Plant Description

Conceptual Table of Plant Description Elements
Showing Character Groupings, Characters and Allowable Character States
(version 2.20, 4/17/2003)

Character groupings are shown in red, characters in bold, and allowable character states in conventional font. Changes made since 6/5/02 (version 1.0) are shown in blue.

Taxon*

Rank
kingdom
subkingdom
division
class
order
family
genus
species
subspecies
variety
form

Name

Authority

ITIS Taxonomic Serial Number

Synonym(s)
Name
Authority

[Only for species level or below.]

Vernacular

*The "Taxon" grouping is recursive in that, for a given plant, a Rank, Name, Authority, etc., may be recorded for each level of the taxonomic hierarchy. Each rank is contained within the rank(s) above it, with the exception that infraspecific ranks (Subspecies, Variety and Form) are not required to be in a hierarchical relationship to one another (i.e. a Form does not have to be contained within a Variety or Subspecies, nor does a Variety need to be contained within a Subspecies).

Plant Habit and Life Style

Life Span annual biennial perennial	Woodiness herbaceous woody	Growth Habit aquatic-emergent aquatic-floating aquatic-submerged broadleaf herbaceous epiphytic grasslike herbaceous shrub subshrub succulent tree vine	Herbaceous Plant Growth Form bunching single upright stem
Plant Height When Mature (m) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Nutrition autotrophic hemi-parasitic parasitic saprophytic	Carnivory carnivorous not carnivorous

Stems

Stem Type aerial stem bulb corm rhizome stolon tuber	Pith chambered continuous diaphragmed hollow	Color of Young Twigs (<= 1 year old) beige black blue blue-green bronze brown burgundy copper cream fuchsia gray green lavender maroon olive-green orange pink purple red reddish-brown rose salmon scarlet silver tan turquoise violet white yellow yellow-green	Diameter of Young Twigs (<= 1year old) (mm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]
Pubescence of Herbaceous Stems or Young Twigs (<= 1year old) glabrate glabrous pubescent	Pubescence Type of Herbaceous Stems or Young Twigs (<= 1year old) arachnoid canescent hirsute hispid pilose puberulent sericeous stellate stinging stipitate glandular strigose tomentose villous	Other Surface Features of Herbaceous Stems or Young Twigs (<= 1year old) glandular glaucous lepidote nectary-bearing punctate glandular scabrous scaly scurfy smooth spiny, prickly, thorny tendril-bearing winged	Pubescence of 2-4-year-old Twigs glabrous pubescent
Other Surface Features of 2-4-year-old Twigs scaly spiny, prickly, thorny sterigma-bearing tendril-bearing winged	Leaf Scar Shape crescent-shaped half-round heart-shaped horseshoe-shaped oval round shield-shaped three-lobed triangular U-shaped V-shaped	Number of Bundle Scars [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Stipule Scar Presence absent inconspicuous present
Stipule Scar Extent circumferential not circumferrential	Short Shoot Presence absent present	Short Shoot Type bearing cones bearing flowers bearing leaves	Bark of Mature Trunks armed checkered conspicuous lenticels exfoliating flaky furrowed plated ridged shreddy smooth warty

Buds

Bud Position axillary collateral infrapetiolar pseudoterminal superposed terminal	Presence of Bud Clusters at Ends of Twigs absent present	Bud Color beige black blue blue-green bronze brown burgundy copper cream fuchsia gray green lavender maroon olive-green orange pink purple red reddish-brown rose salmon scarlet silver tan turquoise violet white yellow yellow-green	Bud Length (mm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]
Bud Shape conic cylindric ellipsoid ellipsoid-cylindric fusiform globose lance-cylindric lanceoloid lance-ovoid oblong oblong-cylindric oblong-ovoid ovoid ovoid-acuminate ovoid-conic ovoid-cylindric ovoid-ellipsoid	Bud Apex blunt sharp	Bud Scale Type absent (naked) imbricate single scale valvate	Bud Pubesence glabrate glabrous pubescent
Bud Pubesence Type arachnoid canescent ciliate hirsute hispid pilose puberulent sericeous stellate stipitate glandular strigose tomentose villous	Other Surface Features of Buds glandular glaucous glossy glutinous lepidote punctate glandular scabrous scurfy smooth

Leaves

Leaf Duration deciduous evergreen semi-evergreen	Leaf Complexity simple compound	Leaf Attachment nearly sessile petiolate sessile	Leaf Postition basal cauline	Leaf Arrangement alternate clustered decussate distichous equitant fascicled imbricate opposite pectinate rosetted spiral whorled
Leaf Orientation ascending appressed reflexed spreading	Leaf Length (cm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Leaf Width (cm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Leaf Shape acicular awl-shaped cordate deltoid elliptic ensiform falcate fan-shaped filiform hastate lanceolate linear lorate lyrate needle-like obcordate obdeltoid oblanceolate oblong obovate orbiculate oval ovate pandurate reniform rhombic runcinate sagittate scale-like spatulate	Leaf Margin ciliate crenate crenulate crisped deeply lobed dentate denticulate divided doubly serrate entire erose incised involute lacerate laciniate moderately lobed plane revolute serrate serrulate shallowly lobed sinuate spiny or prickly undulate
Leaf Apex acuminate acute apiculate aristate caudate emarginate mucronate obtuse rounded spinose truncate	Leaf Base attenuate auriculate clasping cordate cuneate decurrent hastate oblique obtuse peltate perfoliate rounded sagittate sheathing truncate	Leaf Shape in Cross Section two-sided three-sided four-sided circular oval semicircular keeled above keeled below	Number of Needles per Cluster or Fascicle [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Leaf Upper Surface Color beige black blue blue-green bronze brown burgundy copper cream fuchsia gray green lavender maroon olive-green orange pink purple red reddish-brown rose salmon scarlet silver tan turquoise violet white yellow yellow-green
Leaf Lower Surface Color beige black blue blue-green bronze brown burgundy copper cream fuchsia gray green lavender maroon olive-green orange pink purple red reddish-brown rose salmon scarlet silver tan turquoise violet white yellow yellow-green	Leaf Upper Surface Color Variegation absent banded blotched bordered clouded discoidal dotted edged marbled ocellated painted spotted striped tessellated variegated zoned	Leaf Lower Surface Color Variegation absent banded blotched bordered clouded discoidal dotted edged marbled ocellated painted spotted striped tessellated variegated zoned	Leaf Upper Surface Pubescence glabrate glabrous pubescent	Leaf Upper Surface Pubescence Type arachnoid canescent hirsute hispid pilose puberulent sericeous stellate stinging stipitate glandular strigose tomentose villous
Other Features of Leaf Upper Surface glandular glaucous glossy glutinous lepidote punctate glandular rugose scabrous scaly scurfy smooth	Leaf Lower Surface Pubescence glabrate glabrous pubescent tufts in vein axils	Leaf Lower Surface Pubescence Type arachnoid canescent hirsute hispid pilose puberulent sericeous stellate stinging stipitate glandular strigose tomentose villous	Other Features of Leaf Lower Surface glandular glaucous glossy glutinous lepidote punctate glandular rugose scabrous scaly scurfy smooth	Leaf Venation dichotomous palmate parallel pinnate reticulate
Number of Secondary Veins on Either Side of the Midvein [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Leaf Upper Surface Venation Relief distinctly impressed distinctly raised relatively planar	Leaf Lobing unlobed palmate pinnate	Number of Leaf Lobes [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Leaf Division bifoliolate bigeminate bipalmately compound bipinnately compound bipinnate-pinnatifid bipinnatifid biternate once palmately compound once pinnately compound once pinnate-pinnatifid palmatifid pinnatifid trifoliolate tripalmately compound tripinnately compound tripinnate-pinnatifid tripinnatifid triternate unifoliolate
Leaflet Attachment nearly sessile petiolulate sessile	Leaflet Number [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Terminal Leaflet Presence absent (even-pinnate) present (odd-pinnate)	Leaflet Length (cm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Leaflet Width (cm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]
Leaflet Shape acicular awl-shaped cordate deltoid elliptic ensiform falcate fan-shaped filiform hastate lanceolate linear lorate lyrate needle-like obcordate obdeltoid oblanceolate oblong obovate orbiculate oval ovate pandurate reniform rhombic runcinate sagittate scale-like spatulate	Leaflet Margin ciliate crenate crenulate crisped deeply lobed dentate denticulate divided doubly serrate entire erose incised involute lacerate laciniate moderately lobed plane revolute serrate serrulate shallowly lobed sinuate spiny or prickly undulate	Leaflet Apex acuminate acute apiculate aristate caudate emarginate mucronate obtuse rounded spinose truncate	Leaflet Base attenuate auriculate clasping cordate cuneate decurrent hastate oblique obtuse peltate perfoliate rounded sagittate sheathing truncate	Leaflet Venation dichotomous palmate parallel pinnate reticulate
Leaflet Lobing unlobed palmate pinnate	Petiole Length (cm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Petiole Pubescence glabrate glabrous pubescent	Petiole Pubescence Type pilose puberulent stellate stinging stipitate glandular	Other Petiole Surface Features glandular nectary-bearing punctate glandular spiny, prickly, thorny tendril-bearing winged
Rachis Pubescence glabrate glabrous pubescent	Rachis Pubescence Type pilose puberulent stellate stinging stipitate glandular	Other Rachis Surface Features glandular nectary-bearing punctate glandular spiny, prickly, thorny tendril-bearing winged	Stipule Presence absent present	Stipule Length (mm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]
Stipule Persistence caducous persistent	Stipule Type blade-like circumferential glandular scale-like spinose

Flowers

General

Bloom Time (months) January February March April May June July August September October November December	Inflorescence Position axillary terminal	Inflorescence Type catkin compound dichasium compound umbel corymb cyathium cyme fascicle glomerule head helicoid cyme panicle raceme scorpioid cyme simple dichasium simple umbel solitary spadix spike spikelet thyrse verticillaster	Flower Attachment nearly sessile sessile stalked
Flower Gender bisexual pistillate staminate unisexual	Position of Perianth epigynous hypogynous perigynous	Composite Ray Floret Length (mm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Composite Ray Floret Number [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]
Composite Ray Floret Color beige black blue blue-green bronze brown burgundy copper cream fuchsia gray green lavender maroon olive-green orange pink purple red reddish-brown rose salmon scarlet silver tan turquoise violet white yellow yellow-green	Composite Disc Floret Length (mm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Composite Disc Floret Number [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Composite Disc Floret Color beige black blue blue-green bronze brown burgundy copper cream fuchsia gray green lavender maroon olive-green orange pink purple red reddish-brown rose salmon scarlet silver tan turquoise violet white yellow yellow-green

Perianth

Calyx Symmetry asymmetric bilaterally symmetric radially symmetric	Calyx Fusion aposepalous synsepalous	Sepal Number [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Calyx Tube Length (mm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Calyx Tube Width (mm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]
Sepal Length (mm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Sepal Width (mm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Sepal Orientation ascending appressed reflexed spreading	Sepal Color beige black blue blue-green bronze brown burgundy copper cream fuchsia gray green lavender maroon olive-green orange pink purple red reddish-brown rose salmon scarlet silver tan turquoise violet white yellow yellow-green	Sepal Shape deltoid elliptic falcate lanceolate linear lorate obcordate obdeltoid oblanceolate oblong obovate orbiculate oval ovate rhombic scale-like spatulate
Sepal Margin ciliate crenate deeply lobed dentate divided entire erose incised lacerate laciniate moderately lobed serrate shallowly lobed sinuate spiny or prickly undulate	Sepal Apex acuminate acute apiculate aristate caudate emarginate mucronate obtuse rounded spinose truncate	Sepal Pubescence glabrate glabrous pubescent	Sepal Pubescence Type arachnoid canescent hirsute hispid pilose puberulent sericeous stellate stinging stipitate glandular strigose tomentose villous	Other Sepal Surface Features glandular glaucous glossy glutinous lepidote punctate glandular rugose scabrous scaly scurfy smooth
Sepal Persistence caducous persistent	Corolla Symmetry asymmetric bilaterally symmetric radially symmetric	Corolla Fusion apopetalous sympetalous	Petal Number [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Corolla Shape campanulate funnelform rotate salverform tubular urceolate
Corolla Tube Length (mm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Corolla Tube Width (mm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Petal Length (mm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Petal Width (mm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Petal Orientation ascending appressed reflexed spreading
Petal Color beige black blue blue-green bronze brown burgundy copper cream fuchsia gray green lavender maroon olive-green orange pink purple red reddish-brown rose salmon scarlet silver tan turquoise violet white yellow yellow-green	Petal Shape clawed deltoid elliptic falcate keeled lanceolate linear lorate obcordate obdeltoid oblanceolate oblong obovate orbiculate oval ovate rhombic saccate scale-like spatulate spurred	Petal Margin ciliate crenate deeply lobed dentate divided entire erose incised lacerate laciniate moderately lobed serrate shallowly lobed sinuate undulate	Petal Apex acuminate acute apiculate aristate caudate cleft emarginate fringed mucronate obtuse rounded spinose truncate	Petal Pubescence glabrous pubescent
Petal Persistence caducous persistent

Androecium

Stamen Number [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Stamen Postion alternating with petals opposite petals	Stamen Grouping and Fusion diadelphous monadelphous separate	Filament Length (mm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]
Anther Length (mm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Staminode Presence absent present

Gynoecium

Ovary Position half-inferior inferior superior	Pistil Number [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Carpel Fusion apocarpous monocarpous syncarpous	Number of Carpels per Flower [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]
Number of Styles per Pistil [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Ovary Length (mm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Style Length (mm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Stigma Length (mm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]
Placentation apical axile basal free-central marginal parietal

Other Floral Features

Receptacle Shape alveolate concave cone-like convex	Receptacle Chaff Presence absent present	Hypanthium Presence absent present	Involucre Shape campanulate
Phyllary Length (mm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Phyllary Number [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Phyllary Color beige black blue blue-green bronze brown burgundy copper cream fuchsia gray green lavender maroon olive-green orange pink purple red reddish-brown rose salmon scarlet silver tan turquoise violet white yellow yellow-green	Phyllary Orientation ascending appressed reflexed squarrose
Phyllary Shape deltoid elliptic falcate lanceolate linear lorate obcordate obdeltoid oblanceolate oblong obovate orbiculate oval ovate rhombic scale-like spatulate	Phyllary Margin ciliate crenate dentate entire erose incised lacerate laciniate serrate sinuate spiny or prickly undulate	Phyllary Apex acuminate acute apiculate aristate caudate emarginate mucronate obtuse rounded spinose truncate	Phyllary Pubescence glabrate glabrous pubescent
Phyllary Pubescence Type arachnoid canescent hirsute hispid pilose puberulent sericeous stellate stinging stipitate glandular strigose tomentose villous	Other Phyllary Surface Features glandular glaucous glossy glutinous lepidote punctate glandular rugose scabrous scaly scurfy smooth	Pappus Type bristle-like plumose scale-like	Pappus Whorl Complexity double-whorled simple-whorled
Pappus Number [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Pappus Color beige black blue blue-green bronze brown burgundy copper cream fuchsia gray green lavender maroon olive-green orange pink purple red reddish-brown rose salmon scarlet silver tan turquoise violet white yellow yellow-green

Fruits

Fruit Type
accessory fruit
achene
acorn
aggregate fruit
berry
bur
capsule
caryopsis
circumscissile capsule
cypsella
denticidal capsule
drupe
follicle
hesperidium
hip
legume
loculicidal capsule
loment
mericarp
mutiple fruit
nut
pepo
pome
poricidal capsule
samara
schizocarp
septicidal capsule
silicle
silique
syconium
utricle

Length (cm)
[4-part range:
Abs. Min.
Usual Min.
Usual Max.
Abs. Max.]

Color of Mature Fruit
beige
black
blue
blue-green
bronze
brown
burgundy
copper
cream
fuchsia
gray
green
lavender
maroon
olive-green
orange
pink
purple
red
reddish-brown
rose
salmon
scarlet
silver
tan
turquoise
violet
white
yellow
yellow-green

Time to Maturity (years)
[4-part range:
Abs. Min.
Usual Min.
Usual Max.
Abs. Max.]

Cones

Pollen Shed Time (months) January February March April May June July August September October November December	Pollen Cone Length (cm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Seed Cone Length (cm) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Seed Cone Position axillary terminal
Seed Cone Attachment nearly sessile sessile stalked	Seed Cone Color Before Maturity beige black blue blue-green bronze brown burgundy copper cream fuchsia gray green lavender maroon olive-green orange pink purple red reddish-brown rose salmon scarlet silver tan turquoise violet white yellow yellow-green	Seed Cone Color When Mature beige black blue blue-green bronze brown burgundy copper cream fuchsia gray green lavender maroon olive-green orange pink purple red reddish-brown rose salmon scarlet silver tan turquoise violet white yellow yellow-green	Seed Cone Symmetry asymmetric nearly symmetric symmetric
Seed Cone Shape Before Opening conic cylindric ellipsoid ellipsoid-cylindric globose lance-cylindric lance-obovoid lanceoloid lance-ovoid oblong oblong-cylindric oblong-ovoid obovoid ovoid ovoid-conic ovoid-cylindric	Seed Cone Shape After Opening conic cylindric ellipsoid ellipsoid-cylindric globose lance-cylindric lance-obovoid lanceoloid lance-ovoid oblong oblong-cylindric oblong-ovoid obovoid ovoid ovoid-conic ovoid-cylindric	Seed Cone Time to Maturity (years) [4-part range: Abs. Min. Usual Min. Usual Max. Abs. Max.]	Seed Cone Persistence not persistent persistent semi-persistent
Seed Cone Serotiny not serotinous serotinous variably serotinous	Seed Cone Scale Type fleshy leathery woody	Seed Cone Armature Presence armed unarmed	Seed Cone Armature Persistence deciduous persistent
Seed Cone Armature Features curved straight strong weak	Apophysis Features cross-keeled grooved keeled smooth wrinkled

Seeds

Other Features

Habitat
bogs and seepages
bottomland forests
disturbed and weedy areas
dry-mesic upland forests
mesic upland forests
mixed forest edges
prairies
rock outcrops
suburban plantings

Distribution of Gender
dioecious
monoecious
polygamous
synoecious

Prescence of Milky Sap
absent
present

Root Type
adventitious
fibrous
tap

Special Diagnostic Characters

Conceptual Table of Plant Description ElementsShowing Character Groupings, Characters and Allowable Character States(version 2.20, 4/17/2003)

Conceptual Table of Plant Description Elements
Showing Character Groupings, Characters and Allowable Character States
(version 2.20, 4/17/2003)