UW Burke Herbarium species comparison

Leaves all basal, the blades 2-5 cm. long, narrowly rhombic to rhombic-ovate, narrowed gradually to broad petioles rarely as long, with prominent marginal hairs and rusty-woolly on the lower surface.

Leaves glabrous, entire, fleshy and nearly terete, 3-10 mm. long, spatulate to oblanceolate, narrowed to a broad base;

cauline leaves usually none, occasionally 1-3, reduced.

Inflorescence thyrsoid, (15-)20+-flowered, open to ± congested, conic (usually branched) subtended by a leafy, rusty-woolly bract;

calyx broadly conic, the 5 lobes oblong-lanceolate, 1-2 mm. long, reflexed;

petals 5, white, obovate, 1.5-3 mm. long, at least half as broad as long;

stamens 10, short, awl-shaped.

Flowers terminal and single, or 2-4 in a loose inflorescence;

calyx saucer-shaped, glabrous, often purplish-tinged, the 5 oval, spreading lobes 2-3 mm. long;

petals 5, white, up to twice as long as the calyx lobes, broadly oblanceolate, narrowed to the base;

stamens 10, the filaments somewhat petaloid.

Ovary about inferior in fruit; mature follicles 2, 3.5-5 mm. long, often reddish or purplish.

Ovary about 1/4 inferior at flowering; capsule ovoid, 8-12 mm. long, purplish-mottled;

carpels sometimes 3 or more.