Caltha palustris

Marsh Marigold

Lower Stem Oblique Section

Good Spirit Lake Provincial Park
26-May-2008

Note that the stem is hollow.

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Palustris: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 
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plants usually rooted in mud; NOT [plants often floating]

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stems ascending, decumbent; NOT [stems erect, floating or creeping]

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stems bearing several leaves; NOT [stems bearing a single leaf or none]

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flowers several; NOT [flowers 1 or 2]

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flowers over 15 mm across

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sepals obovate; NOT [sepals oblong]

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sepals yellow; NOT [sepals white, pink or bluish]

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carpels 6-12; NOT [carpels about 30]

 

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Caltha: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus.
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plants NOT climbing

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leaves either basal or alternate; NOT [leaves opposite]

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leaves entire or merely toothed; NOT [leaves palmately divided], NOT [leaves compound, trifoliolate]

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flowers regular; NOT [flowers irregular]

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petals NOT spurred

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sepals yellow; NOT [sepals white or pink]

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carpels 2 or more; NOT [carpel 1]

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ovaries several-ovuled; NOT [ovaries 1-ovuled]

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fruit a follicle; NOT [fruit an achene or berry]

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follicles NOT stipitate

 

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Ranunculaceae: Answers to key questions in Flora of Alberta leading to this family. 
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herbs; NOT [trees or shrubs]

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plants terrestrial; NOT [plants aquatic]

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plants NOT parasitic on coniferous trees

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flowers perfect; NOT [flowers imperfect, the staminate, and generally the pistillate too, in catkins]

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perianth uniseriate or entirely absent; NOT [perianth biseriate]

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ovaries superior; NOT [ovary inferior or partly so, or closely enclosed by the calyx and appearing inferior]

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ovaries 2 or more, separate from one another or united only at the base; NOT [ovary solitary]

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ovary or its locules with many ovules; NOT [ovary or its locules with only 1 or 2 ovules]