Comandra umbellata
 
Pale Comandra

Upper Leaf Top

Buffalograss Provincial Ecological Reserve
11-June-2011

Comandra: Answers to key questions in Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 

leaves mostly linear-lanceolate; NOT [leaves mostly oval]

leaves acute; NOT [leaves obtuse]

flowers in small cymules borne near the top of the plant; NOT [flowers commonly 3, in cymules from the axils of the middle leaves]

flowers whitish; NOT [flowers bronze or greenish]

sepals much longer than wide; NOT [sepals triangular, about as long as wide]

fruit greenish; NOT [fruit scarlet]

fruit dry; NOT [fruit juicy]

 

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

herbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]

land plants; NOT [water plants]

plants not parasitic on trees, rooted in soil; NOT [plants parasitic on branches of trees]

plants with more than one pair of leaves; NOT [plants with a single pair of large reniform leaves]

leaves alternate, lower ones sometimes opposite; NOT [leaves opposite]

leaves without stipules; NOT [leaves with stipules free or sheathing the stem]

flowers with only one floral ring, with sepals but not petals]

stamens and pistils in each flower; NOT [stamens or pistils in separate flowers on the same plant]

fruit fleshy when ripe; NOT [fruit dry when ripe]