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Questions and Answers: 2021

Question: I appreciate the previous answer to my question but I think it was misunderstood Does the description a dichotomous key …

• Question

  I appreciate the previous answer to my question but I think it was misunderstood Does the description a dichotomous key entry gives for a plant in one state apply to the same plant in another state? For example if a key for Massachusetts on dandelions says its leaf is such and such a length in Massachusetts does that information also apply to Connecticut or might the environment make that same plant look different?

  Answer

  Dear lumboidong, the keys you see on Go Botany are written for New England (all six states). The measurements are meant to encompass all the material that we might encounter. Of course, there will always be individuals that are "freakish" for some reason and will have organs that are outside of the stated ranges. Generally, those individuals will be recognizable (e.g., stump sprouts for recently felled trees). Let me know if this doesn't answer your question. Best wishes.