Dichotomous Key – BIOL F190: Intro to Alaska Flora

Dichotomous Key

1A: Plant has needles …… Plant 1

Plant 1: A conifer with single linear alternating needles and grey bark.

1B: Plant does not have needles ….. go to 2

2A: Plant contains complete flowers…. Go to 3

2B: Plant does not contain complete flowers…. Plant 4

Plant 4: Plant has separate staminate and pistillate flowers.

3A: Plant has purple flower petals… plant 3

Plant 3: Has a short stem with many sepals. The flower contains 6 petals with many yellow stamens.

3B: Plant has white flower petals…. Plant 2

Plant 2: Has a long stem with white hair like substance. Flower contains 4 petals.

Author: Rachel Webb

I live near the village of Ninilchik, Alaska on the Kenai Peninsula which is the traditional homeland of the Dena'ina Athabascan people. We are nestled atop a bluff overlooking the Cook Inlet and Aleutian Mountain range, with a boreal forest behind us. I homeschool my children, work as a homeschool contact teacher, as well as growing our small cottage business. My family and I live on our remote off-grid homestead, caring for our animals, and working towards self-sufficiency and living off the land. My goal is to learn all I can about the land, its plants, and the people that occupy it, and pass on my knowledge to my children and the families I support.

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One comment

Rae Ames

July 17, 2023 at 9:17 pm 1 year ago

I was thinking of doing needles as well. This assignment caught me for a loop and wasn’t sure to start with needles or flowers but I love how you included both!

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Author: Rachel Webb

One comment