in summer) =Pearlwort, Sagina nodosa.=
6b. Styles 3 (1-4 dm. high; flowers white, nearly 1 cm. wide,
summer) =Stitchwort, Arenaria stricta.=
7a. Petals entire (3 dm. high or less; flowers white, in summer)
(Stitchwort) --8.
7b. Petals notched or 2-cleft at the end, or none --11.
8a. Principal leaves 1 cm. long or less --9.
8b. Principal leaves 1.5 cm. long or more --10.
9a. Petals half as long as the sepals
=Stitchwort, Arenaria leptoclados.=
9b. Petals almost as long as the sepals
=Stitchwort, Arenaria serpyllifolia.=
10a. Leaves oblong-oval, obtuse. =Stitchwort, Arenaria lateriflora.=
10b. Leaves lanceolate, acute. =Stitchwort, Arenaria macrophylla.=
11a. Capsule splitting by valves at maturity; styles usually 3
(Chickweed) --12.
11b. Capsule opening by terminal teeth at maturity; styles usually 5
(tufted or matted plants, 1-5 dm. high; flowers white, in spring
and summer) (Mouse-ear Chickweed) --18.
12a. Petals distinctly shorter than the sepals, or none --13.
12b. Petals as long as the sepals, or longer --15.
13a. Leaves ovate (1-3 dm. high; flowers white, all summer)
=Chickweed, Stellaria media.=
13b. Leaves lanceolate to oblong (in water or wet places, 1-4 dm. high;
flowers white, in summer) --14.
14a. Flowers in a leafy terminal branching cluster
=Chickweed, Stellaria borealis.=
14b. Flowers in a lateral cluster with minute bracts
=Chickweed, Stellaria uliginosa.=
15a. Flowers in clusters with leaf-like bracts, or axillary and solitary
(in water or wet places; 1-3 dm. high; flowers white, summer)
=Chickweed, Stellaria crassifolia.=
15b. Flowers in clusters with scale-like bracts --16.
16a. Leaves distinctly linear; cymes lateral; a common species in
marshes (2-5 dm. high; flowers white, early summer)
=Chickweed, Stellaria longifolia.=
16b. Leaves distinctly broadest near the base; flower-cluster
terminal --17.
17a. Pedicels erect; clusters usually few-flowered; in extreme northern
part of the state only (1-3 dm. high; flowers white, summer)
=Chickweed, Stellaria longipes.=
17b. Pedicels spreading; clusters open, many-flowered (2-6 dm. high;
flowers white, in summer) =Chickweed, Stellaria graminea.=
18a. Petals distinctly longer than the sepals --19.
18b. Petals as long as the sepals, or shorter than them --21.
19a. Flowers much less than 1 cm. wide
=Mouse-ear Chickweed, Cerastium nutans.=
19b. Flowers more than 1 cm. wide --20.
20a. Stem-leaves linear or narrowly lanceolate
=Mouse-ear Chickweed, Cerastium arvense.=
20b. Stem-leaves oblong
=Mouse-ear Chickweed, Cerastium arvense var. oblongifolium.=
21a. Bracts green; pedicels short and inflorescence crowded
=Mouse-ear Chickweed, Cerastium viscosum.=
21b. Bracts with transparent white margins; pedicels longer than the
calyx and inflorescence open
=Mouse-ear Chickweed, Cerastium vulgatum.=
22a. Styles 5 --23.
22b. Styles 3 (3-10 dm. high; flowers in summer) --25.
22c. Styles 2 --29.
23a. Calyx-teeth much longer than the calyx-tube (erect, 4-10 dm. high;
flowers large, red, late summer)
=Corn Cockle, Agrostemma githago.=
23b. Calyx-teeth shorter than the calyx-tube (4-10 dm. high; flowers in
summer) --24.
24a. Flowers crimson =Mullein Pink, Lychnis coronaria.=
24b. Flowers white or pink =White Campion, Lychnis alba.=
25a. Flowers night-blooming, always wilted during the day
=Catchfly, Silene noctiflora.=
25b. Flowers open during the day --26.
26a. Flowers 6 mm. wide or less, white or pink
=Catchfly, Silene antirrhina.=
26b. Flowers 1-2 cm. wide, white to pink or purple --27.
26c. Flowers 2 cm. wide or more, crimson
=Fire Pink, Silene virginica.=
27a. Principal leaves in whorls of 4
=Starry Campion, Silene stellata.=
27b. Leaves opposite --28.
28a. Calyx globular, much inflated or bladder-like
=Bladder Campion, Silene latifolia.=
28b. Calyx club-shape, not inflated
=Sweet William Catchfly, Silene armeria.=
29a. Leaves linear or narrowly lanceolate, 5 mm. wide or less (flowers
pink or white, in summer) --30.
29b. Leaves lanceolate or ovate (flowers pink, white, or red, in summer)
--32.
30a. Flowers in terminal clusters; leaves hairy (2-4 dm. high)
=Deptford Pink, Dianthus armeria.=
30b. Flowers solitary at the ends of long pedicels --31.
31a. Flowers 3-4 mm. wide (1-2 dm. high)
=Gypsophyll, Gypsophila muralis.=
31b. Flowers 1 cm. wide or more (1-5 dm. high)
=Meadow Pink, Dianthus deltoides.=
32a. Flowers less than 1 cm. broad --33.
32b. Flowers more than 1 cm. broad --34.
33a. Flowers white, in large panicles (4-7 dm. high)
=Baby's Breath, Gypsophila paniculata.=
33b. Flowers pale red, in loose clusters (4-10 dm. high)
=Cowherb, Saponaria vaccaria.=
34a. Leaves with 3-5 prominent veins (4-7 dm. high)
=Soapwort, Saponaria officinalis.=
34b. Leaves with one mid-vein (3-6 dm. high)
=Sweet William, Dianthus barbatus.=
PORTULACACEAE, the Purslane Family
Herbs with opposite or alternate leaves and regular flowers with 2
sepals, 5 petals, and a 1-celled ovary with 2 or 3 styles.
1a. Leaves a single pair on each stem (1-2 dm. high; flowers pink, in
racemes in early spring) (Spring Beauty) --2.
1b. Leaves numerous (prostrate or spreading; flowers in summer) --3.
2a. Leaves lance-ovate to oblong, not more than six times as long
as wide =Spring Beauty, Claytonia caroliniana.=
2b. Leaves linear or linear-lanceolate, more than six times as long
as wide =Spring Beauty, Claytonia virginica.=
3a. Flowers yellow, about 5 mm. wide =Purslane, Portulaca oleracea.=
3b. Flowers 2-5 cm. wide =Portulaca, Portulaca grandiflora.=
CERATOPHYLLACEAE, the Hornwort Family
Submerged aquatics, with whorled, finely dissected leaves and
inconspicuous flowers with neither calyx nor corolla.
One species in Michigan =Hornwort, Ceratophyllum demersum.=
NYMPHAEACEAE, the Water Lily Family
Aquatic plants, with usually large and floating leaves which are round
or elliptical and palmately veined.
1a. Floating and emersed leaves centrally peltate --2.
1b. Leaves rounded but not peltate, with a deep sinus --3.
2a. Leaves round, 3 dm. in diameter or more; flowers very large,
pale yellow =Lotus, Nelumbo lutea.=
2b. Leaves oval, 5-15 cm. long; flowers small, purple
=Water Shield, Brasenia schreberi.=
3a. Flowers yellow (Pond Lily) --4.
3b. Flowers white or tinged with pink (Water Lily) --5.
4a. Leaves more than 1 dm. long =Pond Lily, Nymphaea advena.=
4b. Leaves less than 1 dm. long =Pond Lily, Nymphaea microphylla.=
5a. Flowers very fragrant; leaves purplish beneath
=Water Lily, Castalia odorata.=
5b. Flowers not fragrant; leaves green beneath
=Water Lily, Castalia tuberosa.=
RANUNCULACEAE, the Crowfoot Family
Herbs with alternate (rarely opposite) leaves, acrid watery juice,
separate sepals and petals, numerous stamens, and several or many
(rarely only 1) simple pistils. Petals present or absent, in the latter
case the sepals are usually petal-like in appearance.
1a. Climbing plants with opposite leaves (flowers in late summer)
(Virgin's Bower) --2.
1b. Aquatic plants with dissected submerged leaves (flowers in late
spring and summer) (Water Crowfoot) --3.
1c. Terrestrial or mud plants, not agreeing with 1a or 1b --6.
2a. Flowers white, 2-3 cm. wide
=Virgin's Bower, Clematis virginiana.=
2b. Flowers pink-purple, 5-8 cm. wide
=Virgin's Bower, Clematis verticillaris.=
3a. Flowers white --4.
3b. Flowers yellow --5.
4a. Leaves rigid, not collapsing when removed from the water
=Water Crowfoot, Ranunculus circinatus.=
4b. Leaves soft, collapsing when removed from the water
=Water Crowfoot, Ranunculus aquatilis var. capillaceus.=
5a. Submerged leaves divided into hair-like segments
=Water Crowfoot, Ranunculus delphinifolius.=
5b. Submerged leaves palmately divided into linear lobes
=Water Crowfoot, Ranunculus purshii.=
6a. Flowers blue, irregular, with one spur (4-8 dm. high, summer)
=Larkspur, Delphinium ajacis.=
6b. The five petals each prolonged into a spur; flowers showy (4-8
dm. tall) (Columbine) --7.
6c. Flowers regular, without spurs --8.
7a. Spurs nearly straight; flowers scarlet and yellow (spring)
=Wild Columbine, Aquilegia canadensis.=
7b. Spurs strongly incurved; flowers blue or white (spring, early
summer) =Columbine, Aquilegia vulgaris.=
8a. Flowers yellow --9.
8b. Flowers of various colors, but never yellow --28.
9a. Petals none; sepals petal-like; leaves crenate or dentate (2-4 dm.
high, flowers in early spring) =Cowslip, Caltha palustris.=
9b. Petals small; sepals petal-like; leaves deeply palmately lobed (4-6
dm. tall; flowers in late spring) =Globe-flower, Trollius laxus.=
9c. Petals yellow; sepals green or yellowish --10.
10a. Leaves linear to narrowly oblong, entire or with minute teeth
(flowers 10-15 mm. wide, in summer) --11.
10b. Leaves broader, some or all of them lobed or divided, or
cordate-ovate and not lobed --12.
11a. Stems ascending (4-8 dm. high), rooting at the lower joints; fruits
pointed with a long slender beak
=Spearwort, Ranunculus laxicaulis.=
11b. Stems prostrate and trailing, rooting at the joints; fruits tipped
with a minute short beak
=Spearwort, Ranunculus flammula var. reptans.=
12a. Basal leaves, or most of them, merely serrate or crenate, and
not obviously lobed --13.
12b. All the leaves lobed or divided --16.
13a. Stem-leaves resembling the basal ones, and not lobed (1-2 dm. high;
summer) =Sea-side Crowfoot, Ranunculus cymbalaria.=
13b. Stem-leaves deeply divided into oblong or linear segments --14.
14a. Flowers 1.5 cm. wide or more (1-3 dm. high; spring)
=Buttercup, Ranunculus rhomboideus.=
14b. Flowers 1 cm. wide or less (2-5 dm. high; spring) --15.
15a. Foliage glabrous or minutely pubescent; basal leaves cordate
=Small-flowered Crowfoot, Ranunculus abortivus.=
15b. Foliage villous; basal leaves barely cordate or not at all
=Small-flowered Crowfoot, Ranunculus micranthus.=
16a. Stem erect or essentially so --17.
16b. Stem prostrate, creeping, or ascending. Early in spring
stems may be found which appear almost erect. Common
spring-flowering buttercups are all classified here --22.
17a. Flowers 2 cm. broad or larger (Buttercup) --18.
17b. Flowers 1 cm. broad or smaller --19.
18a. Terminal lobe of leaf stalked (2-5 dm. high, early summer)
=Buttercup, Ranunculus bulbosus.=
18b. Terminal lobe of leaf sessile (5-10 dm. high; all summer)
=Buttercup, Ranunculus acris.=
19a. Plant glabrous, succulent; stem hollow (1-5 dm. high; spring and
summer) =Cursed Crowfoot, Ranunculus sceleratus.=
19b. Plant pubescent (Buttercup) --20.
20a. Fruits tipped with a prominent recurved beak; plant of shady
woods (2-6 dm. high; flowers in late spring)
=Buttercup, Ranunculus recurvatus.=
20b. Fruits tipped with a straight or slightly curved beak; plants
of marshes or wet soil (3-6 dm. high; flowers in summer) --21.
21a. Fruits in a short-cylindric head on a conical receptacle
=Buttercup, Ranunculus pennsylvanicus.=
21b. Fruits in a globose or short-ovoid head, on an obovoid receptacle
=Buttercup, Ranunculus macounii.=
22a. Leaves dissected into numerous linear or narrowly wedge-shape
divisions; plants growing in water or very wet places (late
spring and summer)
=Water Crowfoot, Ranunculus delphinifolius.=
22b. Leaves palmately lobed, the terminal division not definitely
stalked --23.
22c. Leaves compound, some or all of the divisions on definite
stalks (Buttercup) --24.
23a. Stem-leaves numerous (1-2 dm. tall; late spring and summer)
=Crowfoot, Ranunculus purshii.=
23b. Stem-leaves one or none, the principal leaves all basal (about 1
dm. high; flowers in summer) =Buttercup, Ranunculus lapponicus.=
24a. Style short, obviously curved --25.
24b. Style long and slender, straight or nearly so (common
spring-flowering buttercups, 2-5 dm. high) --26.
25a. Stems creeping; flowers 2 cm. wide or more (spring)
=Buttercup, Ranunculus repens.=
25b. Stems ascending; flowers 1.5 cm. wide or less (3-6 dm. high;
summer) =Buttercup, Ranunculus macounii.=
26a. The two lateral divisions of the leaf sessile or nearly so
=Buttercup, Ranunculus fascicularis.=
26b. The two lateral divisions of the leaf on long stalks --27.
27a. Roots fibrous; plants of wet soil
=Buttercup, Ranunculus septentrionalis.=
27b. Roots thickened; plants of dry woods or thickets
=Buttercup, Ranunculus hispidus.=
28a. Leaves dissected into numerous narrowly linear acute divisions
(4-7 dm. high; flowers large, bluish, in summer)
=Love-in-a-mist, Nigella damascena.=
28b. Leaves lobed or divided, but the divisions not separated by
definite stalks --29.
28c. Leaves truly compound, all their divisions separated by
distinct stalks --39.
29a. Leaves all basal, their lobes (usually 3) entire (1-2 dm. high;
flowers pink-purple, in earliest spring) (Hepatica) --30.
29b. Lobes of the leaf serrate or incised --31.
30a. Lobes of the leaf obtuse or rounded
=Hepatica, Hepatica triloba.=
30b. Lobes of the leaf acute =Hepatica, Hepatica acutiloba.=
31a. Petals none; sepals 3, usually falling away as soon as the flower
opens (2-4 dm. high; flowers greenish-white, in spring)
=Golden Seal, Hydrastis canadensis.=
31b. Petals none; sepals petal-like, 4 or more (Anemone) --32.
31c. Petals present, but much smaller than the 5 petal-like sepals --38.
32a. Stem-leaves sessile or nearly so --33.
32b. Stem-leaves on definite petioles --35.
33a. Ovary tipped with a long slender hairy style; flowers bluish-purple
(1-4 dm. high; early spring)
=Pasque Flower, Anemone patens var. wolfgangiana.=
33b. Ovary with a short style, densely woolly; flowers red, greenish, or
white (1-4 dm. high; late spring and summer) --34.
33c. Ovary tipped with a short style, glabrous or nearly so; flowers
white (4-7 dm. high; late spring and early summer)
=Anemone, Anemone canadensis.=
34a. Stem 1-flowered, sepals white
=Anemone, Anemone parviflora.=
34b. Stem 3-flowered; sepals usually red
=Anemone, Anemone multifida.=
35a. Achenes densely woolly; flowers appearing in summer --36.
35b. Achenes merely pubescent; stems 1-flowered; woodland species
blooming in early spring (1-2 dm. high; flowers white)
=Wood Anemone, Anemone quinquefolia.=
36a. Segments of the leaf broadly wedge-shape or ovate; flowers
white (4-8 dm. high) --37.
36b. Segments of the leaf linear-oblong; flower red, greenish, or
white; plants growing on the shores of the Great Lakes
=Anemone, Anemone multifida.=
37a. Segments of the basal leaves wedge-lanceolate; head of fruit
cylindric =Anemone, Anemone cylindrica.=
37b. Segments of the basal leaves ovate-lanceolate; head of fruit ovoid
or oblong =Anemone, Anemone virginiana.=
38a. Stem-leaves present --9b.
38b. Leaves all basal (1-2 dm. high; leaves 3-divided; flowers
white, in early summer) =Gold-thread, Coptis trifolia.=
39a. Flowers numerous, in branching panicles (Meadow Rue) --40.
39b. Flowers numerous, in racemes --43.
39c. Flowers solitary or few, in loose clusters; woodland plants
blooming in early spring (1-3 dm. high; flowers white to purple)
--45.
40a. Blooming in spring; stem-leaves with obvious petioles (3-7 dm.
high; flowers white or greenish)
=Meadow Rue, Thalictrum dioicum.=
40b. Blooming in late spring or summer, stem-leaves sessile or
nearly so (8-15 dm. high; flowers white) --41.
41a. Filaments club-shape, approximately as wide as the anther
=Meadow Rue, Thalictrum polygamum.=
41b. Filaments slender or thread-like --42.
42a. Leaves minutely pubescent beneath, but not glandular
=Meadow Rue, Thalictrum dasycarpum.=
42b. Leaves minutely glandular beneath
=Meadow Rue, Thalictrum revolutum.=
43a. Racemes slender, 10-90 cm. long (8-15 dm. high; flowers white, in
summer) =Bugbane, Cimicifuga racemosa.=
43b. Racemes short and stout, 3-8 cm. long (4-8 dm. high; flowers white,
in late spring) (Baneberry) --44.
44a. Berries white; pedicels strongly thickened at maturity
=Baneberry, Actaea alba.=
44b. Berries red; pedicels slender =Baneberry, Actaea rubra.=
45a. Flowers white; stem-leaves alternate
=Isopyrum, Isopyrum biternatum.=
45b. Flowers white to pink or purplish; stem-leaves whorled
=Rue Anemone, Anemonella thalictroides.=
MAGNOLIACEAE, the Magnolia Family
Trees or shrubs, with alternate leaves, and large, frequently showy
flowers.
One species in Michigan, with broad 4-lobed leaves and greenish-yellow
flowers in late spring =Tulip Tree, Liriodendron tulipifera.=
ANONACEAE, the Custard Apple Family
Trees or shrubs, with alternate simple entire leaves, 3 sepals, and 6
petals.
One species in Michigan; tall shrub or small tree, with obovate leaves
and large dull-purple flowers in spring =Papaw, Asimina triloba.=
MENISPERMACEAE, the Moonseed Family
Woody climbers, with alternate leaves, 6-8 petals, and numerous stamens.
One species in Michigan, with 5-7-angled leaves which are peltate near
the edge, and small white flowers in early summer
=Moonseed, Menispermum canadense.=
BERBERIDACEAE, the Barberry Family
Shrubs or herbs; petals 6 or more; stamens 6-18, frequently opening by
two terminal lids; pistil 1.
1a. Leaves simple --2.
1b. Leaves compound --3.
2a. Stem shrubby (flowers yellow, in racemes, in spring)
=Barberry, Berberis vulgaris.=
2b. Stem herbaceous, with a single pair of palmately lobed leaves
(4-6 dm. tall; flower white, solitary, terminal, in spring)
=May Apple, Podophyllum peltatum.=
3a. Leaves all basal; leaflets 2 (2-4 dm. high; the flower-stalks
bearing solitary white flowers in spring)
=Twin-leaf, Jeffersonia diphylla.=
3b. The stem-leaf ternately compound, with numerous leaflets (4-8 dm.
high; with yellowish-green clustered flowers in spring)
=Blue Cohosh, Caulophyllum thalictroides.=
LAURACEAE, the Laurel Family
Trees or shrubs, with aromatic taste or odor, and alternate simple
leaves; flowers small, imperfect, the anthers opening by lids.
1a. Freely branched shrub; leaves obovate-oblong, entire (flowers
yellow, in early spring, before the leaves)
=Spice Bush, Benzoin aestivale.=
1b. Tree or tall shrub; some or all of the leaves 2-3-lobed (flowers
greenish-yellow, appearing with the leaves)
=Sassafras, Sassafras variifolium.=
PAPAVERACEAE, the Poppy Family
Herbs with milky or colored juice, regular flowers, 2 sepals, 4, 6, or 8
petals, numerous stamens, and a 1-celled ovary.
1a. Leaves palmately lobed; flower 2.5-5 cm. wide, with 8 petals or more
(leaf basal; flower white, in early spring)
=Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis.=
1b. Leaves pinnately toothed or lobed; flower 7-10 cm. wide, with 4-6
petals (4-8 cm. high; leaves clasping; summer)
=Poppy, Papaver somniferum.=
1c. Leaves divided pinnately to the mid-rib into several toothed or
lobed segments; flower 2.5 cm. broad or less (3-5 cm. high; flowers
yellow) --2.
2a. Flowers in clusters of 2-4, about 3 cm. wide (spring)
=Celandine Poppy, Stylophorum diphyllum.=
2b. Flowers in umbels of 3-8, about 1.5 cm. wide
=Celandine, Chelidonium majus.=
FUMARIACEAE, the Fumitory Family
Herbs with watery juice, compound or dissected leaves, and irregular
flowers; sepals 2, small; petals 4, in two pairs, and one or both of the
outer pair spurred at the base; stamens 6.
1a. Both outer petals spurred or sack-like at the base --2.
1b. One outer petal spurred or sack-like at the base --4.
2a. A climbing vine with flowers in panicles (white or pinkish
flowers in summer) =Climbing Fumitory, Adlumia fungosa.=
2b. Low herbs (2-4 cm.) with basal leaves and white or pinkish
flowers in racemes (early spring) --3.
3a. Spurs of the corolla triangular, divergent
=Dutchman's Breeches, Dicentra cucullaria.=
3b. Spurs of the corolla short and rounded
=Squirrel Corn, Dicentra canadensis.=
4a. Flowers about 5 mm. long, pink-purple tipped with red (3-8 dm.
high; summer) =Fumitory, Fumaria officinalis.=
4b. Flowers 10 mm. long or more, yellow, at least at the tip (2-6
dm. high) (Corydalis) --5.
5a. Flowers yellow throughout (spring) =Corydalis, Corydalis aurea.=
5b. Flowers pink, tipped with yellow (summer).
=Corydalis, Corydalis sempervirens.=
CRUCIFERAE, the Mustard Family
Herbs, with alternate, frequently lobed or dissected leaves, and regular
flowers, usually in racemes; sepals and petals each 4, stamens 6, 4 long
and 2 short (or rarely 2 only), ovary 1.
1a. Petals yellow or yellowish --2.
1b. Petals white, pink, or purple, never yellow --29.
2a. Leaves simple, entire or dentate, never lobed --3.
2b. Leaves deeply lobed or compound (the bracteal leaves, at or
near the flower-clusters, may be simple and unlobed) --10.
3a. Leaves clasping the stem --4.
3b. Leaves not clasping at base --6.
4a. Clasping base and apex of leaf obtuse or rounded; pod very long
and slender (3-8 dm. high; summer)
=Hare's Ear, Conringia orientalis.=
4b. Clasping base and apex of leaf acute; pod obovoid (3-7 dm.
high; early summer) (False Flax) --5.
5a. Stem and leaves glabrous =False Flax, Camelina sativa.=
5b. Leaves and usually the stem pubescent
=False Flax, Camelina microcarpa.=
6a. Flowers about 2 mm. wide (1-3 dm. high; flowers in summer) --7.
6b. Flowers 5 mm. wide or more (2-6 dm. high; flowers in summer)
--8.
7a. Leaves about twice as long as broad, widest near or below the middle
=Whitlow Grass, Draba nemorosa.=
7b. Leaves 3-5 times as long as broad, widest above the middle
=Yellow Alyssum, Alyssum alyssoides.=
8a. Leaves lanceolate, gradually tapering to the base; flowers
about 15 mm. wide =Sand Rocket, Diplotaxis muralis.=
8b. Leaves ovate, acute at base; flowers about 15 mm. wide --22a.
8c. Leaves entire or minutely toothed; flowers 5-10 mm. wide --9.
9a. Pods 25 mm. long or less, on slender pedicels about 8 mm. long
=Worm-seed Mustard, Erysimum cheiranthoides.=
9b. Pods 20 mm. long or more, on stout pedicels about 4 mm. long
=Worm-seed Mustard, Erysimum parviflorum.=
10a. Leaves bipinnate or dissected into very numerous divisions
(3-8 dm. high; flowers in summer) --11.
10b. Leaves simply pinnate --13.
11a. Flowers about 5 mm. broad; pods about 20 mm. long by 1 mm. broad
=Herb Sophia, Sisymbrium sophia.=
11b. Flowers about 3 mm. broad; pods about 8 mm. long by 2 mm. wide
(Tansy Mustard) --12.
12a. Stems gray with a close fine pubescence
=Tansy Mustard, Sisymbrium canescens.=
12b. Stems green
=Tansy Mustard, Sisymbrium canescens var. brachycarpon.=
13a. Pod short, not more than 3 times as long as wide (coarse plants,
preferring wet or sandy ground; flowers in summer) (Yellow Cress)
--14.
13b. Pod elongated, more than 4 times as long as wide --17.
14a. Stems creeping, with erect or ascending branches; flowers
about 8 mm. wide =Yellow Cress, Radicula sylvestris.=
14b. Stems erect or ascending (3-10 dm. high); flowers about 4 mm.
wide --15.
15a. Pods about twice as long as the pedicels
=Yellow Cress, Radicula obtusa.=
15b. Pods about as long as the pedicels, or shorter than them --16.
16a. Plant glabrous or minutely pubescent
=Yellow Cress, Radicula palustris.=
16b. Plant hirsute =Yellow Cress, Radicula palustris var. hispida.=
17a. Petals 7 mm. long or more; pod terminating in a conspicuous beak
(coarse, weedy plants, 3-12 dm. high, blooming in summer) --18.
17b. Petals of smaller size; pod not terminating in a conspicuous beak
--24.
18a. Upper stem-leaves clasping at the base
=Rutabaga, Brassica campestris.=
18b. Upper stem-leaves not clasping --19.
19a. Pod tipped with a slender cylindrical beak whose base is much
narrower than the pod --20.
19b. Pod gradually narrowed at its tip into a stout, flattened or angled
beak --22.
20a. Leaves oblanceolate, rather regularly pinnatifid, the terminal
segment about the same size as the lateral ones
=Sand Rocket, Diplotaxis muralis.=
20b. Leaves broad, irregularly pinnatifid especially below the
middle, with a large terminal segment --21.
21a. Beak of pod 3-4 mm. long =Black Mustard, Brassica nigra.=
21b. Beak of pod 5 mm. long or more =Indian Mustard, Brassica juncea.=