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1 Leaves 2- to 3- ternately compound; [tribe Spiraeeae] |
1 Leaves 1-compound, either simply pinnately compound or simply palmately compound, |
2 Principal (basalmost) leaves pinnately compound, with (3-) 5-many leaflets (upper stem leaves sometimes 3-foliolate). |
3 Principal leaves with leaflets of markedly disparate shape and size (large leaflets alternating with much smaller leaflets, or a large terminal leaflet and much smaller lateral leaflets). |
4 Lateral leaflets alternating between small and large, the terminal leaflet similar in size and shape to the larger lateral leaflets; terminal leaflet < 3 cm wide; hypanthium either conical or turbinate, armed with hooked bristles, the pistils 2, or hemispheric, the pistils >5. |
5 Leaves glabrous or sparsely pubescent beneath; flowers many in racemes; hypanthium conical or turbinate, armed with hooked bristles, the pistils 2; [tribe Sanguisorbeae] |
5 Leaves silvery sericeous beneath; flowers solitary and axillary; hypanthium hemispheric, the pistils >5; [tribe Potentilleae] |
4 Leaflets variable in size and shape, usually the terminal leaflet much larger than any of the lateral leaflets; terminal leaflet 3-20 cm wide; hypanthium either sauce-r-shaped or hemispheric to conical; pistils 5 or more. |
6 Pistils 5-15, in a circle on a saucer-shaped hypanthium, ripening into upright fruits that resemble follicles but are indehiscent; corolla white or pink; plant 10-20 dm tall; [tribe Ulmarieae] |
6 Pistils many, densely covering the hemispheric to conical hypanthium, ripening into achenes terminated by the persistent style; corolla white, cream, pale yellow, bright yellow, lavender, maroon, or purple; plant 2-10 dm tall; [tribe Colurieae] |
3 Principal leaves with leaflets of generally similar shape and size (the lowest leaflets may be smaller but of similar shape and toothing to the other leaflets). |
7 Stems and leaf rachises and petioles armed with retrorse prickles. |
7 Stems and leaves unarmed. |
8 Foliage and stems viscid- pubescent with brownish hairs; inflorescence a cyme; petals 5, cream-colored; [tribe Potentilleae] |
8 Foliage not viscid- pubescent (if hairy, the hairs not brown or viscid); inflorescence of very many (>100) small flowers in a spike, the rachis hidden by the tightly packed flowers; petals 0; [tribe Sanguisorbeae]. |
9 Leaflets pinnatifid (each leaflet incised nearly to the midvein); stamens 2 or 4 per flower |
9 Leaflets toothed (the incisions not nearly to the midvein); stamens either 4 or 15-20 per flower (in well-developed, staminate flowers). |
10 Leaflets 0.8-2 cm long; spike 1-2 cm long, 1-2× as long as broad, globose; stamens 15-20 per flower (in well-developed staminate flowers), the filaments 3-4 mm long; sepals green to pinkish-purple; [cultivated, occasionally escaped] |
10 Leaflets 3-10 cm long; spike 6-30 cm long, elongate; stamens 4 per flower, the filaments 8-10 mm long; sepals white (sometimes fading greenish); [native] |
2 Principal ( basal-most) leaves palmately compound, with 3-7 (-9) leaflets. |
11 Principal leaves subsessile, 3-foliolate; fruit of follicles; leaves cauline; [tribe Gillenieae] |
11 Principal leaves distinctly petiolate, the petiole often longer than the leaflets, 3-7 (-9)-foliolate; fruit of achenes; leaves basal and cauline. |
12 Principal leaves 5-7 (-9)-foliolate; [tribe Potentilleae] |
13 Petals maroon-colored, shorter than sepals; plants sprawling with horizontal stems bearing rooting nodes; [wetlands from n. PA, n. NJ, sc. IN and sc. OH northward] |
13 Petals yellow or white, not shorter than sepals; plants trailing or upright, if bearing horiztonal stems with rooting nodes then petals not maroon-colored and plants not in wetlands; [dry habitats, collectively widespread] |
12 Principal leaves 3-foliolate. |
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16 Pistils 2-6; [tribe Colurieae] |
16 Pistils (10-) numerous; [tribe Potentilleae] |
15 Petals white (or slightly pinkish). |
17 Calyx lobes not subtended by bractlets; [tribe Rubeae] |
17 Calyx lobes subtended by 5 sepaloid bractlets; [tribe Potentilleae]. |
18 Leaves evenly serrate with many serrations; [widespread] |
18 Leaves with 3 (-5) teeth at the apex, otherwise entire |
14 Plants in fruit (or sterile). |
19 Leaflets entire, except for 3 (-5) teeth at the apex; [tribe Potentilleae] |
19 Leaflets evenly serrate or crenate, each well-developed leaflet with > 7 teeth. |
20 Calyx lobes not subtended by bractlets. |
21 Fruit an aggregate of dry, non- adherent achenes; leaflets obtuse at apex; [tribe Colurieae] |
21 Fruit an aggregate of fleshy, adherent drupelets; leaflets acuminate at apex; [tribe Rubeae] |
20 Calyx lobes subtended by 5 sepaloid bractlets; [tribe Potentilleae]. |
22 Fruit an aggregate of dry achenes |
22 Fruit an accessory fruit of achenes borne on the surface of a fleshy, red receptacle. |
23 Fresh fruit reddish inside; leaflets serrate, 2.5-12 cm long; sepaloid bracts narrowing to apex, untoothed |
23 Fresh fruit whitish inside; leaflets crenate, 2-4 cm long; sepaloid bracts widest at apex, 3-5- toothed |