Flora of North America species comparison

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

erect or ascending, often whitish or tinged with red, usually branched distally, sometimes proximally, to nearly simple, 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 usually longer than or ± equaling blade;

blade rhombic-ovate, ovate, obovate, or elliptic, 1–4.5 × 0.5–2.5 cm, usually somewhat fleshy, base cuneate, margins entire, apex obtuse to slightly emarginate, with terminal mucro.

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

lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 5–10 mm, longer than tepals, apex spinescent.

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

terminal, usually unbranched, stout spikes and axillary clusters, erect, usually greenish or reddish, leafless at least distally.

intermixed with pistillate or at tips of inflorescences;

tepals 5;

stamens 5.

few at tips of inflorescences;

tepals 5;

stamens 3–5.

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

style branches erect;

stigmas 3.

tepals 5, elongate, not clawed, unequal or subequal, 1.5–2.5 mm, apex obtuse to subacute;

style branches elongated, shorter than body of fruit;

stigmas 3.

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

black, lenticular to subglobose-lenticular, 1–1.2 mm diam., smooth, shiny.

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

subglobose to broadly obovoid, 1.3–2.5 mm, equal or subequal to tepals, shorter than style branches, smooth or slightly rugose, dehiscence regularly circumscissile.