e-Key v3 - Key to Major Groups
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Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.
Backtrack a
  • Flowers absent
  • Ovules/seeds borne on scales arranged in cones, or exposed, not in an ovary
  • Pollen sacs borne on scales arranged in cones
  • Trees to woody perennials
  • Leaves mostly needle-, scale- or palm-like
 GYMNOSPERMS
b
  • Flowers present
  • Ovules/seeds enclosed in an ovary
  • Pollen borne in anthers
  • Annual herbs to trees
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Backtrack a
  • Leaves usually net-veined, simple to variously compound, often with a petiole, base rarely sheathing the stem (e.g. Apiaceae, Ranunculaceae)
  • Stipules present or absent
  • Flower parts usually in 4s or 5s
  • Vascular bundles in stem usually arranged in a cylinder
  • Embryo usually with 2 cotyledons
 DICOTYLEDONS
b
  • Leaves usually with parallel-convergent veins, simple or rarely compound or lobed but then leaflets or lobes with parallel, not net-like venation, leaves rarely with a petiole but base usually sheathing the stem at least partly
  • Stipules absent
  • Flower parts usually in 3s
  • Vascular bundles scattered in stem
  • Embryo with 1 cotyledon
 MONOCOTYLEDONS

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