Flora of North America species comparison

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

erect, branched, slender, usually (0.5–)1–1.5 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 1/4 length of blade;

blade linear to narrowly oblong, usually 10(–20) × 1 cm, base narrowly cuneate, margins entire, plane, apex obtuse to rounded.

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

of pistillate flowers 1–1.5 mm; of staminate flowers with moderately heavy midrib, 1–1.5 mm.

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

terminal, linear spikes to panicles.

intermixed with pistillate or at tips of inflorescences;

tepals 5;

stamens 5.

tepals 5, with excurrent midrib, equal to subequal, 2(–2.5) mm, apex acute to indistinctly mucronulate in outer tepals;

stamens 5.

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

style branches erect;

stigmas 3.

tepals 1–2(–3), unequal, inner tepals lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, 1–1.5 mm, apex acute to acuminate;

style branches spreading;

stigmas 3.

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

dark reddish brown to dark brown, 0.7–1 mm diam., shiny.

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

reddish to reddish brown, occasionally with indistinct longitudinal ridges, subglobose to broadly obovoid, 1.5–2.5 mm, wall thin or slightly fleshy, irregularly rugose.