Question

A dichotomous key is used to identify a plant below.

1a. Leaves are spiny.................................Pinus taeda

1b. Leaves are broad...............................Go to 2

2a. Single leaf..........................................Go to 3

2b. Many leaves.......................................Go to 4

3a. Leaf edge is smooth...........................Cornus florida

3b. Leaf edge is rough.............................Ulmus americana

4a. Leaflet edges are smooth..................Albizia julibrissin

4b. Leaflet edges are rough....................Juglans nigra



A plant has a broad single leaf with smooth edges. What type of plant is this?

(1 point)
Responses

Cornus florida
Cornus florida

Juglans nigra
Juglans nigra

Pinus taeda
Pinus taeda

Ulmus americana

Answer 1

The plant has a broad single leaf with smooth edges. According to the dichotomous key:

- It falls under "1b" (leaves are broad), so we go to step 2.
- In step 2, "2a" indicates a single leaf, leading us to step 3.
- In step 3, "3a" states that the leaf edge is smooth.

Therefore, the plant is **Cornus florida**.