Chapter V: Part 5

Herbs, with opposite leaves with 3-5 principal veins; receptacle urn-shape, bearing 4 sepals and 4 petals at its edge; stamens 8; ovary 4-celled, superior.

One species in Michigan, 3-4 dm. high, with purple flowers in late summer =Meadow Beauty, Rhexia virginica.=

ONAGRACEAE, the Evening Primrose Family

Herbs with opposite or alternate simple leaves and regular flowers; sepals and petals each 4 (or 2 in one genus), stamens 8 (or 2 in one genus), attached to the summit or inside of a tubular receptacle; ovary 2-4-celled, inferior.

1a. Aquatic plant of shallow water or muddy ground, with prostrate stem (flowers minute, axillary; petals small or none, summer) =Water Purslane, Ludvigia palustris.=

1b. Land plants with erect or ascending stems --2.

2a. Petals minute, greenish (3-8 dm. high; late summer)
=False Loosestrife, Ludvigia polycarpa.=

2b. Petals yellow --3.

2c. Petals white, pink, purple, or red --9.

3a. Sepals borne at the summit of the ovary (5-10 dm. high; summer)
=False Loosestrife, Ludvigia alternifolia.=

3b. Sepals borne at the summit of the slender tubular receptacle, which
is prolonged beyond the ovary --4.

4a. Stamens all equal in length (Evening Primrose) --5.

4b. The alternate stamens longer (3-8 dm. high; summer) (Sundrops)
--8.

5a. Leaves deeply dentate or pinnatifid (2-5 dm. high; early summer)
=Evening Primrose, Oenothera laciniata.=

5b. Leaves entire or undulate or finely toothed (5-12 dm. high; summer)
--6.

6a. Hairs on the stem with broad reddish bases
=Evening Primrose, Oenothera muricata.=

6b. Hairs on the stem none, or without swollen bases --7.

7a. Stem and foliage glabrous, or with sparse spreading hairs
=Evening Primrose, Oenothera biennis.=

7b. Stem and foliage densely but closely appressed-pubescent
=Evening Primrose, Oenothera rhombipetala.=

8a. Petals 5-10 mm. long =Sundrops, Oenothera pumila.=

8b. Petals 14 mm. long or more =Sundrops, Oenothera fruticosa.=

9a. Petals 2, reverse heart-shape, stamens 2 (flowers small, white,
summer) (Enchanter's Nightshade) --10.

9b. Petals 4; stamens 4 or 8 --12.

10a. Leaves rounded at the base, denticulate (3-8 dm. high; fruit
prickly) =Enchanter's Nightshade, Circaea lutetiana.=

10b. Leaves cordate at the base --11.

11a. Fruit 2-celled, bristly (2-4 dm. high)
=Enchanter's Nightshade, Circaea intermedia.=

11b. Fruit 1-celled, with soft hairs (delicate plant 2 dm. high, or
less) =Enchanter's Nightshade, Circaea alpina.=

12a. Petals entire (summer) --13.

12b. Petals notched at the end (flowers white or pinkish, less than
1 cm. broad, in summer) (Willow Herb) --15.

13a. Flowers 2-3 cm. wide, purple (7-20 dm. high)
=Fireweed, Epilobium angustifolium.=

13b. Flowers about 1 cm. wide --14.

14a. Flowers red (2-5 dm. high) =Gaura, Gaura coccinea.=

14b. Flowers white, turning pink when old =Gaura, Gaura biennis.=

15a. Leaves entire, the margins usually somewhat revolute --16.

15b. Leaves toothed, flat (4-9 dm. high) --18.

16a. Plant densely pubescent with spreading hairs (3-8 dm. high)
=Willow Herb, Epilobium molle.=

16b. Plant pubescent with appressed or incurved hairs --17.

17a. Leaves linear, the margin revolute (3-5 dm. high)
=Willow Herb, Epilobium densum.=

17b. Leaves narrowly lanceolate, not revolute (2-4 dm. high)
=Willow Herb, Epilobium palustre.=

18a. Seeds tipped with a tuft of reddish-brown hairs
=Willow Herb, Epilobium coloratum.=

18b. Seeds tipped with a tuft of white hairs
=Willow Herb, Epilobium adenocaulon.=

HALORAGIDACEAE, the Water Milfoil Family

Aquatic or marsh herbs, with alternate, opposite, or whorled leaves, and small, inconspicuous terminal or axillary flowers, frequently without petals (summer).

1a. Leaves none, or else very small and inconspicuous
=Water Milfoil, Myriophyllum tenellum.=

1b. Leaves alternate (1-4 dm. high)
=Mermaid Weed, Proserpinaca palustris.=

1c. Leaves opposite or whorled --2.

2a. Leaves entire (2-4 dm. high) =Mare's-tail, Hippuris vulgaris.=

2b. Leaves toothed or dissected (Water Milfoil) --3.

3a. Flowers in the axils of foliage leaves --4.

3b. Flowers in terminal spikes, subtended by bracts --5.

4a. Flowers above water, subtended by toothed or entire leaves
=Water Milfoil, Myriophyllum heterophyllum.=

4b. Flowers submerged, subtended by dissected leaves
=Water Milfoil, Myriophyllum farwellii.=

5a. Flowers solitary or in pairs at each joint of the spike
=Water Milfoil, Myriophyllum alternifolium.=

5b. Flowers several at each joint of the spike --6.

6a. Bracts deeply pinnatifid
=Water Milfoil, Myriophyllum verticillatum var. pectinatum.=

6b. Bracts entire or toothed
=Water Milfoil, Myriophyllum spicatum.=

ARALIACEAE, the Sarsaparilla Family

Herbs or thorny shrubs, with alternate or whorled leaves, and small flowers in umbels; sepals 5, minute; petals and stamens each 5; ovary inferior, with 2-5 styles, ripening into a berry.

1a. Leaves simple, palmately lobed (thorny shrub; flowers
greenish-white, in panicles, in June)
=Devil's Club, Fatsia horrida.=

1b. Leaves once compounded, whorled (umbel one, terminal) --2.

1c. Leaves twice or thrice compounded (umbels several) --3.

2a. Leaflets sessile; flowers white, in spring (1-2 dm. high)
=Dwarf Ginseng, Panax trifolium.=

2b. Leaflets stalked; flowers greenish, in summer (2-5 dm. high)
=Ginseng, Panax quinquefolium.=

3a. Stem and petioles spiny or bristly (flowers white, summer) --4.

3b. Stem and petioles smooth or a little pubescent (flowers
greenish-white) --5.

4a. Shrubby, with stout thorns (1-3 m. high)
=Hercules' Club, Aralia spinosa.=

4b. Herbaceous, with slender bristles (4-10 dm. high)
=Bristly Sarsaparilla, Aralia hispida.=

5a. Stem-leaves present; leaflets cordate at the base (8-15 dm. high;
summer) =Spikenard, Aralia racemosa.=

5b. Leaf and flower-stalk arising from the ground; leaflets acute at the
base (2-4 dm. high; spring) =Wild Sarsaparilla, Aralia nudicaulis.=

UMBELLIFERAE, the Parsley Family

Herbs, with alternate, usually compound leaves, the petioles dilated at the base; flowers small, in umbels or heads; sepals 5, minute or even wanting; petals and stamens each 5; ovary inferior, with 2 styles, ripening into a dry fruit.

1a. Leaves simple (flowers in summer) --2.

1b. Leaves compound, or at least deeply cleft --4.

2a. Leaves linear, sword-shape (4-10 dm. tall; flowers
greenish-white) =Rattlesnake Master, Eryngium yuccifolium.=

2b. Leaves kidney-shape or almost circular (stems creeping, about
1 dm. high; flowers white) (Water Pennywort) --3.

3a. Leaves peltate, attached by the center
=Water Pennywort, Hydrocotyle umbellata.=

3b. Leaves not peltate, attached by the margin
=Water Pennywort, Hydrocotyle americana.=

4a. Flowers yellow or purple --5.

4b. Flowers white or greenish --13.

5a. Leaf-segments entire (4-8 dm. high) --6.

5b. Leaf-segments toothed or incised --7.

6a. Leaf-segments filiform (summer) =Fennel, Foeniculum vulgare.=

6b. Leaf-segments ovate to lanceolate
=Golden Alexander, Taenidia integerrima.=

7a. Leaves pinnately compound; some of the leaflets incised or
pinnatifid --8.

7b. Leaves ternately compound; the segments crenate or serrate --9.

7c. Leaves deeply palmately cleft or divided; flowers in head-like
umbels --18a.

8a. Leaf-segments obtuse, rounded, or cordate at the base (6-15 dm.
high; summer) =Wild Parsnip, Pastinaca sativa.=

8b. Leaf-segments narrowed to the base (4-8 dm. high; spring)
=Prairie Parsley, Polytaenia nuttallii.=

9a. Terminal leaflets conspicuously stalked, their total length,
including stalk, at least 50% greater than the length of the lateral
leaflets (Meadow Parsnip) --10.

9b. Terminal leaflets not conspicuously stalked, their total length,
including stalk, about equaling the lateral leaflets (4-8 dm. high;
late spring) (Golden Alexander) --12.

10a. Flowers purple (4-8 dm. high; early summer)
=Meadow Parsnip, Thaspium aureum var. atropurpureum.=

10b. Flowers yellow --11.

11a. Stem-leaves once-ternate; leaflets finely serrate (4-8 dm. high;
early summer) =Meadow Parsnip, Thaspium aureum.=

11b. Many stem-leaves 2-3-ternate; leaflets coarsely serrate or incised
(6-12 dm. high; early summer) =Meadow Parsnip, Thaspium barbinode.=

12a. Basal and lower stem-leaves 2-3-ternate
=Golden Alexander, Zizia aurea.=

12b. Basal leaves simple; stem-leaves once-ternate
=Golden Alexander, Zizia cordata.=

13a. Leaves once-pinnate (or the submerged leaves decompound, if
present) (summer) --14.

13b. Leaves ternately, palmately, or 2-3-pinnately compound --16.

14a. Leaflets mostly ovate or ovate-lanceolate, some of them
coarsely incised (3-9 dm. high)
=Water Parsnip, Berula erecta.=

14b. Leaflets linear to oblong, serrate to nearly entire, not
incised (6-15 dm. high) --15.

15a. Leaflets entire, or with a few low remote teeth
=Cowbane, Oxypolis rigidior.=

15b. Leaflets finely but sharply serrate
=Water Parsnip, Sium cicutaefolium.=

16a. Leaves principally basal, decompound; flowers in early spring
(1-2 dm. high) =Harbinger of Spring, Erigenia bulbosa.=

16b. Leaves principally on the stem --17.

17a. Leaves palmately or ternately once-compound --18.

17b. Leaves 2-3 times compound or decompound --24.

18a. Flowers short-pedicelled, crowded in head-like umbels,
greenish; ovary bristly (4-9 dm. high; early summer) (Black
Snakeroot) --19.

18b. Flowers in open umbels, white --22.

19a. Styles short, not projecting beyond the bristles of the mature
fruit --20.

19b. Styles long, projecting beyond the bristles of the fruit, and
recurved --21.

20a. Staminate flowers on pedicels 3-4 mm. long, equaling or barely
exceeding the fruit =Black Snakeroot, Sanicula trifoliata.=

20b. Staminate flowers short-pedicelled, concealed among the fruits
=Black Snakeroot, Sanicula canadensis.=

21a. Fruit short-stalked, 4 mm. long or less
=Black Snakeroot, Sanicula gregaria.=

21b. Fruit sessile, 6-7 mm. long
=Black Snakeroot, Sanicula marilandica.=

22a. Umbel unsymmetrical, its branches irregular in length; plant
slender (3-8 dm. tall; early summer)
=Honewort, Cryptotaenia canadensis.=

22b. Umbel symmetrical with regular branches; plants tall and stout
--23.

23a. Stem and leaves very pubescent (10-25 dm. high; summer)
=Cow Parsnip, Heracleum lanatum.=

23b. Stem and leaves glabrous or nearly so (5-15 dm. high; early summer)
=Masterwort, Imperatoria ostruthium.=

24a. Ovary and fruit bristly (4-10 dm. high) --25.

24b. Ovary and fruit smooth or winged, never bristly --27.

25a. Umbels loose, open, few-flowered; woodland plants blooming in
spring (Sweet Cicely) --26.

25b. Umbels densely flowered; weedy plants blooming from summer to fall
=Wild Carrot, Daucus carota.=

26a. Stem villous-pubescent =Sweet Cicely, Osmorhiza claytoni.=

26b. Stem glabrous except at the joints
=Sweet Cicely, Osmorhiza longistylis.=

27a. Leaflets merely serrate (flowers in summer) --28.

27b. Leaflets coarsely incised, so that the leaf appears dissected --30.

28a. Umbel densely pubescent (8-15 dm. high)
=Angelica, Angelica villosa.=

28b. Umbel smooth --29.

29a. Leaf-segments broadly ovate (8-15 dm. high)
=Angelica, Angelica atropurpurea.=

29b. Leaf-segments lanceolate (8-15 dm. high)
=Water Hemlock, Cicuta maculata.=

29c. Leaf-segments linear (4-10 dm. high)
=Water Hemlock, Cicuta bulbifera.=

30a. Principal branches of the umbel 2-5; fruit linear-oblong;
woodland plants blooming in spring (2-4 dm. high)
=Chervil, Chaerophyllum procumbens.=

30b. Principal branches of the umbel 7 or more; fruit ovate to
broadly elliptical (summer) --31.

31a. Native plants, growing in swamps (5-15 dm. high)
=Hemlock Parsley, Conioselinum chinense.=

31b. Introduced plants, in waste places and along roads --32.

32a. Stems conspicuously spotted with purple (5-15 dm. high)
=Poison Hemlock, Conium maculatum.=

32b. Stems not spotted with purple (2-5 dm. high)
=Caraway, Carum carvi.=

CORNACEAE, the Dogwood Family

Trees, shrubs, or herbs, with alternate leaves and small flowers in rather crowded rounded or flattened clusters; sepals 4, minute; petals and stamens each 4; ovary inferior, ripening into a berry. In one genus the flowers are minute and greenish, with 5 sepals and petals minute or none.

1a. Leaves alternate --2.

1b. Leaves opposite --3.

2a. Flowers white, conspicuous, in flattened clusters (shrubs 2-4
m. high; flowers in late spring)
=Dogwood, Cornus alternifolia.=

2b. Flowers greenish, inconspicuous, in small axillary clusters
(tree; flowers in spring) =Sour Gum, Nyssa sylvatica.=

3a. Flower clusters small and dense, surrounded by a showy involucre of
4 bracts, resembling a corolla of 4 petals --4.

3b. Flowers in open flattened clusters, without petal-like involucre
(shrubs 1-4 m. high; late spring) --5.

4a. Herbaceous, 3 dm. high or less (flowers in late spring)
=Dwarf Dogwood, Cornus canadensis.=

4b. Tall shrub or tree (flowers in late spring)
=Flowering Dogwood, Cornus florida.=

5a. Leaves distinctly pubescent beneath with woolly or spreading hairs
--6.

5b. Leaves smooth beneath, or pubescent with short appressed hairs --9.

6a. Leaves rough above; fruit white
=Dogwood, Cornus asperifolia.=

6b. Leaves smooth or finely soft-hairy above --7.

7a. Leaves at least twice as long as wide; branches brownish or purplish
--8.

7b. Leaves less than twice as long as wide; branches greenish; fruit
blue =Dogwood, Cornus circinata.=

8a. Branches purplish; fruit blue =Dogwood, Cornus amomum.=

8b. Branches brownish; fruit white =Dogwood, Cornus baileyi.=

9a. Branches bright red or reddish-purple
=Dogwood, Cornus stolonifera.=

9b. Branches grayish =Dogwood, Cornus paniculata.=

ERICACEAE, the Heath Family

Herbs or shrubs, frequently with evergreen leaves; sepals 4-5; corolla regular, with 4-5 petals; stamens as many or twice as many; ovary 3-10-celled, with 1 style.

1a. Plants without green color; leafless or with scale leaves only --2.

1b. Plants with green leaves --4.

2a. Flowers solitary (1-2 dm. high; summer)
=Indian Pipe, Monotropa uniflora.=

2b. Flowers in clusters --3.

3a. Petals united into a bell-shape corolla (3-9 dm. high; summer)
=Pine Drops, Pterospora andromedea.=

3b. Petals all separate (1-3 dm. high; summer)
=Beech Drops, Monotropa hypopitys.=

4a. Leaves all basal; herbaceous plants with terminal racemes (1-4
dm. high; summer) (Shin-leaf) --5.

4b. Stem-leaves present --12.

5a. Style straight --6.

5b. Style bent near the apex --8.

6a. Racemes one-sided, the flowers all turned in one direction
(flowers white or greenish-white) --7.

6b. Raceme regular, the flowers not all pointing in the same
direction (flowers white or pink) =Shin-leaf, Pyrola minor.=

7a. Flowers numerous in each raceme =Shin-leaf, Pyrola secunda.=

7b. Flowers only 3-7 in each raceme
=Shin-leaf, Pyrola seconda var. obtusata.=

8a. Flowers pink or purple --9.

8b. Flowers white or greenish --10.

9a. Leaves cordate at base =Shin-leaf, Pyrola asarifolia.=

9b. Leaves rounded at base, not cordate
=Shin-leaf, Pyrola asarifolia var. incarnata.=

10a. Leaves shining on the upper side; sepals one-third as long as
the petals =Shin-leaf, Pyrola americana.=

10b. Leaves dull on the upper side; sepals one-fourth as long as
the petals, or a little shorter --11.

11a. Leaf-blades mostly shorter than their petioles, thick and firm
=Shin-leaf, Pyrola chlorantha.=

11b. Leaf-blades thin, usually longer than their petioles
=Shin-leaf, Pyrola elliptica.=

12a. Petals nearly or quite separate from each other --13.

12b. Petals united into a gamopetalous corolla, the tube of which
is as long as or longer than the lobes --18.

13a. Leaves opposite or whorled; stems herbaceous or nearly so (summer)
--14.

13b. Leaves alternate; stems shrubby (early summer) --16.

14a. Flowers solitary; leaves broadly ovate to nearly circular
(1 dm. high; flower white)
=One-flowered Wintergreen, Moneses uniflora.=

14b. Flowers in clusters; leaves narrow (stems trailing, 1-3 dm.
high; flowers white or pinkish) --15.

15a. Leaves broadest above the middle, green
=Prince's Pine, Chimaphila umbellata.=

15b. Leaves broadest below the middle, spotted with white
=Spotted Wintergreen, Chimaphila maculata.=

16a. Leaves 2-5 cm. long, densely woolly beneath (5-10 dm. high;
flowers white) =Labrador Tea, Ledum groenlandicum.=

16b. Leaves 1-2 cm. long, pale beneath but not wholly (creeping;
flowers pink) (Cranberry) --17.

17a. Leaves acute =Cranberry, Vaccinium oxycoccos.=

17b. Leaves obtuse =Cranberry, Vaccinium macrocarpon.=

18a. Leaves opposite or whorled; corolla saucer-shape (shrubs 3-8
dm. high; flowers purple, summer) --19.

18b. Leaves alternate; corolla bell-shape or salver-form --20.

19a. Branches and twigs cylindrical, not angled
=Sheep Laurel, Kalmia angustifolia.=

19b. Branches and twigs with 2 sharp angles
=Swamp Laurel, Kalmia polifolia.=

20a. Plants prostrate, or with a few ascending branches only
(flowers white or pink) --21.

20b. Plants erect or ascending --23.

21a. Flowers 10-20 mm. long, very fragrant (early spring)
=Trailing Arbutus, Epigaea repens.=

21b. Flowers 4-5 mm. long (late spring) --22.

22a. Leaves spatulate, broadest beyond the middle
=Bearberry, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi.=

22b. Leaves oval, broadest at the middle
=Snowberry, Chiogenes hispidula.=

23a. Leaves linear, white beneath, their margins strongly revolute
(shrub 3-8 dm. high; flowers white, late spring)
=Bog Rosemary, Andromeda glaucophylla.=

23b. Leaves oblong, scurfy beneath with rusty scales (bog shrub 4-10 dm.
high; flowers white, in spring)
=Leatherleaf, Chamaedaphne calyculata.=

23c. Leaves smooth, pubescent, or resinous beneath, but not scurfy nor
white --24.

24a. Low shrubs 10-15 cm. high, erect from a creeping rootstock;
leaves with the taste of wintergreen (flowers white or pink,
summer) =Wintergreen, Gaultheria procumbens.=

24b. Bushy shrubs 3-8 dm. high; leaves dotted beneath with
yellowish resinous dots; ovary 10-celled (flowers
greenish-pink, spring) =Huckleberry, Gaylussacia baccata.=

24c. Shrubs 1 dm. to 3 m. high; leaves not resinous-dotted beneath;
ovary 5-celled (flowers white or greenish-pink, spring or
early summer) --25.

25a. Corolla bell-shape, the stamens projecting beyond it (5-15 dm.
high) =Deerberry, Vaccinium stamineum.=

25b. Corolla cylindrical or urn-shape, the stamens not projecting --26.

26a. Filaments hairy (Blueberry) --27.

26b. Filaments glabrous (Bilberry) --32.

27a. Low bushy shrubs, usually less than 5 dm. and never more than 1 m.
high --28.

27b. Tall erect shrubs, 1-4 m. high --31.

28a. Foliage pubescent =Blueberry, Vaccinium canadense.=

28b. Foliage glabrous --29.

29a. Leaves pale-green and glaucous, entire or nearly so
=Blueberry, Vaccinium vacillans.=

29b. Leaves bright-green, distinctly serrulate --30.

30a. Fruit blue =Blueberry, Vaccinium pennsylvanicum.=

30b. Fruit black
=Blueberry, Vaccinium pennsylvanicum var. nigrum.=

31a. Leaves downy beneath; fruit black
=Blueberry, Vaccinium atrococcum.=

31b. Leaves smooth or minutely pubescent beneath; fruit blue
=Blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum.=

32a. Full-grown leaves less than 2.5 cm. long; low much-branched
shrubs, mostly less than 5 dm. high --33.

32b. Full-grown leaves more than 2.5 cm. long; shrubs usually a
meter high or more --34.

33a. Leaves entire; petals usually 4.
=Bilberry, Vaccinium uliginosum.=

33b. Leaves finely serrulate; petals 5
=Bilberry, Vaccinium caespitosum.=

34a. Leaves serrulate, green beneath, acute; corolla globular
=Bilberry, Vaccinium membranaceum.=

34b. Leaves entire, pale beneath, obtuse; corolla ovoid
=Bilberry, Vaccinium ovalifolium.=

PRIMULACEAE, the Primrose Family

Herbs, with alternate or opposite simple leaves and regular flowers; petals more or less united; stamens attached one in front of each petal; ovary 1-celled with 1 style.

1a. Leaves all basal; flowers on leafless stalks --2.

1b. Stem-leaves present --5.

2a. Flowers nodding, the petals reflexed (3-6 dm. high; flowers
showy, white or pink, in spring)
=Shooting Star, Dodecatheon meadia.=

2b. Flowers erect or spreading; petals not reflexed --3.

3a. Corolla not longer than the calyx; flowers small and inconspicuous
(1 dm. high; flowers white or pink, spring)
=Androsace, Androsace occidentalis.=

3b. Corolla conspicuous, much longer than the calyx (flowers pink or purple, summer) (Primrose) --4.

4a. Leaves white-mealy beneath (1-4 dm. high)
=Primrose, Primula farinosa.=

4b. Leaves green beneath (2 dm. high or less)
=Primrose, Primula mistassinica.=

5a. All the stem-leaves in one whorl just below the flower-cluster --6.

5b. Stem-leaves several or many, scattered over the stem --7.

6a. Stem-leaves about 1 cm. long --3a.

6b. Stem-leaves 5-10 cm. long =Star Flower, Trientalis americana.=

7a. Flowers red, blue, or white (summer) --8.

7b. Flowers yellow (summer) --9.

8a. Leaves opposite; flowers axillary (stems spreading, 1-4 dm.
long; flowers blue or red) =Pimpernel, Anagallis arvensis.=

8b. Leaves alternate; flowers racemose (1-4 dm. high; flowers
minute, white) =Water Pimpernel, Samolus floribundus.=

9a. Stem creeping =Moneywort, Lysimachia nummularia.=

9b. Stem erect (Loosestrife) --10.

10a. Flowers in dense spike-like racemes (3-8 dm. high)
=Loosestrife, Lysimachia thyrsiflora.=

10b. Flowers axillary or racemose (3-9 dm. high) --11.

11a. Corolla dotted or streaked with purple or brown; leaves punctate
with dark spots --12.

11b. Corolla plain yellow; leaves not dark-dotted --14.

12a. Flowers in racemes --13.

12b. Flowers all axillary =Loosestrife, Lysimachia quadrifolia.=

13a. Flowers all in racemes; leaves opposite or some of them alternate
=Loosestrife, Lysimachia terrestris.=

13b. The lowest flowers axillary; leaves opposite or whorled
=Loosestrife, Lysimachia producta.=

14a. Leaves ovate, on slender ciliate petioles
=Loosestrife, Steironema ciliatum.=

14b. Leaves lanceolate, sessile or short-petioled, pinnately veined
=Loosestrife, Steironema lanceolatum.=

14c. Leaves linear, with one mid-vein
=Loosestrife, Steironema quadriflorum.=

OLEACEAE, the Olive Family

Trees or shrubs, with opposite leaves and regular flowers; sepals 4, or calyx none; petals 4, united, or none; stamens usually 2; ovary 2-celled, superior.

1a. Leaves simple (shrub 2-5 m. high; flowers blue or white, in showy
clusters in spring) =Lilac, Syringa vulgaris.=

1b. Leaves compound (trees; flowers greenish, inconspicuous, in spring)
(Ash) --2.

2a. Lateral leaflets sessile =Black Ash, Fraxinus nigra.=

2b. Lateral leaflets stalked --3.

3a. Twigs sharply 4-angled =Blue Ash, Fraxinus quadrangulata.=

3b. Twigs not distinctly angled --4.

4a. Leaves pubescent beneath =Red Ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica.=

4b. Leaves glabrous beneath --5.

5a. Leaves pale-green beneath, obscurely serrulate
=White Ash, Fraxinus americana.=

5b. Leaves bright-green beneath, sharply serrulate
=Green Ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica var. lanceolata.=

GENTIANACEAE, the Gentian Family

Herbs, with opposite or basal, entire, usually simple leaves and regular flowers; sepals, petals, and stamens equal in number, 4-12; ovary superior, 1-celled.

1a. Leaves reduced to small scales (1-4 dm. high; flowers small,
greenish-yellow, in summer) =Bartonia, Bartonia virginica.=

1b. Leaves rounded, floating (flowers white, summer)
=Floating Heart, Nymphoides lacunosum.=

1c. Leaves compound (2-4 dm. high; flowers white or bluish, early
summer) =Buckbean, Menyanthes trifoliata.=

1d. Leaves simple, whorled (1-2 m. high; flowers yellowish-white,
summer) =American Columbo, Frasera caroliniensis.=

1e. Leaves simple, opposite --2.

2a. Corolla rotate, with spreading lobes, 2-4 cm. broad, pink (5-8 dm.
high; summer) =Rose Pink, Sabbatia angularis.=

2b. Corolla bell-shape, each petal with a spur at the base,
purplish or white, and not over 1 cm. long (1-4 dm. high;
summer) =Spurred Gentian, Halenia deflexa.=

2c. Corolla bell-shape, tubular, funnel-form, or salver-form, not
spurred --3.

3a. Corolla-lobes fringed (flowers bright-blue) (Fringed Gentian) --4.

3b. Corolla-lobes entire --5.

4a. Leaves lanceolate (2-8 dm. high; autumn)
=Fringed Gentian, Gentiana crinita.=

4b. Leaves linear (1-4 dm. high; late summer)
=Fringed Gentian, Gentiana procera.=

5a. Corolla 2 cm. long or a little less --6.

5b. Corolla 2.5-5 cm. long (late summer and autumn) (Gentian) --7.

6a. Upper leaves linear or narrowly lanceolate (2-4 dm. high;
flowers pink-purple, late summer)
=Centaury, Centaurium umbellatum.=

6b. Upper leaves ovate, with several principal veins (1-5 dm. high;
flowers blue, late summer and autumn)
=Gentian, Gentiana quinquefolia.=

7a. Calyx-lobes rough or ciliate at the margin (flowers blue, or rarely
white) --8.

7b. Calyx-lobes smooth (2-8 dm. high) --10.

8a. Corolla-lobes spreading; leaves narrowly lanceolate,
indistinctly veined (2-5 dm. high)
=Gentian, Gentiana puberula.=

8b. Corolla-lobes erect or incurved; leaves ovate to
ovate-lanceolate, with 3-7 principal veins (3-6 dm. high) --9.

9a. Calyx-lobes equaling or exceeding the calyx-tube
=Gentian, Gentiana saponaria.=

9b. Calyx-lobes shorter than the calyx-tube
=Gentian, Gentiana andrewsii.=

10a. Leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate, somewhat cordate at base
(flowers greenish-white or yellowish-white)
=Gentian, Gentiana flavida.=

10b. Leaves narrowly lanceolate or nearly linear, not cordate
(flowers blue) =Gentian, Gentiana linearis.=

APOCYNACEAE, the Dogbane Family

Herbs, with opposite simple entire leaves and regular flowers; sepals, petals, and stamens each 5; petals united; stamens attached to the corolla; ovaries 2, with a single style or stigma.

1a. Plant creeping or trailing; flowers blue, axillary, 2-3 cm. broad
(spring) =Periwinkle, Vinca minor.=

1b. Plant erect or essentially so; flowers 1 cm. broad or less (4-12 dm.
high) --2.

2a. Corolla pinkish, about 8 mm. long by 6-8 mm. broad (early
summer) =Dogbane, Apocynum androsaemifolium.=

2b. Corolla white or greenish, about 6 mm. long by 4 mm. broad
(summer) --3.

3a. Leaves petioled, acute at the base
=Indian Hemp, Apocynum cannabinum.=

3b. Leaves sessile, rounded or truncate at the base
=Indian Hemp, Apocynum cannabinum var. hypericifolium.=

ASCLEPIADACEAE, the Milkweed Family

Herbs, with simple entire leaves and regular flowers; juice usually milky; except in the first species, which is a twining vine. The flowers have an unusual structure: calyx of 5 sepals; petals 5, united with each other, and spreading or reflexed so that they conceal the calyx; stamens 5, united with each other and with the stigma to form a complex organ in the center of the flower; ovaries 2; on the back of each stamen is a colored projecting hood, which is frequently the most conspicuous part of the flower, and may be mistaken for the corolla.

1a. Twining vine, with dark purple flowers (summer)
=Black Swallow-wort, Cynanchum nigrum.=

1b. Stems not twining --2.

2a. Leaves whorled (3-6 dm. high; summer) (Milkweed) --3.

2b. Leaves opposite or alternate --4.

3a. Leaves in whorls of 4, lanceolate (flowers pink)
=Milkweed, Asclepias quadrifolia.=

3b. Leaves in whorls of 4-7, linear (flowers greenish-white)
=Milkweed, Asclepias verticillata.=

4a. Umbel sessile (4-8 dm. high; flowers green, summer)
=Green Milkweed, Acerates viridiflora.=

4b. Umbel peduncled --5.

5a. Leaves linear or narrowly linear-lanceolate (4-8 dm. high; flowers
greenish-white, summer) =Green Milkweed, Acerates floridana.=

5b. Leaves lanceolate or broader (flowers in summer) --6.

6a. Leaves pubescent beneath --7.

6b. Leaves glabrous or nearly so --10.

7a. Flowers brilliant orange (3-6 dm. high)
=Butterfly Weed, Asclepias tuberosa.=

7b. Flowers red or purple --8.

8a. Reflexed lobes of corolla merely purple-tinged (1-2 m. high)
=Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca.=

8b. Reflexed lobes of corolla bright-red or purple --9.

9a. The erect hoods of each flower about 5 mm. long (7-12 dm. high)
=Milkweed, Asclepias purpurascens.=

9b. The erect hoods of each flower about 3 mm. long (6-10 dm. high)
=Swamp Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata var. pulchra.=

10a. Leaves broadly rounded and almost sessile at base (flowers
purplish) --11.

10b. Leaves narrowed at the base, distinctly petioled (8-15 dm.
high) --12.

11a. Umbel solitary, terminal and erect on a long peduncle (4-8 dm.
high) =Milkweed, Asclepias amplexicaulis.=

11b. Umbels terminal or lateral, bent toward one side (7-12 dm. high)
=Milkweed, Asclepias sullivantii.=

12a. Corolla (not hoods) red (1-2 m. high)
=Swamp Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata.=

12b. Corolla (not hoods) greenish (8-15 dm. high)
=Milkweed, Asclepias exaltata.=

CONVOLVULACEAE, the Morning Glory Family

Twining or trailing herbs (except one species), with regular flowers; sepals 5; corolla 5-angled or 5-lobed; stamens 5, attached to the corolla; ovary superior, 2-3-celled.

1a. Plants with green foliage and conspicuous flowers (summer) --2.

1b. Leafless brown or yellow plants, with very small flowers (Dodder)
--7.

2a. Style divided at the top into linear or oblong stigmas (flowers
white or pink) (Bindweed) --3.

2b. Style not divided at the top; stigmas sessile, capitate
(Morning Glory) --6.

3a. Stem erect; leaves rounded or somewhat cordate at base, not hastate
or sagittate (1-3 dm. high) =Bindweed, Convolvulus spithamaeus.=

3b. Stem trailing or twining; leaves sagittate or hastate --4.

4a. Calyx almost concealed by two large heart-shape bracts --5.

4b. Bracts at base of calyx none =Bindweed, Convolvulus arvensis.=

5a. Leaves triangular-hastate, with sharp basal lobes
=Bindweed, Convolvulus sepium.=

5b. Leaves oblong-ovate, the basal lobes obtuse
=Bindweed, Convolvulus sepium var. pubescens.=

6a. Stem smooth or nearly so; ovary 2-celled (flowers white)
=Wild Potato Vine, Ipomoea pandurata.=

6b. Stem with reflexed hairs; ovary 3-celled (flowers of various
colors) =Morning Glory, Ipomoea purpurea.=

7a. Introduced weed, growing as a parasite on clover
=Dodder, Cuscuta epithymum.=

7b. Native species, on various shrubs and herbs --8.

8a. Flowers sessile --9.

8b. Flowers distinctly pedicelled --12.

9a. Sepals united below into a gamosepalous calyx --10.

9b. Sepals separate from each other --11.

10a. Calyx-lobes obtuse =Dodder, Cuscuta arvensis.=

10b. Calyx-lobes acute =Dodder, Cuscuta obtusiflora.=

11a. Flowers in dense rope-like twists on various species of herbs
=Dodder, Cuscuta paradoxa.=

11b. Flowers in dense clusters on various species of shrubs
=Dodder, Cuscuta compacta.=

12a. Tips of the petals inflexed =Dodder, Cuscuta coryli.=

12b. Tips of the petals erect or spreading --13.

13a. Capsule depressed at the summit =Dodder, Cuscuta cephalanthi.=

13b. Capsule pointed at the summit =Dodder, Cuscuta gronovii.=

POLEMONIACEAE, the Polemonium Family

Herbs with alternate or opposite leaves and conspicuous regular flowers; sepals 5, united; petals 5, united and bearing the 5 stamens in the corolla-tube; ovary superior, 3-celled.

1a. Leaves pinnately compound and alternate (2-4 dm. high; flowers blue,
in spring) =Greek Valerian, Polemonium reptans.=

1b. Leaves fascicled, narrowly linear (about 1 dm. high; flowers
pink-purple, in spring) =Moss Pink, Phlox subulata.=

1c. Leaves simple, strictly opposite --2.

2a. Corolla-lobes deeply 2-cleft to the middle (1-2 dm. high;
flowers pink, in spring) =Cleft Phlox, Phlox bifida.=

2b. Corolla-lobes entire and rounded, or somewhat notched at the
apex --3.

3a. Flowers in summer (8-15 dm. high; flowers purple)
=Garden Phlox, Phlox paniculata.=

3b. Flowers in spring (3-6 dm. high) --4.

4a. Corolla blue-purple; stems ascending
=Sweet William, Phlox divaricata.=

4b. Corolla pink or red-purple; stems erect
=Sweet William, Phlox pilosa.=

HYDROPHYLLACEAE, the Water-leaf Family

Herbs with alternate lobed or divided leaves and regular flowers; sepals 5; petals 5, united; stamens 5, attached to the corolla-tube and projecting beyond it; ovary 1-celled.

1a. Leaves palmately veined and lobed (4-8 dm. high; flowers purple,
early summer) =Water-leaf, Hydrophyllum canadense.=

1b. Leaves pinnately veined and lobed (2-6 dm. high; flowers blue or
purple, varying to white) --2.

2a. Corolla-lobes much shorter than the corolla-tube (summer)
=Phacelia, Phacelia franklinii.=

2b. Corolla-lobes much longer than the corolla-tube (late spring
and summer) (Water-leaf) --3.

3a. Calyx with a small reflexed appendage between each pair of sepals
=Water-leaf, Hydrophyllum appendiculatum.=

3b. Calyx without appendages =Water-leaf, Hydrophyllum virginicum.=

BORAGINACEAE, the Borage Family

Herbs with alternate entire leaves; sepals 5; petals 5, united, corolla generally regular; stamens 5, attached to the corolla-tube; ovary deeply 4-lobed with a single style.

1a. Corolla reddish-purple, about 8 mm. wide (4-10 dm. high; spring)
=Hound's Tongue, Cynoglossum officinale.=

1b. Corolla blue with a yellow center, 4-8 mm. wide (1-5 dm. high;
spring and early summer) (Forget-me-not) --13.

1c. Corolla deep orange, salver-form (2-6 dm. high; spring) (Puccoon)
--15.

1d. Corolla white or blue, or lightly tinged with yellow or red --2.

2a. Corolla rotate, with a very short tube, bright-blue, about 20
mm. broad (3-8 dm. high; summer) =Borage, Borago officinalis.=

2b. Corolla tubular, funnel-form, or salver-form --3.

3a. Corolla 10 mm. long or more; its tube distinctly longer than the
calyx --4.

3b. Corolla less than 10 mm. long; its tube equaling or shorter than the
calyx --8.

4a. Flowers yellowish-white, or somewhat tinged with pink or
greenish --5.

4b. Flowers blue or purple --6.

5a. Corolla-lobes erect; leaves sessile (3-8 dm. high; early summer)
=False Gromwell; Onosmodium occidentale.=

5b. Corolla-lobes spreading; leaves decurrent (6-10 dm. high; summer)
=Comfrey, Symphytum officinale.=

6a. Stem and leaves glabrous (3-6 dm. high; spring)
=Bluebell, Mertensia virginica.=

6b. Stem and leaves pubescent (4-8 dm. high) --7.

7a. Corolla regular; leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate (summer)
=Bluebell, Mertensia paniculata.=

7b. Corolla irregular; leaves linear-oblong (summer)
=Blueweed, Echium vulgare.=

8a. Ovary and fruit covered with hooked prickles --9.

8b. Ovary and fruit not prickly --12.

9a. Principal leaves 2.5 cm. wide or more --10.

9b. Principal leaves 2 cm. wide or less (3-8 dm. high; flowers blue or
white, summer) (Stickseed) --11.

10a. Leaves chiefly basal, the racemes on long leafless peduncles
(4-8 dm. high; flowers pale blue, early summer)
=Wild Comfrey, Cynoglossum boreale.=

10b. Stems leafy (8-12 dm. high; flowers white, summer)
=Beggar Lice, Lappula virginiana.=

11a. A bract at the base of each flower =Stickseed, Lappula echinata.=

11b. Racemes without bracts at the base of each flower
=Stickseed, Lappula deflexa var. americana.=

12a. Racemes bractless, or bracted only at the base (1-4 dm. high)
--14.

12b. Raceme with a bract at the base of each flower (flowers white
or yellowish) --17.

13a. Corolla 4 mm. wide =Forget-me-not, Myosotis laxa.=

13b. Corolla 6-8 mm. wide =Forget-me-not, Myosotis scorpioides.=

14a. Calyx-lobes all of equal length (summer)
=Scorpion Grass, Myosotis arvensis.=

14b. Calyx-lobes distinctly unequal in length (spring)
=Scorpion Grass, Myosotis virginica.=

15a. Corolla-lobes denticulate =Puccoon, Lithospermum angustifolium.=

15b. Corolla-lobes entire --16.

16a. Flowers sessile; stem softly pubescent
=Puccoon, Lithospermum canescens.=

16b. Flowers on pedicels 2-5 mm. long; stem hispid or bristly
=Puccoon, Lithospermum gmelini.=

17a. Corolla white; fruit brown and wrinkled (weed 2-4 dm. high; spring
and summer) =Corn Gromwell, Lithospermum arvense.=

17b. Corolla yellowish-white; fruit white and smooth (5-10 dm. high)
--18.

18a. Corolla distinctly surpassing the calyx in length (spring and
summer) =Corn Gromwell, Lithospermum officinale.=

18b. Corolla equaling or shorter than the calyx (spring)
=Wild Gromwell, Lithospermum latifolium.=

LABIATAE, the Mint Family

Herbs with opposite leaves, square stems, and usually aromatic odor; flowers irregular, with united petals, or almost regular; stamens 2 or 4, attached to the tube of the corolla; ovary deeply 4-lobed, with a single style.

1a. Stamens 2 --2.

1b. Stamens 4 --15.

2a. Corolla regular or nearly so; flowers white, in dense axillary
clusters; plants usually of wet grounds (2-8 dm. high; summer
and autumn) --3.

2b. Corolla distinctly irregular and more or less 2-lipped --7.

3a. Calyx-teeth short, triangular, acute or obtuse (Bugle Weed) --4.

3b. Calyx-teeth narrow, acuminate or cuspidate (Water Hoarhound) --5.

4a. Stems and stolons bearing tubers
=Bugle Weed, Lycopus uniflorus.=

4b. Stems and stolons not bearing tubers
=Bugle Weed, Lycopus virginicus.=

5a. Leaves serrate; calyx-teeth sharp-pointed --6.

5b. Leaves coarsely incised; calyx-teeth awn-tipped
=Water Hoarhound, Lycopus americanus.=

6a. Corolla twice as long as the calyx; leaves narrowed at the base
=Water Hoarhound, Lycopus rubellus.=

6b. Corolla barely longer than the calyx; leaves sessile or nearly
so =Water Hoarhound, Lycopus lucidus var. americanus.=

7a. Corolla blue, 3-4 mm. long; flowers in loose axillary clusters (1-4
dm. high; summer) (Pennyroyal) --8.

7b. Corolla 8-40 mm. long --9.

8a. Leaves serrate =Pennyroyal, Hedeoma pulegioides.=

8b. Leaves linear, entire =Pennyroyal, Hedeoma hispida.=

9a. Lower lobe of the corolla fringed, very much longer than the upper
(5-15 dm. high; corolla pale-yellow; late summer)
=Horse Balm, Collinsonia canadensis.=

9b. Lower lobe of the corolla nearly or quite as long as the upper and
not fringed --10.

10a. Calyx narrowly tubular; its teeth about equal in size (5-10
dm. high; flowers in dense terminal heads, in summer) --11.

10b. Calyx campanulate, 2 of its teeth different in size from the
other 3 (4-8 dm. high; flowers pink-purple, in terminal
clusters in summer) --14.

11a. Corolla scarlet =Oswego Tea, Monarda didyma.=

11b. Corolla bright crimson or rose-red
=Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistulosa var. rubra.=

11c. Corolla white, pink, pale-purple, or yellowish --12.

12a. Flower-clusters all terminal --13.

12b. Flower-clusters both terminal and axillary
=Horse Mint, Monarda punctata.=

13a. Leaves and stem with soft spreading pubescence
=Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistulosa.=

13b. Leaves and stem grayish with fine appressed pubescence
=Wild Bergamot, Monarda mollis.=

14a. Upper calyx-teeth about 3 times as long as the lower
=Blephilia, Blephilia hirsuta.=

14b. Upper calyx-teeth but little longer than the lower
=Blephilia, Blephilia ciliata.=

15a. Calyx with a distinct protuberance on the back of the upper side
(Skullcap) --16.

15b. Calyx without a distinct protuberance --20.

16a. Corolla 5-8 mm. long; flowers in axillary racemes (3-8 dm.
high; flowers blue, in summer)
=Mad-dog Skullcap, Scutellaria lateriflora.=

16b. Corolla 6-10 mm. long; flowers axillary, solitary (1-3 dm.
high; flowers violet, early summer)
=Skullcap, Scutellaria parvula.=

16c. Corolla 12-30 mm. long; flowers axillary or in terminal
racemes (4-8 dm. high; flowers blue, summer) --17.

17a. Stem-leaves cordate =Skullcap, Scutellaria versicolor.=

17b. Stem-leaves not distinctly cordate --18.

18a. Stem-leaves sessile or nearly so; plant of swamps and
river-banks =Skullcap, Scutellaria galericulata.=

18b. Stem-leaves with petioles 1 cm. or more long; plants of dry or
moist woods --19.

19a. Stem glandular-pubescent toward the summit; corolla 16 mm. long or
less =Skullcap, Scutellaria pilosa.=

19b. Stem not glandular; corolla 20 mm. long
=Skullcap, Scutellaria incana.=

20a. Calyx-teeth 5, all equal or nearly so at the time of flowering
--28.

20b. Calyx-teeth 5, one of them different in size and shape from
the other four (2-6 dm. high; flowers light blue, summer)
=Dragon Head, Dracocephalum parviflorum.=

20c. Calyx-teeth 5, two of them different in size and shape from
the other three --21.

20d. Calyx-teeth 10, subulate (woolly plant 4-10 dm. high, with
whitish flowers in axillary clusters in summer)
=Hoarhound, Marrubium vulgare.=

21a. Corolla deeply split on the upper side and the stamens protruding;
upper lip of the calyx much shorter than the lower (5-10 dm. high;
flowers pink-purple, in terminal spikes, summer) (Wood Sage) --22.

21b. Corolla not deeply split on the upper side --23.

22a. Calyx canescent =Wood Sage, Teucrium canadense.=

22b. Calyx villous =Wood Sage, Teucrium occidentale.=

23a. Flowers in dense terminal head-like spikes, none axillary (1-5 dm.
high; flowers pink-purple or blue, in summer)
=Self-heal, Prunella vulgaris.=

23b. Some or all of the flowers in axillary clusters --24.

24a. Leaves linear, entire (1-4 dm. high; flowers purple, summer)
--25.

24b. Leaves oblong to ovate (summer) --26.

25a. Pedicels shorter than the calyx
=Summer Savory, Satureja hortensis.=

25b. Pedicels much longer than the calyx =Calamint, Satureja glabra.=

26a. Leaves 1 cm. long or less, entire (stems growing in mats, 1-3
dm. long; flowers purple, in summer)
=Wild Thyme, Thymus serpyllum.=

26b. Leaves dentate (flowers purple, summer) --27.

27a. Flowers subtended by bracts as long as the calyx (2-5 dm. high)
=Basil, Satureja vulgaris.=

27b. Flowers with minute bracts or none (1-3 dm. high)
=Basil-thyme, Satureja acinos.=

28a. Corolla 2-lipped or nearly regular, the upper lip flattened,
not conspicuously arched over the stamens --29.

28b. Corolla conspicuously 2-lipped, the stamens ascending under
the concave upper lip --42.

29a. Flowers in dense terminal spikes; corolla 2-lipped (8-15 dm. high;
summer) --30.

29b. Flowers peduncled, 1-4 in the axils of linear leaves --25b.

29c. Flowers in many-flowered whorls, which are axillary or terminal, or
aggregated into terminal spikes or racemes --31.

30a. Corolla yellowish =Giant Hyssop, Agastache nepetoides.=

30b. Corolla purplish
=Giant Hyssop, Agastache scrophulariaefolius.=

31a. Corolla distinctly irregular, the lower lip longer than the upper
--32.

31b. Corolla almost regular, the lobes nearly uniform in size --35.

32a. Stem-leaves sessile or very nearly so (flowers blue) --33.

32b. Stem-leaves long-petioled --34.

33a. Leaves linear-oblong, acute at both ends (3-8 dm. high; summer)
=Hyssop, Hyssopus officinalis.=

33b. Leaves oblong to ovate, rounded at the ends (2-4 dm. high; late
spring) =Bugle, Ajuga reptans.=

34a. Leaves ovate to oblong, acute; flowers pink, white, or pale
purple (6-15 dm. high; summer) =Catnip, Nepeta cataria.=

34b. Leaves nearly circular or kidney-shape; flowers blue
(creeping; flowers in spring and summer)
=Ground Ivy, Nepeta hederacea.=

35a. Flowers in terminal spikes, or the lower axillary (3-8 dm. high;
flowers pink-purple or white, summer) (Mint) --36.

35b. Flowers all in axillary whorls (flowers pink-purple or white,
summer) (Mint) --38.

35c. Flowers in terminal capitate corymbed clusters (4-8 dm. high;
flowers white or dotted with purple, summer) (Mountain Mint) --41.

36a. Leaves sessile or with very short petiole
=Spearmint, Mentha spicata.=

36b. Leaves with manifest petioles --37.

37a. Principal leaves less than half as broad as long
=Peppermint, Mentha piperita.=

37b. Principal leaves more than half as broad as long
=Bergamot Mint, Mentha citrata.=

38a. Stem glabrous; leaves ovate to obovate (4-8 dm. high)
=Downy Mint, Mentha gentilis.=

38b. Stem pubescent, at least on the angles (1-6 dm. high) --39.

39a. Principal leaves distinctly petioled and somewhat rounded at base
=Wild Mint, Mentha arvensis.=

39b. Leaves tapering to the base --40.

40a. Leaves and stem pubescent
=Wild Mint, Mentha arvensis var. canadensis.=

40b. Leaves glabrous; stem pubescent on the angles only
=Wild Mint, Mentha arvensis var. glabrata.=

41a. Leaves linear; calyx-teeth awl-shape
=Mountain Mint, Pycnanthemum flexuosum.=

41b. Leaves narrowly lanceolate; calyx-teeth triangular-ovate
=Mountain Mint, Pycnanthemum virginianum.=

42a. Stems decumbent to diffuse; leaves cordate to nearly circular
(stems 2-5 dm. long or high; flowers in spring and summer)
(Dead Nettle) --43.

42b. Stem erect; leaves palmately cleft; calyx-teeth spiny (6-15
dm. tall; flowers pink, in summer)
=Motherwort, Leonurus cardiaca.=

42c. Stems erect or ascending; leaves ovate-lanceolate to linear
(summer) --45.

43a. Upper leaves closely sessile (flowers red-purple)
=Dead Nettle, Lamium amplexicaule.=

43b. Leaves all petioled --44.

44a. Flowers red or purple =Dead Nettle, Lamium maculatum.=

44b. Flowers white =Dead Nettle, Lamium album.=

45a. Flowers 2-2.5 cm. long, in loose terminal spikes (5-10 dm. tall;
flowers rose-color) =False Dragon Head, Physostegia virginiana.=

45b. Flowers 1-2 cm. long, in axillary and terminal spiked whorls --46.

46a. Calyx-teeth spiny pointed (flowers pink or pale-purple) (Hemp
Nettle) --47.

46b. Calyx-teeth acute to awl-shape, but not spiny (3-10 dm. high;
flowers pale-purple) (Hedge Nettle) --48.

47a. Leaves ovate (3-8 dm. high) =Hemp Nettle, Galeopsis tetrahit.=

47b. Leaves linear to lanceolate (1-4 dm. high)
=Hemp Nettle, Galeopsis ladanum.=

48a. Leaves glabrous --49.

48b. Leaves distinctly pubescent --50.

49a. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, serrate
=Hedge Nettle, Stachys tenuifolia.=

49b. Leaves linear-oblong, entire or nearly so
=Hedge Nettle, Stachys hyssopifolia.=

50a. Stem pubescent on the angles alone; leaves petioled
=Hedge Nettle, Stachys tenuifolia var. aspera.=

50b. Stem pubescent on both sides and angles; leaves nearly sessile
--51.

51a. Leaves oblong or oblong-lanceolate, more than 1 cm. wide
=Hedge Nettle, Stachys palustris.=

51b. Leaves linear-lanceolate, 1 cm. wide or less
=Hedge Nettle, Stachys arenicola.=

VERBENACEAE, the Verbena Family

Herbs, with simple opposite leaves and slightly irregular flowers in spikes or heads; petals 5, united and bearing the 4 stamens in the corolla-tube; ovary 1, 2-celled or 4-celled, with 1 style.

1a. Plants prostrate or spreading --2.

1b. Plants erect (flowers in summer) (Vervain) --3.

2a. Leaves serrate; flowers in short dense spikes (flowers
pale-blue, summer) =Fog Fruit, Lippia lanceolata.=

2b. Leaves pinnatifid; flowers in loose bracted spikes (flowers
light-purple, summer) =Vervain, Verbena bracteosa.=

3a. Spikes dense, continuous (flowers purple or blue, varying to white)
--4.

3b. Spikes slender, interrupted, the flowers scattered (corolla white or
pale-blue) --6.

4a. Leaves lanceolate, manifestly petioled (1-2 m. high)
=Vervain, Verbena hastata.=

4b. Leaves sessile, not lanceolate (5-8 dm. high) --5.

5a. Leaves narrowly oblanceolate, tapering at the entire base
=Vervain, Verbena angustifolia.=

5b. Leaves oblong to obovate, not tapering at the base
=Vervain, Verbena stricta.=

6a. Leaves incised, tapering to a sessile base (5-10 dm. high)
=Vervain, Verbena, officinalis.=

6b. Leaves serrate, petioled (1-2 m. high)
=Vervain, Verbena urticaefolia.=

SOLANACEAE, the Nightshade Family

Herbs or shrubs, with alternate leaves and regular or slightly irregular flowers; sepals 5, united; corolla of 5 united petals, bearing the 5 stamens attached; ovary 1, 2-5 (usually 2)-celled, with a slender style.

1a. Corolla rotate; anthers close together (flowers in summer) --2.

1b. Corolla not rotate; anthers separate --5.

2a. Stem and leaves prickly (3-8 dm. high) --3.

2b. Stem and leaves not prickly --4.

3a. Flowers white or bluish =Horse Nettle, Solanum carolinense.=

3b. Flowers yellow =Buffalo Bur, Solanum rostratum.=

4a. Climbing vine; leaves frequently lobed (flowers blue)
=Bittersweet, Solanum dulcamara.=

4b. Not climbing; leaves toothed (flowers white)
=Nightshade, Solanum nigrum.=

5a. Climbing or trailing shrub, with purplish, white, or greenish
flowers about 1 cm. wide (frequently thorny; flowers in summer)
=Matrimony Vine, Lycium halimifolium.=

5b. Herbaceous plants, not climbing --6.

6a. Flowers white, red, or blue, 2.5 cm. or more wide (summer) --7.

6b. Flowers yellow, yellowish-white, or greenish-yellow (summer)
--12.

7a. Corolla-tube 10 cm. long or more (5-12 dm. high) --8.

7b. Corolla-tube 5 cm. long or less --10.

8a. Stem finely pubescent; leaves entire or nearly so
=Thorn-apple, Datura metel.=

8b. Stem glabrous; leaves coarsely toothed (Jimson Weed) --9.

9a. Stem green; corolla white =Jimson Weed, Datura stramonium.=

9b. Stem purple; corolla light-blue or purple
=Jimson Weed, Datura tatula.=

10a. Corolla pale-blue (5-10 dm. high)
=Apple of Peru, Nicandra physalodes.=

10b. Corolla, red or violet (2-4 dm. high)
=Petunia, Petunia violacea.=

10c. Corolla white --11.

11a. Corolla all white (2-4 dm. high) =Petunia, Petunia axillaris.=

11b. Corolla with yellow center
=White Ground Cherry, Physalis grandiflora.=

12a. Corolla 30 mm. wide or more, somewhat irregular; stamens
declined to one side (3-6 dm. high)
=Henbane, Hyoscyamus niger.=

12b. Corolla smaller, strictly regular --13.

13a. Flowers in terminal panicles; corolla tubular, with slightly
spreading lobes (5-10 dm. high) =Wild Tobacco, Nicotiana rustica.=

13b. Flowers solitary in the axils; corolla short, widely spreading (3-8
dm. high) (Ground Cherry) --14.

14a. Annuals with branching slender roots --15.

14b. Perennials with thickened roots and rootstocks --16.

15a. Plants pubescent =Ground Cherry, Physalis pubescens.=

15b. Plants smooth, or with a few scattered hairs
=Ground Cherry, Physalis ixocarpa.=

16a. Stem viscid-pubescent =Ground Cherry, Physalis heterophylla.=

16b. Stem glabrous or slightly pubescent, not viscid --17.

17a. Leaves and stem distinctly pubescent
=Ground Cherry, Physalis virginiana.=

17b. Leaves and stem almost glabrous
=Ground Cherry, Physalis subglabrata.=

SCROPHULARIACEAE, the Figwort Family

Herbs with opposite or alternate leaves and usually irregular flowers; corolla of united petals, bearing the 2 or 4 (or rarely 5) stamens attached; petals actually 5, but sometimes apparently only 2 or 4; a sterile fifth stamen sometimes present; ovary superior, 2-celled.

1a. Anther-bearing stamens 5 (6-15 dm. high; flowers in summer)
(Mullein) --2.

1b. Anther-bearing stamens 4; a sterile fifth stamen may or may not be
present --3.

1c. Anther-bearing stamens 2 --37.

2a. Leaves densely white-woolly; flowers yellow, in dense spikes
=Mullein, Verbascum thapsus.=

2b. Leaves smooth or nearly so; flowers yellow or white, in loose
racemes =Moth Mullein, Verbascum blattaria.=

3a. Flowers (not the bracts) greenish-yellow, yellow, or orange --4.

3b. Flowers blue, purple, brown, red, pink, or white, never yellow --16.

4a. Flowers in dense terminal leafy-bracted spikes --5.

4b. Flowers in loose racemes or axillary --9.

5a. Corolla 7 mm. long or less, or none --6.

5b. Corolla 12 mm. long or more --7.

6a. Leaves alternate (3-6 dm. high; early summer)
=Synthyris, Synthyris bullii.=

6b. Leaves opposite (1-2 dm. high; summer)
=Eyebright, Euphrasia arctica.=

7a. Stem-leaves entire (2-6 dm. high; summer)
=Painted Cup, Castilleja pallida var. septentrionalis.=

7b. Stem-leaves palmately lobed, bracteal leaves scarlet (3-6 dm. high;
early summer) =Painted Cup, Castilleja coccinea.=

7c. Stem-leaves pinnately lobed or incised (Lousewort) --8.

8a. Flowers in spring (2-4 dm. high)
=Lousewort, Pedicularis canadensis.=

8b. Flowers in late summer (3-8 dm. high)
=Lousewort, Pedicularis lanceolata.=

9a. Upper lip of the corolla very different in size and shape from the
lower lip --10.

9b. Upper lip of the corolla resembling the lower lip in shape, and not
very different in size (5-12 dm. high; summer) (False Foxglove)
--13.

10a. Leaves alternate (2-5 dm. high; summer)
=Butter-and-eggs, Linaria vulgaris.=

10b. Leaves opposite --11.

11a. Stem erect; leaves narrowed at the base --30b.

11b. Stem creeping or spreading (summer) --12.

12a. Leaves pinnately veined, ovate
=Musk Flower, Mimulus moschatus.=

12b. Leaves palmately veined, circular or nearly so
=Yellow Monkey Flower, Mimulus glabratus var. jamesii.=

13a. Stem glabrous --14.

13b. Stem pubescent --15.

14a. Principal stem-leaves pinnatifid
=False Foxglove, Gerardia virginica.=

14b. Principal stem-leaves entire
=False Foxglove, Gerardia laevigata.=

15a. Corolla hairy on the outside
=False Foxglove, Gerardia pedicularia.=

15b. Corolla smooth on the outside =False Foxglove, Gerardia flava.=

16a. Leaves all basal; flowers on leafless stalks (1 dm. high or
less; flowers pink or white, summer)
=Mudwort, Limosella aquatica var. tenuifolia.=

16b. Leaves opposite (those subtending the flowers may be
alternate) --20.

16c. Leaves alternate or irregularly scattered --17.

17a. Leaves entire --18.

17b. Leaves pinnately lobed or incised --8a.

17c. Leaves palmately veined and lobed; stem trailing (flowers blue,
summer) =Kenilworth Ivy, Linaria cymbalaria.=

18a. Corolla-tube less than 1 cm. long, spurred --19.

18b. Corolla more than 2 cm. long, not spurred (3-8 dm. high;
flowers red-purple, summer) =Snapdragon, Antirrhinum majus.=

19a. Stem and foliage pubescent (1-3 dm. high; flowers blue, summer)
=Small Snapdragon, Linaria minor.=

19b. Stem and foliage glabrous (2-6 dm. high; flowers blue, summer)
=Toad-flax, Linaria canadensis.=

20a. Leaves with 1 or 2 lobes near the base (3-5 dm. high; flowers
purple, summer) =Gerardia, Gerardia auriculata.=

20b. Leaves linear (2-6 dm. high; flowers rose-purple, summer and
autumn) (Gerardia) --21.

20c. Leaves lanceolate or broader, not lobed --26.

21a. Pedicels equaling or but little longer than the calyx, and
conspicuously shorter than the subtending leaf --22.

21b. Pedicels much longer than the calyx, and generally equaling or
exceeding the subtending leaf --24.

22a. Plants of moist ground, bogs, and shores --23.

22b. Plants of dry uplands =Gerardia, Gerardia aspera.=

23a. Corolla about 25 mm. long =Gerardia, Gerardia purpurea.=

23b. Corolla less than 20 mm. long =Gerardia, Gerardia paupercula.=

24a. Stem rough on the angles --25.

24b. Stem glabrous =Gerardia, Gerardia tenuifolia.=

25a. Leaves 2-5 mm. wide
=Gerardia, Gerardia tenuifolia var. macrophylla.=

25b. Leaves thread-like, 1 mm. wide or less
=Gerardia, Gerardia skinneriana.=

26a. Corolla 16 mm. long, or shorter --27.

26b. Corolla 20 mm. long, or longer --32.

27a. Corolla dull-purple, brown, or greenish; one sterile stamen present
(1-2.5 m. high; flowers in summer) (Figwort) --28.

27b. Corolla blue or white (1-4 dm. high) --29.

28a. Sterile stamen purple =Figwort, Scrophularia marilandica.=

28b. Sterile stamen yellow =Figwort, Scrophularia leporella.=

29a. Flowers nearly or quite sessile (summer) --30.

29b. Flowers on pedicels 10 mm. long or more (spring) --31.

30a. Foliage-leaves prominently toothed --6b.

30b. Foliage-leaves entire, or with 1 or 2 small teeth at the base
=Cow Wheat, Melampyrum lineare.=

31a. Corolla more than 10 mm. long, blue and white
=Blue-eyed Mary, Collinsia verna.=

31b. Corolla 5-8 mm. long, blue and white
=Collinsia, Collinsia parviflora.=

32a. Flowers solitary in the axils of the upper foliage-leaves (4-8
dm. high; flowers blue, in summer) (Monkey Flower) --33.

32b. Flowers in dense terminal or subterminal spikes (3-9 dm. high;
summer) --34.

32c. Flowers in loose terminal panicles (flowers white or
pale-violet) (Beard-tongue) --35.

33a. Leaves clasping at the base =Monkey Flower, Mimulus ringens.=

33b. Leaves petioled, not clasping =Monkey Flower, Mimulus alatus.=

34a. Stem and foliage glabrous (flowers white)
=Turtlehead, Chelone glabra.=

34b. Stem and foliage pubescent (flowers purple)
=Blue Hearts, Buchnera americana.=

35a. Stem finely pubescent (3-6 dm. high; flowers pale-violet, late
spring) =Beard-tongue, Pentstemon hirsutus.=

35b. Stem glabrous below the inflorescence (6-12 dm. high) --36.

36a. Corolla-tube gradually enlarged from base to tip (flowers
pale-violet, in early summer)
=Beard-tongue, Pentstemon laevigatus.=

36b. Corolla-tube abruptly enlarged just beyond the calyx (flowers
white, early summer)
=Beard-tongue, Pentstemon laevigatus var. digitalis.=

37a. Corolla distinctly irregular, 2-lipped (1-4 dm. high; flowers
yellowish or white, summer) --38.

37b. Corolla regular or nearly so and 2-lobed, or none --6a.

37c. Corolla regular or nearly so, 4-lobed --40.

38a. Leaves narrowed at the base, with mid-vein
=Hedge Hyssop, Gratiola virginiana.=

38b. Leaves rounded or somewhat clasping at the base, with 3-5
principal veins (False Pimpernel) --39.

39a. Peduncles longer than the subtending leaves
=False Pimpernel, Ilysanthes anagallidea.=

39b. Peduncles shorter than the subtending leaves
=False Pimpernel, Ilysanthes dubia.=

40a. Leaves whorled (8-20 dm. high; flowers white or pale-blue, in
spikes, summer) =Culver's Root, Veronica virginica.=

40b. Leaves alternate or opposite (Speedwell) --41.

41a. Flowers in racemes, which arise from the axils of the opposite
leaves (flowers pale-blue to nearly white, late spring and summer)
--42.

41b. Flowers solitary in the axils of leaf-like bracts, or in terminal
bracted racemes (1-4 dm. high; spring and summer) --46.

42a. Stem and foliage glabrous; swamp plants 2-7 dm. high --43.

42b. Stem and foliage pubescent; plants of dry ground, 1-3 dm. high
--45.

43a. Leaves linear or narrowly lanceolate
=Marsh Speedwell, Veronica scutellata.=

43b. Leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate --44.

44a. Stem-leaves sessile and somewhat clasping
=Water Speedwell, Veronica anagallis-aquatica.=

44b. Stem-leaves on short petioles
=Brooklime, Veronica americana.=

45a. Leaves narrowed at base into a petiole
=Speedwell, Veronica officinalis.=

45b. Leaves rounded or heart-shape at the base
=Speedwell, Veronica chamaedrys.=

46a. Bracteal leaves entire; stem glabrous or minutely pubescent
--47.

46b. All leaves serrate; foliage pubescent (flowers blue) --48.

47a. Flowers white, about 2 mm. wide =Speedwell, Veronica peregrina.=

47b. Flowers pale-blue with darker stripes, 3-4 mm. wide
=Speedwell, Veronica serpyllifolia.=

48a. Flowers nearly sessile, about 2 mm. wide
=Speedwell, Veronica arvensis.=

48b. Flowers on slender pedicels, 5-8 mm. wide
=Speedwell, Veronica tournefortii.=

LENTIBULARIACEAE, the Bladderwort Family

Small herbs, growing on rocks, in mud, or in water; calyx and corolla both 2-lipped; stamens 2, attached to the corolla; ovary 1-celled.

1a. Corolla purple --2.

1b. Corolla yellow (flowers in summer) (Bladderwort) --4.

2a. Leaves oval to elliptical, entire (about 1 dm. high, on rocks;
flowers in summer) =Butterwort, Pinguicula vulgaris.=

2b. Leaves dissected or none, submerged (flowers in summer)
(Bladderwort) --3.

3a. Flower-stalk with a single bract near the middle
=Bladderwort, Utricularia resupinata.=

3b. Flower-stalk without bracts, except at the base of the pedicels
=Bladderwort, Utricularia purpurea.=

4a. Stem and numerous dissected leaves floating in water
=Bladderwort, Utricularia vulgaris var. americana.=

4b. Stem and minute leaves creeping on the bottom of ponds or in
mud, while the flowers are borne on erect stalks, easily
detached from the delicate stems --5.

5a. Upper lip of corolla conspicuous, as long or nearly as long as the
lower lip; lower lip with a prominent raised palate --6.

5b. Upper lip of corolla half as long as the lower lip, or less --7.

6a. Spur of corolla very short and blunt
=Bladderwort, Utricularia gibba.=

6b. Spur of corolla very long and slender
=Bladderwort, Utricularia cornuta.=

7a. Spur of corolla very short and blunt, or almost none
=Bladderwort, Utricularia minor.=

7b. Spur of corolla long and slender
=Bladderwort, Utricularia intermedia.=

OROBANCHACEAE, the Broom-rape Family

Parasitic plants without green color and with scales in place of leaves; corolla 2-lipped, of united petals; stamens 4, attached to the corolla.

1a. Flowers in a widely branching panicle, numerous; growing under beech
trees (1-5 dm. high; flowers white and purple, late summer)
=Beech Drops, Epifagus virginiana.=

1b. Flowers sessile in a dense bracted spike (1-2 dm. high; flowers
pale-yellow, early summer) =Squaw-root, Conopholis americana.=

1c. Flowers 1-15, each on a long erect naked peduncle (1-2 dm. high;
flowers yellowish or pale-violet, spring and summer) (Cancer-root)
--2.

2a. Stem erect and scaly, 5-10 cm. high
=Cancer-root, Orobanche fasciculata.=

2b. Stem very short, almost below the surface of the ground, with
long erect peduncles =Cancer-root, Orobanche uniflora.=

ACANTHACEAE, the Acanthus Family

Herbs with opposite simple leaves; corolla of united petals, 2-lipped or almost regular; stamens 2 or 4, attached to the corolla; ovary 2-celled.

1a. Corolla about 10 mm. long; flowers in dense heads (4-10 dm. high;
flowers blue or white, summer) =Water Willow, Dianthera americana.=

1b. Corolla about 30 mm. long; flowers axillary (3-8 dm. high; flowers
blue, in summer) (Ruellia) --2.

2a. Foliage glabrous or slightly pubescent
=Ruellia, Ruellia strepens.=

2b. Foliage densely hirsute =Ruellia, Ruellia ciliosa.=

PHRYMACEAE, the Lopseed Family

Herb with opposite leaves and irregular flowers in long slender spikes; petals united, corolla 2-lipped; stamens 4, attached to the corolla; ovary 1-celled.

One species only, 5-10 dm. high; flowers purple, in summer
=Lopseed, Phryma leptostachya.=

PLANTAGINACEAE, the Plantain Family

Herbs with basal leaves and small white flowers in spikes; sepals 4; petals 4, united; stamens 4; ovary 2-celled.

1a. Leaves linear (1-4 dm. high; summer) --2.

1b. Leaves broader, lanceolate to broadly ovate or cordate (summer) --3.

2a. Spikes mixed with bracts several times longer than the flowers
=Buckhorn, Plantago aristata.=

2b. Bracts about as long as the flowers
=Plantain, Plantago purshii.=

3a. Leaves cordate, pinnately veined; plant of wet ground and marshes
(4-8 dm. tall) =Plantain, Plantago cordata.=

3b. Leaves with 3 to many longitudinal ribs or veins --4.

4a. Leaves densely pubescent with grayish hairs --5.

4b. Leaves smooth or slightly pubescent --6.

5a. Flower-stalks 3-6 dm. high =Plantain, Plantago media.=

5b. Flower-stalks less than 3 dm. high =Plantain, Plantago virginica.=

6a. Flower-stalks 3-6 dm. high; spikes not over 10 cm. long
=English Plantain, Plantago lanceolata.=

6b. Scapes 1-4 dm. high; spikes long and slender, usually equaling
or longer than the peduncle; dooryard plantains --7.

7a. Leaves green at the base =Plantain, Plantago major.=

7b. Leaves reddish at the base =Plantain, Plantago rugelii.=

RUBIACEAE, the Madder family