Stellaria longifolia
 
Long-Leaved Stitchwort

3rd Lowest Leaf Bottom

Hudson Bay Regional Park
23-June-2015

Note the leaf is tapered at both ends.

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Longifolia: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 
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plants perennial; NOT [plants annual]

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plants glabrous; NOT [plants glandular pubescent throughout]

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plants NOT glandular-viscid

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upper part of stems and leaf margins papillate, rough; NOT [upper part of stems and leaf margins smooth]

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leaves spreading or loosely ascending; NOT [leaves erect]

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all leaves sessile; NOT [basal leaves petioled]

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leaves linear, acute at both ends; NOT [leaves linear-lanceolate, mostly broadest below the middle] (FOA)

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leaf blades linear-elliptic, broadest at middle or distally; NOT [leaf blades lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, broadest proximally] (FNA)

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bracts of inflorescence, at least the uppermost, whitish, scarious, membranous; NOT [bracts of inflorescence all green, not scarious, not membranous]

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pedicels widely spreading; NOT [pedicels erect or ascending]

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petals as long as the sepals or slightly longer; NOT [petals minute or none]

 

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Stellaria: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 
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plants NOT with woody base

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leaves without stipules; NOT [leaves with scarious stipules], NOT [plants with small, ovate, papery stipules at junction of stem and leaf, and stem and branch]

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corolla present

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sepals entirely separate; NOT [sepals united part way, forming a tube]

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petals deeply 2-cleft; NOT [petals entire or merely notched at apex]

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petals LACKING claws

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styles usually 3; NOT [styles usually 5]

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ovary NOT stipitate

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capsule ovoid or ellipsoid; NOT [capsule cylindric, often curved]

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capsule short; NOT [capsule long]

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fruit dehiscent

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capsule opening with twice as many valves or teeth as there are styles; NOT [capsule opening with as many entire (or later 2-cleft) valves as there are styles] (BF)

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capsules dehiscing by valves; NOT [capsule dehiscing by teeth] (FOA)

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capsule usually opening with 6 valves; NOT [capsule usually opening with 10 valves] (BF)

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fruit several-seeded; NOT [fruit 1-seeded]

 

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Caryophyllaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family. 
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herbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]

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plants terrestrial or semiaquatic; NOT [plants aquatic, leaves submerged or floating]

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terrestrial plants; NOT [mud plants with small axillary flowers]

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plants NOT with colored milky juice

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plants with more than one normal leaf

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leaves opposite, whorled, or basal; NOT [some or all leaves alternate]

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leaves NOT glandular-dotted

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plants WITHOUT large petal-like bracts

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flowers with two floral rings, and with each petal distinct from the others]

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sepals more than 2; NOT [sepals 2]

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stamens NOT united at base

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styles 2 or more; NOT [styles single]