3 or 6 Petals    Return to SDWildflowers page 

• Leaves have parallel veins
  • 3 Petals & 3 Sepals look similar or identical (i.e. Tepals)
    • Leaves sword-like tipped with strong spines

      Agavaceae (Agave Family) -- Stiff leaves, in dense rosette at base -- Flowers waxy & fleshy, cream to yellow colored -- Dense Inflorescence with many flowers, 3 to 20 ft high. -- 6 Stamens -- See Liliaceae for Camassia and Chlorogalum

      
      
    • Leaves linear or strap-shaped

      Alliaceae (Onion Family) -- Odor of onions -- 2 Bracts enclose unopened buds -- Flowers in umbels -- 6 Stamens -- Ovary superior
      Liliaceae (Lily Family) -- Flowers in racemes, panicles, or spikes -- Stamens 3 or 6. -- Ovary superior -- Camassia & Chlorogalum now in Agavaceae based on DNA - but visually recognizable more as Lilies.
      Themidaceae (Brodiaea Family) -- No Onion odor -- Bracts do not enclose unopened flowers -- Inflorescence Umbel-like -- Long main stem with no leaves above base -- 3 or 6 Stamens

       
    • Leaves linear with V-shaped cross section

      Melanthiaceae (Camas or Bunch Flower Family) -- Some leaves attached to stems just above ground level -- 6 Stamens -- 3 Styles distinct from each other -- NOTE: Leaves of Veratrum (Corn Lily) may be much broader

      
      
    • Leaves linear or strap-shaped

      Sisrynchium Bellum (Blue-eyed Grass) -- Non-Typical member of Iridaceae (Iris) family. -- Some leaves attached to stems well above ground level. -- Ovary inferior

      
      
  • Bilateral, lowest Petal (Labellum) different & fused to Column

    Orchidaceae (Orchid Family) -- Flowers irregular shaped -- Sepals similar shaped -- 2 Lateral Petals similar shaped -- 3rd Petal, the Labellum, is typically larger -- Ovary inferior -- Leaves entire and parallel veined



• Leaves Not Parallel Veined
  • Flowers Not Lily or Amaryllis-like - Petals count may vary

    Berberidaceae (Barberry Family)  Berberis  (Barberry) -- Sepals in 3 Whorls of 3 -- Petals in 2 Whorls of 3 -- Spiny Shrub --

    Frankeniaceae (Frankenia Family)  Frankenia salina  (Alkali Heath) -- 4 to 7 Sepals and Petals --  -- Found in salt marshes, alkali flats, etc. -- Leaves leathery & fleshy, may also be hairy -- Flower diameter about 1/4 inch.

    Lythraceae (Loosestrife Family) -- Flowers regular (like a pinwheel) -- Sepals and Petals 4 or 6, free -- Ovary within a 6-ribbed cylinder-like Calyx (appearing to be inferior) -- Style 1, stigma 2-lobed
    Papaveraceae (Poppy Family) - May have 4 Petals -- Stamens numerous -- Milky sap -- Sepals falling off flower when it opens

    Polygonaceae (Buckwheat Family) -- 5 or 6 Tepals, No true Petals or Sepals -- Alternate Tepals may be shorter than others -- Flowers small, in clusters -- Leaves alternate with swollen nodes. -- Stamens 2 to 9, often in 2 Whorls -- Ovary superior with 2 or 3 branched Style

  
  
  • Floating Plants, flowers purple
    • Pontederiaceae (Pickerel Weed Family)

       

  • Plants of Marshy Places
    • Juncaginaceae (Arrow-Weed Family)
      • Tiny flowers in a green Spike
    • Alismataceae (Water Plantain Family)
      • White flowers
      • Branching pyramid