Arenaria congesta

           
Rocky-ground Sandwort

Stem Leaf

West Block Cypress Hills
19-June-2004

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

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flowering stems glabrous throughout; NOT glandular-puberulent above

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leaves filiform-linear, less than 5 mm wide

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leaves 1-6 cm long; NOT 3-8 cm long

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inflorescence more or less congested and umbellate; NOT open when mature, NOT more or less forked

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sepals rounded or obtuse at the tip; NOT distinctly acute to acuminate

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sepals 4-5 mm long; NOT 3-4 mm long

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valves of capsule 2-cleft; NOT entire

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seeds NOT strophiolate

 
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Arenaria: 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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plants WITHOUT stipules; NOT with small, ovate, papery stipules at junctions of stem and leaf and stem and branch

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petals usually present

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petals (when present) WITHOUT claws; NOT with claw-like base

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petals (when present) entire or emarginate; NOT deeply notched, NOT 2-cleft

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5 sepals

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

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styles normally 3; NOT 5 or 4

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ovary NOT stipitate

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fruit a several-many-seeded capsule; NOT a 1-seeded utricle

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capsule opening with 3 valves (originally entire valves may become 2-cleft)

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

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plants terrestrial; NOT aquatic, leaves NOT submerged, leaves NOT floating, NOT mud plants with small axillary flowers

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plants NOT with coloured milky juice

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plants with more than one normal leaf

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leaves opposite, whorled, or basal; NOT alternate

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leaves NOT glandular-dotted

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plants WITHOUT large petal-like bracts; NOT with an involucre of 4 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

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stamens NOT united at base

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styles 2 or more; NOT single