Part 6

One species in Michigan; leaves linear and basal; flower-stalk 5-15 cm. high; flower-heads whitish or lead-color =Pipewort, Eriocaulon articulatum.=

XYRIDACEAE, the Yellow-eyed Grass Family

Small herbs with basal leaves and erect flower-stalks bearing a head of perfect yellow flowers, in summer.

1a. Base of plant bulbous-thickened (3-6 dm. high) =Yellow-eyed Grass, Xyris flexuosa.=

1b. Base of plant not bulbous-thickened (1-3 dm. high) =Yellow-eyed Grass, Xyris montana.=

COMMELINACEAE, the Spiderwort Family

Leafy-stemmed herbs; flowers with 3 sepals, 3 petals, and 6 stamens, lasting but a single day; petals blue.

1a. Stamens 6; petals all equal (Spiderwort) --2.

1b. Perfect stamens 3, sterile stamens 3; two of the petals larger than the third (3-6 dm. high; summer) =Day-flower, Commelina virginica.=

2a. Sepals villous (3-10 dm. high; late spring) =Spiderwort, Tradescantia virginiana.=

2b. Sepals glabrous, or with a tuft of hairs at the apex (4-10 dm. high; late spring) =Spiderwort, Tradescantia reflexa.=

PONTEDERIACEAE, the Pickerel-weed Family

Aquatic herbs, with 6 rather conspicuous petals; flowers in summer.

1a. Flowers blue; leaves cordate-sagittate (3-10 dm. high) =Pickerel-weed, Pontederia cordata.=

1b. Flowers yellow; leaves linear (submerged) =Mud Plantain, Heteranthera dubia.=

JUNCACEAE, the Rush Family

Grass-like or rush-like plants, with inconspicuous greenish or brownish flowers, of 3 chaffy or scale-like sepals and as many similar petals.

1a. Leaf-sheaths closed; capsule 1-celled and 3-seeded; stem or leaves usually hairy at or near the base (1-4 dm. high). (Wood Rush) --2.

1b. Leaf-sheaths open; capsule many-seeded; plants never hairy --4.

2a. Flowers solitary at the ends of the branches of the umbel-like cluster (spring) =Wood Rush, Luzula saltuensis.=

2b. Flowers in spikes or dense clusters --3.

3a. Flower-cluster spike-like, nodding at the tip (summer) =Wood Rush, Luzula spicata.=

3b. Flower-cluster umbel-like (spring) =Wood Rush, Luzula campestris var. multiflora.=

4. The genus Juncus, or Rush, contains about 25 species in Michigan, blooming in summer or autumn. For their identification the Manuals should be consulted. One of the commonest species is Juncus effusus, growing in marshes, with erect leafless cylindrical stems, bearing a lateral cluster of flowers near the summit. Another common species is Juncus tenuis, with slender stems and linear leaves, growing in hard ground, especially in woodland paths.

LILIACEAE, the Lily Family

Herbs or twining shrubs, with generally conspicuous flowers; sepals and petals each 3, and usually colored alike, stamens 6, ovary 3-celled, superior. In one species the perianth is 4-parted and the stamens are 4.

1a. Flowers or flower-clusters lateral, axillary or apparently so --2.

1b. Flowers or flower-clusters scapose or terminal --12.

2a. Leaves minute and scale-like (7-15 dm. high; flowers greenish-yellow, June) =Asparagus, Asparagus officinalis.=

2b. Leaves broad and flat, not scale-like --3.

3a. Flowers numerous in rounded umbels; perianth-segments nearly separate; leaves long-petioled --4.

3b. Flowers in clusters of 1-8; leaves short-petioled, sessile, or clasping --8.

4a. Stems herbaceous (flowers greenish-yellow, ill-scented) (Carrion-flower) --5.

4b. Stems woody, thorny, climbing (flowers greenish-yellow, early summer) (Green Brier) --7.

5a. Stems climbing by tendrils --6.

5b. Stem not climbing; only the upper leaves, or none, with tendrils =Carrion-flower, Smilax ecirrhata.=

6a. Leaves smooth beneath. =Carrion-flower, Smilax herbacea.=

6b. Leaves minutely pubescent beneath when mature =Carrion-flower, Smilax herbacea var. pulverulenta.=

7a. Leaves with 5 principal veins. =Green Brier, Smilax rotundifolia.=

7b. Leaves with 7 principal veins. =Green Brier, Smilax hispida.=

8a. Perianth-segments united into a tube (flowers axillary, late spring) (Solomon's Seal) --9.

8b. Perianth-segments separate (2-8 dm. high; spring) (Twisted-stalk) --10.

9a. Leaves minutely pubescent beneath; filaments rough, inserted at three-fourths the length of the perianth (3-8 dm. high) =Small Solomon's Seal, Polygonatum biflorum.=

9b. Leaves smooth beneath; filaments smooth, inserted at the middle of the perianth tube (5-15 dm. high) =Great Solomon's Seal, Polygonatum commutatum.=

10a. Leaves distinctly clasping the stem; flowers greenish-white =Twisted-stalk, Streptopus amplexifolius.=

10b. Leaves closely sessile; flowers reddish to purple --11.

11a. Rootstock short and thick; berries spherical =Twisted-stalk, Streptopus roseus.=

11b. Rootstock long and slender; berries 3-angled =Twisted-stalk, Streptopus longipes.=

12a. Perianth-segments 5-12 cm. long --13.

12b. Perianth-segments shorter than 5 cm. --19.

13a. Leaves all or chiefly basal, stem-leaves bract-like or none --14.

13b. Leaves chiefly or entirely on the stem --15.

14a. Leaves numerous, linear or sword-shape (flowers orange, summer) =Day Lily, Hemerocallis fulva.=

14b. Leaves a single pair, oblong or lanceolate --21.

15a. Leaves a single whorl of 3 (Wake Robin, Trillium) --22.

15b. Leaves numerous (6-12 dm. high; flowers yellow, orange, or red, in summer) (Lily) --16.

16a. Flowers erect --17.

16b. Flowers nodding --18.

17a. Leaves narrowly lanceolate, 6-15 mm. wide, mostly whorled =Wood Lily, Lilium philadelphicum.=

17b. Leaves linear, 5 mm. wide or less, almost all alternate =Wood Lily, Lilium philadelphicum var. andinum.=

18a. Perianth-segments strongly revolute =Turk's-cap Lily, Lilium superbum.=

18b. Perianth-segments half-recurved =Yellow Lily, Lilium canadense.=

19a. Flower solitary --20.

19b. Flowers in clusters, not solitary --31.

20a. Stem with a single pair of basal leaves (Dog's-tooth Violet) --21.

20b. Stem with a single whorl of 3 leaves (1-3 dm. high; spring) (Wake Robin, Trillium) --22.

20c. Stem leafy (Bellwort) --29.

21a. Perianth yellow =Dog's-tooth Violet, Erythronium americanum.=

21b. Perianth white, bluish, or pinkish =Dog's-tooth Violet, Erythronium albidum.=

22a. Flower sessile, red or brown --23.

22b. Flower peduncled, white or pink, rarely red --24.

23a. Leaves sessile, sepals spreading =Wake Robin, Trillium sessile.=

23b. Leaves short-petioled, sepals reflexed =Wake Robin, Trillium recurvatum.=

24a. Ovary with 6 distinct wing-like angles --25.

24b. Ovary obtusely 3-angled or lobed --28.

25a. Stamens distinctly longer than the pistil --26.

25b. Stamens equaling or shorter than the pistil --27.

26a. Stigmas erect or nearly so, slender =Wake Robin, Trillium grandiflorum.=

26b. Stigmas strongly recurved or spreading =Wake Robin, Trillium erectum.=

27a. Filaments about as long as the anthers =Wake Robin, Trillium cernuum.=

27b. Filaments half as long as the anthers or shorter =Wake Robin, Trillium declinatum.=

28a. Leaves obtuse; petals obtuse, white =Dwarf White Trillium, Trillium nivale.=

28b. Leaves acuminate; petals acute, purple-striped at base =Painted Trillium, Trillium undulatum.=

29a. Leaves sessile (3-6 dm. high; flowers yellow, spring) =Bellwort, Oakesia sessilifolia.=

29b. Leaves perfoliate (4-6 dm. high; flowers yellow, in spring) --30.

30a. Leaves minutely pubescent beneath =Bellwort, Uvularia grandiflora.=

30b. Leaves glabrous and all glaucous =Bellwort, Uvularia perfoliata.=

31a. Stem bearing 2 whorls of 3-9 leaves (3-6 dm. high; flowers pale yellow, early summer) =Indian Cucumber-root, Medeola virginiana.=

31b. Stem-leaves not whorled, or all leaves basal --32.

32a. Flowers in umbels --33.

32b. Flowers in racemes or panicles --38.

33a. Plant with the odor of onions or garlic (leaves all or chiefly basal; flower-stalks 2-8 dm. high, late spring or summer) --34.

33b. Plant not with the odor of onions (leaves basal; flower-stalks 2-3 dm. high, with an umbel of 3-6 greenish-yellow flowers in late spring) =Clintonia, Clintonia borealis.=

34a. Leaves oblong, 2-5 cm. wide, not present when the plants are in bloom (greenish-white flowers) =Wild Leek, Allium tricoccum.=

34b. Leaves linear, present with the flowers --35.

35a. Umbel nodding or horizontal (petals rose-color) =Wild Onion, Allium cernuum.=

35b. Umbel erect --36.

36a. Pedicels longer than the flowers --37.

36b. Pedicels equaling or shorter than the flowers (petals rose-purple) =Wild Chives, Allium schoenoprasum var. sibiricum.=

37a. Leaves flattened; flowers pink to white =Wild Onion, Allium canadense.=

37b. Leaves cylindrical; flowers greenish to purple =Field Garlic, Allium vineale.=

38a. Leaves lanceolate to ovate, not more than 8 times as long as broad --39.

38b. Leaves linear or grass-like, at least 12 times as long as broad --45.

39a. Principal leaves all basal, stem-leaves none or bract-like --40.

39b. Principal leaves on the stem --41.

40a. Flowers in a spike-like raceme (4-10 dm. high; small white flowers in summer) =Colic-root, Aletris farinosa.=

40b. Flowers in an umbel-like cluster --34b.

41a. Perianth-segments 4 (1-2 dm. high; flowers white, early summer) =Wild Lily of the Valley, Maianthemum canadense.=

41b. Perianth-segments 6 --42.

42a. Styles 3; flowers dioecious (3-10 dm. high; flowers white, early summer) =Blazing Star, Chamaelirium luteum.=

42b. Style 1; flowers perfect, white, in spring (False Solomon's Seal) --43.

43a. Flowers panicled (3-6 dm. high) =False Solomon's Seal, Smilacina racemosa.=

43b. Flowers racemed --44.

44a. Leaves 2-4, usually 3 (1-2 dm. high) =False Solomon's Seal, Smilacina trifolia.=

44b. Leaves 5-12 (2-5 dm. high) =False Solomon's Seal, Smilacina stellata.=

45a. Flowers bright blue; perianth-segments united (2-3 dm. high, spring) =Grape Hyacinth, Muscari botryoides.=

45b. Flowers blue, greenish, yellowish, or white; perianth-segments separate --46.

46a. Flowers 1 cm. wide, or smaller (white or greenish, in racemes, late spring or summer) (False Asphodel) --47.

46b. Flowers 1.5 cm. wide, or larger --48.

47a. Stem glabrous (2 dm. high or less) =False Asphodel, Tofieldia palustris.= =False Asphodel, Tofieldia glutinosa.=

47b. Stem viscid-pubescent (1-5 dm. high)

48a. Perianth-segments with 2 glands near the base (3-8 dm. high; greenish-white panicled flowers in summer) =Zygadenus, Zygadenus chloranthus.=

48b. Perianth-segments without glands --49.

49a. Plant 3-5 dm. tall; flowers blue or nearly white, in long racemes (early summer) =Wild Hyacinth, Camassia esculenta.=

49b. Plant 1-3 dm. tall; flowers greenish-white, in short corymb-like racemes (spring) =Star of Bethlehem, Ornithogalum umbellatum.=

DIOSCOREACEAE, the Yam Family

Twining herbs with net-veined leaves and greenish or white flowers in panicles or racemes.

One species in Michigan; leaves ovate-cordate; flowers in summer =Wild Yam, Dioscorea villosa.=

AMARYLLIDACEAE, the Amaryllis Family

Plants with linear basal leaves, and perfect flowers, with 6-parted perianth, inferior ovary, and 6 stamens.

One species in Michigan; 1-2 dm. high; flowers yellow, 1 cm. wide, in spring =Star Grass, Hypoxis hirsuta.=

IRIDACEAE, the Iris Family

Herbs, with 6-parted perianth, inferior ovary, and 3 stamens.

1a. Flowers blue, 5 cm. wide or larger --2.

1b. Flowers about 1 cm. wide (blue or white, from a spathe terminating a 2-edged stem 2-5 dm. high, spring and early summer) (Blue-eyed Grass) --3.

2a. Flowering stems 4-8 dm. high (early summer) =Blue Flag, Iris versicolor.=

2b. Flowering stems 2 dm. or less high (spring) =Dwarf Iris, Iris lacustris.=

3a. Spathes terminal, sessile --4.

3b. Spathes long-peduncled, axillary --8.

4a. Spathe single --5.

4b. Spathes 2 on each flowering stem --7.

5a. Pedicels much longer than the inner (shorter) bract =Blue-eyed Grass, Sisyrinchium mucronatum.=

5b. Pedicels equaling or barely exceeding the inner bract --6.

6a. Capsule brown; common species =Blue-eyed Grass, Sisyrinchium angustifolium.=

6b. Capsule green or yellowish; rare species =Blue-eyed Grass, Sisyrinchium montanum.=

7a. Leaves folded lengthwise; stems narrowly winged =Blue-eyed Grass, Sisyrinchium hastile.=

7b. Leaves flat; stem broadly winged, 2-3 mm. wide =Blue-eyed Grass, Sisyrinchium albidum.=

8a. Capsules pale straw-color or whitish --9.

8b. Capsules brown, or tinged with purple --10.

9a. Plant with straight fibrous bristles at base; pedicels long-exserted =Blue-eyed Grass, Sisyrinchium farwellii.=

9b. Plants not bristly at base; pedicels barely exserted =Blue-eyed Grass, Sisyrinchium strictum.=

10a. Pedicels scarcely exceeding the inner bract --6a.

10b. Pedicels much exceeding the inner bract --11.

11a. Stem 2-6 mm. wide; bracts 1.5-2 cm. long =Blue-eyed Grass, Sisyrinchium gramineum.=

11b. Stem 1-2 mm. wide; bracts 1-1.5 cm. long =Blue-eyed Grass, Sisyrinchium apiculatum.=

ORCHIDACEAE, the Orchis Family

Herbs, with irregular flowers, one petal, the lip, differing from the others in size and shape, inferior ovary, and one or two stamens adherent to the style.

1a. Flowers in a spike-like obviously twisted raceme; small, yellowish or greenish-white, in late summer and autumn (except 4a) (Ladies' Tresses) --2.

1b. Flowers solitary or in clusters, but never in a twisted raceme --5.

2a. Flowers in 1 row =Ladies' Tresses, Spiranthes gracilis.=

2b. Flowers in several rows --3.

3a. Lip constricted near the apex =Ladies' Tresses, Spiranthes romanzoftiana.=

3b. Lip not constricted --4.

4a. Lip yellow; flowers in spring and early summer =Ladies' Tresses, Spiranthes lucida.=

4b. Lip white =Ladies' Tresses, Spiranthes cernua.=

5a. Brown, purple, or yellow plants, without green color, with scale-like leaves (1-4 dm. high; summer) (Coral Root) --6.

5b. Plants with normal green color --9.

6a. Lip white, not spotted =Coral Root, Corallorrhiza trifida.=

6b. Lip white, spotted with red --7.

7a. Lip distinctly 3-lobed =Coral Root, Corallorrhiza maculata.=

7b. Lip entire, or barely toothed --8.

8a. Flower, exclusive of ovary, 4 mm. long =Coral Root, Corallorrhiza odontorhiza.=

8b. Flower about 10 mm. long. =Coral Root, Corallorrhiza striata.=

9a. Leaf 1 or none at flowering time --10.

9b. Leaves a single pair, basal, or opposite on the stem; never alternate on the stem --19.

9c. Leaves several, all basal, prominently net-veined, and frequently blotched with white (scape 1-4 dm. high; flowers whitish, pubescent, in summer) (Rattlesnake Plantain) --26.

9d. Leaves 2 or more, on the stem --28.

10a. Foliage leaf absent or undeveloped at flowering time, or merely persisting through the winter from the previous year --11.

10b. Foliage leaf present at flowering time --12.

11a. Flower rose-purple, 3-5 cm. long, solitary or two (1-3 dm. high, early summer) =Arethusa, Arethusa bulbosa.=

11b. Flowers purplish-green, in racemes, with a spur 2 cm. long =Crane-fly Orchis, Tipularia discolor.=

11c. Flowers yellowish, purple tinged, in racemes; spur none (3-4 dm. high, early summer). =Putty Root, Aplectrum hyemale.=

12a. Leaf linear or linear-lanceolate --13.

12b. Leaf of a broader shape --14.

13a. Flower solitary or two; leaf just below the flower --11a.

13b. Flowers in a loose raceme, sometimes only 2; leaf basal =Calopogon, Calopogon pulchellus.=

14a. Flowers greenish, yellowish, or white --15.

14b. Flowers pink to purple, often variegated --17.

15a. Flowers 6-10 mm. wide, with a spur about the same length (1-4 dm. high, summer) (Rein Orchis) --35.

15b. Flowers 5 mm. wide or less; spur none (1-2 dm. high; summer) (Adder's Mouth) --16.

16a. Pedicels less than 5 mm. long; lip broadest below the middle =Adder's Mouth, Microstylis monophyllos.=

16b. Pedicels more than 5 mm. long; lip broadest near the apex =Adder's Mouth, Microstylis unifolia.=

17a. Flowers spicate; lip distinctly 3-lobed (1-2 dm. high; early summer) --24.

17b. Flowers solitary or two --18.

18a. Leaf on the stem, lanceolate to ovate --34a.

18b. Leaf basal, round-ovate (2 dm. high or less; early summer) =Calypso, Calypso bulbosa.=

19a. Leaves opposite and sessile near the middle of the stem (1-3 dm. high; flowers in summer) (Tway-blade) --20.

19b. Leaves basal --21.

20a. Lip deeply 2-cleft (flowers purplish) =Tway-blade, Listera cordata.=

20b. Lip wedge-shape, with 2 round shallow lobes (flowers greenish-yellow) =Tway-blade, Listera convallarioides.=

21a. Lip an inflated sac about 4 cm. long --29d.

21b. Lip not sac-like --22.

22a. Flower with a spur 15-50 mm. long --23.

22b. Flower not spurred (1-2 dm. high; early summer) (Tway-blade) --25.

23a. Flowers purple or magenta, or with white markings --24.

23b. Flowers greenish, yellowish, or white (1-4 dm. high; summer) (Rein Orchis) --36.

24a. Leaf 1 (1-2 dm. high; early summer) =Round-leaved Orchis, Orchis rotundifolia.=

24b. Leaves 2 (-20 cm. high; late spring) =Showy Orchis, Orchis spectabilis.=

25a. Lip about 10 mm. long, purple =Tway-blade, Liparis liliifolia.=

25b. Lip about 5 mm. long, yellowish-green =Tway-blade, Liparis loeselii.=

26a. Perianth 8-10 mm. long; lip with elongated point =Rattlesnake Plantain, Epipactis decipiens.=

26b. Perianth 4-6 mm. long; lip sack-like --27.

27a. Raceme loosely flowered, one-sided =Rattlesnake Plantain, Epipactis repens var. ophioides.=

27b. Raceme closely flowered, not one-sided =Rattlesnake Plantain, Epipactis pubescens.=

28a. Lip conspicuously sack-like, inflated (late spring and early summer) (Lady's Slipper) --29.

28b. Lip not sack-like nor inflated --32.

29a. Lip white (1-3 dm. high) =White Lady's Slipper, Cypripedium candidum.=

29b. Lip yellow (2-7 dm. high) --30.

29c. Lip white, with crimson or purple markings --31.

29d. Lip pink (1-4 dm. high, late spring) =Stemless Lady's Slipper, Cypripedium acaule.=

30a. Lip 2-3 cm. long. =Small Yellow Lady's Slipper, Cypripedium parviflorum.=

30b. Lip 3.5-5 cm. long =Large Yellow Lady's Slipper, Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens.=

31a. Lip 2 cm. long or less; sepals separate (1.5-3 dm. high) =Ram's Head Lady's Slipper, Cypripedium arietinum.=

31b. Lip 3 cm. long or more; the 2 lower sepals united =Showy Lady's Slipper, Cypripedium hirsutum.=

32a. Flowers solitary in the axils, or solitary and terminal; not spurred --33.

32b. Flowers in terminal racemes, spurred --38.

33a. Leaves a whorl of 5 (2-3 dm. high; petals greenish; late summer) =Whorled Pogonia, Pogonia verticillata.=

33b. Leaves alternate --34.

34a. Leaves lanceolate or narrowly ovate, 2-8 cm. long, narrowed at base; flower terminal (1-4 dm. high; flowers pink purple, early summer) =Snake Mouth, Pogonia ophioglossoides.=

34b. Leaves ovate, 1-2 cm. long, clasping; flowers axillary (5-20 cm. high; flowers purple, summer) =Nodding Pogonia, Pogonia trianthophora.=

35a. Leaf basal; spur nearly straight =Rein Orchis, Habenaria obtusata.=

35b. Leaf on the stem; spur strongly curved =Rein Orchis, Habenaria clavellata.=

36a. Flower-stalk without bracts below the raceme; flowers yellowish-green =Rein Orchis, Habenaria hookeri.=

36b. Flower-stalk bearing bracts below the raceme; flowers greenish-white --37.

37a. Spur 15-25 mm. long =Rein Orchis, Habenaria orbiculata.=

37b. Spur 30-50 mm. long =Rein Orchis, Habenaria macrophylla.=

38a. Lip fringed (Fringed Orchis) --43.

38b. Lip not fringed (Rein Orchis) --39.

39a. Lip with 2-3 evident teeth at apex --40.

39b. Lip without apical teeth --41.

40a. Stem-leaves 3 or more =Rein Orchis, Habenaria bracteata.=

40b. Stem-leaves 2 --35b.

41a. Flowers white =Rein Orchis, Habenaria dilatata.=

41b. Flowers greenish-yellow --42.

42a. Lip lanceolate, tapering toward the apex =Rein Orchis, Habenaria hyperborea.=

42b. Lip oblong, truncate at the apex =Rein Orchis, Habenaria flava.=

43a. Lip deeply 3-lobed, toothed or fringed --44.

43b. Lip not 3-lobed, but deeply fringed --46.

44a. Flowers purple =Purple Fringed Orchis, Habenaria psycodes.=

44b. Flowers white or nearly so --45.

45a. Spur 3 cm. long or more =Prairie Fringed Orchis, Habenaria leucophaea.=

45b. Spur 1-1.5 cm. long =Ragged Fringed Orchis, Habenaria lacera.=

46a. Flowers yellow =Yellow Fringed Orchis, Habenaria ciliaris.=

46b. Flowers white =White Fringed Orchis, Habenaria blephariglottis.=

PIPERACEAE, the Pepper Family

Herbaceous plants with alternate leaves, and flowers without either calyx or corolla.

One species in Michigan, a marsh plant with heart-shape leaves and slender racemes of white flowers =Lizard's Tail, Saururus cernuus.=