Roots that arise anywhere other than the main axis of the root.
Of leaves, arranged singly at different levels of the stem. In this key, leaves alternating up the stem, arranged in a spiral up the stem, or scattered along the stems are all keyed as alternating.
A plant that grows from seed and flowers and dies down within a year.
Pressed close to the surface of the substrate.
An outgrowth from the attachment point of a seed, often fleshy and highly coloured.
Outgrowths from the attachment point of seeds, often fleshy and highly coloured.
With respect to Casuarina and Allocasuarina: the sections of the green narrow branchlets between the whorls of teeth.
An ear shaped lobe.
Ear shaped lobes.
A bristle-like structure. Awns on the 'seeds' of daisies such as Bidens, Glossocardia, and Calotis are stiff and often needle-like.
Tipped with a bristle-like structure. Awns on the 'seeds' of daisies such as Bidens, Glossocardia, and Calotis are stiff and often needle-like.
Bristle-like structures. Awns on the 'seeds' of daisies such as Bidens, Glossocardia, and Calotis are stiff and often needle-like.
The upper angle between a leaf and the stem.
In the upper angle between a leaf and the stem.
A pointed projection, particularly in relation to seed cases of members of the family Brassicaceae (Cabbage family).
A plant that grows from seed and flowers and dies down within two years.
A modified leaf below a flower. May be leafy, papery, or look like a petal.
Covered with long weak, loosely entangled hairs, resembling a spiderweb
Compound flower head - a flower head with a number of partial heads, each with bracts around it, arranged to form a larger head, itself surrounded by bracts. Compound leaf - a leaf normally with at least two leaflets. Occasionally the side leaflets are suppressed, so that there is only one leaflet, but the join between the single leaflet and the leaf stem can be seen. Compound flower cluster - a branched cluster formed from a number of single clusters.
A seed case, usually woody, in pines, cypresses, casuarinas, and banksias. Cones in Podocarpus are not woody.
Seed cases, usually woody, in pines, cypresses, casuarinas, and banksias. Cones in Podocarpus are not woody.
Shaped like the heart on a playing card e.g. cordate leaves, or the broad rounded lobes at the base of a leaf.
The inner whorl (petals) of a flower, which may be free from each other or joined into a tube that usually has free lobes.
Composed of long, soft, hairs, which are entangled and interlaced, resembling raw cotton in appearance.
The leafy top of a tree.
The leafy top of trees.
A plant that loses its leaves, usually in Winter.
Much branched, like the branches of a tree.
Of two forms similar in type but different in shape and/or size
Depressions or pits formed at the junction of two veins on the undersurface of leaves, usually in rainforest plants.
Rising above the water.
Of leaves: smooth edges which are not toothed, divided or lobed.
A plant that grows on another plant for mechanical support but is not parasitic i.e. it is nutritionally independent of the plant is grows on.
Of a plant: growing on another plant, but not drawing nutrition from the host plant.
Does not lose its leaves seasonally.
A very low shrubland community characteristic of sites where plant growth is severely restricted by extremes of cold and by exposure to wind.
Appearing like felt.
A tube derived from the tissue at the base of the flower and bearing the sepals, petals, and stamens. Also known as a hypanthium.
Treed area with the canopies of the trees touching each other or overlapping.
Easily crumbled.
In this key, a general term for structures of any texture (except fleshy) that enclose the seed(s).
In this key, a general term for a structure of any texture (except fleshy) that encloses the seed(s).
Pale bluish green in colour, usually due to a thin waxy or powdery covering that is easily rubbed off.
The general appearance of a plant, including the growth form and how the stems are arranged.
A plant community dominated by small shrubs close together, most of which have small, hard leaves.
A plant that does not produce wood, or is woody only at the base.
Not woody.
Plants that do not produce wood, or are woody only at the base.
A tube or cup-shaped structure derived from the tissue at the base of the flower and bearing the sepals, petals (when present), and the stamens. Also known as a floral tube.
A group of flowers on a stem of a plant. The stem may be single or branched.
Groups of flowers on a stem of a plant. The stem(s) may be single or branched.
Intermediate leaves in species of Eucalyptus etc are at the growth phase between juvenile and adult leaves. Intermediate leaves in Myriopyllum species have characteristcs between those of submerged and emergent leaves.
A plant that does not grow naturally in the area where it is growing. A few plants grow naturally in some parts of the area covered by this key, but are introduced in other parts of the area.
The keel of a pea flower is formed of two narrow petals in the middle of the flower, which cover the ovary. They are almost or fully joined together. The keel of the pea-like flowers of Comesperma and Polygala is a petal in the middle of the flower, lobed or pouched in Comesperma, usually crested with a pair of branched or tufted appendages in Polygala.
A keel otherwise is a thickened ridge like the keel of a boat.
The keel of a pea flower is formed of two narrow petals in the middle of the flower, which cover the ovary. They are almost or fully joined together. The keel of the pea-like flowers of Comesperma and Polygala is a petal in the middle of the flower, lobed or pouched in Comesperma, usually crested with a pair of branched or tufted appendages in Polygala.
A keel otherwise is a thickened ridge like the keel of a boat.
A modified petal in the middle of an orchid or trigger-plant flower, which often moves when touched.
Small, corky pores or lines in the stem.
A swelling, usually conspicuous, which contains dormant buds, at the base of the stem(s) of a tree or shrub, e.g. in mallees and banksias..
Narrow with respect to the length e.g. of leaves.
A multi-trunked Eucalyptus, Corymbia, or Angophora, the trunks arising from a swollen woody stem at or below ground level (lignotuber).
A short stiff to sharp point terminating a leaf or sepal.
An introduced plant now freely reproducing in the area covered the key.
An ovary is the enlarged part of the female part of a flower, which produces seeds after pollination.
The enlarged part of the female part of a flower, which produces seeds after pollination.
A branched flower cluster, often large and loose.
Branched flower clusters, often large and loose
A tuft of bristles, hairs, or scales, at the apex of the seed of a plant, usually in the family Asteraceae (daisies).
Shield-like. In peltate leaves the leaf stalk is attached to the leaf away from the margins.
Flat on the ground.
Forest dominated by broad leaved trees, the canopies of the trees forming a continuous layer. Eucalypts usually not present.
Bearing one or more underground stems.
An underground stem, sometimes acting as a narrow storage organ.
Underground stems, sometimes acting as narrow storage organs.
A circle of leaves radiating from a stem, usually close to the ground at the base of a plant.
Circles of leaves radiating from stems, usually close to the ground at the bases of plants.
Flower stalk. Also the part of a flower stalk below the flowers of an inflorescence.
Flower stalks. Also the parts of flower stalks below the flowers of an inflorescence.
Plants that lose their leaves, usually in winter, for a short time, or in some years do not lose their leaves e.g. in mild winters.
A tubular structure encircling the stem and forming the base of a leaf.
Tubular structures encircling the stems and forming the bases of leaves.
A woody branched plant usually with many stems.
Woody branched plants usually with many stems.
Densely covered with fine, soft, straight, appressed hairs, with a lustrous sheen and satiny to the touch.
A notch or depression in the margin.
A slender hollow protuberance, usually arising from the back of a flower, often secreting nectar.
The male part of a flower, consisting of a pollen producing anther, usually at the end of a narrow stalk (filament).
The male parts of a flower, consisting of a pollen producing anther, usually at the end of narrow stalks (filaments).
The large upper petal of a pea flower.
The receptive part of the female reproductive organ of a flower, where pollen is deposited.
A stigma is the receptive part of the female reproductive organ of a flower, where pollen is deposited.
Pertaining to a leafy, woody, or membranous outgrowth, usually in pairs, at the base of a bract or leaf stalk.
A leafy, woody, or membranous outgrowth, usually in pairs, at the base of a bract or leaf stalk.
Leafy, woody, or membranous outgrowths, usually in pairs, at the base of bracts or leaf stalks.
With longitudinal ridges.
Longitudinal ridges.
Standing below or close under; enclosing. E.g. bracts subtending a flower.
Standing below or close under; enclosing. E.g. bracts subtending a flower.
In some plant families, the petal-like structures are called tepals. They may be in one or two whorls.
Of bark, marked in a pattern of squares. Chequered.
Covered in dense short intertwined hairs.
A cover of dense short intertwined hairs.
Underground stem that is a storage organ.
Underground stems that are storage organs.
A dried plant specimen deposited at on or more major herbaria. The published description of a species is based on the type specimen.
A flower cluster where the flower stems arise from the top of a common stalk.
Flower clusters where the flower stems arise from the top of a common stalk.
One section of a seed case, anther, etc after it has split open. The roof of a gumnut splits into usually triangular valves as the seeds are released.
Sections of a seed case, anther, etc after it has split open. The roof of a gumnut splits into usually triangular valves as the seeds are released.
A hollow strand of tissue in a leaf, which conducts liquid.
Hollow strands of tissue in leaves, which conduct liquid.
Treed area with the canopies of the trees not touching each other. The trees may be fairly close together or far apart.
Hairs that are long, curled, and matted together like wool.