AN ILLUSTRATED KEY TOMISCELLANEOUS MONOCOT FAMILIES

IN ALBERTA

ACORACEAEALISMATACEAE

ARACEAEHYDROCHARITACEAE

IRIDACEAEJUNCAGINACEAE

TYPHACEAE/SPARGANIACEAE

Compiled and written by Linda Kershaw & Lorna Allen

April 2019

© Linda J. Kershaw & Lorna Allen

This key was compiled using information primarily from Moss (1983), Packer & Gould (2018), Douglas et. al. (2001) and the Flora of North America (2008-2010). Taxonomy follows VASCAN (Brouillet, 2015). Please let us know if there are ways in which the keys can be improved. The families are arranged alphabetically.The 2017 S-ranks of rare species (S1; S1S2; S2; S2S3; SU, according to ACIMS, 2017) are noted in superscript (S1;S2;SU) after the species names. For more details go to the ACIMS web site. If naturalized, exotic orchids are discovered in Alberta, their names would be followed by a superscript X, XX if noxious and XXX if prohibited noxious (X; XX; XXX) in the Alberta Weed Control Act.

3

ALISMATACEAEWaterplantain Family

Key to Genera01a Emersed leaves egg-shaped to lance-shaped;

submersed leaves ribbon-like or absent;

stamens 6(9); flowers/fruits in a single ring (whorl) on a small, flat stem tip (receptacle) . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alisma

01a Emersed leaves arrowhead-shaped; submersed leaves without blades (usually) or arrowhead-shaped; stamens 7-25; flowers/fruits spirally arranged on a large, convex receptacle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sagittaria

ALISMA Waterplantain01a Leaves oval-lance-shaped (emergent) or

strap-like (submersed); flower clusters usually shorter than the leaves, often with branches bent back/down; style ≤ ovary length; anthers egg-shaped to rounded; stamens ± as long as

the ovaries . . . . . . . . . . .Alisma gramineum

01b Leaves egg-shaped to oval (all emergent);

flower clusters taller than the leaves, with branches angled upwards; style ≥ ovary length; anthers football-shaped; stamens 2X as long as the ovaries . . . . . . Alisma triviale

. . . . . . . . . . . . .[Alisma plantago-aquatica]

SAGITTARIA Arrowhead01a Achene beak (→) erect or incurved, 0.1-0.4

mm long; achenes egg-shaped, with a keel on the lower/outer side, 1.8-2.6 x 1.3-2.5 mm; leaves emersed, floating and submersed; emersed blades heart- to arrowhead-shaped (rarely narrower) with basal lobes shorter than the upper section, 2.5-17 x 1.5-11 cm . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sagittaria cuneata

01b Achene beak (→) horizontal, pointing inward, 1-2 mm long; achenes lance-shaped, without a keel on the lower/outer side, 2.5-3.5 x ≤2 mm; leaves all emersed; blades arrowhead-shaped (rarely narrower) with basal lobes equalling or shorter than the upper section, 1.5-30 x 2-17 cm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sagittaria latifolia

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1b1a

1b

1a

→

→

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

4

ARACEAEArum Family

[includes Lemnaceae]

Key to Genera01a Plants 10-20 cm tall with well-developed stems

and leaves; leaves egg- to heart-shaped, 5-12 x 4-11 cm; flowers and fruits in a dense, 1-3 cm spike (spadix) above a white, 3-6(8) cm long, leaf-like bract (spathe) . Calla palustris

01b Plants tiny, 1-10 mm wide, flattened, ± disc-shaped or lobed, without stems and leaves; rarely flowering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .02

02a Plants without veins, 0.5-1.5 mm long, without roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wolffia

02b Plants veined, ≥2 mm long, with ≥1 root(s) . .3

03a Roots 7-21; plants ± circular, 3-8 mm wide, reddish beneath, 7- to 16-veined . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spirodela polyrhiza

03b Roots single; plants 3-lobed or egg-shaped to ± circular, if rounded then 1-4 mm wide, green or reddish beneath, 1- to 5-veined . . . Lemna

LEMNA Duckweed01a Plants oblong to lance-shaped, 6-10(12) mm

long, stalked, in zig-zag chains or ± 3-lobed clumps, mostly submersed, often in large colonies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lemna trisulca

01b Plants egg-shaped to ± circular, 1-4 mm long, without stalks, floating singly or in small rosettes, often coating the water surface . . . .

. . . . . . . Lemna turionifera [Lemna minor]

WOLFFIA Watermeal01a Plants boat-shaped (oval to egg-shaped with

upcurved, pointed tips), 0.3-1X as deep as wide, 1.3-2X as long as wide . . . . . . Wolffia borealis

01b Plants ± spherical, blunt-tipped, 1-1.5X as deep as wide, 1-1.3X as long as wide; Dry Mixedwood and Central Parkland in the Edmonton area . . . . . Wolffia columbiana S2

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1a

1b

1b1a

3a

2a

1a

5

HYDROCHARITACEAEFrogbit Family

[includes Najadaceae]

Key to Genera01a Leaves ± paired, mostly 2 or 4/joint, with

expanded bases clasping the stem; sepals and petals absent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Najas

01b Leaves in rings of 3-8 (some 2/joint in Elodea bifoliata), without expanded bases; sepals and petals present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .02

02a Leaves with prickles on the lower/outer side of the midvein; leaf-axil scales fringed with orange-brown hairs; not yet in AB in 2017, but a noxious weed spreading rapidly in the US and considered a significant threat . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hydrilla verticillata X

02b Leaves without prickles on the midvein; leaf-axil scales smooth edged . . . . . . . . . .Elodea

ELODEA Waterweed01a Upper leaves paired, 10-20 mm long; ♂ flower-

heads 10-42 mm long . . . .Elodea bifoliata S2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [Elodea longivaginata]

01b Upper leaves in rings (whorls) of 3-4, 4-15 mm long; ♂ flowerheads 2-13 mm long . . . . . . .02

02a Leaves 0.3-1.5(1.7) mm wide, tapered to a slender point; ♂ flowerheads 2-4 mm long; styles 1-2 mm . . . . . . . . . . .Elodea nuttallii X

02b Leaves (1.1)1.5-5 mm wide, broadly pointed to blunt tipped; ♂ flowerheads 8-13 mm long; styles usually 2.3-4 mm .Elodea canadensis S2

NAJAS Naiad01a Leaves (10)15-35 mm long, the dilated

base 2-3 mm wide; seeds glossy, smooth (sometimes with tiny dots), egg-shaped, deep brown to yellow; anthers 1- chambered . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Najas flexilis01b Leaves 5-15 mm long, the dilated base 1-2

mm wide; seeds dull, pitted, spindle-shaped, yellowish white to greenish, reddish brown or purplish; anthers 1- or 4-chambered. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Najas guadalupensis S1

1b

1a

1a

2a

2b

2b

2a

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

6

IRIDACEAE Iris Family

Key to Genera01a Leaves 5-10 mm wide; flowers ±6 cm long;

sepals and petals different . . . . . . . . . . . . Iris

01b Leaves 1-4 mm wide; flowers ±1 cm long; sepals and petals similar . . . . Sisyrinchium

IRIS Iris01a Flowers mainly blue and white, 1-3/stalk;

stems 20-50(60) cm tall; leaves 20-50 x 0.5-1 cm; swAB . . . . . . . . . . .Iris missouriensis S2

01b Flowers mainly yellow, 3-10/stalk; stems 50-100+ cm tall; leaves 40-90 x 1-3 cm . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Iris pseudacorus XXX

SISYRINCHIUM Blue-eyed-grass01a Leaves 1-4 mm wide; flowers dark bluish violet

(rarely white); outer tepals 9-14 mm long, notched at the bristle-tip; flower stalks mostly longer than the inner bract; fairly common throughout AB . . . .Sisyrinchium montanum

01b Leaves 1-2 mm wide; flowers pale blue to whitish; outer tepals 8-9 mm long, rounded at the bristle-tip; flower stalks mostly shorter than the inner bract; uncommon in sAB . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . .Sisyrinchium septentrionale

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1b1a

1a 1b

1b1a

7

JUNCAGINACEAEArrowgrass Family

TRIGLOCHIN Arrowgrass01a Plants annual, with fibrous roots; flower

clusters of 2 types (#1) ♂ and/or ♀ flower intermixed in stalked, spike-like clusters 1-4 cm long (mostly) and (#2) single, stalkless ♀ flowers with styles (→) up to 30 cm long, hidden in basal leaf sheaths; flowers mostly ♂ or ♀ (unisexual), with 0-1 tepal, 0-1 anther and/or 0-1 stigma . . . . Triglochin scilloides

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [Lilaea scilloides]

01b Plants perennial, with spreading rhizomes; flower clusters elongating, spike-like 6-30(45) cm long; flowers ♂+♀ (bisexual), with 6 tepals, 4 or 6 stamens + 3 or 6 feathery stigmas . .02

02a Fruits oblong to ± spherical, 2-4.5 x 1.5-2 mm, rounded at the base; stigmas/seeds 6 . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Triglochin maritima

02b Fruits narrowly club-shaped, 7-8 x 0.8-1.2 mm, tapered to the base; stigmas/seeds 3 . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Triglochin palustris

2b

1a

→

2a

8

TYPHACEAE[includes Sparganiaceae]

Cattail Family01a Flowers in cylindrical heads >10 cm long

(cattails); leaves all stiffly emergent, flat on both sides; floating leaves absent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Typha latifolia

01b Flowers in spherical heads <3 cm long; leaves emergent, floating and submerged; emergent leaves often keeled (sometimes only weakly so on the lower/outer side); floating leaves typically long and ribbon-like. . . Sparganium

SPARGANIUM Burreed01a Stigmas 2; mature achenes broadly pyramid-

shaped, widest and squared at the tip, tapered to a narrow base; plants emergent, 50-150 cm tall; fruiting heads (1.5)2-3(5) cm . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sparganium eurycarpum

01b Stigmas 1; mature achenes football-shaped; plants usually with emergent, floating and submerged parts, mostly <50 cm tall; fruiting heads (0.5)1-2(3.5) cm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .02

02a Achene beak 0-1.5 mm long; ♂ heads solitary

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0302b Achene beak 1.5-5 mm long; ♂ heads

(1)2-several. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .04

03a Achene beak 0-0.5 mm; ♂ head adjacent to the upper ♀ head; ♀ heads stalkless (the lowest 1 sometimes stalked) in leaf axils; leaves 1-5 mm wide, opaque, often yellowish . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . Sparganium hyperboreum03b Achene beak 0.5-1.5 mm long; ♂ head

separate from the ♀ heads; ♀ heads (at least 1) stalked above the leaf axil; leaves 2-8 mm wide, translucent, mostly dark green . . . . . . .

Sparganium natans [Sparganium minimum]

04a Flowers, fruits and some leaves and stems stiffly erect and emergent; leaves usually strongly keeled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05

04b Flowers, fruits, leaves and stems all limp and floating; leaves usually flat . . . . . . . . . . . . .06

05a ♂ heads 1(2); ♀ heads 1.2-1.6(2) cm wide; achene beak 1.5-2 mm long . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . .Sparganium glomeratum S1

05b ♂ heads 3-7(10); ♀ heads 1.6-3.5 cm wide; achene beak 2-4.5 mm long . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sparganium emersum

. . . . . [Sparganium angustifolium, in part]

1a

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

3a3b

1a

5b

5a

9

06a Main axis of the flower cluster usually branched at least once; tepals attached near

the middle or the fruit stalk; anthers 0.4-0.8 mm long; nAB, Cameron Hills to n shore of Lake Athabasca . . Sparganium fluctuans S1

06b Main axis of the flower cluster unbranched; tepals at the base of the fruit stalk; anthers 1 mm long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07

07a ♂ heads (at least some) separate from others; achene beak 2.5-4.5 mm long, straight or curved; leaves keeled near the base . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sparganium emersum

. . . . . [Sparganium angustifolium, in part]07b ♂ heads contiguous, like 1 elongated head;

achene beak 1.5-2 mm long, straight; leaves flat . . . . . . . . . . . Sparganium angustifolium

. . . . . [Sparganium angustifolium, in part]

7a6a

7b

10

ReferencesAlberta Conservation Information Management System (ACIMS). 2017. List of

all Vascular Plant Taxa Confirmed for Alberta as recorded in the ACIMS database - July 2017.in A. Parks, editor. ACIMS, Government of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.

Brouillet, L., F. Coursol, S.J. Meades, M. Favreau, M. Anions, P. Bélisle & P. Des-

met. 2015. VASCAN, the Database of Vascular Plants of Canada. http://data.canadensys.net/vascan/

Douglas, G. W., D. Meidinger, and J. Pojar. 2001. Illustrated flora of British Colum-

bia. Volume 6 Monocotyledons (Acoraceae through Najadaceae). British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Victoria, British Columbia.

Flora North America Editorial Committee. 2008-10. Flora North America website. Oxford University Press. Accessed 2014-2016. www.fna.org.

Gleason, H. A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. 2 edition. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York.

Hitchcock, C. L., A. Cronquist, M. Ownbey, and J. W. Thompson. 1955-69. Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, Seattle, Washington.

Lesica, P. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Fort Worth, Texas.

Looman, J. and K. F. Best. 1979. Budd’s flora of the Canadian prairie provinces. No. 1662. Canadian Government Publishing Centre, Hull, Quebec.

Moss, E. H. 1983. Flora of Alberta. 2nd edition. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Ontario.

Packer, J. G. and A. J. Gould. 2017. Vascular Plants of Alberta Part 1: Ferns, Fern Allies, Gymnosperms, and Monocots. University of Calgary Press, Calgary, Alberta.

Province of Alberta. 2016. Weed Control Act, Office Consolidation. Alberta Regula-

tion 19/2010 with amendments up to and including Alberta Regulation 125/2016. Published by Alberta Queen’s Printer. Accessed on-line at www.qp.alberta.ca..

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Scientific Name Illus. Source

Acorus americanus H&C

Alisma gramineum H&C

Alisma triviale H&C

Butomus umbellatus H&C

Calla palustris JMElodea bifoliata H&C

Elodea canadensis H&C

Elodea nuttallii H&C

Hydrilla verticillata LK

Iris missouriensis H&C

Iris pseudacorus H&C

Lemna trisulca H&C

Lemna turionifera H&C

Lilaea scilloides H&C

Najas flexilis H&C

Najas guadalupensis H&C

Ruppia cirrhosa H&C

Sagittaria cuneata H&C

Sagittaria latifolia H&C

Scheuchzeria palustris H&C

Sisyrinchium montanum JMSisyrinchium septentrionale BCSparganium angustifolium H&C

Sparganium emersum H&C

Sparganium eurycarpum H&C

Sparganium fluctuans BCSparganium glomeratum LK

Sparganium hyperboreum BCSparganium natans H&C

Spirodela polyrhiza H&C

Tradescantia occidentalis JMTriglochin maritima H&C

Triglochin palustris H&C

Typha latifolia H&C

Wolffia borealis H&C

Wolffia columbiana H&C

Key to Illustration Sources

BC = Douglas et al (2001), courtesy of the Province of British Columbia

H&C = Hitchcock, C. L., A. Cronquist, M. Ownbey, and J. W. Thompson (1955-69)

JM = John Maywood

LK = Linda Kershaw

List of Species and Illustration Sources

12

IndexAlisma 3

gramineum 3plantago-aquatica. See Alisma trivialetriviale 3

Alismataceae 3Araceae 4Calla

palustris 4Elodea 5

bifoliata 5canadensis 5longivaginata. See Elodea bifoliatanuttallii 5

Hydrillaverticillata 5

Hydrocharitaceae 5Iridaceae 6Iris 6

missouriensis 6pseudacorus 6

Juncaginaceae 7Lemna 4

minor. See Lemna turioniferatrisulca 4turionifera 4

Lemnaceae. See AraceaeLilaea

scilloides 7. See Triglochin scilloides

Najas 5flexilis 5guadalupensis 5

Sagittaria 3cuneata 3latifolia 3

Sisyrinchium 6montanum 6septentrionale 6

Sparganiaceae. See TyphaceaeSparganium 8

angustifolium 9. See also Sparganium emersum

emersum 8, 9eurycarpum 8fluctuans 9glomeratum 8

hyperboreum 8minimum 8natans 8

Spirodelapolyrhiza 4

Triglochin 7maritima 7palustris 7scilloides 7

Typhalatifolia 8

Typhaceae 8Wolffia 4

borealis 4columbiana 4