The Plants of Michigan Simple Keys for the Identification of the Native Seed Plants of the State
Part 18
160a. Stem and lower side of leaves covered with short hairs; common species =Goldenrod, Solidago altissima.=
160b. Stem and lower side of leaves with distinct, loose, soft hairs (shore of Lake Superior) =Goldenrod, Solidago altissima var. procera.=
161a. Involucre 2-2.7 mm. long (5-20 dm. high) --158a.
161b. Involucre 3-6 mm. long --162.
162a. Racemes or branches of the panicle either short and arranged along a more or less elongated axis, or elongated and ascending, scarcely recurved, forming a narrow more or less elongated panicle (5-10 dm. high) =Goldenrod, Solidago speciosa var. angustata.=
162b. Racemes or branches of the panicle usually elongated, spreading outward, usually recurved, forming a widened panicle; leaves distinctly serrate --163.
163a. Leaves pinnately veined (5-12 dm. high) =Goldenrod, Solidago ulmifolia.=
163b. Leaves 3-5-ribbed (5-20 dm. high) --164.
164a. Leaves glabrous on both sides =Goldenrod, Solidago serotina.=
164b. Leaves slightly pubescent beneath =Goldenrod, Solidago serotina var. gigantea.=
165a. Ray-flowers pistillate (the 2-lobed style protrudes from their base) --166.
165b. Ray-flowers with neither stamens nor pistil --174.
166a. Principal leaves more than 2 dm. long (1-3 m. high; summer) --167.
166b. Principal leaves less than 1.5 dm. long --168.
167a. Leaves deeply lobed =Compass Plant, Silphium laciniatum.=
167b. Leaves toothed or serrate =Elecampane, Inula helenium.=
168a. Leaves narrowly linear (3-6 dm. high; late summer) =Sneezeweed, Helenium tenuifolium.=
168b. Leaves of a broader shape --169.
169a. Heads 1-2 cm. wide; flowers in spring and early summer (2-8 dm. high) (Ragwort) --170.
169b. Heads 2-5 cm. wide; flowers in late summer and autumn --173.
170a. Basal leaves cordate at base =Ragwort, Senecio aureus.=
170b. Basal leaves narrowed to the base --171.
171a. Basal leaves obovate =Ragwort, Senecio obovatus.=
171b. Basal leaves oblong =Ragwort, Senecio balsamitae.=
172a. Introduced annual in waste places (1-4 dm. high; spring and summer) =Groundsel, Senecio vulgaris.=
172b. Native biennial in moist ground (3-8 dm. high; summer) =Squaw Weed, Senecio discoideus.=
173a. Leaves 2-5 cm. long, sharply spinulose-serrate; involucre viscid (3-6 dm. high; summer) =Gum Plant, Grindelia squarrosa.=
173b. Leaves 5-12 cm. long, merely serrate; involucre gray-pubescent (5-15 dm. high; late summer) =Sneeze Weed, Helenium autumnale.=
174a. Disk hemispherical or oblong-cylindrical (Summer) --175.
174b. Disk flat or somewhat convex (Sunflower) (summer and autumn) --179.
175a. Disk yellow or greenish-yellow (1-3 dm. high) --176.
175b. Disk gray-brown or purple (5-15 dm. high) --177.
176a. Principal stem-leaves pinnately divided =Golden Glow, Rudbeckia laciniata.=
176b. Principal stem-leaves merely serrate =Yellow Ironweed, Actinomeris alternifolia.=
177a. Rays drooping; leaves pinnately divided =Gray-headed Coneflower, Lepachys pinnata.=
177b. Rays spreading when in bloom --178.
178a. Lower leaves deeply 3-lobed =Coneflower, Rudbeckia triloba.=
178b. Stem-leaves sharply serrate =Coneflower, Rudbeckia speciosa var. sullivantii.=
178c. Stem-leaves entire or sparingly serrate =Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta.=
179a. Disk-flowers brown or purple --180.
179b. Disk-flowers yellow --182.
180a. Stem-leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate; petioles prominent, not winged --181.
180b. Stem-leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate, contracted at the base into a winged petiole (6-15 dm. high) =Sunflower, Helianthus atrorubens.=
180c. Stem-leaves oblong-lanceolate, very thick and rigid, gradually narrowed to a sessile or short-petioled base (5-20 dm. high) =Sunflower, Helianthus scaberrimus.=
181a. Disk less than 2 cm. wide (3-10 dm. high) =Sunflower, Helianthus petiolaris.=
181b. Disk more than 2.5 cm. wide (1-3 m. high) =Sunflower, Helianthus annuus.=
182a. Leaves all or chiefly at the base (5-10 dm. high) =Sunflower, Helianthus occidentalis.=
182b. Leaves chiefly scattered on the stem --183. 183a. Leaves mainly or all alternate, and not definitely 3-ribbed (1-4 m. high) --184.
183b. Leaves mainly or all opposite, lanceolate to ovate, and 3-ribbed --186.
184a. Stem glabrous =Sunflower, Helianthus grosse-serratus.=
184b. Stem hairy or rough --185.
185a. Leaves hairy beneath, rough above, lanceolate =Sunflower, Helianthus giganteus.=
185b. Leaves rough on both sides, elongated =Sunflower, Helianthus maximiliani.=
186a. Leaves sessile (5-15 dm. high) --187.
186b. Leaves petioled, or narrowed at the base into a petiole (5-30 dm. high) --189.
187a. Leaves wedge-shape at the base =Sunflower, Helianthus doronicoides.=
187b. Leaves rounded at the base --188.
188a. Stem glabrous or nearly so =Sunflower, Helianthus divaricatus.=
188b. Stem densely and softly hirsute =Sunflower, Helianthus mollis.=
189a. Stems rough, pubescent, or hispid --190.
189b. Stems glabrous or nearly so --193.
190a. Leaves narrowly lanceolate, more than 5 times as long as wide =Sunflower, Helianthus giganteus var. subtuberosus.=
190b. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, not more than 4 times as long as wide --191.
191a. Leaves rounded at base, above the petiole =Sunflower, Helianthus hirsutus.=
191b. Leaves narrowed to the base --192.
192a. Bracts of the involucre spreading =Jerusalem Artichoke, Helianthus tuberosus.=
192b. Bracts all appressed =Sunflower, Helianthus laetiflorus.=
193a. Heads 3 cm. wide or less, including the rays =Sunflower, Helianthus microcephalus.=
193b. Heads 4 cm. wide or more, including the rays --194.
194a. Leaves narrowed at the base into a winged petiole --195.
194b. Petiole slender, not winged =Sunflower, Helianthus decapetalus.=
195a. Leaves green on both sides; bracts longer than the disk =Sunflower, Helianthus tracheliifolius.=
195b. Leaves paler below than above; bracts not longer than the disk --196.
196a. Leaves minutely pubescent beneath =Sunflower, Helianthus strumosus.=
196b. Leaves conspicuously downy beneath =Sunflower, Helianthus strumosus var. mollis.=
197a. Leaves all basal, the flowers on scaly stalks (2-8 dm. high; flowers whitish, in spring) =Coltsfoot, Petasites palmata.=
197b. Stem-leaves present, opposite --198.
197c. Stem-leaves present, alternate --200.
198a. Leaves ovate, dentate, 2-6 cm. long (2-8 dm. high; summer) (Galinsoga) --199.
198b. Leaves lobed, 10-25 cm. long --113b.
199a. Pubescence sparse, appressed =Galinsoga, Galinsoga parviflora.=
199b. Pubescence abundant, spreading =Galinsoga, Galinsoga parviflora var. hispida.=
200a. Leaves dissected or deeply lobed or pinnatifid; pappus never capillary; rays white to pink (3-10 dm. high; summer and autumn) --201.
200b. Leaves entire or serrate --206.
201a. Heads 4-8 mm. wide (Yarrow) --202.
201b. Heads 12-50 mm. wide --203.
202a. Flower-clusters flat-topped =Yarrow, Achillea millefolium.=
202b. Flower-clusters very convex =Yarrow, Achillea lanulosa.=
203a. Principal leaves pinnatifid --213a.
203b. Principal leaves 1-3 times pinnately parted or dissected --204.
204a. Leaf-segments very narrowly linear; leaves 2-3-pinnate --205.
204b. Leaf-segments linear or lanceolate; heads 2.5-5 cm. wide =Camomile, Anthemis arvensis.=
204c. Leaf-segments ovate to ovate-oblong; heads 1-2 cm. wide =Feverfew, Chrysanthemum parthenium.=
205a. Foliage strongly scented =Dog Fennel, Anthemis cotula.=
205b. Foliage not ill-scented =Wild Camomile, Matricaria inodora.=
206a. Heads 3-6 mm. broad, including the rays (summer and autumn) --207.
206b. Heads 7 mm. broad or larger, including the rays --209.
207a. Rays purple (1-4 dm. high) =Horse Weed, Erigeron divaricatus.=
207b. Rays white --208.
208a. Leaves obovate to oblong (3-10 dm. high) --135a.
208b. Leaves linear or narrowly lanceolate (2-25 dm. high) =Horse Weed, Erigeron canadensis.=
209a. Pappus none, or minute and not of hairs (summer and autumn) --210.
209b. Pappus of hairs --214.
210a. Disk-flowers purple or brown (4-12 dm. high; rays pink) (Purple Coneflower) --211.
210b. Disk-flowers yellow or nearly white --212.
211a. Leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate, most of them serrate =Purple Coneflower, Brauneria purpurea.=
211b. Leaves narrowly lanceolate, gradually narrowed at the base, entire =Purple Coneflower, Brauneria pallida.=
212a. Rays broadly obovate; heads 1-2 cm. wide (3-6 dm. high) =Sneezewort, Achillea ptarmica.=
212b. Rays oblong or narrowly elliptical --213.
213a. Leaves serrate (3-10 dm. high) =Ox-eye Daisy, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum var. pinnatifidum.=
213b. Leaves entire (8-25 dm. high) =Boltonia, Boltonia asteroides.=
214a. Involucral bracts all the same length or nearly so and narrow, or with a few short outer ones; plants blooming in spring and summer, or a few plants persisting in bloom until autumn (Fleabane) --215.
214b. Involucral bracts unequal, the outer successively shorter (or rarely nearly equal), loosely or closely overlapping; plants 3-15 dm. high, blooming in late summer and autumn (Aster) --221.
215a. Rays short and inconspicuous, barely longer than the pappus (1-5 dm. high; summer) =Fleabane, Erigeron acris var. asteroides.=
215b. Rays conspicuous, spreading, 3 mm. long or more --216.
216a. Rare plants of the Northern Peninsula, with entire leaves and stems 1-5 dm. high, from a thick woody root (flowers white or purple, summer) --217.
216b. Common species, with erect stems from fibrous roots; leaves toothed (except in one species) --218.
217a. Heads 3-5 cm. wide; rays about 100 =Fleabane, Erigeron glabellus.=
217b. Heads 1-2 cm. wide; rays 20-30 =Fleabane, Erigeron hyssopifolius.=
218a. Stem unbranched, except for the peduncles; leaves chiefly basal; heads 1-9 (2-5 dm. high; flowers pale-purple, spring) =Fleabane, Erigeron pulchellus.=
218b. Stem branched; principal leaves on the stem; heads usually numerous (3-12 dm. high; spring and summer) --219.
219a. Stem-leaves linear, entire =Fleabane, Erigeron ramosus.=
219b. Stem-leaves ovate-lanceolate, the principal ones toothed --220.
220a. Rays 100 or more, light-purple or pink =Fleabane, Erigeron philadelphicus.=
220b. Rays much fewer, white =Fleabane, Erigeron annuus.=
221a. Basal leaves petioled and heart-shape at the base --222.
221b. Basal leaves not petioled; stem-leaves with heart-shape clasping bases --231.
221c. Basal and stem-leaves sessile or petioled, but never heart-shape or clasping --240.
222a. Rays white or violet --223.
222b. Rays blue --225.
223a. Plant glandular, especially on the pedicels and branches of the inflorescence =Aster, Aster macrophyllus.=
223b. Plant not glandular --224.
224a. Leaves rough above =Aster, Aster schreberi.=
224b. Leaves smooth above =Aster, Aster divaricatus.=
225a. Stem-leaves clasping the stem by a cordate base =Aster, Aster undulatus.=
225b. Stem-leaves not cordate-clasping --226.
226a. Leaves entire --227.
226b. Leaves serrate --228.
227a. Leaves glabrous above =Aster, Aster shortii.=
227b. Leaves rough above =Aster, Aster azureus.=
228a. Involucre 4-6 mm. long --229.
228b. Involucre 6-10 mm. long --230.
229a. Leaves rough; petioles mostly winged =Aster, Aster lowrieanus.=
229b. Leaves smooth; petioles slender, not winged =Aster, Aster cordifolius.=
230a. Heads few, seldom more than 10, in a loose spreading cluster =Aster, Aster lindleyanus.=
230b. Heads numerous, in a rather elongate crowded cluster =Aster, Aster sagittifolius.=
231a. Stem hirsute or rough-pubescent --232.
231b. Stem smooth, or essentially so --236.
232a. Leaves conspicuously serrate =Aster, Aster puniceus.=
232b. Leaves entire or nearly so --233.
233a. Leaves narrowed toward the base and barely clasping, linear or oblong-linear --234.
233b. Leaves ovate-oblong or lanceolate, with a broad conspicuously clasping base --235.
234a. Involucre pubescent but not glandular =Aster, Aster amethystinus.=
234b. Involucre glandular =Aster, Aster oblongifolius.=
235a. Involucre very glandular and viscid; rays very numerous, violet-purple; leaves lanceolate =Aster, Aster novae-angliae.=
235b. Involucre slightly glandular or not at all; rays 20-30, generally blue-purple; leaves ovate-oblong =Aster, Aster patens.=
236a. Leaves of a linear type --237.
236b. Leaves broader than linear, at least 1 cm. wide --238.
237a. Bracts narrow, approximately equal in length --253a.
237b. Bracts of several lengths, the outer successively shorter --256a.
238a. Leaves smooth above =Aster, Aster laevis.=
238b. Leaves rough above --239.
239a. Leaves contracted below the middle and then abruptly dilated to the clasping base =Aster, Aster prenanthoides.=
239b. Leaves gradually narrowed toward the base =Aster, Aster puniceus.=
240a. Rays conspicuous --241.
240b. Rays minute or wanting =Aster, Aster angustus.=
241a. Stems and leaves gray with a silky pubescence =Aster, Aster sericeus.=
241b. Stem and leaves green, not silky --242.
242a. Bracts glandular-viscid; rays violet =Aster, Aster oblongifolius.=
242b. Bracts bristly-ciliate --243.
242c. Bracts smooth or pubescent, not glandular or bristly-ciliate --244.
243a. Leaves crowded, rigid; rays white =Aster, Aster multiflorus.=
243b. Leaves not crowded and rigid; rays blue --234a.
244a. Bracts narrowed at the tip into thickened firm green awl-shape points --245.
244b. Bracts acute or obtuse at the flattened tip --247.
245a. Involucre 4-5 mm. long --246.
245b. Involucre 7-8 mm. high =Aster, Aster polyphyllus.=
246a. Stem smooth =Aster, Aster ericoides.=
246b. Stem hairy; leaves linear =Aster, Aster ericoides var. villosus.=
246c. Stem densely white-woolly =Aster, Aster ericoides var. platyphyllus.=
247a. Leaves at most 4.5 cm. long --248.
247b. Leaves larger, at least the principal ones --249.
248a. Stems in clusters; leaves rigid, linear, with 1 vein; flowers blue =Aster, Aster linariifolius.=
248b. Stem solitary; leaves not rigid; flowers rose-pink =Aster, Aster nemoralis.=
249a. Heads solitary at the end of minutely leafy branchlets; leaves linear =Aster, Aster dumosus.=
249b. Heads in flat-topped clusters; leaves lanceolate or broader --250.
249c. Heads in more or less one-sided racemes --251.
249d. Heads in panicles or irregular clusters --253.
250a. Leaves rigid, linear-lanceolate =Aster, Aster ptarmicoides.=
250b. Leaves not rigid, lanceolate =Aster, Aster umbellatus.=
251a. Leaves lanceolate, sharply serrate --252.
251b. Leaves linear or narrowly linear-lanceolate, only the larger ones with a few teeth near the middle =Aster, Aster vimineus.=
252a. Stem glabrous or somewhat pubescent =Aster, Aster lateriflorus.=
252b. Stem woolly with long hairs =Aster, Aster lateriflorus var. hirsuticaulis.=
253a. Bracts narrow, approximately equal in length =Aster, Aster longifolius.=
253b. Bracts of several lengths, the outer successively shorter --254.
254a. Heads 10-15 mm. wide, including the rays =Aster, Aster tradescanti.=
254b. Heads 15-25 mm. wide, including the rays --255.
255a. Bracts with conspicuous dilated or subrhombic tips =Aster, Aster salicifolius.=
255b. Bracts without conspicuous green tips --256.
256a. Rays purple or rose; bog plant with linear leaves =Aster, Aster junceus.=
256b. Rays white, or slightly tinged with blue; leaves oblong to narrowly lanceolate =Aster, Aster paniculatus.=
GLOSSARY
=Achene.= A small, dry, hard, seed-like fruit containing a single seed.
=Acuminate.= Taper-pointed.
=Acute.= Ending with an acute angle.
=Alternate.= Located singly on the stem, with other leaves above or below.
=Annual.= Living but a single season.
=Anther.= The (usually) enlarged end of a stamen, bearing the pollen.
=Ascending.= Rising or curving obliquely upward.
=Auricle.= An ear-shape appendage at the base of a leaf or other organ.
=Auricled, auriculate.= Furnished with auricles.
=Awl-shape.= Tapering to a slender stiff point.
=Awn.= An awl-shape or bristle-shape appendage.
=Axil.= The point on a stem just above the base of a leaf or branch.
=Axillary.= Arising from or produced in the axil.
=Basal.= Arising from or produced at the base.
=Beak.= Ending in a prominent slender point.
=Bract.= A small leaf near the base of a flower or flower-stalk, or in a flower-cluster.
=Bracteal.= An adjective derived from bract.
=Bipinnate.= A leaf with a pinnately branched axis, bearing leaflets on the sides of the branches.
=Calyx.= The outer portion of the flower, usually green in color. In some plants it is colored to resemble (or replace) the corolla, and in others may be minute or wanting.
=Capitate.= Shaped like a head; or arranged in a dense compact cluster.
=Capsule.= A dry fruit with usually several seeds, opening at maturity.
=Catkin.= A cylindrical or ovoid cluster of inconspicuous flowers, for example, the "pussy willow."
=Cells of ovary.= The cavity or cavities within an ovary, in which the seeds are produced.
=Ciliate.= Provided with hairs at the margin.
=Clasping.= With the base of a leaf or other organ wholly or partly surrounding the stem.
=Cleft.= Deeply divided toward the base or the mid-rib.
=Closed sheath.= A leaf-sheath in which the margins are united to form a tube.
=Composite.= A flower-cluster containing several or many small flowers, closely crowded together and provided with calyx-like bracts, so that the whole cluster resembles a single flower.
=Compound.= Composed of 2 or more similar parts united, as a compound ovary.
=Compound leaf.= A leaf with two or more separate leaflets on a single petiole.
=Connate.= Grown together.
=Cordate.= Heart-shape. A whole leaf-blade may be cordate, or the term may be applied to the base of a leaf only.
=Cordate-sagittate.= Intermediate in shape between cordate and sagittate.
=Corm.= An enlarged stem-base, of solid structure and usually underground.
=Corolla.= The portion of a flower next to the calyx (in ordinary cases). It is generally the most conspicuous part of the flower, but may be completely absent, or inconspicuous, or replaced by the calyx.
=Corymb.= A flat-topped or convex-topped flower-cluster.
=Creeping.= With stems prostrate on the ground and rooting at intervals.
=Crenate.= With round-pointed teeth at the margin.
=Crenulate.= Finely or minutely crenate.
=Cuspidate.= Ending with a short sharp stiff point.
=Deciduous.= Not persistent for a long time; not evergreen.
=Decompound.= Repeatedly branched with numerous leaflets.
=Decurrent.= Extending with wing-like expansions down the stem.
=Decumbent.= A stem prostrate at the base, but with the tip more or less ascending.
=Dehiscent.= Breaking open at maturity to discharge the contents.
=Deltoid.= Broadly triangular.
=Dioecious.= Bearing staminate and pistillate flowers upon separate plants.
=Dissected.= Finely divided into numerous small or narrow segments.
=Divided.= With deep segments or lobes.
=Elliptical.= Having the shape of an ellipse.
=Elliptical-lanceolate.= Intermediate in shape between elliptical and lanceolate.
=Entire.= With an unbroken margin, without teeth or lobes.
=Epiphyte.= A plant growing attached to the bark of another plant, and without connection with the soil.
=Erect.= Growing in nearly or quite a vertical position.
=Evenly pinnate.= A compound leaf terminating in a pair of leaflets.
=Filament.= The (usually) slender basal portion of a stamen, supporting the anther at its tip.
=Floweret.= A small flower.
=Gamopetalous.= Composed of united petals.
=Gamosepalous.= Composed of united sepals.
=Glabrous.= Smooth; without hairs.
=Glandular.= Bearing glands.
=Glaucous.= Covered with a thin bluish or whitish deposit, easily rubbed off.
=Glume.= A bract at the base of a spikelet of a grass.
=Half recurved.= Curved half-way backward.
=Hastate.= Shaped like an arrow-head, but with the basal lobes pointing outwards instead of backward.
=Head.= A dense cluster of flowers, about as broad as long.
=Hirsute.= With stiff coarse hairs.
=Imperfect.= Flowers which contain either pistil or stamens, not both.
=Incised.= With deep, sharp, irregular, divisions.
=Indehiscent.= Not breaking open at maturity to discharge the contents.
=Inflorescence.= A cluster of flowers.
=Internode.= A section of stem between two joints, or nodes.
=Involucre.= A collection of bracts at the base of a flower-cluster.
=Irregular.= Possessing similar parts of different size or form. An irregular flower is generally distinguished by petals of unequal size or shape.
=Laciniate.= Cut into narrow pointed lobes or divisions.
=Lanceolate.= Shaped like a lance-head, several times longer than wide, and broadest below the middle.
=Linear.= Long and narrow, but with about uniform width.