Wilkes University Science in MotionFall 2011

COMMON SUMMER, FALL WILDFLOWERS OF PENNSYLVANIA

TAXONOMIC KEY ACTIVITY

PA Standards : PA S. T. & E.:

3.1.3.A1. Describe characteristics of living things that help to identify and classify them.

3.1.4.A1. Classify plants and animals according to the physical characteristics they share.

3.1.3.A5. Identify the structures in plants that are responsible for food production, support, water

transport, reproduction, growth, and protection.

PA E. & E: 4.1.7.A. Compare and contrast different biomes and their characteristics.

4.5.4.D Explain how specific adaptations can help organisms survive in their environment.

Introduction:

Pennsylvania is a beautiful state noted for its scenic valleys, mountains, forests and wildflowers. This activity will help familiarize students with some of the more common flowers that might be found in their neighborhoods or around the state.

One method of identification involves the use of a taxonomic key, in which two choices are presented and the reader keeps selecting the one that more closely describes the flower or other natural or man-made object until the correct answer is determined. When using a key, the person must always remember to start with choice “1” each time and also write the steps in the correctly numbered location on the Student Data Sheet that corresponds to the number on the flower being studied.

Materials: Container of numbered wildflowers Student Data Sheet

Worksheet Centimeter ruler

Procedure: 1. Select one numbered container or bag from the supply table and bring to your desk.

2. Write the correct choices on your Student Data Sheet corresponding to the flower

number you have chosen; the flowers do not have to be done in order.

3. Always begin with # 1 on the Taxonomic Key for all flowers.

4. Keep choosing from the list on Student Worksheet until the correct answer is

determined. You must fill the correct number of spaces; if this does not occur, try

again or ask the teacher for help.

Taxonomic Key for PA Wildflowers

1A If you see obvious flowers on plant or tiny round green seeds…………………………. Go to 2

1B If no obvious flowers, only seed pods, leaves, or spikes, are present

Or flower is “dead” ……………………………………………………………………………………………… Go to 3

2A If flower is mostly white …………………………………………………………………………………….. Go to 4

2B If flower is not white and/or tiny round green seeds exist………………………………… Go to 5

3A If only a green spike and/or leaves are present ……………………………………………….. Go to 6

3B If no leaves, but only a seed pod or round stick, brown seeds or fuzzy

“hot dog” on a stick exist…………………………………………………………………………………… Go to 7

4A If flower looks like a lacy, white umbrella at least 3 cm in diameter..….Queen Anne’s Lace

4B If several tiny flowers 1 cm in diameter with white petals and yellow centers

are present ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….…..… Aster

5A If flowers are pink, purple, or blue…………………………………………………………………… Go to 12

5B If flowers are yellow, green, or have tiny round green seeds……………………….... Go to 9

6A If leaves are prickly and at least 5 cm in length ………………..………………………………... Thistle

6B If a green spike at least 7 cm in length and smooth oval leaves at least 5 cm

in length are present………………………………………………………………………… Common plantain

7A If only a green pod or fuzzy “hot dog” on a stick are seen ………………………………... Go to 8

7B If entire plant is brown and “dead” …………………………………………………………………… Go to 16

8A If plant part is a seed pod at least 5 cm in length ……………………………………………….Milkweed

8B If plant part looks like a fuzzy “hot dog” on a stick at least 7 cm in length…………….. Cattail

9A If flowers are yellow……………………………………………………………………………………………. Go to 10

9B If flower is green or plant has tiny round green seeds ………………………………………. Go to 11

10A If flowers have two different shades of yellow and middle part looks

like a “toad’s mouth” and are at least 1 cm in length ………………………………. Butter and eggs

10B If flower is tall with dark, bright yellow sprays of flowers…………….………………….. Goldenrod

11A If flower looks like a fuzzy animal’s tail at least 4 cm in length………………………… Foxtail grass

11B If flower has many tiny (about 1 mm) round green seeds ………………………………….Ragweed

12A If flowers are lavender, purple or blue…………………………………………………………………. Go to 13

12B If flowers look like tiny pink (about 1 mm) seeds……………………………………………...Smartweed

13A If flowers are lavender or purple……………………………………………………………………………. Go to 14

13B If flowers are blue with spaces of 3 cm or more between each

flower on the stem……………………………………………………………………………………………….… Chicory

14A If flowers have many thin purple petals and leaves in groups of three…………….. Red clover

14B If flowers are lavender or purple and look inflated and tiny oval leaflets or

very thin petals purple petals on top of round balls with very thin leaves…………… Go to 15

15A If flowers are lavender or purple and look inflated and tiny oval leaflets..………. Crown vetch

15B If flowers have very thin petals purple petals on top of round balls and

also very thin leaves……………………………………………………………………………………..……. Knapweed

16A If plant is a dead spike with lots of with lots of brown seeds…………………………………….... Dock

16B If plant has round, sticky seeds about 1-2 cm in diameter………………………………………. Burdock

COMMON SUMMER, FALL WILDFLOWERS OF PENNSYLVANIA

TAXONOMIC KEY ACTIVITY

STUDENT DATA SHEET

NAME ______DATE ______

Using the correct number for the flower you have chosen, write the numbers you must follow to determine the correct flower name in the small spaces. Then write the correct name. REMEMBER TO ALWAYS START WITH #1 ON THE TAXONOMIC KEY, AND USE CORRECTLY NUMBERED SPOT ON DATA SHEET FOR THE FLOWER YOU ARE STUDYING.

  1. ______
  2. ______
  3. ______
  4. ______
  5. ______
  6. ______
  7. ______
  8. ______
  9. ______
  10. ______
  11. ______
  12. ______
  13. ______
  14. ______
  15. ______
  16. ______
  17. ______

COMMON SUMMER, FALL WILDFLOWERS OF PENNSYLVANIA

TAXONOMIC KEY ACTIVITY

ANSWER KEY

NAME ______DATE ______

Using the correct number for the flower you have chosen, write the numbers you must follow to determine the correct flower name in the small spaces. Then write the correct name. REMEMBER TO ALWAYS START WITH #1 ON THE TAXONOMIC KEY, AND USE CORRECTLY NUMBERED SPOT ON DATA SHEET FOR THE FLOWER YOU ARE STUDYING.

  1. 1A 2B 5B 9A 10A Butter and Eggs
  2. 1A 2B 5A 12A 13B Chicory
  3. 1A 2A 4A Queen Anne’s Lace
  4. 1A 2B 5A 12B Smartweed
  5. 1A 2B 5B 9A 10B Goldenrod
  6. 1A 2B 5A 12A 13A 14A Red clover
  7. 1A 2A 4B Aster
  8. 1A 2B 5A 12A 13A 14B 15B Knapweed
  9. 1A 2B 5A 12A 13A 14B 15A Crown Vetch
  10. 1A 2B 5B 9B 11A Foxtail grass
  11. 1A 2B 5B 9B 11B Ragweed
  12. 1B 3B 7B 16A Dock
  13. 1B 3A 6A Thistle
  14. 1B 3B 7A 8A Milkweed
  15. 1B 3B 7B 16B Burdock
  16. 1A 3A 6B Common Plantain
  17. 1B 3B 7A 8B Cattail

Teacher Notes

  1. This key is made for fall wildflowers, when some flowers are dried and gone to seed. If done in the spring a few items would be different such as dock is green, thistle will have purple brush-like flowers, and burdock will be green with tiny purple flowers on burrs.
  1. Use “dead” Dock; green Thistle leaves without flowers (put in plastic bag as they are prickly); Milkweed pods (place in plastic bag to avoid silky parachutes all over your room); and Burdock “burrs” (again place in plastic bags to avoid student misuse); also place Cattails in bag to avoid student misuse and fuzz all over your classroom.
  1. Foxtail is a “green” flower due to wind pollination- students will call it not a flower).
  1. Smartweed has tiny pink flowers that look like seeds, but students should call it a flower.
  1. Tell students what a “spike” is- a long thin stalk with seeds (Common Plantain).
  1. Students will confuse Red Clover(emphasize 3 leaves), Knapweed (which has feathery petals on top of little balls, and Crown Vetch- which has tiny oval leaflets.
  1. You do not have to use every flower; even 5-10 are fun to do depending on your time frame. Let students work at own pace- some groups will finish quickly and others may not get all the flowers completed- this lab works well for heterogeneous groups.
  1. When students ask for help, give hints as to where they went wrong and redirect, but do not give the correct answer unless they have tried to solve at least a few times.

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