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Key to Lathyrus

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1 Leaflets > 2, generally 4-12; [native species of various habitats].
..2 Foliaceous stipules laterally symmetrical, with 2 approximately equal basal lobes; leaves somewhat fleshy; [plants of ocean beaches and dunes]
..2 Foliaceous stipules asymmetrical, oblique at the base, the basal lobe well-developed only on one side.
....3 Leaflets (8-) 10-14 per leaf, generally irregular arrayed; [plants of dry to mesic forests]
....3 Leaflets (4-) 6-10 per leaf, generally paired; [plants of various dry or wet habitats].
......4 Racemes with 5-15 (-20) flowers; corollas white to cream, 10-14 mm long
......4 Racemes with 2-6 (-9) flowers; flowers pink to purple, 15-28 mm long.
........5 Corollas 20-28 mm long; leaflets (4-) 6-10 per leaf; [Great Plainsian, east to c. OK]
........5 Corollas 15-20 mm long; leaflets (4-) 6 per leaf; [northern, south to NC, GA, AL, MO, NE]
1 Leaflets 0-2; [alien species, except L. pusillus].
..........6 Leaflets absent (but with foliaceous stipules)
..........6 Leaflets 2.
............ 7 Stems not winged or flanged; corollas 10-15 mm long; flowers 3-10 per inflorescence.
............ ..8 Corollas red-purple
............ 7 Stems winged; corollas 6-30 mm long; flowers 1-15 per inflorescence.
............ ....9 Stems with wings 0-1 (-2) mm wide; corolla 6-14 mm long; flowers 1-3 (-4) per raceme.
............ ......10 Legume (in fruit) and ovary (in flower) hirsute with swollen-based hairs; corolla 9-14 mm long
............ ......10 Legume (in fruit) and ovary (in flower) glabrous; corolla 6-9 mm long
............ ....9 Stems with wings 1-3 mm wide; corolla 13-30 mm long; flowers 2-12 per raceme.
............ ........11 Stems hirsute with swollen-based hairs; plant an annual; flowers 2-4 per raceme
............ ........11 Stems glabrate; plant a perennial; flowers (3-) 4-12 per raceme.
............ ..........12 Stipules 4-10 mm wide; leaflets 2-5× as long as wide
............ ..........12 Stipules 2-3 mm wide; leaflets 6-15× as long as wide