154a. Stem closely p.u.b.escent (2-8 dm. high) =Goldenrod, Solidago nemoralis.=
154b. Stem glabrous (5-12 dm. high) =Goldenrod, Solidago juncea var. scabrella.=
155a. Leaves rough above, smooth below (6-15 dm. high) =Goldenrod, Solidago patula.=
155b. Leaves smooth on both sides (5-12 dm. high) --156.
156a. Branches of the panicle spreading or recurved =Goldenrod, Solidago juncea.=
156b. Branches of the panicle upright =Goldenrod, Solidago juncea var. ramosa.=
157a. Stem more or less p.u.b.escent or hairy throughout (5-20 dm. high) --158.
157b. Stem smooth, at least below the inflorescence --161.
158a. Involucre 2-2.7 mm. long =Goldenrod, Solidago canadensis.=
158b. Involucre 3-5 mm. long --159.
159a. Leaves pinnately veined, scabrous above =Goldenrod, Solidago rugosa.=
159b. Leaves 3-5-ribbed, p.u.b.escent but not scabrous above --160.
160a. Stem and lower side of leaves covered with short hairs; common species =Goldenrod, Solidago altissima.=
160b. Stem and lower side of leaves with distinct, loose, soft hairs (sh.o.r.e of Lake Superior) =Goldenrod, Solidago altissima var. procera.=
161a. Involucre 2-2.7 mm. long (5-20 dm. high) --158a.
161b. Involucre 3-6 mm. long --162.
162a. Racemes or branches of the panicle either short and arranged along a more or less elongated axis, or elongated and ascending, scarcely recurved, forming a narrow more or less elongated panicle (5-10 dm. high) =Goldenrod, Solidago speciosa var. angustata.=
162b. Racemes or branches of the panicle usually elongated, spreading outward, usually recurved, forming a widened panicle; leaves distinctly serrate --163.
163a. Leaves pinnately veined (5-12 dm. high) =Goldenrod, Solidago ulmifolia.=
163b. Leaves 3-5-ribbed (5-20 dm. high) --164.
164a. Leaves glabrous on both sides =Goldenrod, Solidago serotina.=
164b. Leaves slightly p.u.b.escent beneath =Goldenrod, Solidago serotina var. gigantea.=
165a. Ray-flowers pistillate (the 2-lobed style protrudes from their base) --166.
165b. Ray-flowers with neither stamens nor pistil --174.
166a. Princ.i.p.al leaves more than 2 dm. long (1-3 m. high; summer) --167.
166b. Princ.i.p.al leaves less than 1.5 dm. long --168.
167a. Leaves deeply lobed =Compa.s.s Plant, Silphium laciniatum.=
167b. Leaves toothed or serrate =Elecampane, Inula helenium.=
168a. Leaves narrowly linear (3-6 dm. high; late summer) =Sneezeweed, Helenium tenuifolium.=
168b. Leaves of a broader shape --169.
169a. Heads 1-2 cm. wide; flowers in spring and early summer (2-8 dm.
high) (Ragwort) --170.
169b. Heads 2-5 cm. wide; flowers in late summer and autumn --173.
170a. Basal leaves cordate at base =Ragwort, Senecio aureus.=
170b. Basal leaves narrowed to the base --171.
171a. Basal leaves obovate =Ragwort, Senecio obovatus.=
171b. Basal leaves oblong =Ragwort, Senecio balsamitae.=
172a. Introduced annual in waste places (1-4 dm. high; spring and summer) =Groundsel, Senecio vulgaris.=
172b. Native biennial in moist ground (3-8 dm. high; summer) =Squaw Weed, Senecio discoideus.=
173a. Leaves 2-5 cm. long, sharply spinulose-serrate; involucre viscid (3-6 dm. high; summer) =Gum Plant, Grindelia squarrosa.=
173b. Leaves 5-12 cm. long, merely serrate; involucre gray-p.u.b.escent (5-15 dm. high; late summer) =Sneeze Weed, Helenium autumnale.=
174a. Disk hemispherical or oblong-cylindrical (Summer) --175.
174b. Disk flat or somewhat convex (Sunflower) (summer and autumn) --179.
175a. Disk yellow or greenish-yellow (1-3 dm. high) --176.
175b. Disk gray-brown or purple (5-15 dm. high) --177.
176a. Princ.i.p.al stem-leaves pinnately divided =Golden Glow, Rudbeckia laciniata.=
176b. Princ.i.p.al stem-leaves merely serrate =Yellow Ironweed, Actinomeris alternifolia.=
177a. Rays drooping; leaves pinnately divided =Gray-headed Coneflower, Lepachys pinnata.=
177b. Rays spreading when in bloom --178.
178a. Lower leaves deeply 3-lobed =Coneflower, Rudbeckia triloba.=