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

	plants NOT woody climbers
	leaves either basal or alternate; NOT [leaves opposite]
	flowers regular
	petals NOT spurred
	carpel one; NOT [carpels two or more]
	fruit a berry; NOT [fruit an achene or follicle]

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

	herbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]
	plants NOT with colored milky juice
	plants with more than one normal leaf
	some or all leaves alternate; NOT [leaves opposite, whorled or basal]
	leaves without stipules, or having glands; NOT [leaves with stipules]
	leaves mostly submerged, small, coarsely to finely dissected; NOT [leaves mostly floating, large, suborbicular or reniform]
	flowers pedicellate; NOT [flowers sessile, axillary]
	flowers with two floral rings, and with each petal distinct from the others
	flowers perfect; NOT [flowers monoecious]
	calyx regular; NOT [calyx irregular, some sepals smaller than others]
	petals mostly white or yellow
	stamens usually more than 10; NOT [stamens 10 or fewer]
	carpels separate; NOT [carpels united]