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Keyed in multiple places:

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Key to Asteraceae, Key G: Herbaceous composites with the leaves alternate, the heads lacking rays, and with 0 pappus

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1 Receptacle paleate (bearing receptacular bracts which individually subtend at least some of the flowers of the head).
  2 Involucres absent or vestigial, usually with 0 phyllaries; heads very small, < 6 mm high, < 4 mm wide; annuals, < 4 dm tall; disc corollas hidden or dingy in color; [tribe Gnaphalieae]
    3 Bisexual flowers (1-) 2-10 (-11), pappus of (11-) 13-28+ bristles visible in heads; functionally staminate flowers 0.
      4 Receptacles cylindric to clavate (5-15× as tall as the diameter); most pistillate paleae open to ± folded (at most each enfolding, not enclosing a floret; apices acuminate to aristate); innermost paleae erect to ascending in fruit; cypselae mono- morphic (the outer ± equaling the inner)
      4 Receptacles fungiform to obovoid (0.4-1.6× as tall as the diameter); most pistillate paleae ± saccate, each ± enclosing a floret, apices blunt; innermost paleae spreading in fruit; cypselae dimorphic (the outer longer than the inner)
    3 Bisexual flowers 0 or 2-7, pappi 0; functionally staminate flowers 0 or 2-5, pappi 0 or of 1-10 (-13) bristles hidden in heads
        5 Paleae of the bisexual or staminate flowers flat to concave, not enclosing florets, apices entire; cypselae glabrous; [mainly west of the Mississippi River, rarely east (as in MS, AL, GA, and SC]
        5 Paleae of the bisexual flowers saccate, each enclosing a floret, apices 2-fid or 3-fid; cypselae (at least the outer) strigose; [se. Texas]
  2 Involucres present, conspicuous, of many phyllaries; heads larger, 2-20+ mm wide; perennials or coarse annuals, 2-25 dm tall; disc corollas apparent, yellow, white, or pink to purplish.
          6 Disc flowers yellow or greenish yellow; [either native of s. TX southwards, or a waif]
             7 Phyllary margins and tips scarious; fresh foliage aromatic
             7 Phyllary margins and tips herbaceous; fresh foliage not aromatic
          6 Disc flowers white or whitish to pink or purple; [collectively widespread].
               8 Heads in corymbiform arrays; heads bisexual; involucres not burlike or nutlike, lacking tubercles or hooked or straight prickles or spines; leaves lanceolate, unlobed, cuneate at base
                 9 Heads lacking ray flowers; disc flowers pink (rarely nearly white); [Coastal Plain; FL and GA]
                 9 Heads with 5 white (fading to cream), scoop-shaped, inconspicuous ray flowers (keyed here as a 'failsafe'); disc flowers white; [widespread in our region]
               8 Heads in spiciform or racemiform arrays; heads unisexual (each head either with only female or only male flowers); involucres burlike, with tubercles or straight or hooked spines or prickles; leaves ovate or broader (in outline), often pinnatifid or bipinnatifid, truncate, cordate, or cuneate at base; [collectively widespread in our region].
                   10 Involucres of pistillate heads (burs) 1-4 mm long, with (1-) 5-12+ straight spines; larger leaves bipinnatifid
                   10 Involucres of pistillate heads (burs) 10-40 mm long, with 30-75+ hooked prickles; phyllaries larger leaves pinnatifid or unlobed
1 Receptacle epaleate (lacking receptacular bracts individually subtending flowers, but the receptacle sometimes bearing bristles, setae, hairs, or pits with laciniate margins.
                     11 Flowers white, pink, purple, or bluish.
                       12 Annuals, (1-) 2-10 (-30+) cm tall; corollas whitish, inconspicuous, absent on most of the (pistillate) flowers; leaves 2-3× pinnati-palmately lobed into linear segments; cypselae with an apical spine
                       12 Perennials, 10-150 cm tall; corollas at least light pink and often darker pink, purple, or blue, conspicuous, present on all flowers; leaves pinnately lobed or entire, the segments not linear; cypselae not spined.
                          13 Heads ovoid, 10-21 mm long; flowers 15-40 mm long, with long, narrow lobes; phyllaries >30, in 6+ series, and the apices often with a fringe of appendages and/or a spine tip; basal and lower stem leaves usually pinnately lobed (to entire and unlobed); [widespread in our region, especially northwards]
                          13 Heads cylindrical, 2-6 mm long; flowers ca. 3 mm long, with deltate lobes; phyllaries 12-15 in 2-3 series, herbaceous and unadorned; basal and lower stem leaves entire and unlobed; [Coastal Plain of FL and GA]
                     11 Flowers yellow, cream, or rarely red-tinged.
                            14 Leaf blades unlobed.
                              15 Heads 3-4 (-6) mm in diameter, solitary; plants 0.3-3 dm tall; [ballast waif, especially in wet, saline places]
                              15 Heads (3-) 5-20+ mm in diameter, solitary or borne in corymbiform or paniculiform arrays; plants 1.5-15 dm tall.
                                16 Involucres 8-20+ mm in diameter; cypselae 1.5-4.5 mm long
                                16 Involucres (3-) 5-8 (-10) mm in diameter; cypselae 1.5-2 mm long
                            14 Leaf blades 1-3× pinnately or palmately lobed into linear or spatulate segments.
                                  17 Annual 0.1-5 dm tall.
                                    18 Disc corollas cream to pale yellow, 0.5-0.8 mm long; fresh plants malodorous; [waif]
                                    18 Disc corollas greenish yellow, 1.1-1.3 mm long; fresh plants pineapple-scented; [common weed, especially northwards in our region]
                                  17 Perennial, biennial or annual 4-15 dm tall.
                                       19 Heads borne in paniculiform, racemiform, or spiciform arrays, never flat-topped; flowers < 50 per head
                                       19 Heads borne in corymbiform arrays; flowers 60-300+ per head

Key to Asteraceae, Key H: Herbaceous composites with the leaves alternate, the heads lacking rays, and with a pappus of bristles only

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1 Receptacle paleate (bearing receptacular bracts which individually subtend at least some of the flowers of the head).
  2 Involucres absent or vestigial, usually with 0 phyllaries; heads very small, < 6 mm high, < 4 mm wide; annuals, < 4 dm tall; disc corollas hidden or dingy in color; [tribe Gnaphalieae].
    3 Receptacles cylindric to clavate (5-15× as tall as the diameter); most paleae of pistillate flowers open to ± folded (at most each enfolding, not enclosing a floret; apices acuminate to aristate); innermost paleae erect to ascending in fruit; cypselae monomorphic (the outer ± equaling the inner)
    3 Receptacles obovoid (0.4-1.6× as tall as the diameter); most paleae of pistillate flowers ± saccate, each ± enclosing a floret, apices blunt; innermost paleae spreading in fruit; cypselae dimorphic (the outer longer than the inner)
  2 Involucres present, conspicuous, of many phyllaries; heads larger, 2-20+ mm wide; perennials or coarse annuals, 2-25 dm tall; disc corollas apparent, white, or pink to purplish or reddish.
      4 Phyllaries tipped by a hooked spine
      4 Phyllaries not armed, herbaceous to the tip.
        5 Cypselae with 5 angles or 5 grooves; involucre 2-3 mm tall and in diameter; pappus of 1 (-5+) usually glandular setae (interpretable as bristles, hence keyed here); [Coastal Plain; FL and GA]
        5 Cypselae with 10 ribs; involucre 3.5-12 (-15) mm tall and in diameter; pappus of 35-40 barbellulate bristles; [mainly Coastal Plain; VA south to s. FL, west to e. LA]
          6 Heads larger, the involucre 6-15 mm high, with 15-40 phyllaries; leaves with conspicuous (at least at 10× magnification) resin dots.
          6 Heads smaller, the involucre 3.5-6 mm high, with 5-12 phyllaries; leaves without shining punctate glands (except punctate-glandular in Litrisa carnosa, of the FL peninsula).
             7 Stem with punctate glands; peduncles punctate-glandular and also hirsutulous; pappus bristles in 2 series; [of FL peninsula]
             7 Stem eglandular, glabrous or spreading-hirsute; peduncles glabrous or stipitate-glandular; pappus bristles in 1 series; [widespread in the Coastal Plain].
1 Receptacle epaleate (lacking receptacular bracts individually subtending flowers, but the receptacle sometimes bearing bristles, setae, hairs, or pits with laciniate margins; some taxa lacking paleae on many or most flowers of the head are keyed here as well, as a failsafe).
               8 Phyllaries in 1-2 series and equal or subequal in length to one another, the phyllaries often coherent/fused (the involucre thus appearing as a cylinder with ribs extending from base to top, except in species in which the phyllaries are radially winged); calyculus (of bracts subtending the phyllaries and differing from them in texture, color, or orientation) present or not; [tribe Senecioneae]
                 9 Annuals, 2-10 dm tall (or perennial, vining or sprawling and to 30 dm long in Gynura); leaves cauline and alternate; disc flowers orangey-brown, brick-red, purplish, yellow.
                   10 Plants perennial, vining or sprawling, velutinous or villous with purple hairs
                   10 Plants annual, upright or ascending, not purple-hairy.
                     11 Involucre subtended by several leafy bracts; cypselae 8- or 10-ribbed
                     11 Involucre not subtended by bracts; cypselae 5-ribbed
                 9 Perennials (robust annuals in Erechtites), 2-30 dm tall; leaves basally disposed and alternate on the stem (except only alternate in Erechtites); disc flowers cream or yellow (rarely pale lavender in Arnoglossum).
                       12 Plants annual, with leaves primarily on the stem; leaves sharply and raggedly toothed or even pinnately lobed; heads disciform (the outer flowers female, the middle bisexual, and the inner functionally male)
                       12 Plants perennial, with leaves basally disposed (larger basal leaves, decreasing in size upwards, the basal leaves sometimes withering late in the year); leaves with generally regular toothing, stem leaves sometimes pinnately lobed; heads discoid (all flowers bisexual)
                          13 Disc flowers yellow.
                            14 Perennials; leaves basally disposed, the basal or lower stem leaves unlobed (though toothed)
                            14 Annuals; leaves not basally disposed, evenly distributed on the stem, the lower stem leaves more-or-less pinnatifid
                          13 Disc flowers cream, white, or greenish white (to pale lavender in some Arnoglossum).
                              15 Phyllaries 5, radially wing-keeled or not; disc flowers 5; calyculus absent
                              15 Phyllaries 7-21, not radially winged; disc flowers 10-55 (-80+); calyculus absent or of 1-9+ bracts.
                                16 Plants (5-) 6-24 dm tall; calyculus of 4-9+ bracts; [collectively relatively widespread in our region]
                                16 Plants 1-7 dm tall; calyculus absent or of 1-5+ bracts; [Mountains of w. NC and e. TN]
               8 Phyllaries in 3-17 series and unequal in length (imbricated); calyculus absent.
                                  17 Stem prominently winged, the wings > 1 mm wide
                                  17 Stem not winged (sometimes the leaves decurrent < 2 cm down the stem from the node).
                                    18 Phyllaries usually 12-30+ in 3-10+ series, scarious (at least the margins).
                                       19 Plants perennial, mat-forming by stolons, with basal rosettes of spatulate leaves, these usually with obvious appressed hairiness on (at least) the lower and (sometimes also) the upper blade surfaces; erect stems (with scattered alternate leaves) 4-45 cm tall; plants usually dioecious (pistillate and staminate heads on separate plants)
                                       19 Plants annual, biennial, or perennial, not mat-forming or stoloniferous, erect, the leaves usually lanceolate or linear (spatulate in some species), leaf surface hairiness variable; erect stems (with alternate leaves) 5-80 cm tall; plants hermaphroditic (with heads containing both pistillate and functionally staminate flowers) or dioecious or subdioecious (in Anaphalis).
                                         20 Plants perennials; heads discoid (unisexual or nearly so); plants usually unisexual and dioecious
                                         20 Plants annuals (perennials in Omalotheca sylvatica); heads disciform (each bisexual); plants hermaphroditic.
                                           21 Leaves oblanceolate, 1.5-4 mm wide, notched at the tip or with a minute apiculus in the notch; pappus bristles persistent, plumose
                                           21 Leaves various in shape, the lager > 4 mm wide, acuminate, acute, obtuse or rounded at the tip; pappus readily falling, the bristles barbellate to barbellulate.
                                             22 Heads in capitate clusters arrayed in corymbiform or paniculiform arrays; phyllaries white or silvery; pappus bristles distinct, falling individually
                                               23 Pappus bristles connate basally into a ring, falling together
                                               23 Pappus bristles distinct, falling individually
                                             22 Heads in spicate arrays, or in glomerules axillary to leaves or well-developed bracts; phyllaries white to red-tinged or brown; pappus connate at the base into a ring, falling as a unit.
                                                 24 Perennial; phyllaries in 2-3 series; cypselas strigillose; involucre light to dark brown; [waif, in PA]
                                                 24 Annual; phyllaries in 3-7 series; cypselas papillate or glabrous; involucre white to red-tinged or brown; [widespread in our region]
                                                    25 Pappus of 12-28 bristles; cypsela faces papillate
                                                    25 pappus of 8-12 bristles; cypsela faces glabrous
                                    18 Phyllaries in 3-5 series, herbaceous to thickened, generally green in color.
                                                      26 Disc corollas yellow, pale yellow, orange, reddish, or brown.
                                                        27 Phyllaries 5, in one series; phyllaries streaked with elongate glands filled with strong-scented oil
                                                        27 Phyllaries 10-60+ in 2-9 series; phyllaries eglandular or with small punctate glands.
                                                          28 Phyllaries unarmed
                                                            29 Decumbent annual, to 2 dm tall; heads solitary and axillary
                                                            29 Erect or ascending annual or perennial, 1-15 dm tall; heads in corymbiform, paniculiform, or racemiform arrays.
                                                              30 Plants dioecious, either male or female; heads either staminate, with 10-50 flowers, or pistillate, with 20-150 flowers; heads pale yellow to white
                                                              30 Plants hermaphroditic; heads bisexual, with 2-35 flowers, either all perfect (bisexual), or a mixture of perfect (bisexual) and functionally staminate flowers.; heads yellow to pale yellow.
                                                                 31 Leaves entire; flowers 2-6 per head; heads arrayed in a neatly flat-topped corymb
                                                                 31 Leaves (at least the larger) toothed or lobed; flowers 5-35 per head; heads in racemiform, paniculiform, or corymbiform arrays, but if corymbiform, irregular.
                                                                   32 Larger leaves 2.5-10 cm long, 1-4 cm wide; involucres 6-12 mm in diameter; [widespread in our region]
                                                                   32 Larger leaves 1-5 cm long, < 1 cm wide; involucres 2-7 mm in diameter; [s. and se. TX].
image of plant
Show caption*© Michelle W., some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michelle W.
                                                                     33 Inflorescences in rounded, corymbiform arrays; leaves glabrous
image of plant
Show caption*© Jason Schock, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jason Schock
                                                                     33 Inflorescences in elongate, racemiform to paniculiform arrays; leaves moderately to densely hairy with both glandular and non-glandular hairs
                                                      26 Disc corollas pink, purple, lavender, blue, or white.
                                                                       34 Phyllaries either spine-tipped, or appendaged with a marginal zone that is strikingly different in color and texture than the phyllary body (except Leuzea); receptacle epaleate, but densely beset with bristles or subulate scales (flattened bristles).
                                                                         35 Phyllaries scarious-margined, neither spine-tipped nor appendaged with dentate or fringed appendages
                                                                         35 Plyllaries either spine-tipped or appendaged.
                                                                           36 Phyllaries tipped by a hooked spine
                                                                           36 Phyllaries appendaged, the appendage black, brown, tan, or scarious, and toothed or fimbriate.
                                                                              37 Phyllary bodies linear, their margins entire (phyllary appendages fimbriate; however); leaf margins entire, denticulate or serrulate
                                                                              37 Phyllary bodies oblong, ovate, or obovate, both their margins and appendages fimbriate; leaf margins entire, toothed, or pinnately lobed.
                                                                                38 Flower heads pink, lavender, or purplish; phyllary appendages scarious and spineless, decurrent along the phyllary margin nearly to the phyllary base; perennial; flowers pink to purple, flowering Jun-Oct
                                                                                38 Flowers heads blue; phyllary appendages not or only slightly decurrent along the phyllary margins; annual; flowers pale to medium blue, flowering Apr-Jun
                                                                       34 Phyllaries not armed, also not appendaged with a marginal zone that is strikingly different in color and texture than the phyllary body.
                                                                                  39 Plants dioecious, either male or female; heads either staminate, with 10-50 flowers, or pistillate, with 20-150 flowers; heads pale yellow to white
                                                                                  39 Plants hermaphroditic; heads bisexual, with 3-100+ flowers, either all perfect (bisexual), or a mixture of perfect (bisexual) and functionally staminate flowers.; heads purple, pink, lavender, or whitish.
                                                                                    40 Leaf blades orbicular; leaf margin scalloped or crenate; [rare waif in our region]
                                                                                    40 Leaf blades linear, lanceolate, or ovate; leaf margin entire, serrulate, or serrate; [collectively common and widespread].
                                                                                      41 Style branch appendages absent, the style branch stigmatic along the upper surface nearly to the tip; [tribe Vernonieae].
                                                                                        42 Pappus bristles in 1 series; heads disciform (the outer flowers of the head pistillate, the inner flowers of the head functionally staminate); leaf margins toothed; corollas white to cream or pink (rarely purple)
                                                                                        42 Pappus bristles in 2 series, the outer much shorter; heads discoid (all flowers bisexual and fertile); leaf margins toothed or entire; corollas purple or deep pink (rarely pale pink or white)
                                                                                      41 Style branch appendages deltate, lanceolate, or terete to clavate, the style branch YYYY.
                                                                                           43 Style branch appendages deltate or lanceolate; style branches stigmatic along 2 lines from near the base to the attachment of the appendage; [tribe Astereae].
                                                                                             44 Disc flowers 8-20; pappus bristles in 2 series; [GA and Panhandle FL west to AL, GA, and LA]
                                                                                             44 Disc flowers 75-95+; pappus bristles in 1 series; [waif]
                                                                                           43 Style branch appendages terete to clavate; style branches "eupatorious", linear to slightly clavate-thickened at the tip, the stigmatic surface XXXX; [tribe Eupatorieae]
                                                                                               45 Lower stem leaves with at least a few divergent teeth; phyllaries elongate-striate nerved
                                                                                               45 All leaves entire (or at most with a few obscure crenations); phyllaries lacking elongate striations, the nerving not apparent.
                                                                                                 46 Heads borne in spiciform or racemiform arrays (all heads directly attached to a central access of the capitulescence)
                                                                                                 46 Heads borne in corymbiform, paniculiform, or thyrsiform arrays (at least some heads borne on secondary branches of the capitulescence.
                                                                                                   47 Involucres 2-3 mm tall; cypselas 5-ribbed
                                                                                                   47 Heads 3-20 mm tall; cypselas 10-ribbed.
                                                                                                     48 Heads 3.5-6 mm tall; phyllaries 5-12 in 1-2 (-3) series; [Coastal Plain, NC to FL to e. LA].
                                                                                                        49 Stem with punctate glands; peduncles punctate-glandular and also hirsutulous; pappus bristles in 2 series; [of FL peninsula]
                                                                                                        49 Stem eglandular, glabrous or spreading-hirsute; peduncles glabrous or stipitate-glandular; pappus bristles in 1 series; [widespread in the Coastal Plain].
                                                                                                     48 Heads 3-20 mm tall; phyllaries 15-50+ in 3-7 series; [collectively widespread].
                                                                                                          50 Heads borne in corymbiform arrays; involucres 6-12 (15) mm tall; receptacles paleate, at least towards the periphery of the receptacle; pappus of 35-40 barbellulate to barbellate bristles; [nearly restricted to the Coastal Plain]
                                                                                                          50 Heads borne in paniculiform or thyrsiform arrays; involucres 3-20 mm tall; receptacles epaleate; pappus of 12-40 coarsely barbellate, subplumose, or plumose bristles; [widespread in our region]

Key to Asteraceae, Key I: Herbaceous composites with the leaves alternate, the heads lacking rays, and with a pappus wholly or partly of scales or awns

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1 Disc flowers yellow, orange, red, or brownish.
  2 Leaves 1-2× pinnately lobed into linear or filiform segments.
    3 Pappus of 16-20 scales
    3 Pappus of 6-10 scales; [historical waif]
  2 Leaves unlobed, or if pinnately lobed, the segments broad (> 3 mm wide).
      4 Receptacle paleate
      4 Receptacle epaleate.
        5 Pappus scales rudimentary, crown-like
        5 Pappus scales conspicuous.
          6 Phyllaries 25-125 in 3-9 series; receptacles flat or slightly convex
          6 Phyllaries 6-25 (-60) in 2-3 series; receptacles globose.
             7 Stems not winged
             7 Stems winged from node to node
1 Disc flowers pink, purple, or white
               8 Receptacle paleate
               8 Receptacle epaleate.
                 9 Disc flowers 1-5 (rarely more) per head.
                   10 Disc flowers white (rarely cream), 3; heads not aggregated into a secondary cluster subtended by bracts; [se. TX]
                   10 Disc flowers lavender to purple, sometimes so lightly so as to be white, 1-4 (-5+); heads aggregated into clusters of 1-40 heads, subtended by 1-3 bracts; [collectively widespread in our region]
                     11 Heads (1-) 10-40 per secondary cluster, borne in corymbiform arrays; bracts subtending clusters (2-) 3, deltate; pappus of 5 (-6) scales, each aristate
                     11 Heads 1-5+ per secondary cluster, borne in spiciform arrays; bracts subtending clusters 1-2, linear, lanceolate, or spatulate; pappus of 6-10 scales, laciniate or aristate
                 9 Disc flowers (2-) 10-100+ per head (at least most heads with >10 flowers).
                       12 Phyllaries 5-15 (-21) in 1-2 (-3) series.
                          13 Involucres 2-3 mm in diameter; flowers 7-10 per head; [Coastal Plain, FL and GA]
                          13 Involucres 4-15+ mm in diameter; flowers 20-80 per head; [SC, GA, and FL westwards]
                       12 Phyllaries 18-many in 5+ series.
                            14 Phyllary tips modified into a spine or into an enlarged, lacerate or pectinate network or fringe; receptacle epaleate, but densely bristly; [tribe Cynareae].
                              15 Heads discoid, all flowers similar
                                16 Pappus normally of plumose bristles (and keyed elsewhere), but sometimes reduced to scales or awns
                                16 Pappus of an outer setiform scales (appearing as "flattened bristles"
                              15 Heads disciform or radiant, the outer flowers of the head sterile, with long lobes, appearing like false rays
                                  17 Plant a perennial; flowers pink to purple, flowering Jun-Oct
                                  17 Plant an annual; flowers pale to medium blue, flowering Apr-Jun
                            14 Phyllary tips not so modified, unarmed and unelaborate; receptacle epaleate and naked; [tribe Vernonieae].
                                    18 Peripheral flowers of the heads enlarged and bilaterally symmetrical, appearing like "false rays"
                                    18 Peripheral flowers of the heads similar to the interior flowers, all disc flowers.
                                       19 Annuals; cypselas not ribbed
                                       19 Perennials; cypselas 8-10-ribbed.
image of plant
Show caption*© Jacek Pietruszewski, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jacek Pietruszewski
                                         20 Heads each subtended by 3-8 leafy bracts; pappus of narrow scales only, quickly falling
                                         20 Heads not subtended by leafy bracts; pappus of an inner series of scales or bristles and an outer series of bristles, persistent
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