Arvense: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 

	native species; NOT [introduced species]
	widespread species; NOT [just alpine species]
	perennials; NOT [annuals or winter annuals]
	main stems erect or ascending; NOT [main stems spreading or prostrate]
	plants with persistent, matted, decumbent, basal offshoots
	axillary shoots numerous, at the axils of most leaves; NOT [axillary shoots few or lacking]
	plants glandular pubescent throughout; NOT [plants densely white tomentose without glands]
	stems and leaves mostly firm; NOT [stems weak and leaves thin]
	leaves mostly linear or linear-lanceolate; NOT [leaves mostly oblong or  oblanceolate]
	petals fully twice as long as the sepals; NOT [petals less than twice as long as sepals]
	mature capsule 1-2 times the length of the sepals; NOT [mature capsule 2-3 times the length of the sepals]

Cerastium: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 

	plants not with woody base
	plants without stipules; NOT [plants with small, ovate,  papery stipules at junctions of stem and leaf and stem and branch]
	sepals entirely separate; NOT [sepals united part way forming a tube]
	petals usually present
	petals without claws; NOT [petals with claw-like base]
	petals deeply notched or 2-cleft; NOT [petals entire or emarginate]
	styles usually 5; NOT [styles 3]
	ovary not stipitate
	fruit a several-many-seeded capsule;  NOT [fruit a 1-seeded utricle]
	capsule long; NOT [capsule short]
	capsule cylindric, often curved;  NOT [capsule ovoid, ellipsoid, or oblong]
	capsule dehiscing by 10 apical teeth; NOT [capsule dehiscing by valves or less than 10 teeth]

Caryophyllaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family. 

	herbs
	plants terrestrial; NOT [plants aquatic]
	NOT [mud plants with small axillary flowers]
	plants not with coloured milky juice
	plants with more than one normal leaf
	leaves opposite, whorled, or basal; NOT [leaves alternate]
	leaves not glandular-dotted
	NOT [plants with an involucre of 4 petal-like bracts]
	flowers with two floral rings
	more than 2 sepals
	each petal distinct from the others
	stamens NOT united at base
	styles 2 or more; NOT [style single]