Sorbaria might be keyed here if not recognized as woody. It has white flowers and differs from Filipendula in the 5 dehiscent several-seeded follicles and serrate but unlobed leaflets, as well as the woody older stems.

1. Leaves with ca. 8-25 pairs of lateral leaflets.

F. vulgaris

1. Leaves with 2-5 pairs of lateral leaflets.

2. Flowers pink; lateral leaflets usually deeply lobed; fruiting follicles straight.

F. rubra

2. Flowers white; lateral leaflets merely toothed; fruiting follicles strongly curved or twisted.

F. ulmaria