the flowers
=Buckhorn, Plantago aristata.=

2b. Bracts about as long as the flowers
=Plantain, Plantago purshii.=

3a. Leaves cordate, pinnately veined; plant of wet ground and marshes
(4-8 dm. tall) =Plantain, Plantago cordata.=

3b. Leaves with 3 to many longitudinal ribs or veins --4.

4a. Leaves densely pubescent with grayish hairs --5.

4b. Leaves smooth or slightly pubescent --6.

5a. Flower-stalks 3-6 dm. high =Plantain, Plantago media.=

5b. Flower-stalks less than 3 dm. high =Plantain, Plantago virginica.=

6a. Flower-stalks 3-6 dm. high; spikes not over 10 cm. long
=English Plantain, Plantago lanceolata.=

6b. Scapes 1-4 dm. high; spikes long and slender, usually equaling
or longer than the peduncle; dooryard plantains --7.

7a. Leaves green at the base =Plantain, Plantago major.=

7b. Leaves reddish at the base =Plantain, Plantago rugelii.=

RUBIACEAE, the Madder family

Herbs or shrubs, with opposite or whorled leaves and regular flowers;
sepals 4, or minute or almost wanting; petals 4, united; stamens 4;
ovary inferior.

1a. Shrub (1-3 m. tall; flowers white, in spherical heads, summer)
=Button Bush, Cephalanthus occidentalis.=

1b. Herbaceous --2.

2a. Leaves opposite --3.

2b. Leaves whorled; flowers white, green, or purple (Bedstraw) --6.

2c. Leaves whorled; flowers yellow =Bedstraw, Galium verum.=

3a. Leaves about as long as wide (trailing; flowers paired, white, in
spring) =Partridge Berry, Mitchella repens.=

3b. Leaves at least twice as long as wide --4.

4a. Corolla salver-form, about 1 cm. wide; peduncles 1-flowered
(about 1 dm. high; flowers blue or white, in spring)
=Bluets, Houstonia coerulea.=

4b. Corolla funnel-form, about 5 mm. wide; flowers in clusters (1-2
dm. high; flowers white or pale-purple, summer) (Houstonia) --5.

5a. Basal leaves strongly ciliate =Houstonia, Houstonia ciliolata.=

5b. Basal leaves smooth =Houstonia, Houstonia longifolia.=

6a. Leaves in whorls of 4-7.

6b. Leaves in whorls of 6-8 --16.

7a. Ovary and fruit hispid with hooked bris