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Key to Cleomaceae

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1 Stamens (8-) 10-27; petals notched or irregularly lacerate at the apex; gynophore (stipe of the pistil, above the calyx) 2-6 mm long; leaflets (1-) 3
1 Stamens 6 (except 14-25 in Corynandra); petals obtuse or acute at the apex; gynophore (stipe of the pistil, above the calyx) 1-80 mm long; leaflets 5-7 (3 in Peritoma serrulata).
  2 Plants with nodal spines (and sometimes with prickles on petioles and leaf veins).
  2 Plants lacking nodal spines and lacking prickles on petioles and leaf veins.
    3 Filaments fused to lower half of gynophore (evident from scars near the midpoint of the gynophore of fruiting specimens)
      4 Leaflets 3 throughout; petals usually purple; plants 30-80 cm tall; petiole 1.5-3.5 cm long; capsules glabrous, striate
      4 Leaflets 3 or 5 (at least some leaves with 5 leaflets present within a plant); petals white, sometimes purple; plants (50-) 90-150 cm tall; petiole 3.5-4.5 cm long (or longer); capsules glandular-pubescent
    3 Filaments free from gynophore
        5 Bracts subtending the pedicels minute
        5 Bracts subtending the pedicels with expanded blades, sometimes even trifoliolate.
          6 Style 1-1.2 mm long; gynophore obsolete; stamens 14-25; sepals free
          6 Style 0.2-0.8 mm long; gynophore 3-12 mm; stamens 6; sepals fused ¼-½ their length
             7 Sepals deltate, to 2 mm long; petals whitish or yellow; largest leaflets < 7 mm wide; capsules 2-5-35 mm long, 1.5-2 mm wide; lower leaves 3-foliolate, upper leaves and bracts in the inflorescence 1-foliolate
             7 Sepals linear-lanceolate, 2-5 mm long; petals white to blue, pink, or purplidh; largest leaflets 7-25 mm wide; capsules 25-110 mm long, 2-4 mm wide; all leaves and bracts either 1-foliolate or 3-foliolate.