A KEY TO COMMON NEBRASKA SHRUBS.* 

 W. H. Lamb, Ex '11. 



The following key, based on prominent distinctive charac- 

 ters that can readily be observed by those who have had no 

 special training in botany, is intended only as a guide in the 

 identification of the more common genera of Nebraska shrubs. 



Shrubs are woody plants which have several or many stems 

 arising from the same roots. In general, trees are larger than 

 shrubs and have a single, erect stem or trunk. Woody vines 

 are here regarded as shrubs. 



I. 



EVERGREEN SHRUBS. 



I. Coniferous shrubs. 



A. Leaves needle" shaped, 1-2 cm. long, standing out 

 loosely in threes; fruit a berry-like cone, dark blue, 

 6-8 mm. in diameter (Juniperus) Juniper. 



II. Broad-leaf shrubs. 

 A. Leaves simple. 



1. Leaves alternate. 



a. Fruit a red berry, 6-10 mm. in diameter, usually 

 containing 5 coalescent nutlets ; flowers small, 

 nodding, white or pink, in terminal clusters; 

 leaves spatulate, obtuse, entire, 12-25 mm. long. 



(Arctostaphylos) Bearberry 



2. Leaves opposite. 



a. Fruit a small 3-5 lobed, somewhat fleshy pod ; flow- 

 ers small, greenish or purplish, with 4-5 petals; 

 twigs 4-angled, or marked with 4 longitudinal 

 white lines; leaves 4-13 cm. long, entire or finely 

 toothed (Berberis) Barberry 



*Published by permission of the Secretary of Agriculture. 



