Key to Wisconsin Caryophyllaceae

Author: John G. Zaborsky

• 1a.Stipules present and readily apparent, scarious, sometimes fused between the leaf bases 2

• 1b.Stipules absent (though leaf bases may sometimes be connate) 5

• 2a.Leaves elliptic to narrowly obovate, thin, not succulent; petals absent; styles and stigmas 2; fruit 1-seeded, indehiscent 3

• 2b.Leaves linear-filiform, slightly succulent; petals present; styles and stigmas 3 or 5; fruit a many-seeded capsule 4

• 3a.Plant erect, with flowers on slender terminal branches; leaves sparsely to densely red-dotted beneath; stipules not ciliate; sepals mucronate, hooded Paronychia

• 3b.Plant prostrate, matted, with flowers crowded in axillary clusters; leaves not red-dotted; stipules ciliate; sepals not mucronate or hooded Herniaria

• 4a.Leaves in 2 principal clusters at each node, appearing whorled; petals white; styles and capsule valves 5 Spergula

• 4b.Leaves clearly opposite, but axillary clusters usually present; petals usually pink; styles and capsule valves 3 Spergularia

• 5a.Petals absent 6

• 5b.Petals present 9

• 6a.Sepals fused to form a hard perigynous cup around the ovary and fruit; fruit a utricle Scleranthus

• 6b.Sepals fused, but not forming a hardened cup, or unfused; fruit a capsule 7

• 7a.Sepals fused into a distinct tube; stems with glutinous zones Silene

• 7b.Sepals unfused; stems glabrous or pubescent but never glutinous 8

• 8a.Flowers 4 (–5)-merous; leaves linear, not over 1 mm wide; axillary clusters of leaves often present Sagina

• 8b.Flowers 5-merous; leaves ovate to elliptic or linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, well over 1 mm wide; axillary clusters of leaves absent Stellaria

• 9a.Sepals distinct (only basally connate in some genera); petals white 10

• 9b.Sepals fused at least ¼ of their length; petals pink, red, or white 17

• 10a.Petals clearly notched or deeply cleft at the apex 17

• 10b.Petals entire or erose at the apex, without an obvious deep notch 13

• 11a.Styles 3 Stellaria

• 11b.Styles 5 12

• 12a.Leaves variously shaped but less than 1 cm wide; capsule cylindric Cerastium

• 12b.Leaves ovate, more than 1.5 cm wide; capsule ovoid Stellaria

• 13a.Inflorescence cymose; petals entire; plants glabrous or pubescent but never glaucous or glandular Holosteum

• 13b.Calyces without hooked hairs 14

• 14a.Stems glabrous; leaves connate with evident scarious connective tissue; axillary clusters of leaves often present 15

• 14b.Stems pubescent; leaves not clearly connate (if connate then without scarious connective tissue); axillary clusters of leaves absent 16

• 15a.Flowers 5-merous; styles and capsule teeth 3 Sabulina

• 15b.Flowers 4 (–5)-merous; styles and capsule teeth 4 (–5) Sagina

• 16a.Leaves ovate-elliptic, acute to acuminate, not over 7 (–9) mm long; petals shorter than the sepals; seeds lacking an appendage; annuals Arenaria

• 16b.Leaves lanceolate to broadly or narrowly elliptic, mostly over 10 mm long; petals longer than the sepals; seeds with a pale appendage; perennials Moehringia

• 17a.Sepals fused ca. ¼ to ½ their length, with prominent free tips, 3–5 cm long Agrostemma

• 17b.Sepals fused ½ their length or more, less than 3 cm long 18

• 18a.Flowers with an epicalyx 19

• 18b.Flowers without an epicalyx 20

• 19a.Sepals each with (3–) 5–7 usually strong ribs, connate without membranous margins Dianthus

• 19b.Sepals each with 1 (–3) main rib(s), connate by membranous ribless margins Petrorhagia

• 20a.Styles 3 or more, or flowers staminate 21

• 20b.Styles 2, flowers bisexual 22

• 21a.Calyx tubular or broadened below the middle Silene

• 21b.Calyx clavate, expanded above the middle Atocion

• 22a.Calyx less than 5 mm long 23

• 22b.Calyx at least 7 mm long 24

• 23a.Leaves linear, 0.2–2 (–3) mm wide; petals pink; annuals Psammophiliella

• 23b.Leaves lanceolate to ovate or ovate-lanceolate, (–1) 2–20 (–35) mm wide; petals white, pink, or purplish; annuals and perennials Gypsophila

• 24a.Inflorescences crowded; calyx wingless; leaves with 3 (–5) prominent veins; rhizomatous perennials Saponaria

• 24b.Inflorescences open; calyx with 5 green wings; leaves with 1 prominent vein; taprooted annuals Gypsophila