leaf segments mostly toothed; NOT [leaf lobes entire]

leaf segments acute; NOT [leaf lobes rounded]

Venulosum: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 

	all leaves with stalks; NOT [stem leaves barely stalked]
	leaflets often broader than long; NOT [leaflets longer than broad] (FOA)
	leaflets almost round; NOT [leaflets oblong, usually longer than wide] (BF)
	leaflets several-lobed; NOT [leaflets 3-lobed]
	leaflets thick; NOT [leaflets thin]
	leaflets pale green above; NOT [leaflets mostly dark green above]
	leaflets glabrous or glandular-puberulent below; NOT [leaflets hairy below] (FOA)
	leaflets smooth beneath; NOT [leaflets often very finely hairy beneath] (BF)
	leaflets prominently veined; NOT [leaflets not distinctly veined]
	peduncles ascending; NOT [peduncles wide-spreading]
	peduncles of markedly varying length; NOT [peduncles all of about the same length]
	flowers unisexual; NOT [flowers perfect]
	filaments 3-5 mm long; NOT [filaments 5-10 mm long]
	anthers generally more than 1 mm long; NOT [anthers 1 mm long or less]
	achenes ascending or erect; NOT [achenes spreading or reflexed]
	achenes on stipes up to 1.5 mm long; NOT [achenes on stipes to 3 mm long]
	achenes 3-5 mm long; NOT [achenes 5-6 mm long]
	achenes obovoid and sharper at the upper end than at the lower; NOT [achenes similarly pointed at both ends]
	achenes more or less inflated; NOT [achenes strongly flattened]
	achenes glabrous or glandular-puberulent; NOT [achenes usually hairy]

Thalictrum: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. Not all the answers apply to all species in Thalictrum, but they all do apply to T. venulosum.

	plants NOT woody climbers
	leaves NOT all basal, stem leaves present (BF)
	leaves either basal or alternate; NOT [plants with opposite leaves] (BF)
	leaves not basal, without involucral bracts below inflorescence; NOT [leaves all basal except involucre of leafy bracts some distance below the inflorescence] (BF)
	cauline leaves alternate; NOT [cauline leaves whorled, forming an involucre] (FOA)
	plants dioecious; NOT [flowers perfect]
	flowers regular, not spurred; NOT [flowers irregular or spurred]
	sepals inconspicuous; NOT [sepals conspicuous]
	sepals greenish
	petals absent
	carpels 2 or more; NOT [carpel 1]
	ovaries 1-ovuled; NOT [ovaries several-ovuled]
	fruit an achene; NOT [fruit a follicle], NOT [fruit a berry]

Ranunculaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family. Not all the answers apply to all genera in Ranunculaceae, but they all do apply to Thalictrum.

	herbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]
	plants terrestrial or semiaquatic; NOT [plants aquatic, leaves submerged or floating]
	plants NOT with colored milky juice
	plants with more than one normal leaf
	some or all leaves alternate; NOT [leaves opposite, whorled, or basal]
	leaves without stipules, or having glands; NOT [leaves with stipules]
	calyx regular; NOT [calyx irregular, some sepals smaller than others]
	stamens usually more than 10; NOT [stamens 10 or fewer]
	carpels separate; NOT [carpels united]