38a. Stem-leaves present --9b.
38b. Leaves all basal (1-2 dm. high; leaves 3-divided; flowers white, in early summer) =Gold-thread, Coptis trifolia.=
39a. Flowers numerous, in branching panicles (Meadow Rue) --40.
39b. Flowers numerous, in racemes --43.
39c. Flowers solitary or few, in loose cl.u.s.ters; woodland plants blooming in early spring (1-3 dm. high; flowers white to purple) --45.
40a. Blooming in spring; stem-leaves with obvious petioles (3-7 dm.
high; flowers white or greenish) =Meadow Rue, Thalictrum dioic.u.m.=
40b. Blooming in late spring or summer, stem-leaves sessile or nearly so (8-15 dm. high; flowers white) --41.
41a. Filaments club-shape, approximately as wide as the anther =Meadow Rue, Thalictrum polygamum.=
41b. Filaments slender or thread-like --42.
42a. Leaves minutely p.u.b.escent beneath, but not glandular =Meadow Rue, Thalictrum dasycarpum.=
42b. Leaves minutely glandular beneath =Meadow Rue, Thalictrum revolutum.=
43a. Racemes slender, 10-90 cm. long (8-15 dm. high; flowers white, in summer) =Bugbane, Cimicifuga racemosa.=
43b. Racemes short and stout, 3-8 cm. long (4-8 dm. high; flowers white, in late spring) (Baneberry) --44.
44a. Berries white; pedicels strongly thickened at maturity =Baneberry, Actaea alba.=
44b. Berries red; pedicels slender =Baneberry, Actaea rubra.=
45a. Flowers white; stem-leaves alternate =Isopyrum, Isopyrum biternatum.=
45b. Flowers white to pink or purplish; stem-leaves whorled =Rue Anemone, Anemonella thalictroides.=
MAGNOLIACEAE, the Magnolia Family
Trees or shrubs, with alternate leaves, and large, frequently showy flowers.
One species in Michigan, with broad 4-lobed leaves and greenish-yellow flowers in late spring =Tulip Tree, Liriodendron tulipifera.=
ANONACEAE, the Custard Apple Family
Trees or shrubs, with alternate simple entire leaves, 3 sepals, and 6 petals.
One species in Michigan; tall shrub or small tree, with obovate leaves and large dull-purple flowers in spring =Papaw, Asimina triloba.=
MENISPERMACEAE, the Moonseed Family
Woody climbers, with alternate leaves, 6-8 petals, and numerous stamens.
One species in Michigan, with 5-7-angled leaves which are peltate near the edge, and small white flowers in early summer =Moonseed, Menispermum canadense.=
BERBERIDACEAE, the Barberry Family
Shrubs or herbs; petals 6 or more; stamens 6-18, frequently opening by two terminal lids; pistil 1.
1a. Leaves simple --2.
1b. Leaves compound --3.
2a. Stem shrubby (flowers yellow, in racemes, in spring) =Barberry, Berberis vulgaris.=
2b. Stem herbaceous, with a single pair of palmately lobed leaves (4-6 dm. tall; flower white, solitary, terminal, in spring) =May Apple, Podophyllum peltatum.=
3a. Leaves all basal; leaflets 2 (2-4 dm. high; the flower-stalks bearing solitary white flowers in spring) =Twin-leaf, Jeffersonia diphylla.=
3b. The stem-leaf ternately compound, with numerous leaflets (4-8 dm.
high; with yellowish-green cl.u.s.tered flowers in spring) =Blue Cohosh, Caulophyllum thalictroides.=
LAURACEAE, the Laurel Family
Trees or shrubs, with aromatic taste or odor, and alternate simple leaves; flowers small, imperfect, the anthers opening by lids.
1a. Freely branched shrub; leaves obovate-oblong, entire (flowers yellow, in early spring, before the leaves) =Spice Bush, Benzoin aestivale.=
1b. Tree or tall shrub; some or all of the leaves 2-3-lobed (flowers greenish-yellow, appearing with the leaves) =Sa.s.safras, Sa.s.safras variifolium.=