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The Plants of Michigan: Simple Keys for the Identification of the Native Seed Plants of the StateGleason, Henry A. (Henry Allan)

Science

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

Name: The Plants of Michigan: Simple Keys for the Identification of the Native Seed Plants of the State
Author: Gleason, Henry A. (Henry Allan)

Gleason, Henry A. (Henry Allan)

Plants -- Michigan

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.

13b. Perigynium with a short soft beak --17.

     14a. Perigynium thin and papery, loosely enclosing the achene --15.

     14b. Perigynium firm, closely enclosing the achene --16.

15a. Perigynium less than 1 cm. long         =Sedge, Carex hystericina.=

15b. Perigynium more than 1 cm. long            =Sedge, Carex lupulina.=

     16a. Perigynium smooth                      =Sedge, Carex riparia.=

     16b. Perigynium hairy                    =Sedge, Carex filiformis.=

17a. Beak of the perigynium bent abruptly to one side
                                               =Sedge, Carex laxiflora.=

17b. Beak of the perigynium straight
                                           =Sedge, Carex pennsylvanica.=

ARACEAE, the Arum Family

Individual flowers small, but crowded on a fleshy spadix to form a
conspicuous spike, usually surrounded by a green or colored spathe.

1a. Leaves compound --2.

1b. Leaves simple --3.

     2a. Leaflets 3, spathe pale green or purple (3-6 dm. high; spring)
                                   =Indian Turnip, Arisaema triphyllum.=

     2b. Leaflets 7-11; spathe green; spadix long and slender (3-8 dm.
         high; late spring)          =Dragon Root, Arisaema dracontium.=

3a. Leaves linear, sword-shape; spathe none (5-15 dm. high; early
    summer)                                =Sweet Flag, Acorus calamus.=

3b. Leaves broader than linear; spathe present --4.

     4a. Flower clusters partly underground, appearing in earliest
         spring                  =Skunk Cabbage, Symplocarpus foetidus.=

     4b. Flower clusters peduncled, in early summer --5.

5a. Leaves broadly ovate-cordate; spathe white
                                          =Water Arum, Calla palustris.=

5b. Leaves more or less sagittate; spathe green
                                      =Arrow Arum, Peltandra virginica.=

LEMNACEAE, the Duckweed Family

Minute leafless plants floating on quiet water; flowers exceedingly
small and seldom seen.

1a. Plant thick, ovoid, less than 2 mm. long; roots none. Two species
    are reported from Michigan                            =Wolffia spp.=

1b. Plant flattened, with short roots --2.

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

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