Paniculata: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora (BF) and Flora of Alberta (FOA) leading to this species. 

	plants 30-70 cm high; NOT [plants 10-30 cm high] (BF)
	plant usually more than 40 cm high; NOT [plant usually less than 40 cm high] (FOA)
	plants pubescent; NOT [plants entirely glabrous]
	stems pubescent; NOT [stems glabrous]
	stem leaves 5-15 cm long; NOT [stem leaves 2-10 cm long]
	stem leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate; NOT [stem leaves oblong to lanceolate]
	cauline leaves with distinct lateral veins; NOT [cauline leaves without distinct lateral veins]

Mertensia: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora (BF) and Flora of Alberta (FOA) leading to this genus. 

	plants smaller than to 1 m high
	plants usually rough-hairy; NOT [plants glabrous] (FOA)
	leaves alternate; NOT [leaves opposite or in whorls of 3]
	flowers in cymes; NOT [flowers axillary]
	flowers in non-leafy cymes, with or without small bracts; NOT [flowers in leafy cymes]
	cymes bractless or only the lowest flowers with bracts; NOT [cymes bracteolate to the tip]
	flowers several-many; NOT [flowers mostly solitary (2-4)]
	inflorescence more or less congested; NOT [inflorescence elongate, flowers distant]
	flowers smaller than 12-18 mm long (BF)
	flowers blue; NOT [flowers white, yellow, purplish or reddish purple]
	corolla tubular-funnelform; NOT [corolla rotate]
	corolla 1 cm long or more; NOT [corolla less than 1 cm long]
	ovary deeply 4-lobed, the style arising from the center between the lobes; NOT [ovary merely grooved, the style arising from the summit of the ovary]
	nutlets lacking hooked prickles

Boraginaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family. 

	herbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]
	plants NOT twining
	plants green or with some chlorophyll; NOT [plants parasitic or saprophytic, without chlorophyll]
	plants WITHOUT milky juice
	flowers NOT in heads or spikes; NOT [flowers in long or short spikes], NOT [flowers in heads or in form resembling a head]
	inflorescence usually scorpioid
	flowers with two floral rings, but with the petals wholly or partly united forming a tube or bell]
	corolla regular; NOT [corolla irregular]
	stamens alternating with corolla lobes, or twice their number; NOT [stamens directly in front of corolla lobes]
	stamens 4 or 5; NOT [stamens 8 or 10]
	ovary superior; NOT [ovary inferior]
	styles from center of lobes of ovary; NOT [style terminal]
	fruit with 4 nutlets; NOT [fruit a berry or capsule]