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

	low herbs; NOT [shrubs or small trees]
	leaves mostly whorled at summit of stem; NOT [leaves opposite]
	flowers in a dense head surrounded by an involucre of 4 large, petal-like, whitish bracts; NOT [flowers in cymes, not surrounded by an involucre]
	fruit red; NOT [fruit whitish]

Cornaceae: 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 do apply to this species.

	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
	leaves opposite, whorled, or basal; NOT [some or all leaves alternate]
	plants with an involucre of 4 petal-like bracts; NOT [plants without large petal-like bracts]
	flowers with two floral rings, and with each petal distinct from the others
	fruit a red drupe