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| 1 Leaves strictly alternate; [tribe Astereae]. |
| ..2 Heads discoid; dioecious shrubs to 5 m tall; [widespread in our area] |
| ..2 Heads radiate (most or all on a plant); bisexual shrub to 1 m tall or scrambling liana; [of se. NC southward, native in the Coastal Plain only]. |
....3 Leaves with clasping base, with a midvein and lateral veins and tertiary reticulation; rays pink or rose; sprawling viny shrub to 4 m tall; [of wet habitats of SC (or se. NC) southward, also cultivated] |
| ....3 Leaves with a cuneate base, with a midvein and otherwise minutely pebbled; rays yellow; intricately branched shrub to 1 m tall, with persistent sterile shoots with evergreen leaves and annual flowering shoots (the entire shoot and leaves deciduous); [of xeric sandy barrens, of se. NC southward] |
| 1 Leaves opposite, at least on the lower stem nodes (the leaves higher on the stem sometimes alternate); [tribe Heliantheae]. |
| ......4 Heads radiate, ray florets yellow; disc florets yellow; leaves strictly opposite or in part alternate. |
| ........5 Leaves obovate to oblanceolate, unlobed; leaves strictly opposite; [of tidally inundated salt and brackish marshes of the outer Coastal Plain ]; [tribe Heliantheae; subtribe Ecliptinae] |
| ........5 Leaves rhombic or pentagonal, unlobed or more often 3-5-lobed; leaves in part alternate; [of disturbed, suburban areas of FL peninsula]; [tribe Heliantheae; subtribe Helianthinae] |
| ......4 Heads discoid or disciform, ray florets lacking; disc florets pink, purple, or whitish; leaves opposite, but usually at least in part alternate higher on the stem; [collectively of various habitats, Coastal Plain and inland]. |
| ..........6 Heads solitary, axillary in the axils of leaves or leafy bracts; heads nodding, the involucre 2-7 mm high; [collectively widespread in our area, of maritime and inland wetlands or moist disturbed areas]; [tribe Heliantheae; subtribe Ambrosiinae] |
| ..........6 Heads many, terminal on the branches of corymbiform arrays; heads erect, the involucre 4-12 mm high; [of Coastal Plain of FL, s. GA, s. AL, and c. MS, of dry, sandy scrub and pinelands, blackland prairies, or dry, disturbed areas]. |
| ............ 7 Leaves with punctate glands; pappus of 60-70 barbellate bristles, 8-12 mm long; [tribe Heliantheae; subtribe Eupatoriae] |
| ............ 7 Leaves lacking punctuate glands; pappus of 4-10 scales, 0.3-7 mm long; [tribe Heliantheae; subtribe Chaenactidinae] |