Daisy Family


Hieracium and Pilosella

1 Leaves primarily cauline, the largest leaves definitely on the stem, basal leaves usually absent.
  2 Florets 8-20 (-30) per head; leaves nearly glabrous, or with a few long hairs on the lower surface; upper stem glabrous
    .................................................................................................................................................................................... Panicled Hawkweed
  2 Florets 30-110 per head; leaves setose, with long hairs on the upper and lower surfaces; upper stem stipitate-glandular, stellate
    -pubescent, or glabrous ................................................................................................................................................. Rough Hawkweed
1 Leaves primarily basal, the largest leaves basal, leaves in some species extending onto the lower portion of the stem.
  3 Plants stoloniferous; [aliens of weedy habitats, especially pastures, roadsides, and lawns].
    4 Heads 1 (-3) per plant ........................................................................................................................................... Mouse-ear Hawkweed
    4 Heads (1-) 2-many per plant.
      5 Flowers deep orange ........................................................................................................................................................ Fox-and-cubs
      5 Flowers yellow .....................................................................................................................................................Yellow Fox-and-cubs
  3 Plants not stoloniferous; [primarily natives, of various (mostly dry) habitats].
    6 Seeds 1.5-2mm long, truncate at the tip; basal leaves mostly 5-12× as long as wide (the petiole included); well-developed basal leaves
      rarely over 3 cm wide; [alien].
      7 Leaves and stem not glaucous; leaves hairy on the upper surface .................................................................... Yellow Fox-and-cubs
      7 Leaves and stem glaucous; leaves sparsely hairy to nearly glabrous on the upper surface .................. Tall Mouse-ear Hawkweed
    6 Seeds 2-4mm long, usually distinctly narrowed to the tip (except Rough Hawkweed); basal leaves mostly 1.5-5× as long as wide (the
      petiole included); well-developed basal leaves often over 3 cm wide; [native].
      8 Leaves purple-veined (when fresh).
        9 Lower stem strongly pilose; leaves weakly purple-veined ............................................................................ Maryland Hawkweed
        9 Lower stem glabrous or nearly so; leaves strongly purple-veined .....................................................................Veined Hawkweed
      8 Leaves not purple-veined.
        10 Inflorescence a narrow panicle.
          11 Seeds truncate, broadest at the tip; flowers 40-100 per head ....................................................................... Rough Hawkweed
          11 Seeds narrowed to the tip; flowers 20-40 per head .............................................................................. Gronovius' Hawkweed
        10 Inflorescence corymbiform.
          12 Seeds 2-3mm long, truncate, broadest at the tip; flowers 40-100 per head ................................................ Rough Hawkweed
          12 Seeds 2.2-5mm long, at least the longer achenes narrowed to the tip; flowers 15-40 per head ......... Gronovius' Hawkweed

Nabalus

Identification notes: The species cannot be reliably identified in sterile condition. "Principal phyllaries" are the inner, well-developed, excluding the few smaller and poorly-developed outer phyllaries.

1 Phyllaries evidently (though sometimes sparsely) pubescent with long coarse hairs (1.5-3 mm long)........................................Lion's-foot
1 Phyllaries glabrous or with few cilia or inconspicuous fine short pubescence at the tip.
  2 Inflorescences narrow and elongate (virgate); flowers pink to purple ............................................................... Slender White Lettuce
  2 Inflorescences open, corymbiform to paniculiform, with some elongate branches; flowers white, cream, yellowish, pink, or purple.
    3 Pappus cinnamon-brown; corolla whitish to pinkish ......................................................................................Common White Lettuce
    3 Pappus straw-colored to light brown; corolla pale yellow ...................................................................... Three-leaved White Lettuce

Lactuca

Identification notes: Most species are highly variable in leaf lobing.

1 Achene beaks stout and short, 0.1-0.5(-1.0)mm long (< ½ as long as body of achene); rays blue to violet (rarely yellow or white).
  2 Pappus tawny; flowers mostly 20-30 per head ................................................................................................................ Tall Blue Lettuce
  2 Pappus bright white; flowers mostly 10-15 per head ...................................................................................................... Woodland Lettuce
1 Achene beaks filiform and long, 1-4mm long (> ½ as long as body of achene); rays yellow or blue (sometimes white or drying bluish).
  3 Each face of achene with (3-)5-9 nerves; stems typically white or pale green; rays yellow (sometimes drying blue).
   4 Unlobed cauline leaves lanceolate to linear ........................................................................................................................... Least Lettuce
   4 Unlobed cauline leaves oblong, obovate, or spatulate........................................................................................................ Prickly Lettuce
  3 Each face of the achene with 1 (-3) nerves; stems typically medium to dark green or reddish; rays yellow or blue.
7 Fruiting involucres 10-15mm tall; achenes 2.5-3.5mm long (excluding the beak) ........................................................... Canadian Lettuce
7 Fruiting involucres 15-22mm tall; achenes 4.5-6mm long (excluding the beak).
8 Leaf margins not prickly (or barely so); flowers 13-25 per head .............................................................................................. Hairy Lettuce
8 Leaf margins prickly; flowers 20-56 per head ..................................................................................................................... Western Lettuce

Pseudognaphalium

1 Stem white-woolly with matted white hairs, stem surface generally obscured (sometimes glandular-pubescent at base of stem
  only) ..................................................................................................................................................................................... Sweet Everlasting
1 Stem glandular-pubescent or glandular-puberulent, hairs at right angles to stem, stem surface plainly visible.
  2 Stems glandular-villous, stipitate glands (0.1-)0.3-1.0mm high, prominently variable in height on any portion of stem, with stalk
    broadened toward base and about equal the gland width; female florets 83–107, bisexual florets 9–15; leaves mostly oblong-lanceolate,
    2.5–7cm long, 4–20mm wide, 4–8 times longer than wide; plant 40-100cm tall.......................................................Heller's Everlasting
  2 Stems glandular-puberulent, stipitate glands 0.1–0.2mm high, relatively even in height on any portion of stem, with a filiform stalk of
    even width and narrower than the gland width; female florets 47–78, bisexual florets (7–) 11–20; leaves linear to linear-lanceolate or
    linear-oblanceolate, 1.5–5.5cm long, 1.5–10mm wide, 6–10 times longer than wide; plant 30-70cm tall ........Small Sweet Everlasting

Artemisia

1 Disk flowers sterile, with abortive ovaries; plant not aromatic when fresh ................................................................. Caudate Wormwood
1 Disk flowers fertile, with normal ovaries; plant variously aromatic or not when fresh.
  2 Receptacle bearing dense long hairs between the flowers; plant strongly aromatic when fresh ........................... Absinthe Wormwood
  2 Receptacle not pubescent; plant variously aromatic or not when fresh.
    3 Leaves green, essentially smooth on the lower surface; annuals or biennials from a taproot; plants lacking nonflowering shoots......
      .................................................................................................................................................................................. Annual Wormwood
    3 Leaves downy on the lower surface, densely so in many species; perennials from a branched rhizome or woody caudex; plants with
      nonflowering shoots.
      4 Principal leaves 2-3-pinnatifid, the terminal segments less than 1.5mm wide; plant a shrub or suffrutescent herb.
        5 Leaves green above, 3-6cm long ............................................................................................................................... Southernwood
        5 Leaves white-downy above, 1-3cm long .......................................................................................................... Roman Wormwood
      4 Principal leaves entire to 2-pinnatifid, the terminal segments more than 2mm wide; plant herbaceous (sometimes somewhat
        woody at the base).
        6 Involucres 6-10mm high; disk corollas 3.2-4mm long ................................................................................. Steller's Wormwood
        6 Involucres 2.5-5mm high; disk corollas 1-3 mm long.
         7 Leaves entire to 1-pinnatifid; leaves lacking stipule-like lobes at the base ...................................................... White Sagebrush
         7 Leaves 2-pinnatifid; leaves with 1-2 stipule-like lobes at the base................................................................. Common Mugwort

Antennaria

1 Basal leaves prominently 3-5 (-7)-nerved, mostly > 1.5 cm wide.
  2 Female flower heads 5-7mm high; female corollas 3-4mm high; male corollas 2-3.5mm high; basal leaves downy on the upper surface;
    young stolons mostly ascending; male and female plants equally common ................................................. Plantain-leaved Pussytoes
  2 Female flower heads 7-10mm high; female corollas 4-7mm high; male corollas 3.5-5mm high; basal leaves hairy or smooth on upper
    surface; young stolons mostly decumbent; sexual and apomictic populations present.
    3 Basal leaves downy on upper surface (becoming smooth in age); summit of young stem usually glandless ..............................
      ................................................................................................................................................................. Parlin's Pussytoes (ssp. fallax)
    3 Basal leaves smooth or nearly so on upper surface (even when young); summit of young stem usually with purple glandular
      hairs ..................................................................................................................................................... Parlin's Pussytoes (ssp. parlinii)
1 Basal leaves prominently 1-nerved (sometimes with 2 additional obscure veins), mostly less than 1.5 cm wide.
  4 Middle and upper stem leaves tipped with flags; mature basal leaves smooth, young basal leaves downy, smooth with age; species sexual,
    populations consisting of both pistillate and staminate plants ....................................................................................... Field Pussytoes
  4 Middle and upper stem leaves blunt or with subulate tips (only those leaves immediately around the corymb with flags); mature and
    young basal leaves downy; species apomictic, populations consisting of female plants only.................................. Howell's Pussytoes

Solidago

1 Inflorescence corymbiform, flat-topped or broadly rounded and about as broad as long, or broader ................................................. Key A
1 Inflorescence usually longer than broad, or with either central branch well-developed and elongate, or numerous branches elongate and
  more-or-less one-sided heads.
  2 Leaves basally disposed, basal and lower stem leaves larger, petiolate, and usually persistent, middle and upper stem leaves smaller
    and less petiolate.
    3 Inflorescence cylindrical, of axillary clusters with well-developed stem leaves, or a terminal head, the branches not one-sided
      (unless the stem is arching and the heads become oriented to the side) ....................................................................................... Key B
    3 Inflorescence paniculiform, the major branches (at least) recurved with the heads one-sided .................................................... Key C
  2 Leaves chiefly on stem, basal and lower leaves (when not early withering) same size as or smaller than middle and upper leaves.
4 Inflorescence predominantly axillary, with well-developed leaves in at least the lower part of the inflorescence ............................. Key D
4 Inflorescence a well-developed panicle ................................................................................................................................................. Key E

Key A – goldenrods with corymbiform inflorescences

1 Outer series of phyllaries pubescent on the back (short-ciliate on the margin); leaf undersurface hispid (7-50 hairs per mm2); stems
  slightly to strongly hispid (10-70 hairs per mm2) ................................................................................................................ Stiff Goldenrod

Key B – goldenrods with basally disposed leaves and elongate, inflorescences not one-sided

1 Petioles of lower stem leaves sheathing stems [wet or seasonally wet sites].
  2 Basal leaves 0.7-8cm wide; plants short, 40-100(-150)cm tall, typically fairly stout........................................................ Bog Goldenrod
  2 Basal leaves 0.7-2.5(-5)cm wide; plants short to tall, 30-200cm tall, typically very slender................................Wand-like Goldenrod
1 Petioles of lower stem leaves not sheathing stems [drier habitats].
  3 Phyllaries linear-lanceolate, attenuate, tapering to pointed or minutely rounded tip ............................................... Downy Goldenrod
  3 Phyllaries ovate to lanceolate, acute to obtuse or rounded.
    5 Rays white .................................................................................................................................................................. White Goldenrod
    5 Rays yellow (may turn pale yellow with age).
      6 Leaves and stems sparsely to densely hairy with spreading to appressed hairs ................................................... Hairy Goldenrod
      6 Leaves and upper stems glabrous ...................................................................................................................... Slender Goldenrod

Key C – goldenrods with basally disposed leaves and elongate, secund inflorescences

1 Blades of lower leaves ovate to elliptic to oblanceolate, their bases truncate, abruptly tapering, or gradually tapering to petiole; lower
  leaves including petioles mostly less than 4× as long as wide (sometimes longer) .................................................... Atlantic Goldenrod
1 Blades of lower leaves oblanceolate to narrowly ovate, gradually tapering to petiole; lower leaves including petioles mostly more than
  4× as long as wide (sometimes shorter in Early Goldenrod).
  2 Petiole bases of basal and lower cauline leaves not sheathing the stem; [dry habitats].
    3 Stems obviously densely and loosely puberulent ....................................................................................................... Gray Goldenrod
    3 Stems glabrous or nearly so ....................................................................................................................................... Early Goldenrod
  2 Petiole bases of basal and lower cauline leaves sheathing stem; [seasonally wet habitats].
    4 Leaves somewhat fleshy, stem leaves reduced but not markedly so; inflorescence almost always with lower branches strongly recurved
      with second heads; [coastal or saline habitats]..................................................................................................... Seaside Goldenrod
    4 Leaves not fleshy (rarely so in Wand-like Goldenrod of near coastal situations), stem leaves much reduced relative to basal ones;
      inflorescence showing only relatively weak tendency to recurved branches with second heads; [inland habitats, except rarely
      Wand-like Goldenrod].
      5 Basal leaves 0.7-2.5(-5)cm wide; plants short to tall, 30-200cm tall, typically very slender....................... Wand-like Goldenrod
      5 Basal leaves 0.7-8cm wide; plants short, 40-100(-150)cm tall, typically fairly stout............................................... Bog Goldenrod

Key D – goldenrods with cauline leaves and axillary inflorescences

1 Stem rounded, glaucous ................................................................................................................................... Blue-stemmed Goldenrod

Key E – goldenrods with cauline leaves and well-developed paniculate inflorescences

1 Mid-stem leaves 3-nerved; leaves elliptic, lanceolate, oblanceolate, or linear.
  2 Stems glabrous and usually also glaucous ........................................................................................................................ Late Goldenrod
  2 Stems pubescent (at least the upper portion). .................................................................................................................. Tall Goldenrod
1 Mid-stem leaves reticulate-nerved; leaves generally obovate, elliptic, lanceolate, or oblanceolate (if linear, then fresh leaves anise-scented).
  3 Stems from branched caudices or short rhizomes, lacking elongated rhizomes.
    4 Leaves serrate; leaves not translucent-punctate; fresh leaves not anise-scented .......................................... Elm-leaved Goldenrod
    4 Leaves entire; leaves translucent-punctate; fresh leaves anise-scented ..................................................... Anise-scented Goldenrod
  3 Stems from elongated creeping rhizomes.
    5 Mid-stem leaves sessile, somewhat clasping; leaf margins nearly entire to obscurely serrulate; leaves flat ..Pine Barren Goldenrod
    5 Mid-stem leaves subsessile, not clasping; leaf margins strongly serrate; leaves wrinkled.
      6 Involucres 4-6mm high; broader phyllaries 0.7-1.2mm wide; stems glabrous below the inflorescence; mid-stem leaves elliptic
       (widest near middle) .............................................................................................................................................. Elliott's Goldenrod
      6 Involucres (2-)2.5-3.5(4.5)mm high; phyllaries mostly less than 0.5mm wide; stems hairy or glabrous below inflorescence;
       mid-stem leaves lanceolate to ovate (widest below middle) ............................................................... Rough-stemmed Goldenrod

Eupatorium

1 Leaves generally in whorls of 3-7 (rarely all opposite), most of them more than 2cm wide; involucre 6.5-9mm high, flowers pale pink to
  purple ...................................................................................................................................................................................... [see Eutrochium]
1 Leaves generally opposite, sometimes in whorls of 3-4 (if so, leaves usually less than 2cm wide), or some of them alternate; involucre
  mostly 2-6mm high, flowers mostly white, rarely blue (rarely the involucre 6-11 mm high, then the flowers white).
  2 Leaves pinnate or pinnatifid, divided into linear or capillary segments, 0-5mm wide ............................................................. Dog-fennel
  2 Leaves simple or palmately 3(-5)-lobed, the leaves or lobes generally over 5mm wide.
    3 Leaves long-petiolate, the petioles of larger leaves more than 10mm long ........................................Late-flowering Thoroughwort
    3 Leaves sessile or short-petiolate, the petioles less than 9mm long.
      4 Florets 7-14 per head.
        5 Leaf bases fused .................................................................................................................................................. Common Boneset
        5 Leaf bases tapering to a cuneate base .............................................................................................. Pine Barren Thoroughwort
      4 Florets (3-)5(-7) per head.
        6 Phyllaries acuminate to attenuate.
          7 Larger leaves 0.2-1.3cm wide; stems puberulent; involucre 3.5-7mm high ............................White-bracted Thoroughwort
          7 Larger leaves 1.5-3(-4)cm wide; stems villous to puberulent; involucre 8-11mm high.
           8 Larger leaves less than 6cm long; leaves with few or no resin glands .................................................. Gray's Thoroughwort
           8 Larger leaves more than 6cm long (and usually more than 8cm long); leaves with sparse to abundant resin glands.
             9 Leaves sparsely pubescent; lower stem pubescence typically appressed, the hairs < 1mm long; phyllaries acute-acuminate
               to mucronate.................................................................................................................................... Vasey's Thoroughwort
             9 Leaves moderately pubescent; lower stem pubescence typically spreading, the hairs 0.5-1mm long; phyllaries (at least the
               inner) long-attenuate ........................................................................................................................ White Thoroughwort
        6 Phyllaries acute to obtuse.
         10 Leaf bases broadly cuneate, truncate, or subcordate, the leaves generally distinctly broadest near the base.
           11 Leaves (2.5-)3-6(-7)× as long as wide; plants glabrous below the inflorescence .......................................... Upland Boneset
           11 Leaves 1-3(-3.5)× as long as wide; plants pubescent below the inflorescence.
             12 Leaves averaging (1.5)2-2.5× as long as wide, usually with a purple border; upper leaves and main inflorescence branches
                often alternate .............................................................................................................................................. Rough Boneset
             12 Leaves averaging 1-2× as long as wide, usually lacking a purple border; upper leaves and main inflorescence branches
                usually all opposite.
                13 Leaves mostly 1-1.5(-1.7)× as long as wide, tending to be obtuse (apex usually 90º or more), teeth generally rounded (2
                  sides of each tooth usually distinctly convex-curved, end of tooth therefore rounded), principal pair of lateral veins
                  diverging directly from base of midrib ............................................................................ Round-leaved Thoroughwort
                13 Leaves mostly (1.2-)1.5-2× as long as wide, tending to be acute (apex usually 90º or less), teeth generally rather sharp (2
                  sides of each tooth straight to gently curved, end of tooth therefore triangular), principal pair of lateral veins diverging
                  2-10mm above base of midrib ............................................................................................... Pubescent Thoroughwort
         10 Leaf bases narrowly cuneate, leaves generally broadest near middle or toward tip.
           14 Leaves linear to narrowly lanceolate, principal leaves 2-7cm long, 1-5mm wide, 10-40× as long as wide, entire to obscurely
              toothed, leaves mostly in whorls of 3 or 4 ............................................................................ Hyssop-leaved Thoroughwort
           14 Leaves lanceolate, principal leaves 5-12cm long, 5-10(-12)mm wide, 6-15× as long as wide, conspicuously and divergently
              toothed, leaves mostly opposite or in whorls of 3 ............................................................................ Torrey's Thoroughwort

Eutrochium

1 Florets (4-)6-9(-12) per head; leaves more or less 3-nerved from base, rather abruptly contracted to short petiole, thick in texture,
  5-12(-15)cm long, strongly resin-dotted beneath; leaves in whorls of (2-)3-4(-5); stem generally purple-speckled (sometimes uniformly
  purple).............................................................................................................................................................. Coastal Plain Joe-pye-weed
1 Florets either (8-)9-22 or 4-7 per head; leaves generally pinnately veined (rarely tendency to be 3-nerved), usually cuneate and less
  abruptly contracted to petiole, thick or thin in texture, 6-35cm long, weakly or not at all resin-
 dotted beneath (except often strongly resin-dotted in Spotted Joe-pye-weed); leaves in whorls of (2-)3-7; stem purple-speckled, purple at
  nodes, purple throughout, or green.
  2 Florets (8-)9-22 per head; leaves mostly in whorls of (3-)4-5(-6), 6-20cm long; inflorescence more or less flat-topped; stem usually
    speckled with purple (rarely evenly purplish)........................................................................................................ Spotted Joe-pye-weed
  2 Florets 4-7 per head; leaves in whorls of (2-)3-7, 8-35cm long; inflorescence rounded; stem usually purple throughout, purple at the
    nodes, or lacking purplish pigment.
    3 Stem hollow (with a large central cavity), purple throughout, strongly glaucous when fresh; flowers bright pink-purple; leaves in
      whorls of (3-) avg. 5 (-7); leaves mostly 3.5-5.5× as long as broad ................................................... Hollow-stemmed Joe-pye-weed
    3 Stem solid (rarely with a slender central cavity), dark purple at the nodes or greenish purple throughout, not glaucous or only slightly
      so when fresh; flowers pale pink-purple; leaves in whorls of (2-)3-4(-5); leaves mostly 2-4× as long as broad...Sweet Joe-pye-weed