The Plants of Michigan Simple Keys for the Identification of the Native Seed Plants of the State

Part 18

Chapter 182,929 wordsPublic domain

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.