Click the number at the start of a key lead to highlight both that lead and its corresponding lead. Click again to show only the two highlighted leads. Click a third time to return to the full key with the selected leads still highlighted.

Key F2: Leaves with 4-many leaflets (poorly developed leaves in some species with only 3 leaflets, but usually leaves elsewhere on the plant with 4 or 5+).

Copy permalink to share | Check for keys that lead to this key

image of plant
Show caption*© Emily Summerbell, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Emily Summerbell
1 Leaves palmately-pedately 5-foliolate (the lateral 2 leaflets on each side borne on a common Y-shaped stalk).
  2 Leaflets entire; sap milky
  2 Leaflets toothed; sap clear
1 Leaves palmately compound (all the leaflets attached at a single point).
    3 Leaves > 6 dm wide
    3 Leaves < 3 dm wide.
      4 Leaflets with entire margins; [non-natives].
        5 Plants deciduous woody climbers (but not twining, or specialized climbing structures); leaflets usually 5 per leaf (occasionally 3 or 7); flowers maroon-colored, lacking petals but with 3 prominent sepals, the inflorescences axillary
        5 Plants evergreen shrubs or trees (occasionally partially epiphytic); leaflets usually 7-9 per leaf (occasionally 5 or 10); flowers yellowish-green or red, petals present, lacking showy prominent sepals, the inflorescences (most often) terminal
      4 Leaflets with serrate margins; [natives and non-natives].
          6 Stems armed with prickles scattered in the internodes
          6 Stems unarmed or with paired nodal spines.
             7 Inflorescence an umbel; leaves evergreen, glossy; stems often with paired nodal spines
             7 Inflorescence a panicle; leaves deciduous, dull; stems unarmed