AN ILLUSTRATED KEY TO THE MONOCOT FAMILIES OF ALBERTA. Subdivision Angiospermae Class Monocotyledoneae

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "AN ILLUSTRATED KEY TO THE MONOCOT FAMILIES OF ALBERTA. Subdivision Angiospermae Class Monocotyledoneae"

Gervais Walton
5 years ago
Views:

1 AN ILLUSTRATED KEY TO THE MONOCOT FAMILIES OF ALBERTA Subdivision Angiospermae Class Monocotyledoneae Compiled and written by Lorna Allen & Linda Kershaw April 2018 Linda J. Kershaw & Lorna Allen

3a 2a MONOCOT FAMILIES CLASS MONOCOTYLEDONAE 01a Plants submersed or free floating aquatics, only the flowers sometimes elevated above the water.

07 02a Plants small (1-10mm wide), flattened, ± discshaped or lobed; floating or submersed, but not rooted in the substrate; without distinct stems and leaves.......araceae (in part) [Lemnaceae].

... 03 03a Plants with conspicuous spherical heads of either or flowers, the upper heads and the lower heads ; floating leaves long (mostly 20-100 cm), flat and ribbon-like......typhaceae (in part).

... 06 5b 7a 6b 7b 6a 05a Leaves paired, smooth-edged, with a separate, membranous basal sheath encircling the stem; flowers with (2)3-5 short-stalked ovaries/ achenes... Potamogetonaceae (in part).

2 3a 2a MONOCOT FAMILIES CLASS MONOCOTYLEDONAE 01a Plants submersed or free floating aquatics, only the flowers sometimes elevated above the water b Plants terrestrial or emergent aquatics (with lower parts in the water but upper stems, leaves and flowers held above the water) a Plants small (1-10mm wide), flattened, ± discshaped or lobed; floating or submersed, but not rooted in the substrate; without distinct stems and leaves araceae (in part) [Lemnaceae]... - Lemna, Spirodela, Wolffia 02b Plants larger, usually rooted, with stems and leaves a Plants with conspicuous spherical heads of either or flowers, the upper heads and the lower heads ; floating leaves long (mostly cm), flat and ribbon-like......typhaceae (in part)... [Sparganiaceae] - Sparganium 03b Flowers and leaves not as above a 04a Leaves paired (opposite) or whorled b Leaves alternate (sometimes ± paired near the flower clusters) b 7a 6b 7b 6a 05a Leaves paired, smooth-edged, with a separate, membranous basal sheath encircling the stem; flowers with (2)3-5 short-stalked ovaries/ achenes... Potamogetonaceae (in part)...[zannichelliaceae] - Zannichellia 05b Leaves whorled (at least some), finely toothed/ spined, without a separate membranous basal sheath (sometimes with a wide base wrapped around the stem); flowers with a single, longstalked or stalkless ovary/achene Hydrocharitaceae [incl. Najadaceae] 06a Mature flowers/fruits on slender 2-25 mm stalks in umbrella-shaped clusters at the tip of (3)10-30 cm long, spirally coiled stalks (5-30 coils); flowers with and parts; tepals absent; leaves 5-20(40) cm x mm, with membranous sheaths fused to the lower 1-2(7) cm...ruppiaceae - Ruppia cirrhosa 06b Mature flowers/fruits stalkless in cylindrical spikes; flowers either or ; 4 tepals; leaves various (sometimes similar to above but mostly not).... Potamogetonaceae (in part)... - Potamogeton, Stuckenia 07a Sepals/petals/tepals in 2 whorls (series) of 3 parts each, some or all colored, showy and petal-like b Sepals/petals/tepals not in 2 whorls, absent or inconspicuous

08a Plants emergent aquatics (with lower parts in the water but upper stems, leaves and flowers held above the water); carpels/fruits 6-many, separate or joined at the base.

... 10 13a 9a 11a 9b 11b 09a Sepals green; ovaries with 1 ovule; fruits 1-seeded achenes, not splitting open.

3 08a Plants emergent aquatics (with lower parts in the water but upper stems, leaves and flowers held above the water); carpels/fruits 6-many, separate or joined at the base b Plants of wet to dry habitats, but not emergent aquatics; carpels/fruits 3 (rarely 2), fused at the base a 9a 11a 9b 11b 09a Sepals green; ovaries with 1 ovule; fruits 1-seeded achenes, not splitting open alismataceae 09b Sepals pinkish; ovaries with several ovules; fruits several-seeded pods (follicles) splitting open when ripe Butomaceae - Butomus umbellatus XXX 10a Ovaries inferior, stamens b Ovaries superior (or partly so), stamens 2-4 or a Flowers radially symmetrical; stamens 3; leaves in 2 vertical rows, overlapping and flattened edge-wise to the stem... Iridaceae 11b Flowers bilaterally symmetrical; stamens 1-2; leaves variously arranged but not as above Orchidaceae 12a Flowers with clearly differentiated sepals (small, usually green) and petals (large, showy, blue or white with a pink, blue or yellowish tinge/markings) b Flowers with all segments of similar size, shape and color (tepals) a Leaves (bracts) 3, whorled, broadly egg- to diamond-shaped, 7-12 x 5-20 cm; flowers 6-8 cm across, single, long-stalked, above the leaves; rare in AB, in woods in the Waterton area Melanthiaceae (in part). [Liliaceae; Trilliaceae] - Trillium ovatum S1 13b Leaves 1-several, alternate, long and slender, <3 cm wide; flowers 2-5 cm across; 1-several on slender stalks in branched clusters b 14a 14a Stems slender, leafy; leaves several to many, spirally arranged, rolled inward; flowers fewseveral, in umbrella-shaped clusters (cymes), above 2 leaf-like, 5-15 cm long, strongly sheathing bracts; petals purple to rose, 6-10(16) mm long, smooth; rare, in sand dune areas of seab.... Commelinaceae... - Tradescantia occidentalis S1 14b Stems stout, essentially leafless; leaves single, basal, flat; flowers 1-5, in flat-topped clusters; petals yellowish white, often lined with purple, mm long, densely hairy on the lower half of the upper/inner surface; dry slopes in swab Liliaceae (in part) - Calochortus 3

16a 15a Leaves reduced to thin, dry scales with a slender, 3-4 mm blade; stems finely divided into slender, thread-like branchlets (cladodes), plants with a fern-like look; flowers greenish, small,

.. [Liliaceae] - Asparagus 15b Leaves green, with well-developed blades (not scale-like); branching not as above, plants not fern-like; flowers various, usually at the stem tips.

..- Allium 16b Plants without an onion/garlic odor; flowers various, not in single heads or umbels.

4 16a 15a Leaves reduced to thin, dry scales with a slender, 3-4 mm blade; stems finely divided into slender, thread-like branchlets (cladodes), plants with a fern-like look; flowers greenish, small, in leaf axils...asparagaceae (in part)... [Liliaceae] - Asparagus 15b Leaves green, with well-developed blades (not scale-like); branching not as above, plants not fern-like; flowers various, usually at the stem tips a 16a Plants with an onion/garlic odor; flowers white, pink or purple, in a dense head or umbrellashaped cluster (umbel) at the tip of the stem..... Amaryllidaceae [Liliaceae; Alliaceae]...- Allium 16b Plants without an onion/garlic odor; flowers various, not in single heads or umbels a 17a Fruits dry capsules; leaves linear to narrowly lance-shaped (many times longer than wide) or broadly egg-shaped to elliptic with strong lengthwise ribs and accordion pleats b Fruits juicy berries; leaves lance-shaped or wider, usually <5X as long as wide, without accordion pleats a Flowers 1-3(5); leaves often paired or whorled, especially near the flower clusters Liliaceae (in part) - Fritillaria 18b Flowers more numerous; leaves alternate or basal a 19a Leaves numerous, tough, fibrous, flowering stems erect, cm tall b Leaves few, soft and easily broken; flowering stems 25 cm tall b 20b 20a Tepals mm long; leaves 8-12 mm wide, widest near the middle; concave, with whitish, fibrous edges and blunt to needle-shaped tips; prairie, seab....asparagaceae (in part)... [Liliaceae; Agavaceae] - Yucca 20b Tepals (1.5)3-15 mm long; leaves 2 4( 6) mm wide, widest near the base, keeled with rough edges, wiry pointed at the tip; montane sites, from Crowsnest Pass south Melanthiaceae (in part) [Liliaceae]... - Xerophyllum 21a 21a Leaves in 2 vertical rows (ranks), overlapping at the base and flattened edgewise to the stem in a fan-like arrangement; tepals white, 1.5-5(6) mm long..... Tofieldiaceae [Liliaceae] 21b Leaves neither flattened edge-wise to the stem nor in a fan-like arrangement; tepals 6-15 mm long (except 4-5 mm long in Toxicoscordion venenosum, but then usually with a yellow/ greenish gland at the base) Melanthiaceae (in part) [Liliaceae]... Anticlea, Toxicoscordion 4

22a 23a 22a Flowering stalks leafless; tepals white or bright yellow, 20-35 mm long... Liliaceae (in part)...erythronium, Clintonia 22b Flowering stalks leafy; tepals 3-18 mm long.

.. [Liliaceae; Ruscaceae]- Maianthemum 23b Flowers in clusters of 1-4(5) at stem tips or in leaf axils; tepals cream to greenish white or greenish yellow and 8-18 mm long or rose to red-brown with

.. - Prosartes, Streptopus 28a 25a 23b 28b 25b 24a Flowers in a dense, fleshy, 2-10 cm long spike (spadix) with a showy white or green bract (spathe) at the base; emergent aquatics.

8-2 cm, stalkless with a sheathing base; flowering spike 3-8 cm long, with an erect, green, leaf-like bract (spathe) resembling and extension of the stem.

5 22a 23a 22a Flowering stalks leafless; tepals white or bright yellow, mm long... Liliaceae (in part)...erythronium, Clintonia 22b Flowering stalks leafy; tepals 3-18 mm long a Flowers usually many, in elongated, branched clusters (racemes; panicles) at stem tips; tepals white (0.1)1-5 mm long......asparagaceae (in part)... [Liliaceae; Ruscaceae]- Maianthemum 23b Flowers in clusters of 1-4(5) at stem tips or in leaf axils; tepals cream to greenish white or greenish yellow and 8-18 mm long or rose to red-brown with yellow tips and 3-5 mm long Liliaceae [Colchicaceae; Uvulariaceae]... - Prosartes, Streptopus 28a 25a 23b 28b 25b 24a Flowers in a dense, fleshy, 2-10 cm long spike (spadix) with a showy white or green bract (spathe) at the base; emergent aquatics b Flowers not in a fleshy spadix; upland plants or emergent aquatics a Leaves rush-like, x cm, stalkless with a sheathing base; flowering spike 3-8 cm long, with an erect, green, leaf-like bract (spathe) resembling and extension of the stem...acoraceae - Acorus americanus 25b Leaves egg-shaped to rounded, mostly notched at the base, 5-10 x 4-11(14) cm, longstalked; flowering spike ( ) cm long, above a broad, white bract 3-6(8) cm long, tipped with an abrupt, narrow point 4-10 mm long.... Araceae (in part) - Calla 26a Flowers with a single, 1-cavitied ovary, producing 1 seed; tepals (perianth) absent or reduced to bristles or minute scales b Flowers with 2 ovaries or ovary cavities, producing 2-many seeds; tepals 6, in 2 rings (whorls), all similar, tiny but ± petal-like a Styles and stigmas 1; flowers in single spikes; flowers without bracts; wetland plants b Styles or stigmas 2-3; flowers in simple or compound spikes, panicles or racemes; flowers in the axils of bracts (these often highly modified); wetland or upland plants a Leaves cylindrical, 1-3 mm wide; stems 8-15 cm tall; mature spikes loosely flowered, mm wide; plants annual, uncommon, only in sab Juncaginaceae (in part) - Lilaea 28b Leaves flattened, (5)10-20 mm wide; stems cm tall; mature spikes densely flowered, ±25 mm wide; perennial, widespread & common (except in/near the mountains) Typhaceae (in part ) - Typha 5

29a 29b 29a Stems usually hollow and cylindrical (never 3-sided); leaves in 2 vertical rows; leaf sheaths usually open (split down the inner side); flowers mostly with both and parts, single or in 2

..... Poaceae 29b Stems usually solid, 3-sided or cylindrical; leaves usually in 3 vertical rows; leaf sheaths usually closed (fused in a cylinder around the stem); flowers or or with both and parts,

... Cyperaceae 30a Sepals and petals dry, often thin and translucent (not green); fruits capsules, 3- to many-seeded; flowers in chaffy heads, in clusters at branch tips, or attached to the side of

6 29a 29b 29a Stems usually hollow and cylindrical (never 3-sided); leaves in 2 vertical rows; leaf sheaths usually open (split down the inner side); flowers mostly with both and parts, single or in 2 vertical rows in spikelets; bracts scalelike, with 2 inner scales (lemma and palea) above 2 outer scales (glumes); stigmas Poaceae 29b Stems usually solid, 3-sided or cylindrical; leaves usually in 3 vertical rows; leaf sheaths usually closed (fused in a cylinder around the stem); flowers or or with both and parts, spirally arranged in spikelets (rarely in 2 vertical rows); bracts single, scale-like or forming a sac (pergynium) around the ovary/ achene; stigmas Cyperaceae 30a Sepals and petals dry, often thin and translucent (not green); fruits capsules, 3- to many-seeded; flowers in chaffy heads, in clusters at branch tips, or attached to the side of the stem Juncaceae 30b Sepals and petals herbaceous; fruits pods (follicles) or clusters of fused carpels (schizocarps), 2- to 6-seeded; flowers in branched, spike-like clusters (racemes) a 31a Flowers ±5; carpels joined only at the base; fruits pods (follicles), egg-shaped, 4-10 mm long; seeds 1-2(3)....Scheuchzeriaceae... - Scheuchzeria palustris 31b Flowers many; carpels ±fused; fruits schizocarps (splitting apart at maturity), slender to ± spherical, 2-8 mm long; seeds 3 or Juncaginaceae (in part)... - Triglochin 31a 31b 6

7 References Alberta Conservation Information Management System (ACIMS) List of all Vascular Plant Taxa Confirmed for Alberta as recorded in the ACIMS database - July 2017.in A. Parks, editor. ACIMS, Government of Alberta, Edmonton, AB. Britton, N. L. and A. Brown An illustrated flora of the northern United States and Canada. Reprinted by Dover Publications in 1970 edition. Dover Publications, Inc., New York, New York. Brouillet, L., F. Coursol, S.J. Meades, M. Favreau, M. Anions, P. Bélisle & P. Desmet VASCAN, the Database of Vascular Plants of Canada. data. canadensys.net/vascan/ Budd, A. C., J. Looman, and K. F. Best Budd s flora of the Canadian prairie provinces. 1. Ferns and Fern Allies, Conifers, Monocots. Reprint edition. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, North Charleston, SC. Hamel, Kathy, Jenifer Parsons, Marc Boule, Sharon Feldman, Ingrid Wertz, and L. Zempke Aquatic Plant Identification Manual for Washington s Freshwater Plants. Online Version GRAMS/wq/plants/plantid2/index.html. Washington State Department of Ecology, Lacey, WA. Hitchcock, C. L., A. Cronquist, M. Ownbey, and J. W. Thompson Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest. Volume 5. University of Washington Press, Seattle, Washington. Kuijt, J A flora of Waterton Lakes National Park. The University of Alberta Press, Edmonton, Alberta. Moss, E. H Flora of Alberta.2nd edition. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Ontario. Packer, J. G. and A. J. Gould Vascular Plants of Alberta Part 1: Ferns, Fern Allies, Gymnosperms, and Monocots. University of Calgary Press, Calgary, Alberta. Province of Alberta Weed Control Act, Office Consolidation. Alberta Regulation 19/2010 with amendments up to and including Alberta Regulation 125/2016. Published by Alberta Queen s Printer. Accessed on-line at 7

8 List of Species and Illustration Sources Scientific Name Illus. Source Acoraceae - Acorus Alismataceae - Alisma, Sagittaria Amaryllidaceae - Allium Araceae - Calla JM Araceae - Lemna Asparagaceae - Asparagus Asparagaceae - Maianthemum Asparagaceae - Yucca JM Butomaceae - Butomus Commelinaceae - Tradescantia JM Cyperaceae - Carex, Scirpus Hydrocharitaceae - Elodea, Najas Iridaceae - Iris Juncaceae - Juncus, Luzula Juncaginaceae - Lilaea Juncaginaceae - Triglochin Liliaceae - Calochortus JM Liliaceae - Fritillaria Liliaceae - Erythronium Liliaceae - Prosartes Melanthiaceae - Anticlea Melanthiaceae - Trillium Orchidaceae - Galearis Poaceae - Agrostis, Deschasmpsia, Elymus, Poa Potamogetonaceae - Potamogeton Potamogetonaceae - Zannichellia Ruppiaceae - Ruppia Scheuchzeriaceae - Scheuchzeria Tofieldiaceae - Tofieldia Typhaceae - Sparganium Typhaceae - Typha Key to Illustration Sources = Hitchcock, C. L., A. Cronquist, M. Ownbey, and J. W. Thompson ( ) JM = John Maywood. 8

9 Index Acoraceae 5 Acorus americanus 5 Agavaceae. See Asparagaceae Alismataceae 3 Alliaceae. See Amaryllidaceae Amaryllidaceae 4 Anticlea 4 Araceae 2, 5 Asparagaceae 4, 5 Asparagus 4 Butomaceae 3 Butomus umbellatus 3 Calla 5 Calochortus 3 Clintonia 5 Colchicaceae. See Liliaceae Commelinacea 3 Cyperaceae 6 Erythronium 5 Fritillaria 4 Hydrocharitaceae 2 Iridaceae 3 Juncaceae 6 Juncaginaceae 5, 6 Lemna 2 Lemnaceae. See Araceae Lilaea 5 Liliaceae 3, 4, 5. See also Melanthiaceae; See also Asparagaceae; See also Amaryllidaceae; See also Tofieldiaceae Maianthemum 5 Melanthiaceae 3, 4 Monocotyledonae 2 Najadaceae. See Hydrocharitaceae Orchidaceae 3 Poaceae 6 Potamogeton 2 Potamogetonaceae 2 Prosartes 5 Ruppia cirrhosa 2 Ruppiaceae 2 Ruscaceae. See Asparagaceae Scheuchzeria palustris 6 Scheuchzeriaceae 6 Sparganiaceae. See Typhaceae Sparganium 2 Spirodela 2 Streptopus 5 Stuckenia 2 Tofieldiaceae 4 Toxicoscordion 4 Tradescantia occidentalis 3 Triglochin 6 Trilliaceae. See Melanthiaceae Trillium ovatum 3 Typha 5 Typhaceae 2, 5 Uvulariaceae. See Liliaceae Wolffia 2 Xerophyllum 4 Yucca 4 Zannichellia 2 Zannichelliaceae. See Potamogetonaceae 9

AN ILLUSTRATED KEY TO THE GROSSULARIACEAE OF ALBERTA

AN ILLUSTRATED KEY TO THE GROSSULARIACEAE OF ALBERTA Compiled and written by Lorna Allen & Linda Kershaw April 2017 This key was compiled using information primarily from Moss (1983), Douglas et. al. (1999)