=LOBELIACEAE=, p. 113.
168b. Corolla regular --169.
169a. Stamens with ordinary visible anthers; ovary 1 --170.
169b. Stamens so grown together and to the stigma as to be almost
unrecognizable; ovaries 2 =ASCLEPIADACEAE=, p. 90.
170a. Petals separate =PAPAVERACEAE=, p. 41.
170b. Petals united --171.
171a. Stamens attached to the tube of the corolla
=CONVOLVULACEAE=, p. 91.
171b. Stamens attached at the very base of the corolla
=CAMPANULACEAE=, p. 112.
172a. Plants of the composite type, with several or many small
flowerets closely aggregated into dense heads subtended by a
calyx-like involucre of small bracts --173.
172b. Flowers solitary or clustered, but not in involucred heads
--174.
173a. True composites, without a normal calyx =COMPOSITAE=, p. 113.
173b. A normal calyx with each floweret; leaves compound with 3 leaflets
=LEGUMINOSAE=, p. 58.
174a. Flowers irregular, i. e., the conspicuous lobes of the
perianth unlike in size or shape --175.
174b. Flowers regular --185.
175a. Stamens 2 or 4 =SCROPHULARIACEAE=, p. 101.
175b. Stamens 5 --176.
175c. Stamens 6 --181.
175d. Stamens 8; leaves simple =POLYGALACEAE=, p. 65.
175e. Stamens 10; leaves usually compound =LEGUMINOSAE=, p. 58.
175f. Stamens more than 10 --183.
176a. Petals separate --177.
176b. Petals united --179.
177a. Flowers greenish or purplish, in a panicle =SAXIFRAGACEAE=, p. 49.
177b. Flowers white or purplish, in compound umbels
=UMBELLIFERAE=, p. 80.
177c. Flowers solitary, or in few-flowered clusters --178.
178a. Flowers blue, yellow, or white, in spring =VIOLACEAE=, p. 75.
178b. Flowers red-orange or yellow, in summer
=BALSAMINACEAE=, p. 71.
178c. Flowers small and greenish, in spring
1a, in =VIOLACEAE=, p. 75.
179a. Anthers united; stamens protruding from the very irregular corolla
=LOBELIACEAE=, p. 113.
179b. Anthers separate; corolla almost regular --180.
180a. Corolla rotate; some or all filaments hairy
2, in =SCROPHULARIACEAE=, p. 101.
180b. Corolla funnel-form, dull yellow and purple; filaments not
hairy 12a, in =SOLANACEAE=, p. 101.
180c. Corolla funnel-form, blue or violet; filaments not hairy
7b, in =BORAGINACEAE=, p. 94.
181a. Leaves compound or dissected =FUMARIACEAE=, p. 41.
181b. Leaves simple --182.
182a. Flowers solitary =ARISTOLOCHIACEAE=, p. 25.
182b. Flowers in spikes, heads, or racemes =POLYGALACEAE=, p. 65.
183a. Leaves truly compound --184.
183b. Leaves palmately cleft; flowers 15 mm. wide or larger
6a, in =RANUNCULACEAE=, p. 36.
183c. Leaves irregularly cleft; flowers about 5 mm. wide
=RESEDACEAE=, p. 48.
184a. Petals prolonged backward into hollow spurs
6b, in =RANUNCULACEAE=, p. 36.
184b. Petals not prolonged into spurs =CAPPARIDACEAE=, p. 47.
--185--
185a. Perianth consisting of one circle of parts only (usually
considered to be the calyx) --186.
185b. Perianth consisting of both calyx and corolla --192.
186a. Leaves with sheathing stipules encircling the stem above the
base of every leaf =POLYGONACEAE=, p. 25.
186b. Leaves without sheathing stipules --187.
187a. Leaves entire --188.
187b. Leaves toothed, lobed, or compound --190.
188a. Stamens 5 =SANTALACEAE=, p. 24.
188b. Stamens 6 --189.
188c. Stamens 10 =PHYTOLACCACEAE=, p. 30.
189a. Perianth-lobes 3; perianth-tube curved =ARISTOLOCHIACEAE=, p. 25.
189b. Perianth-lobes 6, spreading 4a, in =LILIACEAE=, p. 11.
190a. Stamens 5 =UMBELLIFERAE=, p. 80.
190b. Stamens 6 --191.
190c. Stamens more than 6 =RANUNCULACEAE=, p. 35.
191a. Climbing plant with heart-shape perianth
2a, in =FUMARIACEAE=, p. 41.
191b. Erect plant, with spreading perianth
3b, in =BERBERIDACEAE=, p. 40.
192a. Corolla composed of united petals --193.
192b. Corolla composed of separate petals --208.
193a. Stamens 2 or 4 =SCROPHULARIACEAE=, p. 101.
193b. Stamens 3; climbing vines =CUCURBITACEAE=, p. 112.
193c. Stamens 5 --194.
193d. Stamens 6 2a, in =FUMARIACEAE=, p. 41.
193e. Stamens 8 22b, in =ERICACEAE=, p. 85.
193f. Stamens 10 --207.
193g. Stamens very numerous =MALVACEAE=, p. 72.
194a. Ovaries 2; flowers orange-red, in umbels
7a, in =ASCLEPIADACEAE=, p. 91.
194b. Ovary 1, deeply 4-lobed; flowers in racemes
=BORAGINACEAE=, p. 93.
194c. Ovary 1, not deeply lobed --195.
195a. Climbing or scrambling vines --196.
195b. Not climbing or scrambling --198.
196a. Flowers about 1 cm. wide --197.
196b. Flowers 2-8 cm. wide =CONVOLVULACEAE=, p. 91.
197a. Leaves 1 cm. wide or less 2b, in =CAMPANULACEAE=, p. 112.
197b. Leaves 2 cm. wide or more 4a, in =SOLANACEAE=, p. 100.
198a. Flowers solitary, either terminal or axillary --199.
198b. Flowers in terminal clusters --201.
199a. Calyx concealed by 2 bracts =CONVOLVULACEAE=, p. 91.
199b. Calyx not completely concealed by bracts --200.
200a. Ovary inferior, appearing as a swelling below the calyx at
the base of the flower, 3-celled; stigma 3-lobed
=CAMPANULACEAE=, p. 112.
200b. Ovary superior, located in the center of the flower
=SOLANACEAE=, p. 100.
201a. Some or all filaments hairy --202.
201b. Filaments not hairy --203.
202a. Leaves lobed or divided =HYDROPHYLLACEAE=, p. 93.
202b. Leaves not lobed 2, in =SCROPHULARIACEAE=, p. 101.
203a. Anthers close together, longer than the filaments
2, in =SOLANACEAE=, p. 100.
203b. Anthers separate from each other --204.
204a. Leaves compound or very deeply lobed --205.
204b. Leaves simple or with shallow lobes only --206.
205a. Leaf-segments linear or oblong, irregular
=HYDROPHYLLACEAE=, p. 93.
205b. Leaves truly compound with separate leaflets
1a, in =POLEMONIACEAE=, p. 92.
206a. Flowers greenish-yellow =SOLANACEAE=, p. 100.
206b. Flowers blue, violet, white, or intermediate tints
=CAMPANULACEAE=, p. 112.
207a. Leaves simple =ERICACEAE=, p. 84.
207b. Leaves compound =OXALIDACEAE=, p. 64.
--208--
208a. Petals 4 --209.
208b. Petals 5 --212.
208c. Petals 6 or more --227.
209a. Stamens 4 or 8 --210.
209b. Stamens 6, 4 long and 2 short =CRUCIFERAE=, p. 42.
209c. Stamens 9 or more =CAPPARIDACEAE=, p. 47.
210a. Leaves compound =ROSACEAE=, p. 51.
210b. Leaves simple --211.
211a. Ovary 1, inferior, appearing as a swelling below the calyx
=ONAGRACEAE=, p. 78.
211b. Ovaries 4 or 5, in the center of the flower
=CRASSULACEAE=, p. 48.
212a. Stamens with good anthers 5 --213.
212b. Stamens 6 to 10 --217.
212c. Stamens more than 10 --222.
213a. Flowers solitary, terminating the stem
12b, in =SAXIFRAGACEAE=, p. 50.
213b. Flowers axillary, solitary or in small clusters --214.
213c. Flowers several, in loose irregular terminal clusters; leaves
simple =LINACEAE=, p. 63.
213d. Flowers in slender spike-like racemes; leaves compound
50b, in =ROSACEAE=, p. 55.
213e. Flowers in panicles 20a, in =SAXIFRAGACEAE=, p. 50.
213f. Flowers in umbels --216.
214a. Leaves compound 25b, in =LEGUMINOSAE=, p. 60.
214b. Leaves simple --215.
215a. Flowers blue or yellow, erect or spreading =LINACEAE=, p. 63.
215b. Flowers greenish, nodding 1a, in =VIOLACEAE=, p. 75.
216a. Flowers pink or purple =GERANIACEAE=, p. 64.
216b. Flowers yellow or white =UMBELLIFERAE=, p. 80.
217a. Leaves compound with 3 leaflets --218.
217b. Leaves pinnately compound --219.
217c. Leaves deeply palmately lobed =GERANIACEAE=, p. 64.
217d. Leaves simple and not deeply lobed --220.
218a. Leaflets reverse heart-shape; flowers yellow
=OXALIDACEAE=, p. 64.
218b. Leaflets taper-pointed; flowers white or pink
73, in =ROSACEAE=, p. 57.
219a. Leaflets entire 24, in =LEGUMINOSAE=, p. 60.
219b. Leaflets toothed 50b, in =ROSACEAE=, p. 55.
220a. Prostrate plants, with thick, fleshy, entire leaves
3, in =PORTULACACEAE=, p. 34.
220b. Bushy branched plants, with small gray leaves concealing the
stem 2a, in =CISTACEAE=, p. 74.
220c. Erect or spreading plants --221.
221a. Ovary 1, style 1 4a, in =ERICACEAE=, p. 84.
221b. Ovary with 2 distinct styles =SAXIFRAGACEAE=, p. 49.
221c. Ovaries 5; styles 5 =CRASSULACEAE=, p. 48.
222a. Stamens united by their filaments into a tube
=MALVACEAE=, p. 72.
222b. Stamens separate from each other --223.
223a. Leaves with stipules; ovaries more than 1 =ROSACEAE=, p. 51.
223b. Leaves without stipules --224.
224a. Leaves toothed, deeply lobed, or compound
=RANUNCULACEAE=, p. 35.
224b. Leaves entire --225.
225a. Ovaries numerous =RANUNCULACEAE=, p. 35.
225b. Ovary 1 --226.
226a. Sepals 2 =PORTULACACEAE=, p. 34.
226b. Sepals 3 or 5 =CISTACEAE=, p. 74.
--227--
227a. Leaves entire =LYTHRACEAE=, p. 77.
227b. Leaves lobed, divided, dissected, or compound --228.
228a. Flowers in slender racemes =RESEDACEAE=, p. 48.
228b. Flowers solitary or clustered, but not in slender racemes
--229.
229a. Stamens 6 3b, in =BERBERIDACEAE=, p. 40.
229b. Stamens numerous =RANUNCULACEAE=, p. 35.
[1] In most flowers the corolla is the conspicuous portion of
the perianth, and is composed of united or separate petals, as the case
may be. In some flowers the corolla is absent, and the calyx is the
conspicuous portion.
THE PLANTS OF MICHIGAN
PINACEAE, the Pine Family
Trees or shrubs, usually evergreen, with needle-like or scale-like
leaves; fruit a cone or berry.
1a. Leaves in clusters of 2-5 --2.
1b. Leaves mostly in clusters of 10 or more, on short lateral wart-like
branches, deciduous each autumn =Tamarack, Larix laricina.=
1c. Leaves not in clusters --4.
2a. Leaves in clusters of 5 =White Pine, Pinus strobus.=
2b. Leaves in clusters of 2 or 3 --3.
3a. Leaves 8-15 cm. long =Norway Pine, Pinus resinosa.=
3b. Leaves 2-4 cm. long =Jack Pine, Pinus banksiana.=
4a. Leaves alternate or scattered --5.
4b. Leaves opposite or whorled --8.
5a. Leaves four-sided --6.
5b. Leaves flattened --7.
6a. Leaves 6-12 mm. long =Black Spruce, Picea mariana.=
6b. Leaves 15-25 mm. long =White Spruce, Picea canadensis.=
7a. Leaves short-stalked, 15 mm. long or less
=Hemlock, Tsuga canadensis.=
7b. Leaves sessile, 15-30 mm. long =Balsam, Abies balsamea.=
8a. Leafy twigs soft and flattened
=White Cedar, Thuja occidentalis.=
8b. Leafy twigs not distinctly flattened --9.
9a. Leaves opposite --10.
9b. Leaves in whorls of three --11.
10a. Erect shrub or tree =Red Cedar, Juniperus virginiana.=
10b. Prostrate or spreading shrub
=Creeping Cedar, Juniperus horizontalis.=
11a. Erect shrub or small tree =Juniper, Juniperus communis.=
11b. Spreading or ascending shrub, growing in dense mats
=Low Juniper, Juniperus communis var. depressa.=
TAXACEAE, the Yew Family
Shrubs, with needle-like evergreen leaves; fruit red and berry-like.
One species in Michigan; straggling shrub 1-3 m. high
=Ground Hemlock, Taxus canadensis.=
TYPHACEAE, the Cat-tail Family
Erect plants 1-2 m. high, with linear leaves and terminal spikes of
brown flowers, appearing in summer.
1a. Staminate and pistillate portions of the flower-spike contiguous,
the latter 2.5 cm. in diameter =Common Cat-tail, Typha latifolia.=
1b. Staminate and pistillate portions of the spike separated, the latter
2 cm. or less in diameter
=Narrow-leaved Cat-tail, Typha angustifolia.=
SPARGANIACEAE, the Bur-reed Family
Marsh plants with linear leaves and spherical heads of inconspicuous
greenish flowers, appearing in summer.
About 5 species occur in Michigan, of which the commonest is
=Bur-reed, Sparganium eurycarpum.=
NAJADACEAE, the Pondweed Family
Aquatic plants with submerged or floating leaves and inconspicuous
flowers in summer.
1a. Leaves opposite or whorled --2.
1b. Leaves alternate --2c.
2a. Leaves thread-like, 3-8 cm. long
=Horned Pondweed, Zannichellia palustris.=
2b. Leaves linear, toothed, abruptly dilated at the base, 3 cm.
long or less (Naiad) --3.
2c. Leaves entire, not abruptly dilated at base
[2]=Pondweed, Potamogeton spp.=
3a. Leaves about 2 mm. wide, sharply and coarsely toothed
=Naiad, Naias marina.=
3b. Leaves very narrowly linear, with numerous minute teeth
=Naiad, Naias flexilis.=
[2] About 30 species of Potamogeton occur in Michigan, among
which the most conspicuous is Potamogeton natans, with elliptical
floating leaves. For the identification of the species the Manual must
be used.
JUNCAGINACEAE, the Arrow Grass Family
Marsh plants, with linear cylindrical leaves and inconspicuous flowers
in spikes or racemes, appearing in early summer.
1a. Leaves all basal; flowers numerous in a spike-like raceme (Arrow
Grass) --2.
1b. Stem-leaves present; flowers in a loose bracted raceme (1-3 dm.
high). =Scheuchzeria, Scheuchzeria palustris.=
2a. Fruit (usually to be seen at the base of the raceme) ovoid or
oblong, rounded at the base =Arrow Grass, Triglochin maritima.=
2b. Fruit linear, narrowed at the base (1-5 dm. high)
=Arrow Grass, Triglochin palustris.=
ALISMACEAE, the Water Plantain Family
Marsh plants, with scape-like stems; flowers with 3 green sepals, 3
white petals, 6 or more stamens, and several separate pistils.
1a. Ovaries in a ring; flowers in panicles (2-8 dm. high, summer)
=Water Plantain, Alisma Plantago-aquatica.=
1b. Ovaries in a head; flowers in racemes or umbels --2.
2a. Flowers all perfect, in a single umbel of 2-8 flowers; stamens
9 (leaves lanceolate; 15 cm. high or less; summer)
=Dwarf Water Plantain, Echinodorus tenellus.=
2b. Flowers in a raceme of 3-flowered whorls, the lower pistillate,
the upper staminate; stamens usually more than nine (1-10 dm.
high, summer) (Arrow-head) --3.
3a. Leaves ovate to linear, not sagittate at base --4.
3b. Leaves broad or narrow, sagittate at base --5.
4a. Pistillate (basal) flowers sessile or nearly so (2-8 dm. high,
summer) =Arrow-head, Sagittaria heterophylla.=
4b. Pistillate flowers with obvious pedicels
=Arrow-head, Sagittaria graminea.=
5a. Basal lobes of the leaf conspicuous, triangular, almost or quite as
long as the terminal portion --6.
5b. Basal lobes small, short, linear --4b.
6a. Beak of the achene very short and erect; rare species
=Arrow-head, Sagittaria arifolia.=
6b. Beak of the achene sharp, incurved at right angles to the body;
common species =Arrow-head, Sagittaria latifolia.=
HYDROCHARITACEAE, the Frog's Bit Family
Submerged aquatics, with inconspicuous flowers in summer.
1a. Leaves all from the base, 2 dm. long or more
=Eel Grass, Vallisneria spiralis.=
1b. Leaves on the stem, 2 cm. long or less
=Water-weed, Elodea canadensis.=
GRAMINEAE, the Grass Family
Grasses, with linear or narrow sheathing leaves, and very small flowers
without perianth in the axils of chaffy bracts, appearing in late spring
and summer.
Of the large number (over 150) of grasses in Michigan, only the
commonest are included here, and the student is referred to the Manuals
for a full treatment of them.
Their classification depends chiefly upon the structure and arrangement
of the spikelets. These consist typically of a short axis, the rachilla,
almost or quite concealed by several chaffy bracts. The two lower bracts
are termed glumes, and have no flowers in their axils. Above the glumes
are two or more other bracts, the lemmas. In the axil of each lemma, and
usually concealed by it, is a smaller bract, the palea, and between the
lemma and the palea is a single flower. The number of flowers in a
spikelet is therefore normally equal to the number of lemmas. The
spikelets are grouped in racemes, spikes, or panicles of various size.
1a. Spikelets one-flowered --2.
1b. Spikelets with 2 or more flowers --24.
2a. Spikelets grouped into dense solitary cylindrical spikes --3.
2b. Spikelets arranged in panicles or in panicled spikes --8.
3a. Spikelets without awns or bristles, or with short awns not more than
3 mm. long --4.
3b. Spikelets with awns 2-5 cm. long, terminating the bracts
=Squirrel-tail, Hordeum jubatum.=
3c. Bracts of the spikelet without terminal awns, but the spikelets with
one or more long bristles arising from their base --6.
4a. Spike-like panicle thickened in the middle, more than 1 cm.
thick =Beach Grass, Ammophila arenaria.=
4b. Spike little or not at all thickened in the middle, less than 1
cm. thick --5.
5a. Lower bracts awned; stem erect, unbranched
=Timothy, Phleum pratense.=
5b. Lower scales unawned; stem branched at the base
=Floating Foxtail, Alopecurus geniculatus.=
6a. Bristles 5 or more at the base of each spikelet
=Yellow Foxtail, Setaria glauca.=
6b. Bristles 1-3 at the base of each spikelet --7.
7a. Spikelets about 2 mm. long; bristles not much longer, green
=Green Foxtail, Setaria viridis.=
7b. Spikelets about 3 mm. long; bristles much longer, usually purple
=Millet, Setaria italica.=
8a. Spikelets numerous, in long slender symmetrical spikes --9.
8b. Spikelets in panicles, racemes, or loose spikes --13.
9a. Spikelets without awns; plants 8 dm. high or less (Crab Grass) --10.
9b. Spikelets with awns; plants 12 dm. high or more --12.
10a. Leaf-sheaths all glabrous. =Crab Grass, Digitaria humifusa.=
10b. Lower leaf-sheaths hairy --11.
11a. Axis of the spike flat, with wing-like margins
=Crab Grass, Digitaria sanguinalis.=
11b. Axis of the spike slender, without winged margins
=Crab Grass, Digitaria filiformis.=
12a. Spikes numerous, appressed to the axis of the panicle; tall
marsh grass =Slough Grass, Spartina michauxiana.=
12b. Spikes 2-6, widely divergent; plant of dry ground
=Blue-joint, Andropogon furcatus.=
13a. Spikelets subtended by an ovoid thorny involucre 3-8 mm. wide
=Sand Bur, Cenchrus carolinianus.=
13b. Spikelets without a thorny involucre --14.
14a. Lower branches of the panicle spreading, bearing staminate
flowers, the upper branches erect, with pistillate flowers;
aquatic or marsh grass 2-4 m. high
=Wild Rice, Zizania aquatica.=
14b. Panicle uniform throughout --15.
15a. Spikelets with awns 2 mm. or more long --16.
15b. Spikelets not awned, or with short inconspicuous awns --18.
16a. Spikelets in solitary raceme-like spikes; awn about 1 cm. long
or more =Beard Grass, Andropogon scoparius.=
16b. Spikelets in branching clusters; awn less than 1 cm. long
--17.
17a. Leaf-blade 4 mm. wide or narrower; panicle slender
=Drop-seed, Muhlenbergia schreberi.=
17b. Leaf-blade 6 mm. wide or more; panicle stout and coarse
=Barnyard Grass, Echinochloa crus-galli.=
18a. Spikelet plump and compact, its bracts closely folded about
each other --19.
18b. Spikelet very flat, its two bracts closely folded together
=Cut-grass, Leersia oryzoides.=
18c. Spikelet loose and open, somewhat flattened, its 3 bracts
ascending or spreading and not closely folded about each other
--20.
19a. Panicle about half as long as the entire plant; leaves copiously
hairy =Witch Grass, Panicum capillare.=
19b. Panicle of smaller size
=Panic-grasses, various species of Panicum.=
20a. Panicle strongly contracted or spike-like; plants of
sand-dunes --4a.
20b. Panicle spreading or slightly contracted; axis of the spikelet
beset with bristles; leaves 2 dm. long or more; marsh grass
=Reed Grass, Calamagrostis canadensis.=
20c. Panicle spreading or somewhat contracted, but not spike-like;
axis of the spikelet without bristles --21.
21a. Panicle-branches erect or ascending --22.
21b. Panicle-branches strongly spreading --23.
22a. The two outer scales of the spikelet one-fourth as long as the
third scale, or sometimes one of them absent --17a.
22b. The glumes at least half as long as the lemma
=Wood-grass, Muhlenbergia mexicana.=
23a. The chief lateral branches of the panicle dividing and bearing
flowers below their middle =Red-top, Agrostis alba.=
23b. The chief branches of the panicle dividing only beyond the middle
=Hair Grass, Agrostis hyemalis.=
24a. Spikelets arranged in two rows to form a definite spike --25.
24b. Spikelets in panicles, never in definite rows --29.
25a. Spikelets in a single row on one side of the axis, forming a
one-sided spike =Yard Grass, Eleusine indica.=
25b. Spikelets alternating on opposite sides of the axis, forming a
two-rowed spike --26.
26a. Spikelets in pairs at each joint, forming a dense spike (Wild
Rye) --27.
26b. Spikelets single at each joint, forming a loose, open or
interrupted spike --28.
27a. Glumes lanceolate =Wild Rye, Elymus canadensis.=
27b. Glumes narrowly subulate =Wild Rye, Elymus virginicus.=
28a. Spikelets with their edges toward the axis of the spike
=Rye Grass, Lolium perenne.=
28b. Spikelets with their sides toward the axis of the spike
=Quack Grass, Agropyron repens.=
29a. Glumes longer than the lemmas
=Oats, Avena sativa.=
29b. Glumes shorter than the lemmas --30.
30a. Axis of the spikelet beset with conspicuous long hairs about
equaling the lemmas; tall marsh grass 1-4 m. high
=Reed, Phragmites communis.=
30b. Spikelets without conspicuous long hairs --31.
31a. Spikelets sessile or nearly so, forming crowded or spike-like
panicles --32.
31b. Spikelets distinctly panicled --33.
32a. Spikelets in dense one-sided clusters at the ends of the
panicle branches =Orchard Grass, Dactylis glomerata.=
32b. Spikelets in an erect spike-like cluster
=Prairie June-grass, Koeleria cristata.=
33a. Lemmas, exclusive of the awn when present, 8 mm. long or more --34.
33b. Lemmas, exclusive of the awn when present, 6 mm. long or less
--35.
34a. Awns on the lemmas 12 mm. long or more
=Brome-grass, Bromus tectorum.=
34b. Awns on the lemmas 8 mm. long or less, or none
=Cheat, Bromus secalinus.=
35a. Lemmas with 7 sharp conspicuous veins from base to apex
=Manna Grass, Glyceria nervata.=
35b. Lemmas with 3-5 inconspicuous veins --36.
36a. Spikelets with 5 flowers or more --37.
36b. Spikelets with 2-4 (rarely 5) flowers --40.
37a. Stems tufted and decumbent at base (Love Grass) --38.
37b. Stems erect (Fescue Grass) --39.
38a. Spikelets 1.5 mm. wide =Love Grass, Eragrostis pilosa.=
38b. Spikelets 3 mm. wide =Love Grass, Eragrostis megastachya.=
39a. Lemmas with conspicuous awns =Fescue Grass, Festuca octoflora.=
39b. Lemmas without awns =Fescue Grass, Festuca elatior.=
40a. Tufted annual grass =Spear Grass, Poa annua.=
40b. Perennials, with erect flowering stems --41.
41a. Stems round =Blue Grass, Poa pratensis.=
41b. Stems strongly flattened =Canadian Blue Grass, Poa compressa.=
CYPERACEAE, the Sedge Family
Grass-like or rush-like plants, with linear leaves or leafless, and
inconspicuous flowers in small chaffy spikes.
Over 200 species occur in Michigan, of which only the commonest are
included here. For the remaining species the Manuals should be
consulted.
1a. Spikes all alike --2.
1b. The uppermost spike or spikes wholly staminate, the lower one or
more pistillate; ovary and achene surrounded by a sac, the
perigynium. Mature fruit is necessary for satisfactory
identification (Sedge) --12.
2a. Stems leafless, bearing one or more spikes at or near the top
--3.
2b. Stems leafy --6.
3a. Spike one, terminal and erect (Spike Rush) --4.
3b. Spikes usually more than one, lateral and spreading --5.
4a. Annual, with fibrous roots =Spike Rush, Eleocharis obtusa.=
4b. Perennial, with a running rootstock
=Spike Rush, Eleocharis palustris.=
5a. Stem round =Bulrush, Scirpus validus.=
5b. Stem 3-cornered =Three-square, Scirpus americanus.=
6a. Spikes axillary along the side of the stem
=Dulichium, Dulichium, arundinaceum.=
6b. Spikes terminal --7.
7a. Spikes subtended by long conspicuous leaves which greatly exceed the
flower clusters --8.
7b. Spikes not conspicuously exceeded by the bract-like leaves --10.
8a. Spikes in a dense head-like cluster, white-woolly at maturity
=Cotton Grass, Eriophorum virginicum.=
8b. Spikes not in dense heads, nor white-woolly at maturity --9.
9a. Perennial by a creeping rootstock =Nut Grass, Cyperus esculentus.=
9b. Perennial by hard basal corms =Cyperus, Cyperus strigosus.=
10a. Bracts of the spike chestnut-brown
=Twig Rush, Cladium mariscoides.=
10b. Bracts of the spike green or straw-color (Sedge) --11.
11a. Spikes 3-8, separate =Sedge, Carex straminea.=
11b. Spikes very numerous and densely crowded
=Sedge, Carex vulpinoidea.=
12a. Achenes flattened =Sedge, Carex crinita.=
12b. Achenes 3-angled --13.
13a. Perigynium tipped with a sharp straight 2-toothed beak --14.