Flora of North America species comparison

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

decumbent or erect, branched proximally, 0.7–1 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 1/2–11/2 times as long as blade;

blade obovate or obovate-elliptic to oblanceolate, 1–2 × 0.5–1 cm, base cuneate to attenuate, margins entire, apex obtuse, rounded, or slightly emarginate, mucronate.

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

of pistillate flowers lanceolate, 2–4 mm, shorter than tepals.

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

axillary clusters extending to near base.

intermixed with pistillate or at tips of inflorescences;

tepals 5;

stamens 5.

intermixed with pistillate;

tepals 3, equal;

stamens 3.

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

style branches erect;

stigmas 3.

tepals 3, reflexed, ovate-elliptic to lanceolate, 3–5 mm, apex tapering and long-aristate;

style branches spreading;

stigmas 2.

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

black, subglobose or lenticular, 1–1.4 mm diam., semishiny (or minutely punctulate and reticulate).

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

ellipsoid or ellipsoid-ovoid, 2 mm, shorter than tepals, mostly smooth (or slightly rugose distally), dehiscence regularly circumscissile.