Flora of North America species comparison

erect or sometimes ascending proximally, much-branched and bushy, rarely nearly simple, 0.3–1(–2) m; each node with paired, divergent spines (modified bracts) to 1.5(–2.5) cm.

prostrate, whitish or tinged with red, much-branched from base, 0.1–0.5 m, rather fleshy.

petiole ± equaling or longer than blade;

blade rhombic-ovate, ovate, or ovate-lanceolate, 3–10(–15) × 1.5–6 cm, base broadly cuneate, margins entire, plane or slightly undulate, apex acute or subobtuse to indistinctly emarginate, mucronulate.

petiole 1/2 or less as long as blade;

blade pale green, veins prominent, obovate, spatulate, or oblanceolate to linear, 0.3–2(–3) × 0.2–1.5 cm, base cuneate, margins entire, plane or slightly undulate, apex obtuse to subacute, with prominent mucro.

of pistillate flowers lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, shorter than tepals, apex attenuate.

of pistillate flowers linear, 0.5–1 mm, ± equaling tepals.

simple or compound terminal staminate spikes and axillary subglobose mostly pistillate clusters, erect or with reflexed or nodding tips, usually green to silvery green.

axillary clusters borne from bases to tops of plants.

often terminal or in proximal glomerules;

tepals 5, equal or subequal, 1.7–2.5 mm;

stamens 5.

intermixed with pistillate;

tepals (2–)3;

stamens 3.

tepals 5, obovate-lanceolate or spatulate-lanceolate, equal or subequal, 1.2–2 mm, apex mucronate or short-aristate;

styles erect or spreading;

stigmas 3.

tepals 1–3, narrowly lanceolate, unequal, usually with only 1 well-developed tepal, largest 1–1.2 mm, apex acute to acuminate;

stigmas 3.

black, lenticular or subglobose-lenticular, 0.7–1 mm diam., smooth, shiny.

very dark reddish brown, lenticular, (0.6–)0.7–1 mm diam., shiny.

ovoid to subglobose, 1.5–2.5 mm, membranaceous proximally, wrinkled and spongy or inflated distally, irregularly dehiscent or indehiscent.

subglobose, 1–1.2 mm, smooth or wrinkled (especially in dry plants), dehiscence regularly circumscissile or tardily dehiscent.