Heuchera richardsonii
 
Alumroot

Flower Top Cut Open
(2 sepals, 1 petal)

Hudson Bay Regional Park
25-June-2012

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Richardsonii: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 
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flowers pink; NOT [flowers yellowish]

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calyx more than 4.5 mm long, from tip of pedicel; NOT [calyx 2.0-3.5 mm long, from tip of pedicel]

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calyx strongly oblique

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petals about as long as sepals; NOT [petals much shorter than sepals]

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stamens more or less exserted; NOT [stamens inserted, shorter than sepals]

 

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Heuchera: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus.  One answer (coloured in red) is slightly in error.  My own notes in green italics follow this answer.
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herbs; NOT [shrubs]

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rootstock elongate; NOT [rootstock corm-like]

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rootstock scaly

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inflorescence a spike-like panicle, the flowers densely crowded; NOT [inflorescence a simple raceme with the flowers widely spaced], NOT [inflorescence a loose panicle]  Technically, the inflorescence is a raceme of cymules, although it does appear as a spike-like panicle.

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flowers not turbinate

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sepals 5; NOT [sepals 4]

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petals generally present; NOT [petals absent]

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petals entire; NOT [petals pinnatifid or 3-cleft], NOT [petals divided]

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stamens 5; NOT [stamens 10], NOT [stamens 2-8, mostly 4-7]

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sterile stamens not present; NOT [bundles of sterile stamens (staminodia) alternating with stamens]

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stamens conspicuously exserted

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ovary 1-loculed; NOT [ovary 2-loculed]

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ovary with 2 parietal placentae; NOT [ovary with axile placentation]

 

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Saxifragaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family. Not all the answers apply to all members of this family, but they all are supposed to do apply to Heuchera.  However, some of the answers (coloured in red) are in error.  My own notes in green italics follow these answers.
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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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plants NOT with colored milky juice

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plants with more than one normal leaf

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some or all leaves alternate; NOT [leaves opposite, whorled, or basal] All leaves are basal in Heuchera.

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leaves without stipules, or having glands; NOT [leaves with stipules]  Each leaf has a stipule, but it is united to the petiole at its base in Heuchera.

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receptacle cup-shaped

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

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calyx regular; NOT [calyx irregular, some sepals smaller than others]  Calyx is irregular (oblique) in H. richardsonii.

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corolla regular in shape; NOT [corolla irregular in shape]

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petals 5; NOT [petals 4]

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stamens 10 or fewer; NOT [stamens usually more than 10]

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ovary superior; NOT [ovary inferior] Ovary is about half inferior in Heuchera.

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carpels 1 or 2; NOT [carpels 3-5]