Hedysarum alpinum

American Hedysarum

Mature Flower Side

Good Spirit Lake Provincial Park
18-July-2008

Note the unequal calyx teeth and the large, truncate keel.  The wing petals are somewhat withered at this stage of the flower's development.

Note the stamens are divided into two groups.  The first group contains nine stamens whose filaments are fused together (connate).  The second group contains a single stamen whose filament is distinct from the others.  Such diadelphous stamens are common in the Leguminosae.

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Alpinum: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora (BF)  and Flora of Alberta (FOA) leading to this genus. 
bulletleaflets conspicuously veined; NOT [leaflets with obscure veins]
bulletcalyx teeth shorter than the calyx tube; NOT [calyx teeth about as long as the calyx tube]
bulletcalyx teeth very unequal; NOT [calyx teeth almost equal]
bulletupper calyx teeth nearly triangular; NOT [calyx teeth linear or linear-subulate]
bulletflowers violet, pale pink, or reddish purple; NOT [flowers sulphur yellow]
bulletsegments of loment 3.5-5 mm broad; NOT [segments of loment 6-8 mm broad]
bulletsegments of loment narrowly wing-margined; NOT [segments of loment conspicuously wing-margined]

 

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Hedysarum: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora (BF)  and Flora of Alberta (FOA) leading to this genus. 
bulletherbs; NOT [shrubs]
bulletplants NOT climbing
bulletleaves pinnately divided; NOT [leaves palmately divided]
bulletthe terminal leaflet normal; NOT [the terminal leaflet replaced by a tendril]
bulletinflorescence a raceme; NOT [inflorescence a loose, few-flowered, umbel-like head]
bulletkeel truncate; NOT [keel acute]
bulletpods segmented or jointed, breaking up at maturity; NOT [pods not segmented or jointed]

 

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Leguminosae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this family.
bulletherbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]
bulletplants terrestrial or semiaquatic; NOT [plants aquatic, leaves submerged or floating]
bulletplants NOT with colored milky juice
bulletplants with more than one normal leaf
bulletsome or all leaves alternate; NOT [leaves opposite, whorled, or basal]
bulletleaves with stipules; NOT [leaves without stipules, or having glands]
bulletflowers with two floral rings, and with each petal distinct from the others]
bulletcalyx regular; NOT [calyx irregular, some sepals smaller than others]
bulletflowers irregular in shape; NOT [flowers regular in shape]
bulletcorolla pea-like; NOT [corolla with one petal spurred or sac-like]
bulletstamens usually separate or partly so, not in column; NOT [stamens united into a column]
bulletfruit a legume; NOT [fruit a 3-valved capsule]