Small herbs growing in water or in mud, with opposite entire leaves and small inconspicuous axillary flowers, with neither calyx nor corolla. (Flowers in summer).

1a. Completely submerged; leaves all linearWater Starwort, Callitriche autumnalis.
1b. Submerged leaves linear, emersed and floating leaves obovateWater Starwort, Callitriche palustris.

EMPETRACEAE, the Crowberry Family

Low evergreen shrubs, with the linear leaves completely rolled into a tube, and inconspicuous flowers without petals, in the axils of the leaves.

One species in Michigan, 1-3 dm. high; leaves less than 1 cm. long; flowers in summerCrowberry, Empetrum nigrum.

LIMNANTHACEAE, the False Mermaid Family

Low herbs with alternate compound leaves and minute axillary flowers; sepals 3, petals 3, stamens 6.

One species in Michigan, with stems 1-3 dm. long, and flowers in late springFalse Mermaid, Floerkea proserpinacoides.

ANACARDIACEAE, the Cashew Family

Shrubs or small trees, with milky or resinous juice, alternate compound leaves sometimes poisonous to the touch, and small clustered greenish or yellowish flowers.