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 to ascending, branched mainly from base, 0.1–0.4(–0.5) m. Leaves: petiole shorter than blade;

blade rhombic-ovate to oblong, 0.5–1.5(–2.5) × 0.3–0.8(–1.5) cm, base cuneate, margins crisped-erose, conspicuously undulate, apex acute to subobtuse, with short mucro.

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.

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

lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 1.2–1.7 mm, ± equaling or slightly shorter than 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 glomerules, green, axes not thickened, not indurage at maturity.

often terminal or in proximal glomerules;

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

stamens 5.

intermixed with pistillate;

tepals 5;

stamens 5.

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 5, spatulate-oblong, equal to subequal, 1.2–1.7 mm, margins entire, apex rounded to subacute;

style branches spreading;

stigmas 3, sessile.

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

black to dark reddish brown, lenticular to obovoid-lenticular, 0.7–1 mm diam., smooth.

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

ellipsoid or obovoid, 1.5–2 mm, slightly longer than tepals, smooth to slightly wrinkled, indehiscent.