Flowering parts in 3s (or multiples) Lily, Orchid, & Iris Leaves with parallel veins

Flowering parts in 4s Evening Primrose Leaves with veins in branching pattern Mustard

Flowering parts in 5s (leaves with branching veins) Mint Pea Flowers with bilateral symmetry Figwort Violet Petals fused Buttercup - some Petals free Flowers with radial symmetry Buckwheat Many small flowers in tight bunches Parsley Waterleaf Valerian Rose - some Buttercup Flowers not in tight bunches Rose Flowers with central clusters or seemingly so Sunflower – technically (more than 10 stamens crowding the center) belongs with “Many small

flowers in tight bunches” Key to common plant families plant common to Key Normal flowers (10 or fewer stamens) Heath Pink (or just use the “handles” to Id. these 7 Families) Phlox Purslane Petals fused Primrose Saxifrage Petals free (or nearly so) Borage Iris Family Lily Family Orchid Family Leaves Flowers: radial Flowers: bilateral Parallel veins Flowers: radial 6 tepals & 3 stamens Lower petal forming Lily Family 6 tepals & 6 stamens Leaves: basal in flat plane lip or bowl Iris Family Flower parts in 3s Orchid Family Flower parts in 4s

Flowers: petals 4 Flowers: petals 4 Mustard Family Ovary inferior & elongate Ovary superior. Leaves: often opposite 6 stamens – 4 long, 2 short usually Long seed pods & 4 sections Leaves: alternate Evening-Primrose Family Seed pods in many shapes. 2 sections Figwort Mint Family Family Flowers: bilateral symmetry Flowers: bilateral symmetry Petals fused Petals fused Leaves: opposite Leaves: opposite or alternate Square stems 5s Bilateral………… Fused Aromatic usually Pea Family 5s Bilateral………….Free Buttercup Family (some) Flowers: bilateral symmetry Violet Family Petals free or nearly so Flowers: bilateral symmetry Upper petal the largest Petals free Leaves: compound Lower petal the largest Leaves: simple Buckwheat Parsley Family Rose Family Family Flowers: small & in tight bunches (some) 6 tepals form small flowers Flowers: small & in true umbels Leaves: basal or on stem Leaves: usually compound & Leaves entire & usually not toothed often fern-like or carrot-like

5s Radial Bunches Flowers: small - forming bottlebrush or oval clusters Flowers: small & in dense clusters Stamens long exerted Waterleaf Family Petals fused into narrow Leaves: usually pinnately (In Borage Family now) 5-lobed tube compound Small family

Valerian Family Rose Family Buttercup Family Flowers: petals 5 to 12 Flowers: petals 5 Flowers radial or bilateral Flowers radial Flowers simple to elaborate Leaves: often oval & serrated Leaves: compound or Sunflower Family deeply divided Flowers: appear many “petaled” Central cluster present or appears to be absent entirely. A compound flower: tiny flowers with 5 fused petals. All flowers packed into a single head.

5s Radial Not bunches Central clusters Heath Family Phlox Flower: Petals fused into Family bells or urns

Flower: petals fused forming a tube with nearly perpendicular lobes Primrose Family Leaves: often narrow or like ladder Flower: petals fused & 5s Radial Not bunches sometimes reflexed Normal Flowers Petals Fused Leaves: often basal Borage Family (Includes Waterleaf now) Flower: petals fused Some flowers with central ring Fiddlenecks often Plant often hairy Pink Family Flowers: petals free, often notched or divided Purslane Family Leaves: opposite, often narrow & borne on enlarged nodes Flowers: petals free, pink strips often, 2 sepals Leaves: often succulent 5s Radial Not bunches Normal Flowers Petals Free

Saxifrage Family Flower: petals free, stigmas 2 & often flaring apart Leaves: often basal Sedum Family Appendix Small very succulent plants with short fleshy leaves Unique Plants Flowers: petals free & yellow

Current Family Medium sized shrub to about 6’ All have maple shaped leaves All have berries Flowers: petals fused