Field Key to VCR Plant Species
Main Key for plants of the Virginia Coast Reserve LTER
- 1a. Woody plants.
- 2a. Erect trees and shrubs.
- 3a. Needle-like leaves.....see Subkey I.
- 3b. Broad leaves.
- 4a. Opposite leaves.
- 4b. Alternate leaves.
- 2b. Vines and brambles.....see Subkey VI.
- 1b. Non-woody plants.
- 7a. Vines and brambles.....see Subkey VI.
- 7b. Other herbaceous plants.
- 8a. Leaves linear with parallel veins and blade- hair- or needle-like in shape;
flowers indivually inconspicuous.
- 9a. Plants terrestrial or at least not totally aquatic and not usually fully
submerged (Grasses, Sedges, and Rushes).
- 10a. Stem triangular, mainly solid, without joints.....see Subkey VII.
- 10b. Stem round.
- 11a. No branches in inflorescence (look close to
make sure it doesn't just have branches that are close together).....see Subkey VIII.
- 11b. Flower branches forking from one point at the top of
the stem.....see Subkey IX.
- 11c. Flower branches arranged vertically along the
stem.....see Subkey X.
- 9b. Plants totally aquatic and usually fully submerged.....see Subkey XI.
- 8b. Leaves otherwise (not linear with parallel veins and blade- hair- or needle-like
in shape)
- 12a. Plant with no apparent leaves.....see Subkey XII.
- 12b. Plant with basal leaves only.....see Subkey XIII.
- 12c. Plant with leaves along stem.
- 13a. Opposite (or whorled) leaves.
- 13b. Alternate leaves.
- 15a. Lobed, toothed, wavy-edged, or compound
alternate leaves.....see Subkey XVI.
- 15b. Simple alternate leaves without lobes or teeth.....see Subkey XVII.
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