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

	stems mostly dying back each year to near ground level; NOT [stems persistent, branched, generally more than 5 dm tall] (FOA)
	plant definitely bristly; NOT [plant with few, if any, bristles] (BF)
	larger infrastipular prickles ABSENT (FOA)
	thorns NOT present; NOT [thorns present below the stipules] (BF)
	stem-prickles to 3 mm long; NOT [stem-prickles to 5 mm long] (FOA)
	bristles usually not broad or flattened at base; NOT [bristles broad and usually flattened at the base] (BF)
	leaflets 9-11; NOT [leaflets usually 5-9 (9 on young shoots)] (BF)
	leaflets (7) 9-11; NOT [leaflets (3) 5-7 (9)] (FOA)
	leaflet lower surface and teeth NOT glandular; NOT [leaflet lower surface and teeth generally glandular] (FOA)
	in flower late June to August; NOT [in flower mid-June to mid-July] (FOA)
	flowers (2) 3-many, born on the generally unbranched stem(s) of the current year which are usually 1-4 dm tall; NOT [flowers 1-3, rarely more] (FOA)

Rosa: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 

	shrubs; NOT [small trees], NOT [herbs, or with a woody base and otherwise herbaceous]
	plants generally taller; NOT [plants 5-15 cm tall]
	leaves compound, distinctly divided into leaflets; NOT [leaves simple], NOT [leaves lobed, not distinctly divided]
	leaves NOT linear-dissected; NOT [leaves dissected into linear divisions]
	leaves with 5-11 leaflets; NOT [leaves with 3-5 leaflets], NOT [leaflets 11-17]
	hypanthium shaped like a saucer, cup or urn
	sepal bractlets absent; NOT [bractlets alternating with the sepals]
	flowers white or pink; NOT [flowers yellow]
	carpels numerous; NOT [carpels mostly 5], NOT [carpel 1]
	ovary or ovaries superior; NOT [ovary inferior]
	ovary free from hypanthium; NOT [ovary enclosed in and adnate to the hypanthium]
	fruit more or less fleshy; NOT [fruit dry]
	carpels becoming achenes, enclosed in a fleshy receptacle; NOT [carpels becoming drupelets (raspberry-like)]
	fruit a bottle-shaped ?hip?; NOT [fruit a cluster of many fleshy drupelets]

Rosaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family. Not all the answers apply to all members of Rosaceae found on the Canadian prairies, but they all do apply to this species.

	shrubs or trees; NOT [herbs]
	plants NOT climbing
	plants with normal leaves
	leaves alternate; NOT [leaves opposite]
	leaves compound; NOT [leaves simple]
	leaflets NOT leathery
	leaflets NOT spinose-tipped
	flowers with two floral rings, and with each petal distinct from the others
	flowers perfect; NOT [flowers dioecious or perfect]
	petals 5; NOT [petal (standard) solitary]
	stamens numerous; NOT [stamens 5]
	fruit NOT a legume