Longipes:  Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora (BF) and Flora of Alberta (FOA)  leading to this species.  Part of the key answer from Flora of North America (FONA) distinguishing L. longipes from L. longifolia is also included.

	plants perennial; NOT [plants annual]
	plant with a few short, erect or ascending stems; NOT [plant freely branching, often matted]
	plants usually 10-20 cm high; NOT [plants usually less than 10 cm high]
	plants glabrous; NOT [plants glandular pubescent throughout]
	plants NOT glandular-viscid
	upper part of stems and leaf margins smooth (although soft hairs of cilia may be present); NOT [upper part of stems and leaf margins papillate, rough]
	basal leaves sessile; NOT [basal leaves petioled]
	internodes long
	leaves erect; NOT [leaves spreading or loosely ascending] (FOA)
	leaves linear- or elliptic-lanceolate, length-to-width ratio more than 4:1; NOT [leaves ovate-lanceolate, length-to-width ratio less than 4:1]
	leaf blades lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, broadest proximally; NOT [leaf blades linear-elliptic, broadest at middle or distally] (FONA)
	leaves linear-lanceolate, mostly broadest below the middle; NOT [leaves linear, acute at both ends] (FOA)
	leaves keeled
	leaves NOT thick (BF)
	leaves glaucous
	inflorescence cymose; NOT [inflorescence subumbellate]
	pedicels erect or ascending; NOT [pedicels widely spreading] (FOA)
	bracts, leaves, and sepals NOT ciliate; NOT [bracts and leaves or sepals ciliate]
	petals as long as the sepals or slightly longer; NOT [petals shorter than the sepals, or lacking]
	capsule generally purplish black; NOT [capsules straw-coloured]
	capsule teeth erect; NOT [capsule teeth reflexed]

Stellaria: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. Not all the answers apply to all members of Stellaria found in the Canadian prairies, but they all do apply to this species.  

	plants NOT with woody base
	leaves without stipules; NOT [leaves with scarious stipules], NOT [plants with small, ovate, papery stipules at junction of stem and leaf, and stem and branch]
	corolla present
	sepals entirely separate; NOT [sepals united part way, forming a tube]
	petals deeply 2-cleft; NOT [petals entire or merely notched at apex]
	petals LACKING claws
	styles usually 3; NOT [styles usually 5]
	ovary NOT stipitate
	capsule ovoid or ellipsoid; NOT [capsule cylindric, often curved]
	capsule short; NOT [capsule long]
	fruit dehiscent
	capsule opening with twice as many valves or teeth as there are styles; NOT [capsule opening with as many entire (or later 2-cleft) valves as there are styles] (BF)
	capsules dehiscing by valves; NOT [capsule dehiscing by teeth] (FOA)
	capsule usually opening with 6 valves; NOT [capsule usually opening with 10 valves] (BF)
	fruit several-seeded; NOT [fruit 1-seeded]