Flora of North America species comparison

ascending or prostrate, much-branched from stout rootstock, 0.1–0.4 m.

erect, branched, stout, usually 1–3 m.

petiole to 1/2 as long as blade;

blade linear to narrowly lanceolate, 1.5–8 × 0.2–0.5(–1) mm, base tapering, margins entire, plane to undulate, apex obtuse and often emarginate.

petiole 1/2 length of blade;

blade lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate to linear, to 20 × 4 cm, base narrowly cuneate, margins entire, plane to slightly undulate, apex acute to acuminate.

of pistillate flowers linear, 0.7–1.2 mm, 1/2–2/3 as long as tepals.

of pistillate flowers 1.5 mm; of staminate flowers with midribs not prominent, scarcely excurrent, shorter than 1 mm.

terminal, compact pyramidal panicles and axillary glomerules, erect or reflexed, green, leafless at least distally.

mostly terminal, narrow spikes or thyrses, usually interrupted, linear.

intermixed with pistillate or at tips of inflorescences;

tepals 5;

stamens 5.

tepals 5, without prominent midribs, equal, 2.5–3 mm, apex obtuse to indistinctly mucronulate in outer tepals;

stamens 3–5.

tepals 5, narrowly oblanceolate, not clawed, equal, 1.5–2 mm, apex obtuse or subacute;

style branches erect;

stigmas 3.

tepals absent or 1–2 and rudimentary;

style branches ± erect;

stigmas 3–5.

black, lenticular, 1–1.2 mm diam., semiglossy.

reddish brown to dark brown, 2–3 mm diam., shiny.

compressed, subglobose, 1.7–2 mm, ± equaling or slightly exceeding tepals, muricate, indehiscent.

often black, with 3(–5) longitudinal ridges corresponding to 3–5 style branches, ovoid or obovoid, 2.5–4 mm (exceeding tepals, when present), somewhat fleshy, smooth (slightly rugose, especially in herbarium specimens).