Flora of North America species comparison

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

proximal branches often ascending.

erect to sometimes ascending or rarely prostrate, branched, rarely simple, usually (0.5–)1–2(–3) 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 1/4–1/2 length of blade;

blade ovate or obovate proximally, oblong or elliptic to narrowly lanceolate distally, 1.5–15 × 0.5–3 cm, base cuneate, margins entire, plane, apex obtuse or rounded to acute.

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 1–2 mm; of staminate flowers with inconspicuous to prominent midrib, 1–2 mm, apex acuminate to short-subulate.

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, occasionally interrupted-moniliform, remote, globose glomerules.

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, inner tepals with prominent midribs excurrent as rigid spines or not, equal to unequal, 2–3 mm, apex obtuse to acute or acuminate or indistinctly mucronulate;

stamens 5.

tepals 1.7–3.8 mm, apex acuminate, mucronulate;

style branches spreading;

stigmas 2(–3).

tepals absent or 1–2, often rudimentary, 1–3 mm;

style branches ± erect;

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.

dark brown to reddish brown, not ribbed, obovoid to subglobose, 1.5–2 mm, thin, almost smooth or irregularly rugose, indehiscent, irregularly dehiscent, or dehiscence regularly circumscissile.