Flora of North America species comparison

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

erect, simple or with lateral branches (especially distally), 0.2–1 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 as long as blade;

blade rhombic-ovate or ovate, 1–7 × 0.5–5 cm, base rounded, cuneate, or attenuate, margins entire, plane, apex obtuse, rounded, or emarginate, mucronate.

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

of pistillate flowers ovate to lanceolate, 1 mm, shorter than tepals.

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

slender spikes aggregated into elongate terminal panicles, also from distal axils, green, leafless at least distally.

intermixed with pistillate or at tips of inflorescences;

tepals 5;

stamens 5.

inconspicuous, mostly at tips of inflorescences;

tepals 3;

stamens 3.

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

style branches erect;

stigmas 3.

tepals 3, narrowly elliptic, obovate-elliptic or spatulate, not clawed, ± equal, 1.2–1.7 mm, apex rounded or nearly acute, mucronate or not;

style branches erect;

stigmas 3.

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

black or dark brown, subglobose to thick-lenticular, 1 mm diam., minutely punctulate, rather dull.

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

ovoid to compressed-ovoid, 1–1.6 mm, equaling or slightly exceeding tepals, prominently or faintly rugose, indehiscent.