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| Scientific | Lead Number | Lead Position | Lead Characteristics | Lead Characteristics with Glossary | Line result key id | Line result taxon id | result text |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ophioglossum | Sterile blade elliptic, broadest near the middle, acute to attenuate at the base, pale green, dull, herbaceous in texture; basal frond sheath membranaceous and ephemeral; spores 50-60 μ in diameter | ||||||
Ophioglossum | Sterile blade ovate, broadest below the middle, obtuse at the base, dark green, shiny, firm in texture; basal frond sheath leathery and tending to persist; spores 35-45 μ in diameter | ||||||
Lygodium | Pinnules usually 1-pinnate, the primary divisions usually undivided and without basal lobes (other than the cordate to hastate base) | ||||||
Lygodium | Pinnules usually 1-pinnate, the primary divisions usually undivided and without basal lobes (other than the cordate to hastate base) | ||||||
Pteridium | Leaf segment margins slightly to moderately pubescent (with 1-12 hairs per mm); terminal (caudate) tip of the basalmost pinnule of the basal pinna (3-) avg. 12 (-28)% as long as the entire pinnule; terminal segments of well-developed pinnules generally 2-4× as long as broad, about 3-8 mm wide | ||||||
Pteridium | Leaf segment margins slightly to moderately pubescent (with 1-12 hairs per mm); terminal (caudate) tip of the basalmost pinnule of the basal pinna (3-) avg. 12 (-28)% as long as the entire pinnule; terminal segments of well-developed pinnules generally 2-4× as long as broad, about 3-8 mm wide | ||||||
Pteridium | Leaf segment margins glabrous (rarely sparsely pilose with as many as 4 hairs per mm); terminal (caudate) tip of the basalmost pinnule of the basal pinna (16-) avg. 25 (-45)% as long as the entire pinnule; terminal segments of well-developed pinnules generally 6-15× as long as broad, about 2-5 mm wide | Leaf segment margins glabrous (rarely sparsely pilose with as many as 4 hairs per mm); terminal (caudate) tip of the basalmost pinnule of the basal pinna (16-) avg. 25 (-45)% as long as the entire pinnule; terminal segments of well-developed pinnules generally 6-15× as long as broad, about 2-5 mm wide | |||||
Pteris | Pinnae (at least the basal ones) with at least 1-several lobes or pinnules (many lobes or pinnules in P. plumula); outline of leaf blade ovate to orbicular, typically nearly as wide as long (or to 4× as long as wide in P. plumula); [subgenus Campteria; section Creticae]. | ||||||
Cystopteris | Leaf blade (2.5-) 3-4× as long as wide; pinnae usually perpendicular to the rachis (or even reflexed); margins of pinnae serrulate, the teeth sharp; basal pinnules sessile, truncate to rounded at the base; indusium up to1 mm long, lanceolate; pinnae usually perpendicular to rachis; [on rock outcrops] | Leaf blade (2.5-) 3-4× as long as wide; pinnae usually perpendicular to the rachis (or even reflexed); margins of pinnae serrulate, the teeth sharp; basal pinnules sessile, truncate to rounded at the base; indusium up to1 mm long, lanceolate; pinnae usually perpendicular to rachis; [on rock outcrops] | |||||
Cystopteris | Leaf blade 2-2.5 (-3)× as long as wide; pinnae usually at an acute angle to the rachis, curving toward the blade apex; margins of pinnae crenulate, the teeth rounded; basal pinnules short-stalked or sessile, rounded to cuneate at the base; indusium about 0.5 mm long, ovate to round; pinnae usually at an acute angle to the rachis; [on rock outcrops or forest floor]. | Leaf blade 2-2.5 (-3)× as long as wide; pinnae usually at an acute angle to the rachis, curving toward the blade apex; margins of pinnae crenulate, the teeth rounded; basal pinnules short-stalked or sessile, rounded to cuneate at the base; indusium about 0.5 mm long, ovate to round; pinnae usually at an acute angle to the rachis; [on rock outcrops or forest floor]. | |||||
Cystopteris | Rhizome long-creeping, the apex extending 10-60 mm beyond the last of the widely-spaced petioles (especially as seen from late spring to summer); rhizome covered with scales and tan to golden hairs; spores 20-32 μ long; leaves membranaceous in texture; basal pinnules conspicuously stalked; petiole green to tan, darkened at base; lowermost pinnules of each pinna deeply cut; [typically on forest floor, less commonly on rocks] | Rhizome long-creeping, the apex extending 10-60 mm beyond the last of the widely-spaced petioles (especially as seen from late spring to summer); rhizome covered with scales and tan to golden hairs; spores 20-32 μ long; leaves membranaceous in texture; basal pinnules conspicuously stalked; petiole green to tan, darkened at base; lowermost pinnules of each pinna deeply cut; [typically on forest floor, less commonly on rocks] | |||||
Cystopteris | Rhizome short-creeping, the apex extending only 1-5 mm beyond the last of the closely-spaced petioles; rhizome covered with scales, lacking hairs; spores 32-42 μ long; leaves thicker in texture; basal pinnules slightly stalked or merely cuneate to the base; petiole dark brown; lowermost pinnules of each pinna slightly lobed; [often on rocks, less commonly on forest floor] | Rhizome short-creeping, the apex extending only 1-5 mm beyond the last of the closely-spaced petioles; rhizome covered with scales, lacking hairs; spores 32-42 μ long; leaves thicker in texture; basal pinnules slightly stalked or merely cuneate to the base; petiole dark brown; lowermost pinnules of each pinna slightly lobed; [often on rocks, less commonly on forest floor] | |||||
Gymnocarpium | Sessile basal basiscopic pinnule of the proximal pinnae with basal basiscopic pinnulet shorter than the adjacent pinnulet; pinnae of second pair sessile, with basal pinnules shorter than the adjacent pinnule (or second basal pinnae rarely stalked); spores 27-31 µm in diameter | ||||||
Gymnocarpium | Sessile basal basiscopic pinnule of the proximal pinnae with basal basiscopic pinnulet shorter than the adjacent pinnulet; pinnae of second pair sessile, with basal pinnules shorter than the adjacent pinnule (or second basal pinnae rarely stalked); spores 27-31 µm in diameter | ||||||
Gymnocarpium | Sessile basal basiscopic pinnule of the proximal pinnae with basal basiscopic pinnulet shorter than the adjacent pinnulet; pinnae of second pair sessile, with basal pinnules shorter than the adjacent pinnule (or second basal pinnae rarely stalked); spores 27-31 µm in diameter | ||||||
Gymnocarpium | Sessile basal basiscopic pinnule of the proximal pinnae with basal basiscopic pinnulet shorter than the adjacent pinnulet; pinnae of second pair sessile, with basal pinnules shorter than the adjacent pinnule (or second basal pinnae rarely stalked); spores 27-31 µm in diameter | ||||||
Gymnocarpium | Sessile basal basiscopic pinnule of the proximal pinnae with basal basiscopic pinnulet shorter than the adjacent pinnulet; pinnae of second pair sessile, with basal pinnules shorter than the adjacent pinnule (or second basal pinnae rarely stalked); spores 27-31 µm in diameter | ||||||
Gymnocarpium | Sessile basal basiscopic pinnule of the proximal pinnae with basal basiscopic pinnulet shorter than the adjacent pinnulet; pinnae of second pair sessile, with basal pinnules shorter than the adjacent pinnule (or second basal pinnae rarely stalked); spores 27-31 µm in diameter | ||||||
Gymnocarpium | Sessile basal basiscopic pinnule of the proximal pinnae with basal basiscopic pinnulet shorter than the adjacent pinnulet; pinnae of second pair sessile, with basal pinnules shorter than the adjacent pinnule (or second basal pinnae rarely stalked); spores 27-31 µm in diameter | ||||||
Gymnocarpium | Sessile basal basiscopic pinnule of the proximal pinnae with basal basiscopic pinnulet shorter than the adjacent pinnulet; pinnae of second pair sessile, with basal pinnules shorter than the adjacent pinnule (or second basal pinnae rarely stalked); spores 27-31 µm in diameter | ||||||
Gymnocarpium | Sessile basal basiscopic pinnule of the proximal pinnae with basal basiscopic pinnulet more or less equal in length to the adjacent pinnulet; pinnae of second pair usually sessile, with basal pinnules more or less equal in length to the adjacent pinnule; spores 34-39 µm in diameter | ||||||
Gymnocarpium | Sessile basal basiscopic pinnule of the proximal pinnae with basal basiscopic pinnulet more or less equal in length to the adjacent pinnulet; pinnae of second pair usually sessile, with basal pinnules more or less equal in length to the adjacent pinnule; spores 34-39 µm in diameter | ||||||
Gymnocarpium | Sessile basal basiscopic pinnule of the proximal pinnae with basal basiscopic pinnulet more or less equal in length to the adjacent pinnulet; pinnae of second pair usually sessile, with basal pinnules more or less equal in length to the adjacent pinnule; spores 34-39 µm in diameter | ||||||
Gymnocarpium | Sessile basal basiscopic pinnule of the proximal pinnae with basal basiscopic pinnulet more or less equal in length to the adjacent pinnulet; pinnae of second pair usually sessile, with basal pinnules more or less equal in length to the adjacent pinnule; spores 34-39 µm in diameter | ||||||
Gymnocarpium | Sessile basal basiscopic pinnule of the proximal pinnae with basal basiscopic pinnulet more or less equal in length to the adjacent pinnulet; pinnae of second pair usually sessile, with basal pinnules more or less equal in length to the adjacent pinnule; spores 34-39 µm in diameter | ||||||
Gymnocarpium | Sessile basal basiscopic pinnule of the proximal pinnae with basal basiscopic pinnulet more or less equal in length to the adjacent pinnulet; pinnae of second pair usually sessile, with basal pinnules more or less equal in length to the adjacent pinnule; spores 34-39 µm in diameter | ||||||
Gymnocarpium | Sessile basal basiscopic pinnule of the proximal pinnae with basal basiscopic pinnulet more or less equal in length to the adjacent pinnulet; pinnae of second pair usually sessile, with basal pinnules more or less equal in length to the adjacent pinnule; spores 34-39 µm in diameter | ||||||
Gymnocarpium | Sessile basal basiscopic pinnule of the proximal pinnae with basal basiscopic pinnulet more or less equal in length to the adjacent pinnulet; pinnae of second pair usually sessile, with basal pinnules more or less equal in length to the adjacent pinnule; spores 34-39 µm in diameter | ||||||
Asplenium | Main vein of the pinna running along the basal edge; sori 1 (-3) per pinna, 1.5-3 mm long, borne along the basal edge, the indusium translucent, whitish, opening toward the leaf tip | ||||||
Phegopteris | Rhizome long creeping; all the pinnae interconnected by a narrow rachis wing, or the proximal 1-3 pairs of pinnae free; leaf blade broadly triangular, broadest at or near the base (the largest pinnae the basal or next pair); primary pinnae opposite. | ||||||
Phegopteris | Rachis wings absent between the two basal pinna pairs; frond blade longer than wide; basalmost pinnae 4-5× as long as wide; rachis bearing on its lower surface numerous tan to brown, lanceolate scales (these mostly 6-12 cells wide at the base) and acicular hairs 0.3-1.0 mm long. | ||||||
Phegopteris | Rachis wings present between the two basal pinna pairs; basalmost pinnae (2-) ca. 3× as long as wide; frond blade usually wider than long; rachis bearing on its lower surface relatively few, white to pale tan, narrowly lanceolate scales (these mostly 3-5 cells wide at the base) and hairs 0.1-0.25 mm long | Rachis wings present between the two basal pinna pairs; basalmost pinnae (2-) ca. 3× as long as wide; frond blade usually wider than long; rachis bearing on its lower surface relatively few, white to pale tan, narrowly lanceolate scales (these mostly 3-5 cells wide at the base) and hairs 0.1-0.25 mm long | |||||
Dryopteris | Leaves evergreen, the blades appearing more-or-less parallel-sided and minutely glandular-pubescent, especially on the indusium, rachis, and pinnae midribs; first basal-pointed pinnule of the basal pinna shorter than or equal to the next outermost basal-pointed pinnule; first basal-pointed pinnule of the basal pinna usually < 2× as long as the first tip-pointed pinnule of the basal pinna | Leaves evergreen, the blades appearing more-or-less parallel-sided and minutely glandular-pubescent, especially on the indusium, rachis, and pinnae midribs; first basal-pointed pinnule of the basal pinna shorter than or equal to the next outermost basal-pointed pinnule; first basal-pointed pinnule of the basal pinna usually < 2× as long as the first tip-pointed pinnule of the basal pinna | |||||
Dryopteris | Leaves deciduous, the blades appearing more or less triangular and lacking gland-tipped hairs (except occasionally on the indusium); first basal-pointed pinnule of the basal pinna longer than the next outermost basal-pointed pinnule; first basal-pointed pinnule of the basal pinna > 2× as long as the first tip-pointed pinnule of the basal pinna. | Leaves deciduous, the blades appearing more or less triangular and lacking gland-tipped hairs (except occasionally on the indusium); first basal-pointed pinnule of the basal pinna longer than the next outermost basal-pointed pinnule; first basal-pointed pinnule of the basal pinna > 2× as long as the first tip-pointed pinnule of the basal pinna. | |||||
Dryopteris | Leaf blade ca. 1× as long as the petiole; indusium occasionally glandular; first basal-pointed pinnule of the basal pinna 2.5-5× as long as the first tip-pointed pinnule of the basal pinna | ||||||
Dryopteris | Leaf blade 2× as long as the petiole; indusium glabrous; first basal-pointed pinnule of the basal pinna ca. 2× as long as the first tip-pointed pinnule of the basal pinna | ||||||
Nephrolepis | Scales on the upper surface of the rachis bicolored (pale but distinctly darker at the base); pinnae attachments spaced 5-12 mm apart; leaf blade with an obtuse apex; underside of rachis almost completely hidden by the overlapping basal lobes of the pinnae; rhizomes bearing spherical tubers (not always present) | Scales on the upper surface of the rachis bicolored (pale but distinctly darker at the base); pinnae attachments spaced 5-12 mm apart; leaf blade with an obtuse apex; underside of rachis almost completely hidden by the overlapping basal lobes of the pinnae; rhizomes bearing spherical tubers (not always present) | |||||
Pleopeltis | Laminar scales of the upper leaf surface absent or essentially so; glands inconspicuous, on the proximal acroscopic side of the basal pinnae; rhizome scale margins strongly erose-serrate; laminar scales of the lower leaf surface sparse, lanceolate, sometimes touching, their margins undulate, entire; orbicular scales present and readily visible; [widespread in our area] | Laminar scales of the upper leaf surface absent or essentially so; glands inconspicuous, on the proximal acroscopic side of the basal pinnae; rhizome scale margins strongly erose-serrate; laminar scales of the lower leaf surface sparse, lanceolate, sometimes touching, their margins undulate, entire; orbicular scales present and readily visible; [widespread in our area] | |||||
Pleopeltis | Laminar scales of the upper leaf surface bearing scattered scales, these subulate, the base pectinate-stellate, apex long caudate, margin weakly erose; glands conspicuous, round to elliptic, rather swollen with a central depression, on a small auricle within the sinus near the acroscopic side of the basal pinnae; rhizome scale margins erose-ciliate; laminar scales of the lower leaf surface dense, lanceolate, their margins ciliate (peripheral scales often extending beyond the margin of the blade); orbicular scales present, but not readily visible; [FL Keys only] | Laminar scales of the upper leaf surface bearing scattered scales, these subulate, the base pectinate-stellate, apex long caudate, margin weakly erose; glands conspicuous, round to elliptic, rather swollen with a central depression, on a small auricle within the sinus near the acroscopic side of the basal pinnae; rhizome scale margins erose-ciliate; laminar scales of the lower leaf surface dense, lanceolate, their margins ciliate (peripheral scales often extending beyond the margin of the blade); orbicular scales present, but not readily visible; [FL Keys only] | |||||
Taxodium | Larger knees often tall, often > 4 dm tall, usually narrowly conical, with thin, shreddy bark on top; leafy branchlets spreading laterally from the twigs, except in the crowns of mature trees (which sometimes mimic T. ascendens); leaves linear, flat, spirally arranged but by twisting of their basal portions spreading laterally and featherlike (pseudo-distichous), appressed only on drooping branches of the crown, if at all; leaves mostly 8-20 mm long (sometimes less on crown branches); bark thin (< 1 cm thick), exfoliating in shreddy, orange-brown strips; [trees of brownwater swamp forests, blackwater swamp forests, natural lakes, and millponds] | Larger knees often tall, often > 4 dm tall, usually narrowly conical, with thin, shreddy bark on top; leafy branchlets spreading laterally from the twigs, except in the crowns of mature trees (which sometimes mimic T. ascendens); leaves linear, flat, spirally arranged but by twisting of their basal portions spreading laterally and featherlike (pseudo-distichous), appressed only on drooping branches of the crown, if at all; leaves mostly 8-20 mm long (sometimes less on crown branches); bark thin (< 1 cm thick), exfoliating in shreddy, orange-brown strips; [trees of brownwater swamp forests, blackwater swamp forests, natural lakes, and millponds] | |||||
Taxodium | Larger knees often tall, often > 4 dm tall, usually narrowly conical, with thin, shreddy bark on top; leafy branchlets spreading laterally from the twigs, except in the crowns of mature trees (which sometimes mimic T. ascendens); leaves linear, flat, spirally arranged but by twisting of their basal portions spreading laterally and featherlike (pseudo-distichous), appressed only on drooping branches of the crown, if at all; leaves mostly 8-20 mm long (sometimes less on crown branches); bark thin (< 1 cm thick), exfoliating in shreddy, orange-brown strips; [trees of brownwater swamp forests, blackwater swamp forests, natural lakes, and millponds] | Larger knees often tall, often > 4 dm tall, usually narrowly conical, with thin, shreddy bark on top; leafy branchlets spreading laterally from the twigs, except in the crowns of mature trees (which sometimes mimic T. ascendens); leaves linear, flat, spirally arranged but by twisting of their basal portions spreading laterally and featherlike (pseudo-distichous), appressed only on drooping branches of the crown, if at all; leaves mostly 8-20 mm long (sometimes less on crown branches); bark thin (< 1 cm thick), exfoliating in shreddy, orange-brown strips; [trees of brownwater swamp forests, blackwater swamp forests, natural lakes, and millponds] | |||||
Taxodium | Larger knees often tall, often > 4 dm tall, usually narrowly conical, with thin, shreddy bark on top; leafy branchlets spreading laterally from the twigs, except in the crowns of mature trees (which sometimes mimic T. ascendens); leaves linear, flat, spirally arranged but by twisting of their basal portions spreading laterally and featherlike (pseudo-distichous), appressed only on drooping branches of the crown, if at all; leaves mostly 8-20 mm long (sometimes less on crown branches); bark thin (< 1 cm thick), exfoliating in shreddy, orange-brown strips; [trees of brownwater swamp forests, blackwater swamp forests, natural lakes, and millponds] | Larger knees often tall, often > 4 dm tall, usually narrowly conical, with thin, shreddy bark on top; leafy branchlets spreading laterally from the twigs, except in the crowns of mature trees (which sometimes mimic T. ascendens); leaves linear, flat, spirally arranged but by twisting of their basal portions spreading laterally and featherlike (pseudo-distichous), appressed only on drooping branches of the crown, if at all; leaves mostly 8-20 mm long (sometimes less on crown branches); bark thin (< 1 cm thick), exfoliating in shreddy, orange-brown strips; [trees of brownwater swamp forests, blackwater swamp forests, natural lakes, and millponds] | |||||
Saururaceae | Flowers in a spike with 4 petal-like basal bracts; ovary of 3 (-4) carpels, these fully fused and forming a single locule, fruit a capsule; stamens 3 | ||||||
Saururaceae | Flowers in a spike with 4 petal-like basal bracts; ovary of 3 (-4) carpels, these fully fused and forming a single locule, fruit a capsule; stamens 3 | ||||||
Saururaceae | Flowers in a raceme without petal-like basal bracts; ovary of (3-) 4 carpels fused only at the base, fruit a schizocarp; stamens 6 | ||||||
Saururaceae | Flowers in a raceme without petal-like basal bracts; ovary of (3-) 4 carpels fused only at the base, fruit a schizocarp; stamens 6 | ||||||
Lindera | Leaves typically with a thick, subcoriaceous texture (though sometimes thinner in texture if growing in shade), 4-8 (-10.5 in male plants) cm long, 2-3.5 (-4.8 in male plants) cm wide, narrowly obovate (and characteristically also with smaller broadly obovate leaves basal on the branches), pubescent and strongly whitened below; leaves and bark aromatic, the odor lemony | Leaves typically with a thick, subcoriaceous texture (though sometimes thinner in texture if growing in shade), 4-8 (-10.5 in male plants) cm long, 2-3.5 (-4.8 in male plants) cm wide, narrowly obovate (and characteristically also with smaller broadly obovate leaves basal on the branches), pubescent and strongly whitened below; leaves and bark aromatic, the odor lemony | |||||
Lindera | Leaves typically with a thick, subcoriaceous texture (though sometimes thinner in texture if growing in shade), 4-8 (-10.5 in male plants) cm long, 2-3.5 (-4.8 in male plants) cm wide, narrowly obovate (and characteristically also with smaller broadly obovate leaves basal on the branches), pubescent and strongly whitened below; leaves and bark aromatic, the odor lemony | Leaves typically with a thick, subcoriaceous texture (though sometimes thinner in texture if growing in shade), 4-8 (-10.5 in male plants) cm long, 2-3.5 (-4.8 in male plants) cm wide, narrowly obovate (and characteristically also with smaller broadly obovate leaves basal on the branches), pubescent and strongly whitened below; leaves and bark aromatic, the odor lemony | |||||
Araceae | Spadix fused basally along one side (for several cm) to the spathe; spathe bisexual, with a basal section of female flowers, a sterile gap, a section of male and female flowers on the free side; leaves either palmately compound with 3 leaflets (juvenile leaves sometimes simple or very deeply 3-lobed) or pedately compound with 5-7 (-9) leaflets, the central leaflet as large as or larger than the others; bulblets either absent or present at base and summit of the petiole; [exotic, rarely naturalized] | Spadix fused basally along one side (for several cm) to the spathe; spathe bisexual, with a basal section of female flowers, a sterile gap, a section of male and female flowers on the free side; leaves either palmately compound with 3 leaflets (juvenile leaves sometimes simple or very deeply 3-lobed) or pedately compound with 5-7 (-9) leaflets, the central leaflet as large as or larger than the others; bulblets either absent or present at base and summit of the petiole; [exotic, rarely naturalized] | |||||
Araceae | Spadix fused basally along one side (for several cm) to the spathe; spathe bisexual, with a basal section of female flowers, a sterile gap, a section of male and female flowers on the free side; leaves either palmately compound with 3 leaflets (juvenile leaves sometimes simple or very deeply 3-lobed) or pedately compound with 5-7 (-9) leaflets, the central leaflet as large as or larger than the others; bulblets either absent or present at base and summit of the petiole; [exotic, rarely naturalized] | Spadix fused basally along one side (for several cm) to the spathe; spathe bisexual, with a basal section of female flowers, a sterile gap, a section of male and female flowers on the free side; leaves either palmately compound with 3 leaflets (juvenile leaves sometimes simple or very deeply 3-lobed) or pedately compound with 5-7 (-9) leaflets, the central leaflet as large as or larger than the others; bulblets either absent or present at base and summit of the petiole; [exotic, rarely naturalized] | |||||
Sagittaria | Leaf blades sagittate or cordate (at least some of the leaves on a plant with sagittate or cordate basal lobes); some species are keyed both here and below). | ||||||
Sagittaria | Leaf blades sagittate or cordate (at least some of the leaves on a plant with sagittate or cordate basal lobes); some species are keyed both here and below). | ||||||
Hydrocharitaceae | Leaves basal, either elongate with parallel sides, or petiolate with a leaf blade. | ||||||
Potamogeton | Leaves lax, not conspicuously 2-ranked, lacking basal lobes, with fewer than 20 veins. | ||||||
Melanthiaceae | Main (basal) leaves obovate or oblanceolate, the main secondary veins diverging individually (at angles of < 10°) from the midvein in the lower half of the expanded blade and rejoining at the apex; flowers pink, white or cream. | Main (basal) leaves obovate or oblanceolate, the main secondary veins diverging individually (at angles of < 10°) from the midvein in the lower half of the expanded blade and rejoining at the apex; flowers pink, white or cream. | |||||
Melanthiaceae | Main (basal) leaves linear, elliptic, or obovate, the main veins parallel, all diverging at the base of the leaf and rejoining at the apex; flowers white, cream, yellowish, greenish, or brownish. | ||||||
Melanthiaceae | Basal leaves 4-many, (4-) 7-10 (-23) mm wide; basal leaves not enclosed by a basal sheath (all basal leaves with blades, and the leaf bases usually white); capsule suborbicular, 5-7 mm long, 5-7 mm wide; older flowers and developing capsules turning green; bulb broadly ovoid; [widespread in our area, including Coastal Plain pine savannas] | Basal leaves 4-many, (4-) 7-10 (-23) mm wide; basal leaves not enclosed by a basal sheath (all basal leaves with blades, and the leaf bases usually white); capsule suborbicular, 5-7 mm long, 5-7 mm wide; older flowers and developing capsules turning green; bulb broadly ovoid; [widespread in our area, including Coastal Plain pine savannas] | |||||
Melanthiaceae | Basal leaves 4-many, (4-) 7-10 (-23) mm wide; basal leaves not enclosed by a basal sheath (all basal leaves with blades, and the leaf bases usually white); capsule suborbicular, 5-7 mm long, 5-7 mm wide; older flowers and developing capsules turning green; bulb broadly ovoid; [widespread in our area, including Coastal Plain pine savannas] | Basal leaves 4-many, (4-) 7-10 (-23) mm wide; basal leaves not enclosed by a basal sheath (all basal leaves with blades, and the leaf bases usually white); capsule suborbicular, 5-7 mm long, 5-7 mm wide; older flowers and developing capsules turning green; bulb broadly ovoid; [widespread in our area, including Coastal Plain pine savannas] | |||||
Melanthiaceae | Basal leaves 1-3, 2-6 (-10) mm wide; basal leaves enclosed by a basal purple (bladeless) sheath 3-8 cm long; capsule conical, 7-12 mm long, 3-4 mm wide; older flowers and developing capsules turning pink; bulb cylindrical; [of Coastal Plain pine savannas and similar habitats] | ||||||
Melanthiaceae | Basal leaves 1-3, 2-6 (-10) mm wide; basal leaves enclosed by a basal purple (bladeless) sheath 3-8 cm long; capsule conical, 7-12 mm long, 3-4 mm wide; older flowers and developing capsules turning pink; bulb cylindrical; [of Coastal Plain pine savannas and similar habitats] | ||||||
Melanthiaceae | Leaves basally disposed; leaves not at all to slightly plicate, 1-14 cm wide; tepals glabrous, 4-9 mm long, 1-3 mm wide (3-5 mm wide in M. hybridum), with either conspicuous (M. hybridum) or diffuse (M. parviflorum and M. woodii) glands; filaments fused to the basal claw of the tepal | ||||||
Melanthium | Leaf blades (the larger, basal) linear or narrowly oblanceolate, 30-85 cm long, 1-7 cm wide, lacking an obvious petiole; tepals white to cream, clawed; tepal blade 1-1.5× as long as wide. | ||||||
Melanthium | Leaf blades (the larger, basal) narrowly to broadly elliptic, 17-50 cm long, 3-14 cm wide, with an obvious petiolar base 1-10 cm long; tepals green to maroon or purple, cuneate (not clawed); tepal blade 2-4× as long as wide. | ||||||
Stenanthium | Basal sheaths purple, fibers absent (occasionally sparse, rarely moderate); inflorescence unbranched (a raceme) or branched (a panicle); number of pedicels per 5 cm of inflorescence axis 30-60 (mean 43); tepals fade to pink or purple on living plants; [southern Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain]. | Basal sheaths purple, fibers absent (occasionally sparse, rarely moderate); inflorescence unbranched (a raceme) or branched (a panicle); number of pedicels per 5 cm of inflorescence axis 30-60 (mean 43); tepals fade to pink or purple on living plants; [southern Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain]. | |||||
Stenanthium | Basal sheaths brown (occasionally purple tinged), densely to moderately clothed with remnant fibers; inflorescence branched (a panicle); number of pedicels per 5 cm of raceme 22-50 (mean 32); tepals fade to dull green or olive on living plants; [Eastern Highland Rim of TN, Southern Appalachians, and Coastal Plain of NY-NJ-DE-MD]. | Basal sheaths brown (occasionally purple tinged), densely to moderately clothed with remnant fibers; inflorescence branched (a panicle); number of pedicels per 5 cm of raceme 22-50 (mean 32); tepals fade to dull green or olive on living plants; [Eastern Highland Rim of TN, Southern Appalachians, and Coastal Plain of NY-NJ-DE-MD]. | |||||
Veratrum | Leaves basally disposed; leaves not at all to slightly plicate, 1-14 cm wide; tepals glabrous, 4-9 mm long, 1-3 mm wide (3-5 mm wide in M. hybridum), with either conspicuous (M. hybridum) or diffuse (M. parviflorum and M. woodii) glands; filaments fused to the basal claw of the tepal | ||||||
Liliaceae | Leaves basal; flowers on a leafless scape; tepals yellow or white. | ||||||
Orchidaceae | Leaf basal. | Leaf basal. | |||||
Orchidaceae | Leaves basal (sometimes with bladeless sheaths upward on the stem). | ||||||
Cleistesiopsis | Column 21-29 mm long; lip (26-) 34-56 mm long, the basal 3/4 of the central keel of the lip with 1-3 parallel, continuous low ridges; sepals (31-) 40-56 (-65) mm long; petals 27-53 mm long; distance between median leaf and floral bract 9-20 cm; fresh flower with daffodil-like odor; [of the Coastal Plain, NJ to ne. FL] | Column 21-29 mm long; lip (26-) 34-56 mm long, the basal 3/4 of the central keel of the lip with 1-3 parallel, continuous low ridges; sepals (31-) 40-56 (-65) mm long; petals 27-53 mm long; distance between median leaf and floral bract 9-20 cm; fresh flower with daffodil-like odor; [of the Coastal Plain, NJ to ne. FL] | |||||
Cleistesiopsis | Column 13-19 mm long; lip 21-33 (-38.5) mm long, the basal 3/4 of the central keel of the lip with 5-7 discontinuous and irregular ridges; sepals (24-) 30-40 (-55) mm long; petals 21-36 mm long; distance between median leaf and floral bract 3-16 cm; fresh flowers with strong vanilla scent (in C. oricamporum, of the Coastal Plain) or odorless (in C. bifaria, of the Mountain and upper Piedmont); [either of the Coastal Plain NC to peninsular FL west to e. LA or of inland provinces]. | Column 13-19 mm long; lip 21-33 (-38.5) mm long, the basal 3/4 of the central keel of the lip with 5-7 discontinuous and irregular ridges; sepals (24-) 30-40 (-55) mm long; petals 21-36 mm long; distance between median leaf and floral bract 3-16 cm; fresh flowers with strong vanilla scent (in C. oricamporum, of the Coastal Plain) or odorless (in C. bifaria, of the Mountain and upper Piedmont); [either of the Coastal Plain NC to peninsular FL west to e. LA or of inland provinces]. | |||||
Cypripedium | Plant scapose, with 2 basal leaves; pouch-like lip of flower with a longitudinal fissure, pink (rarely nearly white); [section Acaulia] | Plant scapose, with 2 basal leaves; pouch-like lip of flower with a longitudinal fissure, pink (rarely nearly white); [section Acaulia] | |||||
Cypripedium | Plant scapose, with 2 basal leaves; pouch-like lip of flower with a longitudinal fissure, pink (rarely nearly white); [section Acaulia] | Plant scapose, with 2 basal leaves; pouch-like lip of flower with a longitudinal fissure, pink (rarely nearly white); [section Acaulia] | |||||
Habenaria | Leaves essentially basal, broadly elliptic, 6-15 cm long × 2-5 cm wide (ca. 3× as long as wide), rapidly reduced upwards (with a few, much smaller leaves on the stem); [terrestrial, though in moist habitats] | ||||||
Malaxis | Pedicels 3-5 (-5.8) mm long (even in plants with inflorescences over 80 mm long); basal lobes of the lip prominent, 0.75-1.1 mm long, usually 1.5-2 (-2.5)× as long as the apical lateral lobes and > 0.6× as long as the length from the base to the tip of the mid-lobe; inflorescences loosely flowered above, the lower flowers withering slowly | Pedicels 3-5 (-5.8) mm long (even in plants with inflorescences over 80 mm long); basal lobes of the lip prominent, 0.75-1.1 mm long, usually 1.5-2 (-2.5)× as long as the apical lateral lobes and > 0.6× as long as the length from the base to the tip of the mid-lobe; inflorescences loosely flowered above, the lower flowers withering slowly | |||||
Malaxis | Pedicels (4-) 5-10 (-13) mm long (and > 5 mm long in plants with inflorescences > 45 mm long); basal lobes of the lip not prominent, 0.4-1.1 mm long, mostly < 1.5× as long as the apical lateral lobes and < 0.6× as long as the length from the base to the tip of the mid-lobe; inflorescences densely flowered above, the lower flowers soon withering | Pedicels (4-) 5-10 (-13) mm long (and > 5 mm long in plants with inflorescences > 45 mm long); basal lobes of the lip not prominent, 0.4-1.1 mm long, mostly < 1.5× as long as the apical lateral lobes and < 0.6× as long as the length from the base to the tip of the mid-lobe; inflorescences densely flowered above, the lower flowers soon withering | |||||
Allium | Leaves (1.5-) 2-4 (-4.5) cm wide, without a distinct petiolar base, the basal portion white; flowers (6-) 10-18 (-25) per umbel (fruits often fewer by abortion); spathe bracts 1-2 cm long; fruiting pedicels (8-) 10-15 (-18) mm long | ||||||
Allium | Leaves (1.5-) 2-4 (-4.5) cm wide, without a distinct petiolar base, the basal portion white; flowers (6-) 10-18 (-25) per umbel (fruits often fewer by abortion); spathe bracts 1-2 cm long; fruiting pedicels (8-) 10-15 (-18) mm long | ||||||
Allium | Leaves (1.5-) 2-4 (-4.5) cm wide, without a distinct petiolar base, the basal portion white; flowers (6-) 10-18 (-25) per umbel (fruits often fewer by abortion); spathe bracts 1-2 cm long; fruiting pedicels (8-) 10-15 (-18) mm long | ||||||
Ruscaceae | Plant tufted, the leaves essentially basal (although the sheathing bases form a 'false' stem in Convallaria). | ||||||
Agavaceae | Plants acaulescent; leaves in basal rosettes or crowded very low on a short stem. | ||||||
Zingiberaceae | Leaves all basal; [tribe Hedychieae] | Leaves all basal; [tribe Hedychieae] | |||||
Eriocaulon | Heads hard (little compressed by a plant press and feeling hard and knotty when squeezed between finger and thumb); leaves dark green, the tip acute to obtuse; scape sheaths shorter than most leaves; involucral bracts straw-colored, the apex acute; receptacular bracteoles pale, the apex narrowly acuminate; pistillate flower petals adaxially glabrescent; terminal cells of club-shaped hairs of the perianth whitened, the basal cells often uncongested and transparent. | Heads hard (little compressed by a plant press and feeling hard and knotty when squeezed between finger and thumb); leaves dark green, the tip acute to obtuse; scape sheaths shorter than most leaves; involucral bracts straw-colored, the apex acute; receptacular bracteoles pale, the apex narrowly acuminate; pistillate flower petals adaxially glabrescent; terminal cells of club-shaped hairs of the perianth whitened, the basal cells often uncongested and transparent. | |||||
Juncus | Cauline leaves present in addition to basal leaves; blades flat | ||||||
Juncus | Uppermost cauline leaf blade much shorter than its sheath; tepals reddish to reddish brown; outer tepals significantly longer than the inner tepals; basal leaf sheaths and cataphylls deep reddish purple | ||||||
Juncus | Uppermost cauline leaf blade equaling or longer than its sheath; tepals green to straw-colored; outer tepals and inner tepals of similar length; basal leaf sheaths and cataphylls straw-colored to brown. | ||||||
Luzula | Seeds 0.9-1.3 mm long; caruncles (seed appendages) 0.5-0.7 mm long; plants producing several basal bulblets (white swollen leaf bases); capsules equal to or longer than the tepals | ||||||
Luzula | Seeds 1.1-1.7 mm long; caruncles (seed appendages) 0.2-0.5 mm long; plants not producing basal bulblets; capsules shorter than the tepals | ||||||
Cyperaceae | Inflorescence terminal, more-or-less scapose (though immediately subtended by leafy bracts); leaves predominantly basal, not 3-ranked; perianth bristles absent (Cyperus) or present (Schoenus); [tribe Cypereae]. | ||||||
Cyperaceae | Involucral bracts lacking, or consisting only of the slightly modified basal scales of the solitary and terminal spikelet; [of hillsides, upland forests, or cliffs; never (in our area) in marshes, bogs, or streambeds]; [tribe Scirpeae] | ||||||
Carex | Bracts of the lowermost non-basal spike with well-developed sheath > 4 mm long. | ||||||
Carex | Bracts of the lowermost non-basal spike bladeless, or with a blade < 2 mm long. | ||||||
Carex | Bracts of the lowermost non-basal spike with blade > 3 mm long (and often much longer). | ||||||
Carex | Bracts of the lowermost non-basal spike sheathless or with sheath < 4 mm long. | ||||||
Carex | Plants with at least some pistillate spikes basal; culms much shorter than the leaves | ||||||
Carex | Inflorescence 7-15 cm long, the basal 3-9 branches well-separated from one another; perigynia broadly obovoid, 1.3-1.5× as long as wide; sheaths concave at the mouth; leaves 3-8 mm wide; [of swamps of the Coastal Plain and lower Piedmont] | ||||||
Carex | Inflorescence 2-8 cm long, the basal 1-5 branches indistinct to slightly separated; perigynia ovoid to lance-ovoid, ca. 2× as long as wide; sheaths prolonged beyond the blade; leaves 1-3 mm wide; [of Mountain wetlands in VA (and TN?) and northward]. | Inflorescence 2-8 cm long, the basal 1-5 branches indistinct to slightly separated; perigynia ovoid to lance-ovoid, ca. 2× as long as wide; sheaths prolonged beyond the blade; leaves 1-3 mm wide; [of Mountain wetlands in VA (and TN?) and northward]. | |||||
Carex | Inner band of leaf sheath whitish (and red-dotted); basal branches of inflorescence overlapping; perigynia not concealed by the scales | ||||||
Carex | Inner band of leaf sheath strongly copper-colored (and also red-dotted); basal branches of inflorescence often weakly separated; perigynia nearly or completely concealed by the scales | ||||||
Carex | Basal internodes of the inflorescence usually < 1 cm long, and usually < 2× as long as the spikes; bodies of perigynia with wing < 0.1 mm wide | Basal internodes of the inflorescence usually < 1 cm long, and usually < 2× as long as the spikes; bodies of perigynia with wing < 0.1 mm wide | |||||
Carex | Basal internodes of the inflorescence usually >2 cm long, at least 2× as long as the spikes; bodies of perigynia with wing 0.1-0.2 mm wide | Basal internodes of the inflorescence usually >2 cm long, at least 2× as long as the spikes; bodies of perigynia with wing 0.1-0.2 mm wide | |||||
Carex | Achenes 0.6-0.9 mm wide; perigynia veinless or 1-3 veined on the inner face, these faint or basal only; inflorescences < 3.0 cm long | Achenes 0.6-0.9 mm wide; perigynia veinless or 1-3 veined on the inner face, these faint or basal only; inflorescences < 3.0 cm long | |||||
Carex | Basal leaves with well-developed blades; basal sheaths brown; perigynia glabrous; [of moist, usually calcareous habitats of the Coastal Plain] | ||||||
Carex | Basal leaves reduced to bladeless sheaths; basal sheaths strongly purple; [of dry, acidic habitats of the Mountains] | ||||||
Carex | Basal sheaths with well-developed blades; basal sheaths brown to strongly purple. | ||||||
Carex | Basal sheaths bladeless, or with blades to 3 cm long; basal sheaths strongly purple. | ||||||
Carex | Bracts very broad, 8-20 mm wide; basal leaves very wide, up to 40 mm wide; plant glaucescent; basal sheaths purple or brown | Bracts very broad, 8-20 mm wide; basal leaves very wide, up to 40 mm wide; plant glaucescent; basal sheaths purple or brown | |||||
Carex | Bracts narrow, 2.5-6 mm wide; basal leaves narrow, 3-8 mm wide; plant green; basal sheaths purple, often weathering to brown | ||||||
Carex | Basal sheaths purple when fresh, weathering to brown; uppermost bract rarely overtopping the staminate spike; staminate spike usually long-stalked | ||||||
Carex | Basal sheaths brown; uppermost bract overtopping the staminate spike; staminate spike sessile or short-stalked | ||||||
Carex | Perigynium beaks long (to 1.5 mm long) and excurved; basal sheaths green, white, and brownish striped; [endemic to the escarpment gorge area near the SC-NC-GA tricorner] | ||||||
Carex | Perigynium beaks straight or slightly curved; basal sheaths either purple, wine-red, or brownish, not prominently green-and-white striped; [collectively widespread in our area]. | Perigynium beaks straight or slightly curved; basal sheaths either purple, wine-red, or brownish, not prominently green-and-white striped; [collectively widespread in our area]. | |||||
Carex | Basal sheaths purple or wine-red (may weather to brown in C. gracilescens). | ||||||
Carex | Basal sheaths purple or wine-red (may weather to brown in C. gracilescens). | ||||||
Carex | Basal sheaths brown, not purple or wine-red. | ||||||
Carex | Basal sheaths purplish, sometimes mixed with brown. | ||||||
Carex | Bracts of middle and basal portions of culms with blades 2.1-9.2 cm long; perigynia 5.0-6.6 mm long; longest (per plant) lateral spike with 4-9 perigynia | ||||||
Carex | Bracts of middle and basal portions of culms bladeless, or with blades 0.1-1.9 cm long; perigynia 3.7-4.9 mm long; longest (per plant) lateral spike with 9-13 perigynia | ||||||
Carex | Basal sheaths brownish, lacking any purple coloration. | ||||||
Carex | Widest leaf blade 11-25 mm wide; leaf blades of vegetative shoots 3.8-9.0 × as wide as bract leaves; bract blades from middle and basal portions of the culms 2.0-6.2 cm long; foliage glaucous | ||||||
Carex | Widest leaf blade 2-14 mm wide; leaf blades of vegetative shoots 1.0-3.5 × as wide as bract leaves; bract blades from middle and basal portions of the culms 4.5-24 cm long; foliage green or glaucous. | ||||||
Carex | Perigynia several-nerved, the beak much shorter than the body; basal sheath not conspicuously fibrous | ||||||
Carex | Perigynia 2-ribbed (otherwise nearly nerveless), the beak about as long as the body; basal sheath conspicuously fibrous | ||||||
Carex | Lowest pistillate bract auriculate but not sheathing; terminal spike normally staminate (rarely with a few perigynia terminally); leaf blades 1-2 mm wide; basal sheaths purplish or red; [of cliffs and rock outcrops at moderate to high elevations in the Mountains] | ||||||
Carex | Lowest pistillate bract sheathing (the sheath short in C. prasina); terminal spike normally gynecandrous, rarely merely staminate (often merely staminate in C. prasina); leaf blades 1.5-7 mm wide; basal sheaths purplish or red (brownish or greenish in C. prasina); [of various habitats, only rarely as above]. | Lowest pistillate bract sheathing (the sheath short in C. prasina); terminal spike normally gynecandrous, rarely merely staminate (often merely staminate in C. prasina); leaf blades 1.5-7 mm wide; basal sheaths purplish or red (brownish or greenish in C. prasina); [of various habitats, only rarely as above]. | |||||
Carex | Perigynia strongly trigonous, the lateral ribs at the angles, broadest below the middle; basal sheaths brownish or greenish; leaf sheaths glabrous on the hyaline ventral portion | ||||||
Carex | Perigynia terete to obscurely trigonous, the lateral ribs not at the angles, broadest near the middle; basal sheaths purplish or red; leaf sheaths pubescent on the hyaline ventral portion (glabrous in C. gracillima). | ||||||
Carex | Culms central, with the withered remains of the previous year’s leaves at the base; basal sheaths of fertile culms not at all or only slightly reddened; [of the Coastal Plain] | ||||||
Carex | Culms lateral, with bladeless sheaths at the base; basal sheaths strongly reddened; [collectively widespread in our area]. | ||||||
Carex | Plant colonial from long-creeping rhizomes; widest leaves (4.5-) 5-12 (-15) mm wide; ligules about as long as wide; basal sheaths usually spongy-thickened and only slightly or not red-tinged | ||||||
Carex | Plant cespitose; widest leaves 1.8-6.5 mm wide; ligules longer than wide; basal sheaths not spongy-thickened and often tinged with reddish-purple | ||||||
Carex | Primary culm accompanied by pistillate spikes borne on short or elongate peduncles from the same sheathed base (referred to as subradical or basal spikes). | ||||||
Carex | Primary culm accompanied by pistillate spikes borne on short or elongate peduncles from the same sheathed base (referred to as subradical or basal spikes). | ||||||
Carex | Primary culm solitary (i.e., lacking additional basal spikes originating from the same sheaths, excepting hybrids); however, some taxa may exhibit deceptively short individual culms (e.g., C. emmonsii, C. nigromarginata, C. reznicekii). | ||||||
Carex | Achene body (1.4-) 1.5-1.7 (-2.0) mm long, biconvex, trigonous, or both; fertile culms 7-17 cm tall, usually much shorter than the leaves; basal sheaths usually very fibrillose; pistillate scales (2.7-) 3.0-3.7 (-4.2) mm long | Achene body (1.4-) 1.5-1.7 (-2.0) mm long, biconvex, trigonous, or both; fertile culms 7-17 cm tall, usually much shorter than the leaves; basal sheaths usually very fibrillose; pistillate scales (2.7-) 3.0-3.7 (-4.2) mm long | |||||
Carex | Achene body (1.1-) 1.2-1.3 (-1.4) mm long, trigonous; fertile culms 20-43 cm tall, equaling or exceeding the leaves; basal sheaths usually not fibrillose; pistillate scales (2.3-) 2.6-3.0 (-3.4) mm long | Achene body (1.1-) 1.2-1.3 (-1.4) mm long, trigonous; fertile culms 20-43 cm tall, equaling or exceeding the leaves; basal sheaths usually not fibrillose; pistillate scales (2.3-) 2.6-3.0 (-3.4) mm long | |||||
Eleocharis | Basal (proximal) scale of spikelet encircling 2/3-3/4 of the culm; culms terete to markedly compressed; (rarely amplexicaulous in E. macrostachya, if so then culms also usually markedly compressed). | Basal (proximal) scale of spikelet encircling 2/3-3/4 of the culm; culms terete to markedly compressed; (rarely amplexicaulous in E. macrostachya, if so then culms also usually markedly compressed). | |||||
Eleocharis | Basal (proximal) scale of spikelet amplexicaulous (encircling the culm). | ||||||
Rhynchospora | Inflorescence bracts 3-6 (-7); basal bract (1.4-) 2-5 mm wide, the white portion (2.5-) 9-25 mm long, tapering gradually into the green portion; rhizomes slender, straight, (0.6-) 0.7-1.7 (-2.1) mm in diameter; achene 1.0-1.2 mm wide; tubercle broadly truncate on achene | ||||||
Rhynchospora | Inflorescence bracts 3-6 (-7); basal bract (1.4-) 2-5 mm wide, the white portion (2.5-) 9-25 mm long, tapering gradually into the green portion; rhizomes slender, straight, (0.6-) 0.7-1.7 (-2.1) mm in diameter; achene 1.0-1.2 mm wide; tubercle broadly truncate on achene | ||||||
Rhynchospora | Inflorescence bracts (5-) 6-10; basal bract 5-12 mm wide, the white portion 22-55 mm long, tapering abruptly into the green portion; rhizomes often bent and swollen at the nodes, 1.4-3.8 mm in diameter; achene 1.2-1.5 mm wide; tubercle decurrent on achene | ||||||
Rhynchospora | Inflorescence bracts (5-) 6-10; basal bract 5-12 mm wide, the white portion 22-55 mm long, tapering abruptly into the green portion; rhizomes often bent and swollen at the nodes, 1.4-3.8 mm in diameter; achene 1.2-1.5 mm wide; tubercle decurrent on achene | ||||||
Rhynchospora | Achene obovoid, 1.7-2.0 mm long, 1.2-1.5 mm wide, the tubercle seated on its summit without a constriction or basal flange; longer bristles < ½ as long as the achene | ||||||
Rhynchospora | Basal sheaths shiny, dark brown; bristles longer than the tubercle; bristles plumose in a basal zone that extends 4-20% of the length of the bristle, then with a smooth zone, the terminal zone minutely denticulate; [Gulf Coastal Plain of FL, AL, and MS] | ||||||
Rhynchospora | Basal sheaths shiny, dark brown; bristles longer than the tubercle; bristles plumose in a basal zone that extends 4-20% of the length of the bristle, then with a smooth zone, the terminal zone minutely denticulate; [Gulf Coastal Plain of FL, AL, and MS] | ||||||
Rhynchospora | Basal sheaths dull, light to medium brown; bristles shorter than the tubercle; bristles plumose in a basal zone that extends 40-90% of the length of the bristle, the terminal zone minutely denticulate (lacking a smooth middle zone); [widespread in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain from NC south to FL, west to TX] | Basal sheaths dull, light to medium brown; bristles shorter than the tubercle; bristles plumose in a basal zone that extends 40-90% of the length of the bristle, the terminal zone minutely denticulate (lacking a smooth middle zone); [widespread in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain from NC south to FL, west to TX] | |||||
Rhynchospora | Basal sheaths dull, light to medium brown; bristles shorter than the tubercle; bristles plumose in a basal zone that extends 40-90% of the length of the bristle, the terminal zone minutely denticulate (lacking a smooth middle zone); [widespread in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain from NC south to FL, west to TX] | Basal sheaths dull, light to medium brown; bristles shorter than the tubercle; bristles plumose in a basal zone that extends 40-90% of the length of the bristle, the terminal zone minutely denticulate (lacking a smooth middle zone); [widespread in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain from NC south to FL, west to TX] | |||||
Rhynchospora | Basal leaves 4-6 mm wide, ciliate, rosulate; scales acuminate, the midrib ciliate; bristles 6, < ½ the length of the achene; achenes 1.6-2 mm long; [widespread in mesic to wet pinelands from VA s. to FL, w. to e. LA] | ||||||
Rhynchospora | Largest basal leaves 2.5-3 mm wide, eciliate, not rosulate; scales aristate, the midrib eciliate; bristles 3-4, 1 or more equaling or exceeding the tubercle; achenes (1.4-) 1.5-1.7 (-1.9) mm long; [rare, s. GA, disjunct in se. SC] | ||||||
Rhynchospora | Largest basal leaves 2.5-3 mm wide, eciliate, not rosulate; scales aristate, the midrib eciliate; bristles 3-4, 1 or more equaling or exceeding the tubercle; achenes (1.4-) 1.5-1.7 (-1.9) mm long; [rare, s. GA, disjunct in se. SC] | ||||||
Rhynchospora | Basal leaves filiform to (rarely)1.3 mm wide, the longer approaching length of culm; tubercle narrowed above the base into a strap-like beak | ||||||
Rhynchospora | Basal leaves filiform to (rarely)1.3 mm wide, the longer approaching length of culm; tubercle narrowed above the base into a strap-like beak | ||||||
Rhynchospora | Basal leaves 1.3-4 mm wide, all much shorter than the culm; tubercle triangular to triangular-attenuate. | Basal leaves 1.3-4 mm wide, all much shorter than the culm; tubercle triangular to triangular-attenuate. | |||||
Rhynchospora | Longer bristles equaling to exceeding the achene body; achene body elliptic, 1.1-1.3 mm wide; tubercle triangular-attenuate; larger basal leaves 1.3-2.5 mm wide | ||||||
Rhynchospora | Longer bristles < ½ as long to exceeding achene body; achene suborbicular, 1.2-1.5 mm wide; tubercle triangular; larger basal leaves 2-4 mm wide | ||||||
Rhynchospora | Larger leaves 3-5 mm wide; achene 1.4-1.6 mm wide; tubercle 0.6-0.8 mm long, abruptly rising from a flaring basal collar; [section Globulares] | Larger leaves 3-5 mm wide; achene 1.4-1.6 mm wide; tubercle 0.6-0.8 mm long, abruptly rising from a flaring basal collar; [section Globulares] | |||||
Rhynchospora | Larger leaves 1-3 (-4) mm wide; achene 0.7-1.3 mm wide; tubercle 0.15-0.5 mm long, without a flaring basal collar; [section Mixtae]. | ||||||
Schoenoplectiella | Perianth bristles absent; achenes 1.2-1.6 mm long, transversely rugose; plants bearing solitary pistillate (amphicarpic) flowers enclosed in the basal leaf sheaths, these differing in many ways from the “normal” flowers of the terminal inflorescence; [section Schoenoplectiella]. | Perianth bristles absent; achenes 1.2-1.6 mm long, transversely rugose; plants bearing solitary pistillate (amphicarpic) flowers enclosed in the basal leaf sheaths, these differing in many ways from the “normal” flowers of the terminal inflorescence; [section Schoenoplectiella]. | |||||
Poaceae | Leaves primarily basal, plants densely cespitose. | ||||||
Poaceae | Plant developing a terminal (“spring”) inflorescence usually before mid-summer, followed by lateral (“autumnal”) inflorescences from lower, mid, and/or upper nodes, these often included or hidden among the fascicles of smaller “autumnal” leaves; often developing a rosette of overwintering basal leaves | Plant developing a terminal (“spring”) inflorescence usually before mid-summer, followed by lateral (“autumnal”) inflorescences from lower, mid, and/or upper nodes, these often included or hidden among the fascicles of smaller “autumnal” leaves; often developing a rosette of overwintering basal leaves | |||||
Poaceae | Plant developing a terminal inflorescence usually after mid-summer, the lateral inflorescences, when present, from the upper nodes, usually appearing at the same time as the terminal panicle, and not hidden by dense fascicles of smaller leaves; plants lacking a rosette of overwintering basal leaves. | Plant developing a terminal inflorescence usually after mid-summer, the lateral inflorescences, when present, from the upper nodes, usually appearing at the same time as the terminal panicle, and not hidden by dense fascicles of smaller leaves; plants lacking a rosette of overwintering basal leaves. | |||||
Poaceae | Rhizomatous perennials; primary leaves cauline (the basal leaves < 2 cm long or merely represented by sheaths), 8-16 mm wide | Rhizomatous perennials; primary leaves cauline (the basal leaves < 2 cm long or merely represented by sheaths), 8-16 mm wide | |||||
Poaceae | Basal 1-8 florets of the spikelet sterile. | ||||||
Agrostis | Leaves (at least the basal) mostly involute, 1-2 (-3) mm wide; panicle branches mostly forking well beyond the middle; anthers 0.4-0.8 mm long | ||||||
Andropogon | Basal leaf sheaths and upper surface of basal leaf blades appressed-pubescent, often appearing silvery-silky; basal leaf blades mostly 5-6 mm wide; culms 2.5-4.5 mm in diameter; inflorescence units usually 30-50 per culm, each with 2-4 racemes | ||||||
Andropogon | Basal leaf sheaths moderately to densely villous, but not silvery-silky; basal leaf blades glabrous to sparsely pubescent with spreading hairs, 2-2.5 mm wide; culms 1.5-2.0 mm in diameter; inflorescence units usually less than 15 per culm, all with 2 racemes | ||||||
Andropogon | Basal leaf sheaths and lower surface of basal leaf blades green or bluish-green, not glaucous; culm internodes not glaucous; culms mostly 120-170 cm tall, usually with 10-20 inflorescence units per culm | ||||||
Andropogon | Basal leaf sheaths and lower surface of basal leaf blades bluish-glaucous; culm internodes slightly to evidently glaucous; culms mostly over 180 cm tall, usually with 10 or fewer inflorescence units per culm | ||||||
Andropogon | Ligules (0.8-) 1.1 (-1.5) mm long, with cilia 0-0.1 mm long; basal leaves often filiform, < 1.5 mm wide, strongly erect | ||||||
Andropogon | Ligules (0.2-) 0.5 (-0.8) mm long, with cilia 0.2-1.3 mm long; basal leaves usually > 2 mm wide, soon arching. | ||||||
Aristida | Plant a perennial, forming dense tussocks, the leaves primarily basal, usually very numerous, mostly > 3 dm long, either 0.5-1.5 mm wide and almost always tightly involute, or 1-3 mm wide and flat or folded; flowering only in the growing season following fire. | ||||||
Aristida | Leaves 1-3 mm wide, flat or folded; plants with thick, conspicuous rhizomes; matured basal sheaths shredding into fibrous, threadlike fibers [of wet pinelands of FL] | ||||||
Aristida | Leaves 0.5-1.5 mm wide and almost always tightly involute; plants cespitose, only occasionally with rhizomes; basal sheaths not disintegating into fibers; [collectively more widespread in our area, though almost strictly Coastal Plain, from NC south to s. FL, west to s. MS]. | ||||||
Aristida | Base of blade and collar (and often the upper sheath) with conspicuous tuft or bearding of woolly to villous pubescence (sometimes deciduous on foliage more than a year old); leaves usually glabrous above the basal 2 cm of the blade; [of s. SC south and west to s. FL and s. MS] | ||||||
Aristida | Basal internode of the culm 0.3-0.6 mm wide; most nodes of the inflorescence with 1-2 spikelets; all awns spreading, the central spirally twisted basally and often contorted by as much as 180 degrees (best seen in fresh material); central awn 15-20 mm long, lateral awns 11-16 mm long, the ratio of the lateral:central awn length 0.69-0.80; lemma callus beard 0.6-1.0 mm long | Basal internode of the culm 0.3-0.6 mm wide; most nodes of the inflorescence with 1-2 spikelets; all awns spreading, the central spirally twisted basally and often contorted by as much as 180 degrees (best seen in fresh material); central awn 15-20 mm long, lateral awns 11-16 mm long, the ratio of the lateral:central awn length 0.69-0.80; lemma callus beard 0.6-1.0 mm long | |||||
Aristida | Basal internode of the culm 0.7-1.2 mm wide; most nodes of the inflorescence with 3 or more spikelets; central awn spreading to slightly deflexed, not spirally twisted basally, the lateral awns ascending to erect (best seen in fresh material); central awn 13-22 mm long, lateral awns 8-15 mm long, the ratio of the lateral:central awn length 0.55-0.69; lemma callus beard 0.2-0.6 mm long | Basal internode of the culm 0.7-1.2 mm wide; most nodes of the inflorescence with 3 or more spikelets; central awn spreading to slightly deflexed, not spirally twisted basally, the lateral awns ascending to erect (best seen in fresh material); central awn 13-22 mm long, lateral awns 8-15 mm long, the ratio of the lateral:central awn length 0.55-0.69; lemma callus beard 0.2-0.6 mm long | |||||
Arundinaria | Primary branches with 0-1 compressed basal internodes (in the basalmost 1 cm or so); culm internodes usually sulcate (with a groove extending upward from the node, sometimes partly obscured by the branch); culm leaves deciduous; culms to 10 m tall; rhizomes lacking air canals; foliage leaf blades 0.8-1.3 cm wide | Primary branches with 0-1 compressed basal internodes (in the basalmost 1 cm or so); culm internodes usually sulcate (with a groove extending upward from the node, sometimes partly obscured by the branch); culm leaves deciduous; culms to 10 m tall; rhizomes lacking air canals; foliage leaf blades 0.8-1.3 cm wide | |||||
Arundinaria | Primary branches with 0-1 compressed basal internodes (in the basalmost 1 cm or so); culm internodes usually sulcate (with a groove extending upward from the node, sometimes partly obscured by the branch); culm leaves deciduous; culms to 10 m tall; rhizomes lacking air canals; foliage leaf blades 0.8-1.3 cm wide | Primary branches with 0-1 compressed basal internodes (in the basalmost 1 cm or so); culm internodes usually sulcate (with a groove extending upward from the node, sometimes partly obscured by the branch); culm leaves deciduous; culms to 10 m tall; rhizomes lacking air canals; foliage leaf blades 0.8-1.3 cm wide | |||||
Arundinaria | Primary branches with 0-1 compressed basal internodes (in the basalmost 1 cm or so); culm internodes usually sulcate (with a groove extending upward from the node, sometimes partly obscured by the branch); culm leaves deciduous; culms to 10 m tall; rhizomes lacking air canals; foliage leaf blades 0.8-1.3 cm wide | Primary branches with 0-1 compressed basal internodes (in the basalmost 1 cm or so); culm internodes usually sulcate (with a groove extending upward from the node, sometimes partly obscured by the branch); culm leaves deciduous; culms to 10 m tall; rhizomes lacking air canals; foliage leaf blades 0.8-1.3 cm wide | |||||
Arundinaria | Primary branches with 2-5 compressed basal internodes (in the basalmost 1 cm or so); culm internodes usually terete; culm leaves persistent to tardily deciduous; culms to 4 m tall; rhizomes with or without longitudinal air canals (visible in cross-section as a cylinder of hollow canals 1 mm or less from the outer surface); foliage leaf blades 0.8-2 cm wide. | Primary branches with 2-5 compressed basal internodes (in the basalmost 1 cm or so); culm internodes usually terete; culm leaves persistent to tardily deciduous; culms to 4 m tall; rhizomes with or without longitudinal air canals (visible in cross-section as a cylinder of hollow canals 1 mm or less from the outer surface); foliage leaf blades 0.8-2 cm wide. | |||||
Arundinaria | Primary branches with 2-5 compressed basal internodes (in the basalmost 1 cm or so); culm internodes usually terete; culm leaves persistent to tardily deciduous; culms to 4 m tall; rhizomes with or without longitudinal air canals (visible in cross-section as a cylinder of hollow canals 1 mm or less from the outer surface); foliage leaf blades 0.8-2 cm wide. | Primary branches with 2-5 compressed basal internodes (in the basalmost 1 cm or so); culm internodes usually terete; culm leaves persistent to tardily deciduous; culms to 4 m tall; rhizomes with or without longitudinal air canals (visible in cross-section as a cylinder of hollow canals 1 mm or less from the outer surface); foliage leaf blades 0.8-2 cm wide. | |||||
Arundinaria | Primary branches with 2-5 compressed basal internodes (in the basalmost 1 cm or so); culm internodes usually terete; culm leaves persistent to tardily deciduous; culms to 4 m tall; rhizomes with or without longitudinal air canals (visible in cross-section as a cylinder of hollow canals 1 mm or less from the outer surface); foliage leaf blades 0.8-2 cm wide. | Primary branches with 2-5 compressed basal internodes (in the basalmost 1 cm or so); culm internodes usually terete; culm leaves persistent to tardily deciduous; culms to 4 m tall; rhizomes with or without longitudinal air canals (visible in cross-section as a cylinder of hollow canals 1 mm or less from the outer surface); foliage leaf blades 0.8-2 cm wide. | |||||
Bambusa | Culm leaves with auricles absent or very small and rounded; basal internodes not swollen, not much longer than those above | Culm leaves with auricles absent or very small and rounded; basal internodes not swollen, not much longer than those above | |||||
Bambusa | Culm leaves with auricles well-developed, to 5 cm long and 1.5 cm wide; basal internodes swollen, much shorter than the internodes above | Culm leaves with auricles well-developed, to 5 cm long and 1.5 cm wide; basal internodes swollen, much shorter than the internodes above | |||||
Dichanthelium | Plants densely tufted, often cushion-forming; leaves basally disposed, the blades ascending or spreading-ascending, not forming a distinct rosette of basal leaves shorter than the culm leaves; autumnal culms branching basally or from the lower nodes | ||||||
Dichanthelium | Plants densely tufted, often cushion-forming; leaves basally disposed, the blades ascending or spreading-ascending, not forming a distinct rosette of basal leaves shorter than the culm leaves; autumnal culms branching basally or from the lower nodes | ||||||
Dichanthelium | Plants densely tufted, often cushion-forming; leaves basally disposed, the blades ascending or spreading-ascending, not forming a distinct rosette of basal leaves shorter than the culm leaves; autumnal culms branching basally or from the lower nodes | ||||||
Dichanthelium | Plants less densely or sparsely tufted, not cushion-forming; leaves well-distributed on the culm, usually much longer than the short, often broad and spreading basal rosette leaves; autumnal culms usually branching from the mid and upper nodes. | ||||||
Dichanthelium | Plants less densely or sparsely tufted, not cushion-forming; leaves well-distributed on the culm, usually much longer than the short, often broad and spreading basal rosette leaves; autumnal culms usually branching from the mid and upper nodes. | ||||||
Dichanthelium | Sheaths retrorsely pilose with hairs 2-3 mm long; basal leaves usually numerous, ascending, similar in size and shape to the culm leaves; culms branching only at the base in autumnal phase | ||||||
Dichanthelium | Sheaths glabrous or pilose (if pilose, then hairs not both retrorse and 2-3 mm long); basal leaves rosette-forming, usually much shorter than culm leaves; culms branching above base in autumnal phase. | ||||||
Dichanthelium | Basal leaves usually rosette-forming, not matted or cushion-forming, usually much smaller than culm leaves; blade margins glabrous, or ciliate only below the middle (or sometimes papillose-ciliate throughout in D. portoricense ssp. patulum, which has densely puberulent internodes); culms branching at the nodes in age, 1.5-7.5 dm tall. | Basal leaves usually rosette-forming, not matted or cushion-forming, usually much smaller than culm leaves; blade margins glabrous, or ciliate only below the middle (or sometimes papillose-ciliate throughout in D. portoricense ssp. patulum, which has densely puberulent internodes); culms branching at the nodes in age, 1.5-7.5 dm tall. | |||||
Dichanthelium | Leaf blades 1-4 mm wide, glabrous, the margins eciliate or basally ciliate; spikelets 0.9-1.5 mm long, glabrous; autumnal form branched from lower and mid nodes as well as from basal nodes. | ||||||
Dichanthelium | Leaf blades 2-10 mm wide, pubescent or glabrous, the margins coarsely papillose-ciliate throughout; spikelets 1.1-2.1 mm long, glabrous or pubescent; autumnal form branched from basal nodes only. | ||||||
Dichanthelium | Basal leaves rosette-forming, usually much smaller than the culm leaves, not matted or cushion-forming; culms branching at the mid and upper nodes in age. | ||||||
Dichanthelium | Basal leaves similar to or larger than the mid and upper culm leaves, often matted or cushion-forming; culms branching at the base (also at mid and upper nodes in D. chamaelonche vars. and D. dichotomum var. glabrifolium). | ||||||
Dichanthelium | Leaf blade basal cilia usually conspicuous; larger vernal blades 6-10 cm by 6-10 mm; internodes, especially lower, sometimes pilose; spikelets obovoid; plant often yellowish-green (orange-brown in age) | ||||||
Dichanthelium | Leaf blade basal cilia usually inconspicuous or absent; larger vernal blades 2.5-10 cm long, 2-9 mm wide; all internodes glabrous (rarely the lowest sparsely pilose); spikelets ellipsoid; plant often green to purplish. | ||||||
Dichanthelium | Culms(55-) 70-140 cm long; lowest internodes moderately to densely villous; vernal cauline leaves 6-15; blades glabrous except for basal cilia; spikelets 1.8-2.2 mm long, obovoid to broadly ellipsoid, rounded to blunt | ||||||
Dichanthelium | Cauline leaves mostly basally disposed, strongly ascending, much larger than the 2-3 remote middle and upper cauline leaves of fertile culms; spikelets 2.4-2.9 mm long; culms branch from basal and lower nodes, but are not known to produce autumnal inflorescences; [Wet pine savannas and seepages; endemic to Gulf Coastal Plain] | Cauline leaves mostly basally disposed, strongly ascending, much larger than the 2-3 remote middle and upper cauline leaves of fertile culms; spikelets 2.4-2.9 mm long; culms branch from basal and lower nodes, but are not known to produce autumnal inflorescences; [Wet pine savannas and seepages; endemic to Gulf Coastal Plain] | |||||
Digitaria | Basal and lower sheaths glabrous or nearly so (D. nuda sheaths mostly glabrous, sometimes with long hairs basally, but the leaf blades also primarily glabrous). | ||||||
Digitaria | Basal and lower sheaths variously pubescent. | ||||||
Elymus | Glumes persistent on the rachis, 0.2-1 mm wide, with 2-4 veins, the basal 0.5-2 mm essentially straight; lemmas rarely glabrous; spikelets with 1-3 (-4) florets; spikes nodding, exserted. | ||||||
Elymus | Glumes disarticulating with the lowest floret, 0.7-2.3 mm wide, with (2-) 3-5 (-8) veins, the basal 1-4 mm clearly bowed-out; lemmas often glabrous; spikelets with (2-) 3-5 (-6) florets; [Elymus virginicus complex]. | ||||||
Eragrostis | Plants cespitose or rhizomatous perennials, with innovations near the base, and with or without buds in the basal sheaths. | Plants cespitose or rhizomatous perennials, with innovations near the base, and with or without buds in the basal sheaths. | |||||
Festuca | Plants loosely tufted, often rhizomatous; basal sheaths disintegrating into fibers; spikelets 6-13 mm long | Plants loosely tufted, often rhizomatous; basal sheaths disintegrating into fibers; spikelets 6-13 mm long | |||||
Festuca | Plants tufted, lacking rhizomes; basal sheaths usually persistent, remaining firm and entire; spikelets 3-9 (-10) mm long. | ||||||
Gymnopogon | Awn of the lemma (0.3-) 0.8-2.2 (-3.5) mm long; inflorescence branches with spikelets distributed either from the tip nearly to the base (G. chapmanianus) or to roughly the midpoint, the basal portion naked (or some branches rarely with a few spikelets) (G. brevifolius); leaves 2-8 mm wide; [Coastal Plain and only rarely the inland provinces]. | Awn of the lemma (0.3-) 0.8-2.2 (-3.5) mm long; inflorescence branches with spikelets distributed either from the tip nearly to the base (G. chapmanianus) or to roughly the midpoint, the basal portion naked (or some branches rarely with a few spikelets) (G. brevifolius); leaves 2-8 mm wide; [Coastal Plain and only rarely the inland provinces]. | |||||
Sporobolus | Plant loosely tufted, from short rhizomes; leaf blades basal or cauline, not distichous, 10-100 cm long. | ||||||
Sporobolus | Spikelets 1.2-2.2 mm long; first glume 0.5-0.8 mm long; leaves primarily basal; [section Sporobolus]. | ||||||
Sporobolus | Spikelets 4-8 mm long; first glume 2-5 mm long; leaves cauline and basal; [section Clandestini]. | ||||||
Ceratophyllum | Largest leaves forking 1-2× (count branching-nodes from the base of the leaf to the tip of the most-forked division); leaves coarse-textured, stiff, the marginal denticles usually strongly raised on a broad base of green tissue; achene margin wingless, with 2 basal spines or tubercles (these rarely absent), otherwise entire (lacking marginal spines) | Largest leaves forking 1-2× (count branching-nodes from the base of the leaf to the tip of the most-forked division); leaves coarse-textured, stiff, the marginal denticles usually strongly raised on a broad base of green tissue; achene margin wingless, with 2 basal spines or tubercles (these rarely absent), otherwise entire (lacking marginal spines) | |||||
Ceratophyllum | Largest leaves forking 3-4× (count branching nodes from the base of the leaf to the tip of the most-forked division); leaves fine-textured, flaccid, the marginal denticles not raised on a broad base of green tissue, sometimes obscure or obsolete; achene margin winged, with 2-20 lateral spines 0.1-6.5 mm long (occasionally spineless), with 2 basal spines (these rarely absent). | Largest leaves forking 3-4× (count branching nodes from the base of the leaf to the tip of the most-forked division); leaves fine-textured, flaccid, the marginal denticles not raised on a broad base of green tissue, sometimes obscure or obsolete; achene margin winged, with 2-20 lateral spines 0.1-6.5 mm long (occasionally spineless), with 2 basal spines (these rarely absent). | |||||
Fumariaceae | Ultimate leaf segments 1-4 mm wide; plants with basal leaves only | ||||||
Fumariaceae | Ultimate leaf segments 20-70 mm wide; herb with basal and cauline leaves; [exotic, cultivated and rarely persistent or naturalized] | Ultimate leaf segments 20-70 mm wide; herb with basal and cauline leaves; [exotic, cultivated and rarely persistent or naturalized] | |||||
Papaveraceae | Flowering stem scapose, leaves basal only; petals 8-16, white; [subfamily Chelidonioideae] | ||||||
Glaucium | Basal leaves few, glabrate to moderately pubescent; blades of distal leaves not distinctly clasping stem; petals orange to reddish orange, usually with blackish basal spot; capsules straight to slightly curved, pubescent or glabrate | ||||||
Glaucium | Basal leaves numerous, densely pubescent; distal blades of distal leaves distinctly clasping stem; petals yellow or orange-yellow, sometimes with reddish to violet basal spot; capsules mostly distinctly curved, glabrous, tuberculate, or scabrous | ||||||
Ranunculaceae | Basal leaves linear to linear-spatulate, mostly 4-8 cm long, 1-3 mm wide; receptacle elongate, 1-6 cm long (superficially resembling a Plantago inflorescence) | Basal leaves linear to linear-spatulate, mostly 4-8 cm long, 1-3 mm wide; receptacle elongate, 1-6 cm long (superficially resembling a Plantago inflorescence) | |||||
Ranunculaceae | Basal leaves various, but not as above; receptacle globose to sub-cylindric, mostly < 1 cm long | ||||||
Ranunculaceae | Cauline leaves absent; basal leaves cordate, unlobed | ||||||
Ranunculaceae | Cauline leaves present, well-developed; basal leaves not simultaneously cordate and unlobed | ||||||
Ranunculaceae | Leaves all basal, or with a few alternate or whorled involucrate leaves on the stem; style not plumose. | ||||||
Ranunculaceae | Petaloid sepals white, bluish, or blue; basal leaves 3-5 (-7)-lobed; [tribe Anemoneae] | ||||||
Ranunculaceae | Petaloid sepals yellow, green, or whitish (sometimes marked with purple); basal leaves unlobed, or palmately cleft into 5-11 (-many) segments. | ||||||
Ranunculaceae | Leaves all basal, or with a few alternate or whorled involucrate leaves on the stem; style not plumose. | ||||||
Ranunculaceae | Basal leaves linear to linear-spatulate, mostly 4-8 cm long, 1-3 mm wide; receptacle elongate, 1-6 cm long (superficially resembling a Plantago inflorescence); [tribe Ranunculeae] | Basal leaves linear to linear-spatulate, mostly 4-8 cm long, 1-3 mm wide; receptacle elongate, 1-6 cm long (superficially resembling a Plantago inflorescence); [tribe Ranunculeae] | |||||
Ranunculaceae | Basal leaves various, but not as above, generally long-petiolate, with an expanded, crenate-toothed, 3-lobed, or palmately-lobed blade; receptacle globose to sub-cylindric, mostly < 1 cm long. | ||||||
Ranunculaceae | Leaves basal and cauline, the cauline alternate (or with opposite or whorled involucral bracts). | ||||||
Ranunculaceae | Basal leaves with 3-5 leaflets, these toothed or incised; petaloid sepals white, cream, rose, or green; [subfamily Ranunculoideae, tribe Anemoneae] | ||||||
Ranunculaceae | Basal leaves with > 5 leaflets; these with 0-3 rounded lobes at the tip; petaloid sepals white to pale pink; [subfamily Thalictroideae] | ||||||
Ranunculaceae | Leaves basal and/or cauline, cauline leaves (if present) alternate (leaflike involucral bracts sometimes present and opposite or whorled). | ||||||
Aconitum | Flowers white, creamy white, or yellowish; basal leaves numerous, large, usually 10-20 cm across, on long, stout petioles; roots fascicled; [subgenus Lycoctonum] | ||||||
Aconitum | Flowers pale to medium blue (rarely white); basal leaves fewer, smaller, rarely over 10 cm across, on shorter and wirier petioles; root thickened, tuberous; [subgenus Aconitum; section Napellus]. | ||||||
Delphinium | Basal leaves usually present at anthesis; flowers (sepals) blue or white; stems 2-8 (-10) dm tall; blade of midstem leaves distinctly 3-7-parted (and then usually additionally divided), the ultimate segments 3-15 in number, 2-10 mm wide. | ||||||
Delphinium | Basal leaves absent at anthesis; flowers (sepals) blue to purplish (rarely white); stems (3-) 6-10 (-15) dm tall; blade of midstem leaves not distinctly 3-parted, the ultimate segments 12-25 in number, 0.5-1.5 mm wide | ||||||
Helleborus | Primary leaves of mature (fertile) plants basal (the stem with reduced, bracteal leaves subtending the inflorescence); leaf segments > 3 cm wide; flowers > 4 cm across, (1-) 3 (-5) per inflorescence. | Primary leaves of mature (fertile) plants basal (the stem with reduced, bracteal leaves subtending the inflorescence); leaf segments > 3 cm wide; flowers > 4 cm across, (1-) 3 (-5) per inflorescence. | |||||
Actaea | Carpels 3-8, on a stipe elongating to 5-8 mm long in fruit; flowering Jul-Sep; petiole of basal leaves with a deep, broad groove (ca. 1 mm wide and 1 mm deep), persistent on fully expanded leaves; roots with vascular tissue in lunate bundles arranged in a circle; [section Podocarpae] | ||||||
Actaea | Carpels 1 (-3), sessile; flowering Apr-Aug; petiole of basal leaves terete, not grooved (or with a shallow, narrow groove early, obscure or absent on fully expanded leaves); roots with vascular tissue in a central (3-) 4 (-5)-armed cross or star; [section Actaea]. | ||||||
Anemone | Basal leaves lobed but not fully divided into 3 or more leaflets; stem leaves either unlobed and borne immediately below the flower (easily mistakable as a calyx) or lobed and borne well below the flower. | ||||||
Anemone | Basal leaves lobed, and also toothed and variously cleft; stem leaves lobed and borne well below the flower; leaves not variegated | ||||||
Anemone | Basal leaves lobed, the margins of the lobes entire; stem leaves unlobed and borne immediately below the flower (easily mistakable as a calyx); leaves often prominently variegated | ||||||
Anemone | Basal leaves compound, fully divided into 3 or more leaflets; stem leaves lobed and borne well below the flower. | ||||||
Anemone | Stem densely pubescent above and below the stem leaves; stem leaves borne above the midpoint of the stem at anthesis; plant from a globose, vertically oriented bulb, lacking rhizomes; basal leaves 1-ternate, the 3 lobes sublobed or toothed, but not additionally divided; involucral leaves (1.5-) 3-6 cm long; achene bodies 2.7-3.5 mm long; achene beak sinuous, hidden in the achene indument | Stem densely pubescent above and below the stem leaves; stem leaves borne above the midpoint of the stem at anthesis; plant from a globose, vertically oriented bulb, lacking rhizomes; basal leaves 1-ternate, the 3 lobes sublobed or toothed, but not additionally divided; involucral leaves (1.5-) 3-6 cm long; achene bodies 2.7-3.5 mm long; achene beak sinuous, hidden in the achene indument | |||||
Anemone | Stem densely pubescent above the stem leaves, glabrous to very sparsely pubescent beneath the stem leaves; stem leaves borne at or below the midpoint of the stem at anthesis; plant with slender, horizontal rhizomes; basal leaves 1-3-ternate, the 3 primary lobes usually further divided into linear segments; involucral leaves 1-2.5 (-3) cm long; achene bodies 1.5-2.5 (-3.0) mm long; achene beak straight, extending out of the achene indument | Stem densely pubescent above the stem leaves, glabrous to very sparsely pubescent beneath the stem leaves; stem leaves borne at or below the midpoint of the stem at anthesis; plant with slender, horizontal rhizomes; basal leaves 1-3-ternate, the 3 primary lobes usually further divided into linear segments; involucral leaves 1-2.5 (-3) cm long; achene bodies 1.5-2.5 (-3.0) mm long; achene beak straight, extending out of the achene indument | |||||
Anemone | Achene bodies 2.5-3.0 mm long; lateral leaflets of basal leaves toothed only (rarely lobed); terminal leaflet usually broadest at the middle; styles 0.5-1 mm long; sepals about 8 mm long | ||||||
Anemone | Achene bodies 3.0-4.5 mm long; lateral leaflets of basal leaves lobed or cleft (sometimes only toothed); terminal leaflet usually broadest above the middle; styles 1-2 mm long; sepals 6-15 mm long | ||||||
Trautvetteria | Basal leaves deeply 3-9-lobed (the sinuses reaching over two-thirds of the way from lobe tip to petiole attachment), chartaceous, coriaceous, or membranous, each lobe further divided into 2-4 lobules; cauline leaves 3-7-lobed, lobes oblanceolate; [widespread in our area]. | Basal leaves deeply 3-9-lobed (the sinuses reaching over two-thirds of the way from lobe tip to petiole attachment), chartaceous, coriaceous, or membranous, each lobe further divided into 2-4 lobules; cauline leaves 3-7-lobed, lobes oblanceolate; [widespread in our area]. | |||||
Trautvetteria | Basal leaves shallowly 3- (5) lobed (the sinuses reaching less than halfway from lobe tip to petiole attachment), coriaceous, stiff, lobes round/deltoid, outer lobes usually shallowly 1-lobed, sinuses acute to rounded, margin regularly crenate/dentate, venation highly reticulate; cauline leaves unlobed to shallowly 3-5-lobed, lobes deltoid; [endemic to Ridge and Valley of ne. TN] | Basal leaves shallowly 3- (5) lobed (the sinuses reaching less than halfway from lobe tip to petiole attachment), coriaceous, stiff, lobes round/deltoid, outer lobes usually shallowly 1-lobed, sinuses acute to rounded, margin regularly crenate/dentate, venation highly reticulate; cauline leaves unlobed to shallowly 3-5-lobed, lobes deltoid; [endemic to Ridge and Valley of ne. TN] | |||||
Ranunculus | Basal leaves not divided, mostly cordate, reniform, or ovate (and merely toothed), distinctly unlike the deeply divided cauline leaves; achenes turgid, ovoid, 1-2.5 mm long, without pronounced marginal rims; petals 1.5-6.5 mm long; [native, occurring in mesic to dry forests and woodlands, and also (especially R. abortivus) weedy]; [subgenus Auricomus; section Auricomus] | Basal leaves not divided, mostly cordate, reniform, or ovate (and merely toothed), distinctly unlike the deeply divided cauline leaves; achenes turgid, ovoid, 1-2.5 mm long, without pronounced marginal rims; petals 1.5-6.5 mm long; [native, occurring in mesic to dry forests and woodlands, and also (especially R. abortivus) weedy]; [subgenus Auricomus; section Auricomus] | |||||
Ranunculus | Basal leaves mostly deeply parted or compound, the cauline leaves generally similar but smaller and often less divided; achenes various, 1-5 mm long, with or without pronounced marginal rims; petals 2-15 mm long; [native or introduced, occurring in various habitats]. | ||||||
Ranunculus | Leaves and stems glabrous or nearly so (or the upper stem puberulent); basal leaves 1-6 (-10) cm wide, reniform to cordate at the base; roots usually all filiform; receptacle surface (with achenes removed or fallen off) pubescent (at least sparsely so); achenes shiny | ||||||
Ranunculus | Leaves and stems villous, at least sparsely so and at least toward the base of the plant; basal leaves 1-2.5 cm wide, truncate to cuneate (rarely cordate) at the base; roots sometimes in part fusiform-thickened; receptacle surface glabrous; achenes dull | ||||||
Ranunculus | Achenes bodies 1.5-3 mm long, 30-60 per head; achene beak ca. 0.5 mm long; achene with conical protuberances or short spines, to 0.16 mm long; achene beak 0.1-0.5 mm long; basal leaves compound; [section Polyanthemos]. | ||||||
Ranunculus | Achenes 2.5-5 mm long, 4-20 per head; achene beak 1.5-3.0 mm long (or 0.8-1 mm long in R. marginatus); achene conspicuously spiny, the longer spines mostly 0.30-0.85 mm long (or only ca. 0.2 mm long in R. marginatus); basal leaves simple (but deeply lobed) or compound. | ||||||
Ranunculus | Basal leaves simple; achene beak strongly hooked | ||||||
Ranunculus | Basal leaves 3-foliolate; achene beak straight or nearly so. | ||||||
Saxifragaceae | Stem erect, the leaves mostly or entirely basal, alternate (stem leaves opposite in Mitella); leaves long-petioled, > 4 cm long (except short-petioled or sessile and sometimes < 4 cm long in Micranthes). | ||||||
Saxifragaceae | Basal leaves short-petioled or sessile, the petioles 0-1× as long as the blade; basal leaves cuneate or rounded at the base; leaf venation predominately pinnate. | ||||||
Saxifragaceae | Basal leaves long-petioled, the petioles (1-) 2-5× as long as the blade; basal leaves cordate at the base; leaf venation predominantly palmate. | ||||||
Saxifragaceae | Seeds winged, 1.3-1.5 mm long; leaves cleft < ½ way to base; hypanthium fused to the pistils only at their bases; stems normally with several petiolate leaves much like the basal leaves (though typically somewhat smaller) | ||||||
Saxifragaceae | Stems normally with several petiolate leaves much like the basal leaves (though typically somewhat smaller); ovary with 2 locules; leaves cleft > ½ way to base | ||||||
Saxifragaceae | Stems with only very reduced sessile bracts unlike the basal leaves; ovary with 1 locule; leaves cleft < ½ way to base | ||||||
Crassulaceae | Plants with spheroidal basal rosettes consisting of dozens or more spirally arranged leaves; flowers 8-16-merous | ||||||
Crassulaceae | Plants with or without basal rosettes (if rosettes present, these not as above); flowers 4-6-merous | ||||||
Stylosanthes | Loment beak 0.5-1 mm long, incurved; loment 1-seeded (the basal segment sterile); free portion of the petiole (above the portion fused with the stipules into a sheath) 1-3 (-4) mm long; [widespread in our region, south to c. peninsular FL] | ||||||
Stylosanthes | Loment beak straight or slightly incurved; free portion of the petiole (2-) 3-4 mm long; loment 1-seeded (the basal segment sterile); [of marl prairies and pine rocklands in s. peninsular FL] | ||||||
Stylosanthes | Loment beak incurved or hooked; free portion of petiole 3-6 mm long; loment 2-seeded (except by unusual abortion of the basal segment); [common and weedy] | ||||||
Vicia | Flowers 15-22 (-25) mm long; legumes with a basal stipe 2-5 mm long; leaves with 8-16 leaflets | ||||||
Vicia | Flowers 8-16 (-18) mm long; legumes with a basal stipe 1-3 mm long; leaves with 8-22 leaflets. | ||||||
Lathyrus | Foliaceous stipules laterally symmetrical, with 2 approximately equal basal lobes; leaves somewhat fleshy; [plants of ocean beaches and dunes]. | Foliaceous stipules laterally symmetrical, with 2 approximately equal basal lobes; leaves somewhat fleshy; [plants of ocean beaches and dunes]. | |||||
Lathyrus | Foliaceous stipules asymmetrical, oblique at the base, the basal lobe well-developed only on one side. | ||||||
Polygalaceae | Flowers in terminal spikes, racemes, or corymbs; annual, biennial, or perennial herbs (if perennial, then from a crown); well-developed leaves > 6 per stem, well-distributed on the stem, or basally disposed (the largest leaves basal, reducing in size upwards, the basal leaves sometimes withering later in the growing season; wing sepals 1-9 (-10) mm long; stamens usually 8 in chasmogamous flowers. | Flowers in terminal spikes, racemes, or corymbs; annual, biennial, or perennial herbs (if perennial, then from a crown); well-developed leaves > 6 per stem, well-distributed on the stem, or basally disposed (the largest leaves basal, reducing in size upwards, the basal leaves sometimes withering later in the growing season; wing sepals 1-9 (-10) mm long; stamens usually 8 in chasmogamous flowers. | |||||
Polygalaceae | Flowers in terminal spikes, racemes, or corymbs; annual, biennial, or perennial herbs (if perennial, then from a crown); well-developed leaves > 6 per stem, well-distributed on the stem, or basally disposed (the largest leaves basal, reducing in size upwards, the basal leaves sometimes withering later in the growing season; wing sepals 1-9 (-10) mm long; stamens usually 8 in chasmogamous flowers. | Flowers in terminal spikes, racemes, or corymbs; annual, biennial, or perennial herbs (if perennial, then from a crown); well-developed leaves > 6 per stem, well-distributed on the stem, or basally disposed (the largest leaves basal, reducing in size upwards, the basal leaves sometimes withering later in the growing season; wing sepals 1-9 (-10) mm long; stamens usually 8 in chasmogamous flowers. | |||||
Polygalaceae | Flowers in terminal spikes, racemes, or corymbs; annual, biennial, or perennial herbs (if perennial, then from a crown); well-developed leaves > 6 per stem, well-distributed on the stem, or basally disposed (the largest leaves basal, reducing in size upwards, the basal leaves sometimes withering later in the growing season; wing sepals 1-9 (-10) mm long; stamens usually 8 in chasmogamous flowers. | Flowers in terminal spikes, racemes, or corymbs; annual, biennial, or perennial herbs (if perennial, then from a crown); well-developed leaves > 6 per stem, well-distributed on the stem, or basally disposed (the largest leaves basal, reducing in size upwards, the basal leaves sometimes withering later in the growing season; wing sepals 1-9 (-10) mm long; stamens usually 8 in chasmogamous flowers. | |||||
Senega | Leaves basally disposed (with basal rosette, this sometimes withering by anthesis or later) and also alternate stem leaves; leaves fleshy (when fresh); fresh flowers orange, yellow, greenish-yellow, or greenish white (if greenish white, then the inflorescence a terminal many-branched corymb); pedicels winged; [section Decurrentes]. | Leaves basally disposed (with basal rosette, this sometimes withering by anthesis or later) and also alternate stem leaves; leaves fleshy (when fresh); fresh flowers orange, yellow, greenish-yellow, or greenish white (if greenish white, then the inflorescence a terminal many-branched corymb); pedicels winged; [section Decurrentes]. | |||||
Senega | Plants 4.5-12 dm tall, the stem solitary; basal leaves 3.5-14 cm long, linear-lanceolate, about 15-20× as long as wide, persistent as a basal rosette; stem leaves linear-subulate, sharp-tipped, much reduced from the basal leaves, becoming bractlike upward; seeds glabrous, 0.7-0.9 mm long | Plants 4.5-12 dm tall, the stem solitary; basal leaves 3.5-14 cm long, linear-lanceolate, about 15-20× as long as wide, persistent as a basal rosette; stem leaves linear-subulate, sharp-tipped, much reduced from the basal leaves, becoming bractlike upward; seeds glabrous, 0.7-0.9 mm long | |||||
Senega | Plants 1-4 dm tall, the stems 1-several from the base; basal leaves 3-7 cm long, spatulate, about 10× as long as wide, usually not persistent after flowering; stem leaves narrowly spatulate to linear, blunt-tipped, only slightly reduced from the basal leaves; seeds pubescent, 0.5-0.7 mm long | ||||||
Rosaceae | Principal (basal-most) leaves palmately compound, with 3-7 (-9) leaflets. | ||||||
Rosaceae | Principal leaves distinctly petiolate, the petiole often longer than the leaflets, 3-7 (-9)-foliolate; fruit of achenes; leaves basal and cauline. | ||||||
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 | |||||
Geum | Style straight or slightly sinuous, neither jointed nor tightly twisted, the tip straight; basal leaves with a cordate or reniform terminal lobe 7-15 cm wide and 1-several lateral lobes generally < 1 cm long (rarely to 2 cm long); cauline leaves much reduced, flabellate, with clasping base and rounded apex; leaves thick, subcoriaceous, the upper surface dark green and glossy; petals 13-20 mm long, bright yellow; [of crevices and ledges on high elevation cliffs (less commonly grassy balds)]; [subgenus Micracomastylis] | Style straight or slightly sinuous, neither jointed nor tightly twisted, the tip straight; basal leaves with a cordate or reniform terminal lobe 7-15 cm wide and 1-several lateral lobes generally < 1 cm long (rarely to 2 cm long); cauline leaves much reduced, flabellate, with clasping base and rounded apex; leaves thick, subcoriaceous, the upper surface dark green and glossy; petals 13-20 mm long, bright yellow; [of crevices and ledges on high elevation cliffs (less commonly grassy balds)]; [subgenus Micracomastylis] | |||||
Geum | Style straight or slightly sinuous, neither jointed nor tightly twisted, the tip straight; basal leaves with a cordate or reniform terminal lobe 7-15 cm wide and 1-several lateral lobes generally < 1 cm long (rarely to 2 cm long); cauline leaves much reduced, flabellate, with clasping base and rounded apex; leaves thick, subcoriaceous, the upper surface dark green and glossy; petals 13-20 mm long, bright yellow; [of crevices and ledges on high elevation cliffs (less commonly grassy balds)]; [subgenus Micracomastylis] | Style straight or slightly sinuous, neither jointed nor tightly twisted, the tip straight; basal leaves with a cordate or reniform terminal lobe 7-15 cm wide and 1-several lateral lobes generally < 1 cm long (rarely to 2 cm long); cauline leaves much reduced, flabellate, with clasping base and rounded apex; leaves thick, subcoriaceous, the upper surface dark green and glossy; petals 13-20 mm long, bright yellow; [of crevices and ledges on high elevation cliffs (less commonly grassy balds)]; [subgenus Micracomastylis] | |||||
Geum | Style with a tight kink or twist, the straight portion above the kink more-or-less deciduous, leaving a hook; basal leaves variable, trifoliate, pinnatifid, simple or with a large terminal lobe (to 8 cm wide) and much smaller lateral lobes; cauline leaves trifoliate to simple, mostly sessile or petiolate base, with acute or acuminate apex; leaves herbaceous, the upper surface medium green, not notably glossy; petals 1-10 mm long, white, cream, pale yellow, bright yellow, lavender, maroon, or purple; [of mesic to boggy forests, or less commonly, grassy balds (G. geniculatum)]. | Style with a tight kink or twist, the straight portion above the kink more-or-less deciduous, leaving a hook; basal leaves variable, trifoliate, pinnatifid, simple or with a large terminal lobe (to 8 cm wide) and much smaller lateral lobes; cauline leaves trifoliate to simple, mostly sessile or petiolate base, with acute or acuminate apex; leaves herbaceous, the upper surface medium green, not notably glossy; petals 1-10 mm long, white, cream, pale yellow, bright yellow, lavender, maroon, or purple; [of mesic to boggy forests, or less commonly, grassy balds (G. geniculatum)]. | |||||
Ficus | Basal pair of secondary veins borne at a narrower (more acute) angle to the midvein than the other secondary veins, extending 1/3rd or more the length of the blade | Basal pair of secondary veins borne at a narrower (more acute) angle to the midvein than the other secondary veins, extending 1/3rd or more the length of the blade | |||||
Ficus | Basal pair of secondary veins borne at a narrower (more acute) angle to the midvein than the other secondary veins, extending 1/3rd or more the length of the blade | Basal pair of secondary veins borne at a narrower (more acute) angle to the midvein than the other secondary veins, extending 1/3rd or more the length of the blade | |||||
Ficus | Basal pair of veins borne at a similar angle to the midvein as the other secondary veins, extending 1/8th or less the length of the blade | Basal pair of veins borne at a similar angle to the midvein as the other secondary veins, extending 1/8th or less the length of the blade | |||||
Ficus | Basal pair of veins borne at a similar angle to the midvein as the other secondary veins, extending 1/8th or less the length of the blade | Basal pair of veins borne at a similar angle to the midvein as the other secondary veins, extending 1/8th or less the length of the blade | |||||
Ficus | Basal pair of veins borne at a similar angle to the midvein as the other secondary veins, extending 1/8th or less the length of the blade | Basal pair of veins borne at a similar angle to the midvein as the other secondary veins, extending 1/8th or less the length of the blade | |||||
Urtica | Plants mainly dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants), but some plants in populations monoecious (with basal inflorescences male and apical inflorescences female, or with male and female flowers intermixed in the same inflorescence); stems usually weak, sprawling, branching; stems strongly hispid with stinging hairs; leaf blades strongly hispid with stinging hairs on both surfaces; leaf teeth commonly 5-6 mm long | Plants mainly dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants), but some plants in populations monoecious (with basal inflorescences male and apical inflorescences female, or with male and female flowers intermixed in the same inflorescence); stems usually weak, sprawling, branching; stems strongly hispid with stinging hairs; leaf blades strongly hispid with stinging hairs on both surfaces; leaf teeth commonly 5-6 mm long | |||||
Urtica | Plants mainly dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants), but some plants in populations monoecious (with basal inflorescences male and apical inflorescences female, or with male and female flowers intermixed in the same inflorescence); stems usually weak, sprawling, branching; stems strongly hispid with stinging hairs; leaf blades strongly hispid with stinging hairs on both surfaces; leaf teeth commonly 5-6 mm long | Plants mainly dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants), but some plants in populations monoecious (with basal inflorescences male and apical inflorescences female, or with male and female flowers intermixed in the same inflorescence); stems usually weak, sprawling, branching; stems strongly hispid with stinging hairs; leaf blades strongly hispid with stinging hairs on both surfaces; leaf teeth commonly 5-6 mm long | |||||
Urtica | Plants mostly monoecious (with male and female flowers in separate inflorescences on the same plant, usually with basal and apical inflorescences female and median inflorescences male), rarely an entire plant male or female; stems upright, erect, less branched; stems glabrous to puberulent or strigose, lacking (or nearly so) stinging hairs; leaf blades glabrous or glabrescent above (lacking stinging hairs), glabrous to puberulent below (with some stinging hairs); leaf teeth commonly 2-3.5 mm long | Plants mostly monoecious (with male and female flowers in separate inflorescences on the same plant, usually with basal and apical inflorescences female and median inflorescences male), rarely an entire plant male or female; stems upright, erect, less branched; stems glabrous to puberulent or strigose, lacking (or nearly so) stinging hairs; leaf blades glabrous or glabrescent above (lacking stinging hairs), glabrous to puberulent below (with some stinging hairs); leaf teeth commonly 2-3.5 mm long | |||||
Urtica | Plants mostly monoecious (with male and female flowers in separate inflorescences on the same plant, usually with basal and apical inflorescences female and median inflorescences male), rarely an entire plant male or female; stems upright, erect, less branched; stems glabrous to puberulent or strigose, lacking (or nearly so) stinging hairs; leaf blades glabrous or glabrescent above (lacking stinging hairs), glabrous to puberulent below (with some stinging hairs); leaf teeth commonly 2-3.5 mm long | Plants mostly monoecious (with male and female flowers in separate inflorescences on the same plant, usually with basal and apical inflorescences female and median inflorescences male), rarely an entire plant male or female; stems upright, erect, less branched; stems glabrous to puberulent or strigose, lacking (or nearly so) stinging hairs; leaf blades glabrous or glabrescent above (lacking stinging hairs), glabrous to puberulent below (with some stinging hairs); leaf teeth commonly 2-3.5 mm long | |||||
Quercus | Leaves with 7-11 lobes (the sinuses usually deep, those of the larger leaves usually about 2/3 to 5/6 of the way to the midrib), 10-20 cm long, 5-10 cm wide; terminal bud rounded or globose; basal scales of acorn cup thickened, the thickening giving the cup a knobby texture; [section Quercus; subsection Albae] | Leaves with 7-11 lobes (the sinuses usually deep, those of the larger leaves usually about 2/3 to 5/6 of the way to the midrib), 10-20 cm long, 5-10 cm wide; terminal bud rounded or globose; basal scales of acorn cup thickened, the thickening giving the cup a knobby texture; [section Quercus; subsection Albae] | |||||
Quercus | Leaves with 3-7 lobes (the sinuses usually shallow, those of the larger leaves usually ranging from 1/4 to 1/2 of the way to the midrib), 7-15 cm long, 3-8 cm wide; basal scales of the acorn cup thin, appressed, the cup having a rough but not knobby texture; [section Quercus; subsection Stellatae] | ||||||
Betula | Leaves glabrous beneath or somewhat pubescent on the veins; bark of young stems remaining tight; leaf apex long-acuminate to attenuate; central lobe of infructescence scales shorter than the basal and lateral lobes. | ||||||
Betula | Leaves pubescent beneath, at least on the veins; bark of young stems exfoliating; leaf apex acute to short-acuminate; central lobe of infructescence scales equal to or longer than the basal and lateral lobes. | ||||||
Parnassia | Main parallel veins of each petal (9-) 11-17 (counted at a point halfway between the base and the apex and ignoring short laterals), usually not dilated toward the apex of the petal; outer- or basal-most main vein branching pseudo-dichotomously several times; rhizome horizontal, long-creeping, the leaves scattered or loosely clustered, tending to form clonal patches to several m in diameter; ovary white; [Coastal Plain pinelands] | Main parallel veins of each petal (9-) 11-17 (counted at a point halfway between the base and the apex and ignoring short laterals), usually not dilated toward the apex of the petal; outer- or basal-most main vein branching pseudo-dichotomously several times; rhizome horizontal, long-creeping, the leaves scattered or loosely clustered, tending to form clonal patches to several m in diameter; ovary white; [Coastal Plain pinelands] | |||||
Parnassia | Main parallel veins of each petal 5-9 (counted at a point halfway between the base and the apex and ignoring short laterals), often strongly dilated toward the apex of the petal; outer- or basal-most main vein with numerous short laterals on the outer side, extending to the petal margin with few or no branchings; rhizome erect, short, the leaves strongly clustered, not forming large clonal patches; ovary green, sometimes white toward the base; [primarily of the Mountains, rarely also disjunct in the Coastal Plain] | Main parallel veins of each petal 5-9 (counted at a point halfway between the base and the apex and ignoring short laterals), often strongly dilated toward the apex of the petal; outer- or basal-most main vein with numerous short laterals on the outer side, extending to the petal margin with few or no branchings; rhizome erect, short, the leaves strongly clustered, not forming large clonal patches; ovary green, sometimes white toward the base; [primarily of the Mountains, rarely also disjunct in the Coastal Plain] | |||||
Oxalis | Plant acaulescent; leaves basal; flowers white, pink, purple, or golden yellow. | Plant acaulescent; leaves basal; flowers white, pink, purple, or golden yellow. | |||||
Hypericum | Styles and carpels (3-) 5; mature capsule deeply lobed (with longitudinal deep grooves); sepals with 3-7 basal veins | Styles and carpels (3-) 5; mature capsule deeply lobed (with longitudinal deep grooves); sepals with 3-7 basal veins | |||||
Hypericum | Styles and carpels 3 (-5); mature capsule not deeply lobed; sepals with 1-3 basal veins. | ||||||
Hypericum | Perennial herbs; inflorescence with dichasial branching (a compound cyme); plants with basal offshoots with decussate leaves 2-4 mm long and 0.2-0.4 mm wide; [endemic in Florida scrub in Highlands and Polk counties, FL] | Perennial herbs; inflorescence with dichasial branching (a compound cyme); plants with basal offshoots with decussate leaves 2-4 mm long and 0.2-0.4 mm wide; [endemic in Florida scrub in Highlands and Polk counties, FL] | |||||
Hypericum | Annual herbs; inflorescence with monochasial branching (a compound raceme); plants lacking basal offshoots; [collectively widespread]. | Annual herbs; inflorescence with monochasial branching (a compound raceme); plants lacking basal offshoots; [collectively widespread]. | |||||
Viola | Stems mostly 2 to several, decumbent proximally in flower, becoming erect in fruit; basal leaves (1) 2-5; cauline leaves distributed over much of stem length, ovate, cordate at base, acute to abruptly short-acuminate at apex; foliage glabrous or thinly pubescent on upper stem and leaves; upper surface of leaf blades medium green; [widespread in our region] | Stems mostly 2 to several, decumbent proximally in flower, becoming erect in fruit; basal leaves (1) 2-5; cauline leaves distributed over much of stem length, ovate, cordate at base, acute to abruptly short-acuminate at apex; foliage glabrous or thinly pubescent on upper stem and leaves; upper surface of leaf blades medium green; [widespread in our region] | |||||
Viola | Stems 1 (2), erect in flower; basal leaves 0 (-2); cauline leaves clustered in uppermost 1/4 of stem length, broadly ovate to reniform, subcordate to broadly cuneate at base, broadly obtuse to rounded at apex; foliage densely pubescent throughout; upper surface of leaf blades gray-green; [montane in our region] | Stems 1 (2), erect in flower; basal leaves 0 (-2); cauline leaves clustered in uppermost 1/4 of stem length, broadly ovate to reniform, subcordate to broadly cuneate at base, broadly obtuse to rounded at apex; foliage densely pubescent throughout; upper surface of leaf blades gray-green; [montane in our region] | |||||
Viola | Petals variously colored, commonly with the lower three petals cream-white and upper two purple-black; terminal lobe of stipule with 4 or more crenations on each side; quadrate stems recurved-puberulent on the angles; leaves cauline and commonly also basal. | Petals variously colored, commonly with the lower three petals cream-white and upper two purple-black; terminal lobe of stipule with 4 or more crenations on each side; quadrate stems recurved-puberulent on the angles; leaves cauline and commonly also basal. | |||||
Viola | Spur of basal petal 4-6 mm long; lateral petals bearded within; corolla uniformly blue | ||||||
Viola | Spur of basal petal 10-15 mm long; lateral petals beardless; corolla pale violet with a purple-black eyespot surrounding the throat | ||||||
Viola | Leaves glabrous except for scattered appressed hairs on upper surface of leaf blades; largest leaf blades abruptly acute at apex, inner edges of basal lobes close or overlapping in life, sinus < 1/4 length of blade, margins shallowly crenate; petioles and peduncles red-tinged or -spotted; all petals glabrous; cleistogamous capsules 6.5-8 mm long; seeds 1.2-1.3 × 0.7-0.8 mm, blackish-brown; [Appalachian Mtn region and adjacent uplands, common at higher elevations] | Leaves glabrous except for scattered appressed hairs on upper surface of leaf blades; largest leaf blades abruptly acute at apex, inner edges of basal lobes close or overlapping in life, sinus < 1/4 length of blade, margins shallowly crenate; petioles and peduncles red-tinged or -spotted; all petals glabrous; cleistogamous capsules 6.5-8 mm long; seeds 1.2-1.3 × 0.7-0.8 mm, blackish-brown; [Appalachian Mtn region and adjacent uplands, common at higher elevations] | |||||
Viola | Petioles and/or either or both surfaces of leaf blades glabrous or sparsely to densely hirsute; largest leaf blades typically obtuse to rounded at apex, inner edges of basal lobes well separated or divergent in life, sinus > 1/4 (often > 1/3) length of blade, margins low-serrate with noticeable teeth; petioles and peduncles not red-tinged or -spotted; lateral petals bearded; cleistogamous capsules 7-14 mm long; seeds 1.6-2.2 × 1.0-1.3 mm, light to medium brown; [widely distributed in northeastern region, most common at lower elevations] | Petioles and/or either or both surfaces of leaf blades glabrous or sparsely to densely hirsute; largest leaf blades typically obtuse to rounded at apex, inner edges of basal lobes well separated or divergent in life, sinus > 1/4 (often > 1/3) length of blade, margins low-serrate with noticeable teeth; petioles and peduncles not red-tinged or -spotted; lateral petals bearded; cleistogamous capsules 7-14 mm long; seeds 1.6-2.2 × 1.0-1.3 mm, light to medium brown; [widely distributed in northeastern region, most common at lower elevations] | |||||
Turneraceae | Herb to 5 dm tall; leaves lacking basal glands | ||||||
Lythrum | Perennial by basal stoloniferous outshoots; flowers present only at upper nodes; flowers heterostylous (either with an exserted style and included stamens, or vice versa) | Perennial by basal stoloniferous outshoots; flowers present only at upper nodes; flowers heterostylous (either with an exserted style and included stamens, or vice versa) | |||||
Ludwigia | Pedicels 2-15 mm long; capsules subglobose to spheric or cubic, about as long as wide, box-like, 4-angled, dehiscence by an apical pore (later sometimes also irregularly loculicidal); petals present, 4-15 mm long, persistent or caducous; roots fascicled, fusiform, tuberous; plants lacking basal, stoloniform shoots; [section Ludwigia]. | Pedicels 2-15 mm long; capsules subglobose to spheric or cubic, about as long as wide, box-like, 4-angled, dehiscence by an apical pore (later sometimes also irregularly loculicidal); petals present, 4-15 mm long, persistent or caducous; roots fascicled, fusiform, tuberous; plants lacking basal, stoloniform shoots; [section Ludwigia]. | |||||
Ludwigia | Pedicels 0-1 (-5) mm long; capsules subglobose, obconic, or obpyramidal, about as long as wide or longer than wide, circular to quadrangular in cross-section, dehiscence irregularly loculicidal; petals absent or present, if present (L. linearis, L. linifolia) then 0-6 mm long and caducous; roots fibrous or rhizomatous; plants frequently with basal, stoloniform shoots; [section Isnardia]. | Pedicels 0-1 (-5) mm long; capsules subglobose, obconic, or obpyramidal, about as long as wide or longer than wide, circular to quadrangular in cross-section, dehiscence irregularly loculicidal; petals absent or present, if present (L. linearis, L. linifolia) then 0-6 mm long and caducous; roots fibrous or rhizomatous; plants frequently with basal, stoloniform shoots; [section Isnardia]. | |||||
Epilobium | Stigma deeply 4-lobed; petals either 9-20 mm long, or 4-9 mm long; plants perennating by short or long, thick stolons terminating in basal rosettes; [exotic]. | ||||||
Epilobium | Stigma capitate; petals 2-8 mm long; plants perennating either by basal offsets from the caudex, by basal turions, and/or by threadlike, aboveground stolons terminating in turions. | ||||||
Rhus | Leaflets 11-25, attenuate to base, 2-9 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, either >3× as long as wide or < 4 cm long; leaflet margins entire (rarely serrate); leaflet apex rounded, obtuse, acute, or acuminate (often at least the more basal leaflets with an obtuse tip) | ||||||
Callirhoe | Inflorescence paniculate; petals deep red, with a white basal spot; plants erect, 5-20 dm tall; mericarps glabrous | Inflorescence paniculate; petals deep red, with a white basal spot; plants erect, 5-20 dm tall; mericarps glabrous | |||||
Cistaceae | Suffrutescent herb, usually little branched from the lower stem (often much branched above, and in Lechea with specialized short basal shoots at ground level); flowers axillary or terminal in branching inflorescences; leaves 4-50 mm long, mostly linear, lanceolate, oblong, or elliptic; capsule globose, subglobose, ellipsoid, ovoid, or obovoid, < 2× as long as wide. | Suffrutescent herb, usually little branched from the lower stem (often much branched above, and in Lechea with specialized short basal shoots at ground level); flowers axillary or terminal in branching inflorescences; leaves 4-50 mm long, mostly linear, lanceolate, oblong, or elliptic; capsule globose, subglobose, ellipsoid, ovoid, or obovoid, < 2× as long as wide. | |||||
Cistaceae | Flowers of 2 types, the chasmogamous with 5 showy yellow petals, the cleistogamous lacking petals; pubescence of the stem stellate; leaves 10-50 mm long, alternate; plants with shoots of one type only, not producing short basal shoots; capsules 1.3-12.5 mm long, the larger capsules of chasmogamous flowers at least 2.0 mm long | Flowers of 2 types, the chasmogamous with 5 showy yellow petals, the cleistogamous lacking petals; pubescence of the stem stellate; leaves 10-50 mm long, alternate; plants with shoots of one type only, not producing short basal shoots; capsules 1.3-12.5 mm long, the larger capsules of chasmogamous flowers at least 2.0 mm long | |||||
Cistaceae | Flowers of 1 type, with 3 inconspicuous, dark red petals; pubescence of the stem simple; leaves 4-15 mm long (to 30 mm long in L. pulchella and L. mucronata), linear to linear-elliptic, 0.5-4 mm wide (to 13 mm wide in L. mucronata), alternate, opposite, or whorled; plants with shoots of two types, the short, prostrate to ascending basal shoots produced late in the season and overwintering; capsules 0.9-1.7 mm long | Flowers of 1 type, with 3 inconspicuous, dark red petals; pubescence of the stem simple; leaves 4-15 mm long (to 30 mm long in L. pulchella and L. mucronata), linear to linear-elliptic, 0.5-4 mm wide (to 13 mm wide in L. mucronata), alternate, opposite, or whorled; plants with shoots of two types, the short, prostrate to ascending basal shoots produced late in the season and overwintering; capsules 0.9-1.7 mm long | |||||
Crocanthemum | Leaves basally disposed, the largest and most prominent leaves in a basal rosette; stem leaves 2-5 below those subtending flowers or fruits; stem with spreading trichomes to 2.5 mm long; lower surface of leaves sparsely pubescent, the surface readily visible; cleistogamous flowers usually never produced; capsules 6-9 (-10.5) mm long, with 80-92 (-135) papillate seeds | Leaves basally disposed, the largest and most prominent leaves in a basal rosette; stem leaves 2-5 below those subtending flowers or fruits; stem with spreading trichomes to 2.5 mm long; lower surface of leaves sparsely pubescent, the surface readily visible; cleistogamous flowers usually never produced; capsules 6-9 (-10.5) mm long, with 80-92 (-135) papillate seeds | |||||
Lechea | Flowers and fruits mostly borne in clusters of 2s and 3s (occasionally solitary), usually on bent, reflexed pedicels; leaves pubescent on both surfaces; cauline stems usually with appressed pubescence (basal shoots are villous); outer slender sepals shorter than the broad inner sepals; [of peninsular FL] | Flowers and fruits mostly borne in clusters of 2s and 3s (occasionally solitary), usually on bent, reflexed pedicels; leaves pubescent on both surfaces; cauline stems usually with appressed pubescence (basal shoots are villous); outer slender sepals shorter than the broad inner sepals; [of peninsular FL] | |||||
Brassicaceae | Leaves strictly basal, or both basal and cauline and also auriculate. | ||||||
Brassicaceae | Plants with only basal leaves or cauline leaves much reduced. | ||||||
Brassicaceae | Leaves basal and cauline but not auriculate (basal leaves sometimes withering upon flowering, thus only appearing alternate). | Leaves basal and cauline but not auriculate (basal leaves sometimes withering upon flowering, thus only appearing alternate). | |||||
Brassicaceae | Leaves only basal; [tribe Arabideae] | Leaves only basal; [tribe Arabideae] | |||||
Brassicaceae | Leaves cauline (and often basal as well). | ||||||
Brassicaceae | Leaves basal only | Leaves basal only | |||||
Brassicaceae | Leaves basal only | Leaves basal only | |||||
Brassicaceae | Siliques straight, slightly ascending to strictly erect or appressed; seeds 0.6-1.7 mm long; basal leaves < 8 cm long | ||||||
Brassicaceae | Siliques curved or straight, ascending to descending, seeds either <1mm long or < 2.5 mm long, basal leaves 2.5-20 cm long | Siliques curved or straight, ascending to descending, seeds either <1mm long or < 2.5 mm long, basal leaves 2.5-20 cm long | |||||
Arabis | Stem pubescence primarily appressed and of 2-armed or dolabriform hairs; basal leaves with glabrous margins | Stem pubescence primarily appressed and of 2-armed or dolabriform hairs; basal leaves with glabrous margins | |||||
Arabis | Stem pubescence primarily spreading and of simple hairs; basal leaves with ciliate margins | ||||||
Barbarea | Basal leaves with 4-10 pairs of lateral lobes; siliques 4.5-7 cm long; pedicels 1.2-1.8 mm thick | ||||||
Barbarea | Basal leaves with 1-4 pairs of lateral lobes; siliques 1.5-3 cm long; pedicels 0.5-1.0 mm thick | ||||||
Borodinia | Mature fruits terete, (4-) 7-9.5 cm long; basal leaves 5-12 cm long, stellate pubescent; cauline leaves 4-12 cm long; pubescence of the stem mostly of spreading, simple hairs | ||||||
Borodinia | Mature fruits flat, 1.5-10 cm long; basal leaves 2-8 cm long, nearly glabrous; cauline leaves 1-4 cm long; pubescence of the stem mostly of appressed, forked hairs. | ||||||
Borodinia | Basal leaves subentire to serrate or sinuate-serrate; petals white, to 5 mm long, equaling or slightly surpassing the sepals; longest cauline leaves usually 8-18 cm long; plant glaucous | ||||||
Borodinia | Basal leaves sharply serrate-dentate to strongly laciniate or lyrate-pinnatifid; petals creamy-white, to 8 mm long, about 2× the length of the sepals; longest cauline leaves usually 3-5 cm long; plant green or red-tinged | ||||||
Cardamine | Trichomes of leaf margins appressed and ca. 0.1 mm long; stem leaves 2 (-3), opposite; lateral leaflets of stem leaves very rarely incised, the leaf being (and appearing merely 3-foliolate, though teeth may be prominent and lacerate); basal leaves usually present at flowering. | ||||||
Cardamine | Rhizome with 2-3 cm long segments, each separated by a narrow and fragile connecting portion (which typically is broken on herbarium specimens), and lacking “teeth” (actually prominent reduced leaves); leaflets of the stem leaves (2.5×-) avg. 5× (-7×) as long as wide (thus proportionately much narrower than the leaflets of the basal leaves); central leaflet of stem leaves (2.5-) avg. 3.25 (-4) cm long × (0.5-) avg. 0.75 (-1.0) cm wide; taste of fresh plant relatively mildly mustardy | Rhizome with 2-3 cm long segments, each separated by a narrow and fragile connecting portion (which typically is broken on herbarium specimens), and lacking “teeth” (actually prominent reduced leaves); leaflets of the stem leaves (2.5×-) avg. 5× (-7×) as long as wide (thus proportionately much narrower than the leaflets of the basal leaves); central leaflet of stem leaves (2.5-) avg. 3.25 (-4) cm long × (0.5-) avg. 0.75 (-1.0) cm wide; taste of fresh plant relatively mildly mustardy | |||||
Cardamine | Rhizome elongate and of uniform diameter, lacking definite segments, but with periodic “teeth” (prominent reduced leaves) along it; leaflets of the stem leaves (2×-) avg. 3× (-4×) as long as wide (thus proportionately similar to the leaflets of the basal leaves); central leaflet of stem leaves (4-) avg. 6 (-8) cm long × (1.5-) avg. 2 (-2.5) cm wide; taste of fresh plant strong, like horseradish or wasabi | Rhizome elongate and of uniform diameter, lacking definite segments, but with periodic “teeth” (prominent reduced leaves) along it; leaflets of the stem leaves (2×-) avg. 3× (-4×) as long as wide (thus proportionately similar to the leaflets of the basal leaves); central leaflet of stem leaves (4-) avg. 6 (-8) cm long × (1.5-) avg. 2 (-2.5) cm wide; taste of fresh plant strong, like horseradish or wasabi | |||||
Cardamine | Trichomes of leaf margins erect and 0.2-0.3 mm long; stem leaves 3, whorled; lateral leaflets of stem leaves usually incised into 2 main lobes, giving the leaf a superficially somewhat 5-parted appearance; basal leaves usually absent (or often present in C. maxima) at flowering. | ||||||
Cardamine | Petals 3-5 mm long, the tips ascending or erect; anthers orbicular, ca. 0.3 mm across; stylar beak of the silique 1-1.5 mm; mid-cauline and upper cauline leaves cuneate, rounded, or truncate (rarely the mid-cauline leaves subcordate, but not clasping); basal leaves with 1-3 pairs of lateral leaflets | Petals 3-5 mm long, the tips ascending or erect; anthers orbicular, ca. 0.3 mm across; stylar beak of the silique 1-1.5 mm; mid-cauline and upper cauline leaves cuneate, rounded, or truncate (rarely the mid-cauline leaves subcordate, but not clasping); basal leaves with 1-3 pairs of lateral leaflets | |||||
Cardamine | Petals 5-10 mm long, the tips spreading or ascending; anthers oblong, about 1 mm long; stylar beak of the silique 2-3 mm; mid-cauline and upper cauline leaves cordate, often clasping around the stem or branch; basal leaves with 0-1 pairs of lateral leaflets | ||||||
Cardamine | Cauline leaves without basal auricles, the 5-15 (-17) leaflets mostly obtuse. | ||||||
Cardamine | Stamens 4 (rarely 5 or 6); plant with many, persistent basal leaves forming a compact rosette; stem bases and petioles hirsute |
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