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41 For plant identification, a set of dichotomous keys are provided, followed by a section containing plant descriptions and illustrations. Be sure to read the introduction to Plant Descriptions and Illustrations following the keys as it explains the structure of the descriptions and other pertinent details. Introduction to the Keys Thirteen keys are provided to identify tidal wetland and aquatic plants found in this northeastern region of North America. Vegetative characteristics are emphasized because plants flower at different times of the growing season, which means flowers may not be present at the time of observation . Wetland plants in flower can be readily identified through the use of the keys by their vegetative characteristics and then by looking at the illustrations and reading the descriptions, eliminating the need for a flower key. To be most useful, any flower key would have to also include vegetative characteristics. I considered adding a flower key but concluded that this would not make identification any quicker as it was just one more set of properties (flower color, size, type, and arrangement) that would have to be addressed through couplets. It is quicker to focus on the How to Identify Plants Using This Book vegetative characteristics and then consult the illustrations to check out the flower characteristics. As an alternative, however, I have provided separate tables listing the flower types and associated species for salt and brackish marshes and for tidal freshwater wetlands (see Tables 3 and 4, respectively ) in the previous section. Remember that a number of tidal freshwater species also occupy slightly brackish wetlands, so when in these habitats you’ll find plants with both saltwater and freshwater affinities and will need to consult both tables. The keys separate plants by habitats or by a combination of habitat and life form. The seven habitats are: (1) salt and brackish waters, (2) tidal fresh waters, (3) tidal flats, (4) rocky shores, (5) beaches, (6) salt and brackish marshes, and (7) tidal freshwater wetlands. The seven life forms are: (1) aquatic plants (plants growing in permanent water), (2) herbs (nonwoody plants, excluding graminoids), (3) graminoids (grasses, rushes, sedges, and grasslike herbs), (4) shrubs (multistemmed woody plants usually less than 15 feet at maturity), (5) trees (woody plants with a single main trunk that is usually taller than 50 feet at maturity), (6) vines (herbaceous or woody plants that use other plants or structures for support), and (7) trailing plants (creeping, often mat-forming species). 42 How to Identify Plants Using This Book Because macroalgae are the dominant vegetation in marine waters and rocky shores, the more common and prominent ones in shallow waters and the intertidal zone are included in the keys; only stoneworts are listed in the freshwater aquatic key. Some macroalgae are illustrated in the keys section. Scientific names for algae came from AlgaeBase at http://www.algaebase.org (Guiry and Guiry 2006). Some other plants referenced only in the keys include weedy species that have been reported in tidal wetlands such as white clover, sweet white clover, heal-all, butter-and-eggs, black mustard, coltsfoot, and white rattlesnake-root, and some plants growing on the higher portions of rocky shores. In all the keys, the use of technical terms has been minimized, although for distinguishing between similar species, sometimes technical terminology is unavoidable. The list of keys follows: A. Key to Aquatic Plants of Salt and Brackish Waters B. Key to Aquatic Plants of Tidal Fresh Waters C. Key to Tidal Flat Plants D. Key to Rocky Shore Plants E. Key to Beach Plants F. Key to Salt and Brackish Marsh Flowering Herbs and Herbaceous Vines G. Key to Salt and Brackish Marsh Graminoids H. Key to Salt and Brackish Marsh Shrubs and Woody Vines I. Key to Tidal Freshwater Flowering Herbs J. Key to Tidal Freshwater Graminoids K. Key to Tidal Freshwater Shrubs L. Key to Tidal Freshwater Trees M. Key to Tidal Freshwater Vines and Trailing Plants How to Use the Keys Once you know the habitat you are in and/or the life form of the plant you are interested in, the key to use will likely be apparent. The general descriptions of tidal wetland types presented earlier should provide you with enough background to identify the basic tidal habitats in the region. If you are dealing with aquatic plants, use Key A or B, depending on whether the water is salty or fresh. If you are examining vegetation on a tidal flat, rocky shore, or beach, go to Key...

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