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

Ulmus americana
Ulmus americana

Cornus florida
Cornus florida

Pinus taeda
Pinus taeda

Juglans nigra

Answer 1

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

- It falls under 1b (broad leaves).
- It goes to 2a (single leaf).
- Then to 3a (leaf edge is smooth).

According to the key, this corresponds to **Cornus florida**. Therefore, the correct response is:

**Cornus florida**.