Flora of North America species comparison

erect, branched, usually (0.3–)0.5–1.5(–3) m;

proximal branches often ascending.

erect, branched, slender, usually (0.5–)1–1.5 m.

long-petiolate;

blade obovate or rhombic-obovate to elliptic proximally, sometimes lanceolate distally, 1.5–7 × 1–3.5 cm, base broadly to narrowly cuneate, margins entire, plane, apex subobtuse to acute, usually with terminal mucro.

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 with long-excurrent midrib, 4–6 mm, longer than tepals, apex acuminate or mucronulate; of staminate flowers, 4 mm, equaling or longer than outer tepals, apex long-acuminate.

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

terminal, linear spikes to panicles, usually drooping, occasionally erect, especially when young, with few axillary clusters, uninterrupted or interrupted in proximal part of plant.

terminal, linear spikes to panicles.

tepals 5, unequal, 2–4 mm, apex acute;

inner tepals with prominent midrib excurrent as rigid spine, apex long-acuminate or mucronulate;

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 1.7–3.8 mm, apex acuminate, mucronulate;

style branches spreading;

stigmas 2(–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.

dark reddish brown to brown, 1–1.2 mm diam., shiny.

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

tan to brown, occasionally reddish brown, obovoid to subglobose, 1.5–2 mm, shorter than tepals, at maturity walls thin, almost smooth or indistinctly rugose.

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.