccate), the apex usually obtuse; flowers 1-2 per axil

Margins of the bracts immediately subtending the flower overlapping > ½ their length; bracts inflated at base (saccate), the apex usually obtuse; flowers 1-2 per axil

Convolvulus

Margins of the bracts immediately subtending the flower overlapping at the base only or not at all; bracts mostly flat (or often keeled, the apex usually acute; flowers 1 per axil.

Margins of the bracts immediately subtending the flower overlapping at the base only or not at all; bracts mostly flat (or often keeled, the apex usually acute; flowers 1 per axil.

Solanaceae

Flowers 2 or more per leaf axil; berries with spherical seed-like bodies intermixed with the flattened, reniform seeds; [of the Gulf Coastal Plain]

Flowers 2 or more per leaf axil; berries with spherical seed-like bodies intermixed with the flattened, reniform seeds; [of the Gulf Coastal Plain]

Solanaceae

Flowers 1 per leaf axil; berries with flattened, reniform seeds only; [collectively widespread]

Flowers 1 per leaf axil; berries with flattened, reniform seeds only; [collectively widespread]

Physalis

Flowers 2 or more per leaf axil; berries with spherical seed-like bodies intermixed with the flattened, reniform seeds; [of the Gulf Coastal Plain]

Flowers 2 or more per leaf axil; berries with spherical seed-like bodies intermixed with the flattened, reniform seeds; [of the Gulf Coastal Plain]

Physalis

Flowers 1 per leaf axil; berries with flattened, reniform seeds only; [collectively widespread].

Flowers 1 per leaf axil; berries with flattened, reniform seeds only; [collectively widespread].

Lamiaceae

Flowers 1 per bracteal axil.

Flowers 1 per bracteal axil.

Lamiaceae

Flowers 2-many per bract or leaf axil.

Flowers 2-many per bract or leaf axil.

Callicarpa

Inflorescence supra-axillary, diverging from the twig 1-4 mm above the leaf axil; branchlets terete or quadrangular, stellate pubescent; leaves subsessile, 2-6 (-10) × 1-3 (-4) cm, the short caudate tip about 1/4 of the leaf length; anthers elliptic, ca. 0.5 mm long; cymes dense, each 1-2 cm across in fruit

Inflorescence supra-axillary, diverging from the twig 1-4 mm above the leaf axil; branchlets terete or quadrangular, stellate pubescent; leaves subsessile, 2-6 (-10) × 1-3 (-4) cm, the short caudate tip about 1/4 of the leaf length; anthers elliptic, ca. 0.5 mm long; cymes dense, each 1-2 cm across in fruit

Callicarpa

Inflorescence axillary, borne directly in the axil of the leaf; branchlets somewhat compressed, glabrous or with a few stellate hairs; leaves petiolate, 7-13 × 3.5-4 cm, the long caudate tip about 1/3 of the leaf length; anthers oblong, 1-2 mm long; cymes lax, each 3-4 cm across in fruit

Inflorescence axillary, borne directly in the axil of the leaf; branchlets somewhat compressed, glabrous or with a few stellate hairs; leaves petiolate, 7-13 × 3.5-4 cm, the long caudate tip about 1/3 of the leaf length; anthers oblong, 1-2 mm long; cymes lax, each 3-4 cm across in fruit

Clinopodium

Flowers 1 per leaf axil

Flowers 1 per leaf axil

Clinopodium

Flowers > 1 per leaf axil.

Flowers > 1 per leaf axil.

Krigia

Peduncles usually 1 per leaf axil; leaves linear-lanceolate, the larger 1-12 mm wide; perennial from an underground rhizome (to 5 mm in diameter), larger plants with an extensive rootmat and multiple stems

Peduncles usually 1 per leaf axil; leaves linear-lanceolate, the larger 1-12 mm wide; perennial from an underground rhizome (to 5 mm in diameter), larger plants with an extensive rootmat and multiple stems

Krigia

Peduncles usually 2 per leaf axil; leaves oblanceolate, the larger 15-45 mm wide; solitary-stemmed perennial from a short caudex

Peduncles usually 2 per leaf axil; leaves oblanceolate, the larger 15-45 mm wide; solitary-stemmed perennial from a short caudex

Ammoselinum

Umbels sessile (the rays arising directly from the leaf axil); fruit ribs glabrous (or slightly roughened); ultimate leaf-segments oblong-spatulate, > 0.5 mm wide; plants 4-5 cm tall

Umbels sessile (the rays arising directly from the leaf axil); fruit ribs glabrous (or slightly roughened); ultimate leaf-segments oblong-spatulate, > 0.5 mm wide; plants 4-5 cm tall

Plantae

Leaves longer than wide, entire or prickly-margined; stems usually obviously armed with prickles; flowers 6-merous, greenish, in umbels borne in leaf axils; tendrils stipular, 2 per leaf axil, adnate to the petiole basally

Leaves longer than wide, entire or prickly-margined; stems usually obviously armed with prickles; flowers 6-merous, greenish, in umbels borne in leaf axils; tendrils stipular, 2 per leaf axil, adnate to the petiole basally

Plantae

Leaves wider than long, entire or serrulate; stems not armed; flowers 5-merous, blue-purple or yellow, solitary or in small fascicles in leaf axils; tendrils 1 per leaf axil

Leaves wider than long, entire or serrulate; stems not armed; flowers 5-merous, blue-purple or yellow, solitary or in small fascicles in leaf axils; tendrils 1 per leaf axil

Plantae

Stems of fertile individuals branched (always at least bifurcate), but sterile individuals in some genera characteristically unbranched; inflorescence either of 1 (-2) flower(s) borne in a leaf axil (Uvularia, Streptopus), or of (1) 2 (-3) flowers borne terminally opposite the last leaf (Prosartes); fruit a berry or capsule.

Stems of fertile individuals branched (always at least bifurcate), but sterile individuals in some genera characteristically unbranched; inflorescence either of 1 (-2) flower(s) borne in a leaf axil (Uvularia, Streptopus), or of (1) 2 (-3) flowers borne terminally opposite the last leaf (Prosartes); fruit a berry or capsule.

Dioscorea

Leaves with 9 or more main veins; staminate inflorescence a single panicle in each axil (of median or upper leaves); filaments straight, ca. 0.2 mm long; anther lobes separate; tepals ovate; leaf margins convex; [widespread in our area]

Leaves with 9 or more main veins; staminate inflorescence a single panicle in each axil (of median or upper leaves); filaments straight, ca. 0.2 mm long; anther lobes separate; tepals ovate; leaf margins convex; [widespread in our area]

Dioscorea

Leaves with 9 or more main veins; staminate inflorescence a single panicle in each axil (of median or upper leaves); filaments straight, ca. 0.2 mm long; anther lobes separate; tepals ovate; leaf margins convex; [widespread in our area]

Leaves with 9 or more main veins; staminate inflorescence a single panicle in each axil (of median or upper leaves); filaments straight, ca. 0.2 mm long; anther lobes separate; tepals ovate; leaf margins convex; [widespread in our area]

Dioscorea

Leaves with 7 main veins; staminate inflorescences usually of 1 large and 1-2 smaller secondary panicles in each axil (of upper stem leaves); filaments inwardly curved, ca. 0.4 mm long; anther lobes connate; tepals oblong; leaf margins often with subtle, very broad lobes, the margin thus with straight or very slightly concave segments; [of SC south]

Leaves with 7 main veins; staminate inflorescences usually of 1 large and 1-2 smaller secondary panicles in each axil (of upper stem leaves); filaments inwardly curved, ca. 0.4 mm long; anther lobes connate; tepals oblong; leaf margins often with subtle, very broad lobes, the margin thus with straight or very slightly concave segments; [of SC south]

Xanthium

Leaf axil with a 1-3 cm long, yellow, 3-forked spine; leaf blades lanceolate to ovate, mostly 2-5× as long as wide, cuneate at the base; burs bearing 0-1 apical beak (if 2, then unequal); [section Acanthoxanthium].

Leaf axil with a 1-3 cm long, yellow, 3-forked spine; leaf blades lanceolate to ovate, mostly 2-5× as long as wide, cuneate at the base; burs bearing 0-1 apical beak (if 2, then unequal); [section Acanthoxanthium].

Xanthium

Leaf axil lacking a spine; leaf blades orbicular or broadly ovate, mostly 0.8-1.5× as long as wide, cordate, truncate, rounded, or cuneate at the base; burs bearing 2 equal apical beaks; [section Xanthium].

Leaf axil lacking a spine; leaf blades orbicular or broadly ovate, mostly 0.8-1.5× as long as wide, cordate, truncate, rounded, or cuneate at the base; burs bearing 2 equal apical beaks; [section Xanthium].

Croton

Inflorescences usually < 1 cm long, with 1-2 pistillate flowers crowded at the base (appearing sessile in the axil of the subtending leaf); staminate flowers usually < 1 mm in diameter; stellate-lepidote trichomes of the fruit sparse, with radii fused for all or most of their lengths, appressed; stellate trichomes of the upper leaf surface denser, the radii usually overlapping the radii of nearby stellae, the radii often only 1-3 per trichome (as viewed near the midvein); leaves 1.5-4 (-15) mm wide

Inflorescences usually < 1 cm long, with 1-2 pistillate flowers crowded at the base (appearing sessile in the axil of the subtending leaf); staminate flowers usually < 1 mm in diameter; stellate-lepidote trichomes of the fruit sparse, with radii fused for all or most of their lengths, appressed; stellate trichomes of the upper leaf surface denser, the radii usually overlapping the radii of nearby stellae, the radii often only 1-3 per trichome (as viewed near the midvein); leaves 1.5-4 (-15) mm wide

Spermacoce

Plants with many stems branching from the base; terminal inflorescence with 15-30 flowers, heads also at most in the next axil below; corolla tubes 1.5-2.5 mm long, the lobes ca. 2 mm long; fruit (including persistent calyx lobes) 2.5-4.0 mm long; [endemic to pine rocklands in s. FL]

Plants with many stems branching from the base; terminal inflorescence with 15-30 flowers, heads also at most in the next axil below; corolla tubes 1.5-2.5 mm long, the lobes ca. 2 mm long; fruit (including persistent calyx lobes) 2.5-4.0 mm long; [endemic to pine rocklands in s. FL]

Orchidaceae

Pseudobulb completely enveloped by 6-7 conduplicate distichous leaf sheaths; flowers borne singly on short pedicels arising from leaf axil, without brown blotches; flowers self-pollinating

Pseudobulb completely enveloped by 6-7 conduplicate distichous leaf sheaths; flowers borne singly on short pedicels arising from leaf axil, without brown blotches; flowers self-pollinating

Clematis

Inflorescence long-arcuate; inflorescence of a solitary flower borne in the leaf axil; foliose bracts positioned 1/4 to 1/2 the way up the peduncle from its base; sepals bicolored, the sepal exterior red, the interior white; sepal apices short-reflexed, the sepal body broadly ovoid.

Inflorescence long-arcuate; inflorescence of a solitary flower borne in the leaf axil; foliose bracts positioned 1/4 to 1/2 the way up the peduncle from its base; sepals bicolored, the sepal exterior red, the interior white; sepal apices short-reflexed, the sepal body broadly ovoid.