MNSA Dichotomous Key of Plants in the Salt Marsh
A dichotomous key is a tool that helps us to identity items. Keys consist of a series of
choices that lead us to the correct name of a given item. "Dichotomous" means "divided
into two parts". Therefore, dichotomous keys always give two choices in each step.
1a
1b
2a
2b
3a
3b
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
12a
12b
13a
13b
14a
14b
15a
15b
16a
16b
Floating/ Laying on a surface/ attached to an object
Growing in ground
Thin and translucent sheets
With branches and air sacs
Grass-like
Non-grass-like
Grass is hollow
Grass is not hollow
Grass is stiff, rigid, and may have a feathery seedpod at top
Grass is flimsy and salty to the touch
Grass is thin and hair-like and may have a few long seedpods on
opposite sides at the tip
Grass has blades on opposite sides and may have a “wheat-like”
seedpod
The plant has a woody stem
The plant has a fleshy stem
Plant has leaves
Plant has tiny scales, narrow and triangular in form
Leaves are roughly diamond shaped, thin, with teeth along the
edge
Leaves are oval shaped
With teeth along the edge
Without teeth along the edge
Plant has flat leaves
Plant has thick, succulent leaves
Leaves are arrow shaped
Leaves are oval shaped
Stem has many thorns
Stem has no thorns
Leaves grow along a tall stem
Leaves grow out from the ground staying close to the ground
Leaves are without thorns or spines
Leaves have thorns and spines
Leaves are worm-like with segments
Leaves are whorled fleshy spikes
Marine Nature Study Area Plant Dichotomous Key
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Sea Lettuce Uva lactuca
Rock Weed Fucus vesiculosis
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Giant Reed Phragmites australis
Salmarsh Cordgrass Spartina alterniflora
Saltmeadow Cordgrass Spartina patens
Spike Grass Distichlis spicata
Go to 8
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Go to 9
Eastern Red-cedar Juniperus virginiana
Groundsel Bush Baccharis halimifolia
Go to 10
Marsh Elder Iva frutescens
Northern Bayberry Myrica pensylvanica
Go to 12
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Common Orach Atriplex patula
Go to 13
Seaside rose Rosa rugosa
Go to 14
Seaside Goldenrod Solidago sempervirens
Sea Lavender Limonium carolinianum
Go to 16
Prickly Pear Cactus Opuntia humifusa
Glasswort Salicornia virginica
Sea-blite Suaeda maritima
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