Dichotomous KeyJean Hagler

Eastern Montana Grasslands

Credits

1. a. Plant stem woody

1. b. Plant stem herbaceous

…Go to 2

…Go to 6

2.a. Thorns present

2.b. Thorns not present

…Go to 3

…Go to 5

3.a. Thorns on stem

3.b. Thorns on fleshy leaf

…Go to 4

…Plains Pricklypear CactusClick to see picture

Plains Pricklypear CactusOpuntia polyacantha

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4.a. Thorns short, leaf edges serrated.

4.b. Thorns longer, leaf edges smooth

…Wood’s Rose

…Silver Buffaloberry

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Click to see picture

Wood’s RoseRosa woodsii

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Silver BuffaloberryShepherdia argentea

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5.a. Leaves thin and silvery

5.b. Leaves palmate and green

…Silver Sage

…

Golden Currant

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Click to see picture

Silver SagebrushArtemisia cana

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Golden CurrantRibes aureum

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6.a. Single stem

6.b. Multiple or branching stem

…Go to 7

…Go to 8

7.a. Hairs on seed head long and thin

7.b. Hairs on seed head spiky

…Foxtail Barley

…Crested Wheatgrass

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Click to see picture

Foxtail BarleyHordeum jubatum

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Crested WheatgrassAgropyron cristatum

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8.a. Round, fluffy seed ball, flowers yellow

8.b. Feathery, branching stems, berries may be present

…Salisfy

…

Wild Asparagus

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Salisfy (Mountain Goat’s-beard)Tragopogon dubius

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Wild AsparagusAsparagus officinalis

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Credits Power Point Sources http://www.invasive.org/images/192x128/0016084.jpg - woody stem

illustration http://www.missouriplants.com/Whiteopp/Galium_aparine_stem.jpg -

herbaceous stem http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/756/209342.JPG - thorn

stem http://fieldguide.mt.gov/detail - Scientific names http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/

Flag_of_Montana.svg/615px-Flag_of_Montana.svg.png - Montana flag http://www.helfgottblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/stinging-

nettle.jpg - serrated leaf image http://www.inmygarden.org/archives/a-smooth-edge-300x241.jpg -

smooth leaf image http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=6959&rendTypeId=4 – buffaloberry

image http://www.hainaultforest.co.uk/Leaf%20Field%20maple1.JPG –

palmate leaf image All other pictures – Jean Hagler

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