Flora of North America species comparison

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

proximal branches often ascending.

decumbent or erect, branched proximally, 0.7–1 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 1/2–11/2 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 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 lanceolate, 2–4 mm, shorter than tepals.

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

axillary clusters extending to near base.

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

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

stamens 5.

intermixed with pistillate;

tepals 3, equal;

stamens 3.

tepals 1.7–3.8 mm, apex acuminate, mucronulate;

style branches spreading;

stigmas 2(–3).

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

style branches spreading;

stigmas 2.

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

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

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.

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