How To Identify Plants At The SRP: How Species Are Defined

• In botany there are few absolutes.

• The definition of shrub height is only loosely stated relative to that of a tree; no number is given.

• Note the mostly and often and usually in the key. I call these weasel words! You will find many specimens that violate them.

• All too often, the only way to understand a key, and be sure you have it right, is to see all the species in the key.

• We'll do this today for a key to 24 shrubs and trees on the Granite Loop Trail.

• Note that keying can be fun! You start with a mystery plant, and your job is to use a key to figure out its name.

http://tchester.org/srp/plants/how_to_id/16.html Comments and feedback: Tom Chester Last update: 16 October 2003.

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