What’s a dichotomous key?
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- Group 1Lycophytes, Monilophytes
- Group 2Gymnosperms
- Group 3Monocots
- Group 4Woody angiosperms with opposite or whorled leaves
- Group 5Woody angiosperms with alternate leaves
- Group 6Herbaceous angiosperms with inferior ovaries
- Group 7Herbaceous angiosperms with superior ovaries and zygomorphic flowers
- Group 8Herbaceous angiosperms with superior ovaries, actinomorphic flowers, and 2 or more distinct carpels
- Group 9Herbaceous angiosperms with superior ovaries, actinomorphic flowers, connate petals, and a solitary carpel or 2 or more connate carpels
- Group 10Herbaceous angiosperms with superior ovaries, actinomorphic flowers, distinct petals or the petals lacking, and 2 or more connate carpels
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- Dichotomous Key
- Orchidaceae
- Cypripedium
Cypripedium
See list of 4 species in this genusReference: Sheviak (2002a).
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1a. Plants with 2 basal leaves, the stem scapose; labellum with a cleft along its entire length on the adaxial (i.e., upper) surface
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1b. Plants with 2–9 leaves alternately arranged on the stem; labellum with a round opening near the base on the adaxial surface
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2a. Labellum 1–1.6 (–2.5) cm long, strongly red-veined, prolonged downward near the apex into a conical pouch; all 3 sepals distinct
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2b. Labellum 1.5–5.4 cm long, neither red-veined nor prolonged downward to form a protruding sac; lateral sepals connate, thereby forming a single blade positioned beneath the labellum
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3a. Labellum white (rarely pink) and streaked with pink or purple; lateral petals white, not twisted, rounded to narrow-obtuse at apex; lateral sepals entirely connate
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3b. Labellum yellow, usually with purple veins; lateral petals spotted, streaked, or entirely suffused with red-purple or red-brown, rarely unmarked and then ± yellow-green, twisted, acute to acuminate at apex; lateral sepals connate except at tip, forming a bilobed apex
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Show photos of: Each photo represents one species in this genus.