LINACEAE, the Flax Family

Herbs with simple leaves, and regular flowers, having 5 sepals, 5 yellow or blue petals, 5 stamens, and 5 styles.

1a. Flowers blue (3-6 dm. high; summer)
1b. Flowers yellow (3-8 dm. high; summer) (Wild Flax) — 2.
2a. Middle stem-leaves below the branches opposite
2b. Middle stem-leaves below the branches alternate — 3.
3a. Leaves narrowly lanceolate to linear, 1-4 mm. wide — 4.
3b. Leaves oblanceolate to oblong, 4-6 mm. wide
4a. Leaves entire
4b. Upper leaves glandular-ciliate


OXALIDACEAE, the Wood Sorrel Family

Herbs, with alternate or basal compound leaves with 3 reverse heart-shaped leaflets; sepals, petals, and styles each 5; stamens 10. (Wood Sorrel)

1a. Leaves all basal; flowers white to pink-purple (1-2 dm. high; late spring) — 2.
1b. Stem-leaves present; flowers yellow (1-5 dm. high; spring and summer) — 3.
2a. Flower-stalks bearing a single flower
2b. Flower-stalks bearing an umbel of several flowers
3a. Stem prostrate and creeping Wood Sorrel, Oxalis repens.
3b. Stem erect or ascending — 4.
4a. Pedicels with spreading pubescence
4b. Pedicels with appressed pubescence


GERANIACEAE, the Geranium Family

Herbs, with deeply lobed or divided leaves; flowers regular, with 5 sepals, 5 petals, 5 or 10 stamens, and a 5-celled ovary.

1a. Anthers 5 (spreading or ascending plants, 2-4 dm. high; flowers pink or purple, spring and summer) — 2.
1b. Anthers 10 — 3.
2a. Leaves pinnately dissected
2b. Leaves palmately divided into cuneate lobes
3a. Leaves ternately divided, the lobes pinnatifid (2-4 dm. high; flowers purple, late spring and summer)
3b. Leaves palmately 3-11-lobed — 4.
4a. Petals 12 mm. long or more (3-6 dm. high; flowers pale purple, spring)
4b. Petals less than 10 mm. long (Crane's-bill) — 5.
5a. Seed-bearing portion of the pistil smooth, glabrous or nearly so (low spreading plant; flowers purple, late spring and summer)
5b. Seed-bearing portion of the pistil transversely wrinkled (widely branching. 1-3 dm. tall; flowers purple, summer)
5c. Seed-bearing portion of the pistil pubescent (widely branching. 1-5 dm. tall) — 6.
6a. Leaves divided almost to the base (flowers pinkish or white, spring and summer) — 7.
6b. Leaves divided one-half to two-thirds the way to the base (flowers purple, summer)
7a. Petals white or pale pink; flowers in compact clusters
7b. Petals pink-purple; flowers in loose clusters


RUTACEAE, the Rue Family

Shrubs or low trees, with compound leaves frequently dotted with translucent glands; flowers small, greenish-white, with 3-5 sepals, petals, and stamens.

1a. Leaflets 5-9; stems thorny
1b. Leaflets 3; stems not thorny


SIMARUBACEAE, the Quassia Family

Trees, with pinnately compound leaves and small greenish-yellow flowers in large panicles in early summer, ripening into winged fruits.

One species in Michigan, escaped from cultivation chiefly in towns


POLYGALACEAE, the Milkwort Family

Small herbs, with alternate or whorled simple leaves, and small irregular flowers; sepals 5, petals 3, stamens 6 or 8, more or less united with each other and with the petals.

1a. All of the leaves alternate — 2.
1b. Some or all of the leaves in whorls (1-4 dm. high; flowers greenish, purple, or white; summer) (Milkwort) — 6.
2a. Flowers few, loosely clustered, 15-20 mm. long (1-3 dm. high; flowers purple; early summer)
2b. Flowers numerous, in a spike or raceme — 3.
3a. Stem-leaves minute, linear-subulate; stem slender, erect, 3-7 dm. high (flowers pink; summer)
3b. Stem-leaves narrowly oblong or broader; stem generally 1-4 dm. high — 4.
4a. Flowers in a short thick obtuse very dense spike (flowers greenish or purple; summer)
4b. Flowers in a slender tapering spike — 5.
4c. Flowers in a raceme; plants with subterranean flowers also (flowers purple; early summer)
5a. Leaves linear or nearly so (flowers purple; summer) — 7b.
5b. Leaves lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 2-6 cm. long (flowers white; late spring)
5c. Leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate (flowers white; late spring)
6a. Spike oval, thick, obtuse
6b. Spike acute — 7.
7a. Spike densely flowered, 1-2 cm. long
7b. Spike loosely flowered, 2-5 cm. long


EUPHORBIACEAE, the Spurge Family

Herbs, with alternate, opposite, or whorled leaves and usually milky juice. Flowers small or minute and inconspicuous, without petals and frequently without calyx. In our commoner species, several staminate flowers, each consisting of a single stamen only, and one pistillate flower, consisting of a single pedicelled 3-lobed ovary only, are included within a 4-5-lobed involucre, which is sometimes colored and resembles a calyx or corolla.

1a. Stem-leaves alternate; inflorescence axillary; flowers with calyx and several stamens (3-8 dm. tall; flowers greenish or purplish; summer) (Three-seeded Mercury) — 2.
1b. Stem-leaves opposite, usually inequilateral at base; flowers as described for the family; apparent flowers in axillary clusters (summer and autumn) (Spurge) — 3.
1c. Stem-leaves alternate; inflorescence a terminal umbel-like cluster, with its branches subtended by opposite or whorled leaves; flowers as described for the family (Spurge) — 9.
2a. Leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate; flower-clusters shorter than the subtending bract
2b. Leaves lanceolate to oblong; flower-clusters equaling or exceeding the subtending bract
3a. Stem and foliage glabrous — 4.  
3b. Stem and foliage more or less pubescent (stems prostrate or ascending, 1-4 dm. long) — 7.
4a. Erect or ascending, usually without basal branches (2-4 dm. tall)
4b. Prostrate or spreading, branched from the base (stems 1-4 dm. long) — 5.
5a. Leaves entire; plants of the shores of the Great Lakes
5b. Leaves serrulate — 6.
6a. Leaves broadly oblong or obovate; seeds obscurely wrinkled
6b. Leaves narrowly oblong; seeds with prominent transverse ridges
7a. Seeds black
7b. Seeds red — 8.
8a. Leaves oblong
8b. Leaves elliptical to obovate; involucre split down one side
9a. Flowers subtended by conspicuous petal-like white appendages (part of the involucre) (4-10 dm. tall; summer)
9b. Flowers not subtended by petal-like appendages — 10.
10a. Stem-leaves below the inflorescence serrulate (2-5 dm. high; summer) — 11.
10b. Stem-leaves below the inflorescence entire — 13.
11a. Upper leaves acute
11b. Upper leaves obtuse, rounded, or notched at the apex — 12.
12a. Leaves of the involucre broadly triangular-ovate, widest near the base
12b. Leaves of the involucre broadly obovate to nearly circular, widest near or above the middle
13a. Stem-leaves narrowly linear, less than 3 mm. wide (2-4 dm. high; late spring and summer)
13b. Stem-leaves narrowly oblong-spatulate, more than 5 mm. wide, and more than 3 times as long as wide (2-6 dm. high; summer) — 14.
13c. Stem-leaves obovate to nearly circular, not more than twice as long as wide (1-4 dm. high) — 15.
14a. Leaves at base of umbel narrow, resembling those on the stem
14b. Leaves at base of umbel broad, resembling those of the inflorescence
15a. Upper stem-leaves distinctly narrowed at the base; introduced species of waste places (summer)
15b. Upper stem-leaves rounded at the sessile base; native species of woodlands (spring and early summer)


CALLITRICHACEAE, the Water Starwort Family

Small herbs growing in water or in mud, with opposite entire leaves and small inconspicuous axillary flowers, with neither calyx nor corolla. (Flowers in summer).

1a. Completely submerged; leaves all linear
1b. Submerged leaves linear, emersed and floating leaves obovate


EMPETRACEAE, the Crowberry Family

Low evergreen shrubs, with the linear leaves completely rolled into a tube, and inconspicuous flowers without petals, in the axils of the leaves.

One species in Michigan, 1-3 dm. high; leaves less than 1 cm. long; flowers in summer


LIMNANTHACEAE, the False Mermaid Family

Low herbs with alternate compound leaves and minute axillary flowers; sepals 3, petals 3, stamens 6.

One species in Michigan, with stems 1-3 dm. long, and flowers in late spring


ANACARDIACEAE, the Cashew Family

Shrubs or small trees, with milky or resinous juice, alternate compound leaves sometimes poisonous to the touch, and small clustered greenish or yellowish flowers.

1a. Leaflets 7 to many (1-5 m. high) (Sumach) — 2.
1b. Leaflets 3-5.
2a. Axis of the leaves wing-margined between the leaflets
2b. Axis of the leaves not margined — 3.
3a. Leaflets entire
3b. Leaflets serrate — 4.
4a. Bark of the older stems glabrous
4b. Bark of the older stems densely velvety-hairy
5a. Terminal leaflet narrowed to a sessile base (5-20 dm. high)
5b. Terminal leaflet on a definite stalk, round or acute at base (3-8 dm. high, or climbing by hold-fast roots)


AQUIFOLIACEAE, the Holly Family

Shrubs, with alternate simple leaves and small white or greenish axillary flowers in late spring and early summer; sepals, petals, and stamens each 4-6; fruit a berry.

1a. Leaves entire or nearly so, 1-3 cm. long (1-2 m. tall)
1b. Leaves sharply serrate, 5-8 cm. long (2-5 m. high) (Black Alder) — 2.
2a. Leaves downy on the veins beneath; fruit red
2b. Leaves nearly or quite glabrous; fruit orange


CELASTRACEAE, the Staff Tree Family

Shrubs with simple leaves and inconspicuous flowers; sepals and petals each 4 or 5, the stamens of the same number and attached to a disk which fills the center of the flower; fruit showy, orange and red.

1a. Leaves alternate (climbing vine; flowers in racemes; late spring)
1b. Leaves opposite (flowers in axillary clusters) — 2.
2a. Prostrate, with short erect branches; leaves broadest above the middle (spring)
2b. Tall shrub, with leaves broadest below or near the middle (early summer)


STAPHYLEACEAE, the Bladder Nut Family

Shrubs with opposite trifoliate leaves and small axillary clusters of white flowers in spring; sepals, petals, and stamens each 5; ovary 3-celled, ripening into a large inflated 3-celled pod.

One species in Michigan (2-5 m. high)


ACERACEAE, the Maple Family

Trees or shrubs, with opposite, lobed or compound leaves and inconspicuous flowers; sepals about 5; petals the same number, or none; stamens 4-12; ovary 2-lobed, ripening into a pair of winged fruits.

1a. Leaves compound (tree; flowers appearing before the leaves)
1b. Leaves simple (Maple) — 2.
2a. Shrubs or small trees; leaves 3-5-lobed; the lobes with regularly serrate margins (flowers greenish-yellow, appearing later than the leaves) — 3.
2b. Trees; leaves 3-7-lobed; margins of the lobes entire or incised, but never regularly serrate — 4.
3a. Leaves finely and sharply serrate; twigs smooth; bark conspicuously striped with white lines
3b. Leaves coarsely and bluntly serrate; young twigs pubescent; bark not striped
4a. Angles between the leaf-lobes rounded (flowers greenish-yellow, appearing with the leaves) — 5.
4b. Angles between the leaf-lobes acute or obtuse, but not rounded (flowers purple, red, or yellowish, appearing before the leaves) — 6.
5a. Leaves glabrous beneath, or minutely pubescent on the veins
5b. Leaves downy beneath
6a. Middle leaf-lobe usually more than half the length of the leaf, narrowed at its base; broken twigs with a strong odor
6b. Middle leaf-lobe usually less than half the length of the leaf, its sides parallel or broadened at the base; broken twigs without strong odor


SAPINDACEAE, the Soapberry Family

Trees, with opposite palmately compound leaves, and showy white or yellowish flowers in panicles in spring; sepals 5; petals 4 or 5; stamens about 7; fruit a smooth brown nut.

1a. Leaflets 7; buds viscid; corolla of 5 petals
1b. Leaflets 5; buds smooth; corolla of 4 petals


BALSAMINACEAE, the Touch-me-not Family

Smooth herbs, with alternate simple leaves and showy flowers; one petal-like sepal prolonged into a spur; fruit explosive when ripe (5-10 dm. high; summer).

1a. Flowers pale-yellow, with a few red-brown spots
1b. Flowers orange, thickly spotted with red-brown


RHAMNACEAE, the Buckthorn Family

Shrubs, with simple leaves and small flowers in axillary or terminal clusters in early summer; sepals, petals, and stamens each 4 to 5, or petals none.

1a. Leaves with a single mid-vein; flowers in axillary clusters, greenish (Buckthorn) — 2.
1b. Leaves with 3-5 principal veins; flowers in dense terminal clusters, white (Red-root) — 3.
2a. Lateral veins 3-4 pairs (stout shrub, frequently thorny, escaped from cultivation)
2b. Lateral veins 6-9 pairs (1 m. high or less; in swamps and bogs)
3a. Leaves ovate, rounded or cordate at the base, 2-5 cm. wide or more (4-8 dm. high)
3b. Leaves elliptical-lanceolate, 2 cm. wide or less (3-8 dm. high)


VITACEAE, the Grape Family

Shrubs, climbing by tendrils or hold-fast roots, with palmately lobed or palmately compound leaves and small greenish flowers in panicles or flattened clusters; petals and sepals each 4 or 5; fruit a berry.

1a. Leaves compound (summer) (Virginia Creeper) — 2.
1b. Leaves simple (late spring) (Grape) — 4.
2a. Branches of the tendrils chiefly ending in adhesive disks — 3.
2b. Branches of the tendrils twining, or rarely with a few disks
3a. Stem and foliage glabrous
3b. Stem and foliage pubescent, at least when young
4a. Leaves conspicuously pubescent beneath — 5.
4b. Leaves glabrous beneath when mature, or pubescent on the veins only — 6.
5a. A tendril or flower-cluster opposite each leaf
5b. No tendril opposite each third leaf
6a. Pith continuous through the joints of the stem
6b. Pith interrupted by the solid joints — 7.
7a. Leaf-lobes with rounded angles between them
7b. Leaf-lobes with sharp angles between them — 8.
8a. Leaves coarsely toothed, unlobed or slightly 3-lobed
8b. Leaves sharply toothed, prominently lobed


TILIACEAE, the Linden Family

Trees, with alternate, simple, palmately veined leaves, and clusters of fragrant white flowers in late spring arising from the middle of a leaf-like bract; sepals and petals each 5; stamens numerous, but united into 5 sets.

One species in Michigan


MALVACEAE, the Mallow Family

Herbs with alternate leaves; sepals and petals each 5; stamens numerous, united by their filaments to form a tube surrounding the styles; ovary many-celled.

1a. Flowers yellow (summer and autumn) — 2.
1b. Flowers pale-yellow, with a dark center (2-4 dm. high; late summer)
1c. Flowers white to red or blue, never yellow — 3.
2a. Leaves broadly heart-shape (10-15 dm. tall)
2b. Leaves ovate-lanceolate (2-5 dm. tall)
3a. Calyx subtended by 6 to many bractlets which are sometimes united at base (summer) — 4.
3b. Calyx subtended by 3 bractlets, or by none — 6.
4a. Flowers 2-4 cm. wide (5-10 dm. high; flowers pink)
4b. Flowers 7-15 cm. wide (8-15 dm. high; flowers pink to nearly white) (Rose Mallow) — 5.
5a. Leaves densely pubescent below
5b. Leaves glabrous
6a. Petals prominently notched at the end or reverse heart-shape (Mallow) — 7.  
6b. Petals obtuse or truncate (summer) — 11.
7a. Flowers 1-1.5 cm. wide — 8.
7b. Flowers 2-5 cm. wide (3-8 dm. high; flowers in summer) — 9.
8a. Stems procumbent, prostrate, or spreading (spring, summer, and autumn)
8b. Stems erect (10-15 dm. high; summer)
9a. Leaves with prominent but shallow lobes; flowers axillary
9b. Leaves deeply lobed or cleft; flowers in the upper axils, producing a raceme-like cluster — 10.
10a. Lobes of the leaf dentate or incised
10b. Lobes of the leaf pinnately cleft into linear or narrowly oblong divisions
11a. Flowers white (1-2 m. high)
11b. Flowers purple or pink (3-5 dm. high, spreading)


HYPERICACEAE, the St. John's-wort Family

Herbs or shrubs, with opposite entire leaves dotted with translucent glands; flowers usually yellow (or pink); sepals and petals each 5; stamens 5 to many; ovary with 3-5 styles. (St. John's-wort.)

1a. Shrubs (4-8 dm. high; flowers yellow, summer) — 2.
1b. Herbs (flowers in summer) — 3.
2a. Styles 5
2b. Styles 3
3a. Flowers pinkish, 15 mm. broad (3-5 dm. high, in swamps)
3b. Flowers yellow — 4.
4a. Flowers about 4 cm. wide; principal leaves 5-10 cm. long (7-15 dm. tall)
4b. Flowers 8-25 mm. wide; stamens 15 or more — 5.
4c. Flowers 1-10 mm. wide; stamens 12 or fewer (1-6 dm. high) — 7.
5a. Petals dotted with black (4-8 dm. high) — 6.
5b. Petals without black dots (2-5 dm. high)
6a. Flowers 20-25 mm. wide; leaves of an oblong type, broadest near the middle
6b. Flowers 10-15 mm. wide; leaves of an ovate type, broadest below the middle
7a. Leaves minute, subulate, 1-3 mm. long
7b. Leaves linear, with 1-3 principal veins, broadest near or above the middle
7c. Leaves lanceolate, 4-6 times as long as broad, with 5-7 principal veins
7d. Leaves oblong, elliptic, or ovate, 1.5-3 times as long as broad — 8.
8a. Uppermost bracts linear
8b. Uppermost bracts resembling the leaves in shape, but smaller


ELATINACEAE, the Waterwort Family

Small marsh herbs, with opposite leaves without translucent dots, and inconspicuous axillary flowers. (Stems 2-5 cm. long; flowers in summer.)

One species in Michigan


CISTACEAE, the Rock-rose Family

Small herbs or shrubs, with opposite or alternate entire leaves; flowers regular, with 5 sepals, 3 or 5 petals, and 3 to many stamens.

1a. Flowers yellow (early summer) — 2.
1b. Flowers greenish or purplish, minute, in panicles (late summer) (Pinweed) — 4.
2a. Leaves crowded, closely appressed to the branches; flowers 7 mm. wide (2-4 dm. high)
2b. Leaves spreading; flowers 15-30 mm. wide (3-6 dm. high) (Frostweed) — 3.
3a. Petal-bearing flowers solitary
3b. Petal-bearing flowers few, racemose
4a. Stem-leaves linear, 4 or more times as long as wide — 5.
4b. Stem-leaves oblong or elliptical, about 3 times as long as wide (2-6 dm. tall) — 8.
5a. Plant pale with dense appressed pubescence (2-4 dm. high)
5b. Plant green, pubescence sparse or none — 6.
6a. Leaves thread-like, seldom exceeding 1 mm. in width (1-3 dm. tall)
6b. Leaves 1-5 mm. wide (2-6 dm. high) — 7.
7a. Leaves on the basal shoots narrowly lanceolate
7b. Leaves on the basal shoots oblong-elliptic, about twice as long as wide
8a. Pubescence of spreading hairs
8b. Pubescence of appressed hairs