Workshop Part 1: Names   Workshop Part 2: Definitions and plant parts  Workshop Part 3: Keys  
Workshop Part 5: Weber Arnica key   Workshop Part 6: Keys and species

Part 4: Keys, B

Arnica cordifolia
Arnica cordifolia    arco9
Following (on this page and the next) is a look at how three keys start Asteraceae and how two of them,
Komarek's and Weber's arrive at the identification of Arnica cordifolia.
Wingate and Yeatts' Alpine Flower Finder


Komarek's Flora of the San Juans


Arnica cordifolia
Arnica cordifolia (above) and 
Dieteria (Machaeranthera) bigelovii (below) Dieteria bigelovii

1) Ambiguity of terms could lead us astray: "fine hairs", "nodding", "many leaves",  "long pointed tips",  "clumps" vs. "whole colonies".
  How fine is "fine", how many is "many".  Learn from a good teacher on field trips and then pass on the knowledge.

2) Keying backwards from a known plant is a good way
to learn how to key.  For instance, find Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion) in a flora you own and then work backwards in the key.

3) If you are using books other than Weber, after you have keyed and feel you have identified your mystery plant, check your result in Weber.  He may present you with several more species to choose from.  His is the only complete flora of Colorado.

4) Use plant list to help you narrow down the number of species.

5) Use process of elimination when keying is unsuccessful.

Workshop Part 1: Names   Workshop Part 2: Definitions and plant parts  Workshop Part 3: Keys  
Workshop Part 5: Weber Arnica key   Workshop Part 6: Keys and species