1	"Perennial herb from woody caudex or from stout or slender rhizome"	2
1	"Annual, taprooted"	6
2	"Flowers 4--6(8); cauline leaves generally much reduced, bract-like, generally withered at flower"	3
2	"Flowers 7--21; cauline leaves persistent, green at flower"	4
3	"Plant from woody caudex; pappus bristles generally tan, plumose on distal 80%"	"Stephanomeria pauciflora"
3	"Plant from rhizome; pappus bristles white, wholly plumose"	"Stephanomeria tenuifolia"
4	"Plant from woody caudex; leaves 10--20 cm; young herbage tomentose; phyllaries many, graduated in several series; receptacle pitted"	"Stephanomeria cichoriacea"
4	"Plant from rhizome; herbage glabrous or sparsely hairy; phyllaries in 2 series, inner long, outer < 1/2 &times; inner; receptacle smooth"	5
5	"Leaf margins not thickened, spines 0; leaves 3--8 cm; pappus bristles wholly plumose; dry forest, n California"	"Stephanomeria lactucina"
5	"Leaf margins thickened, with minute spines; leaves 2--8 cm; pappus bristles plumose on distal 80%; SNE, DMoj"	"Stephanomeria parryi"
6	"Fruit without long groove on each face"	7
6	"Fruit with long groove on each face"	8
7	"Outer phyllaries appressed; flowers 5--6; CA-FP, GB"	"Stephanomeria virgata subsp. pleurocarpa"
7	"Outer phyllaries reflexed; flowers 8--9; SCoRO, SW"	"Stephanomeria virgata subsp. virgata"
8	"Heads in small, +- open panicle-like clusters from nodes along branches; peduncles 10--40 mm"	9
8	"Heads 1 or in clusters on spreading peduncles <= 10 mm, from nodes along branches"	11
9	"Outer phyllaries reflexed --- CCo, SCoR"	"Stephanomeria exigua subsp. carotifera"
9	"Outer phyllaries appressed"	10
10	"Peduncles, involucres densely glandular; SCo, PR"	"Stephanomeria exigua subsp. deanei"
10	"Peduncles, involucres glabrous or sparsely glandular; GB, D"	"Stephanomeria exigua subsp. exigua"
11	"Pappus bristles wholly plumose or at least to widened bases"	12
11	"Pappus bristles plumose on distal 60--85%, widened at base or not"	13
12	"Outer phyllaries reflexed (appressed); flowers 9--15; widespread"	"Stephanomeria elata"
12	"Outer phyllaries appressed; flowers 5; KR, CaRH, n SN, MP"	"Stephanomeria paniculata"
13	"Flowers 11--13; fruit 1.9--2.3 mm; pappus bristles plumose on distal 80--85%, not widened at bases, entirely deciduous --- SCo, ChI, WTR, PR"	"Stephanomeria diegensis"
13	"Flowers 5--11; fruit 2.3--6.5 mm; pappus bristles plumose on distal 60--85%, bases generally widened, generally only bristle bases persistent"	14
14	"Outer phyllaries appressed; peduncles generally 2--5 mm (<= 20 mm on SN e slope and to n and e); widespread"	"Stephanomeria exigua subsp. coronaria"
14	"Outer phyllaries reflexed; peduncles 5--10 mm; c&s SNF"	"Stephanomeria exigua subsp. macrocarpa"