Flora of North America species comparison

ascending to erect, usually much-branched, 0.1–1 m;

branches usually ascending.

ascending or prostrate, much-branched from stout rootstock, 0.1–0.4 m. Leaves: petiole to 1/2 as long as blade;

blade linear to narrowly lanceolate, 1.5–8 × 0.2–0.5(–1) mm, base tapering, margins entire, plane to undulate, apex obtuse and often emarginate.

petiole shorter than or equaling blade;

blade ovate, obovate to elliptic, or oblong-elliptic, 1–8 × 0.5–4 cm, base broadly cuneate to nearly rounded, margins entire, plane or slightly undulate, apex obtuse to emarginate, usually with terminal mucro.

of pistillate flowers with long-excurrent midrib, 3–4 mm, longer than tepals, apex long-acuminate or mucronulate; of staminate flowers 2.5–4 mm, usually equaling outer tepals, apex long-acuminate or mucronulate.

of pistillate flowers linear, 0.7–1.2 mm, 1/2–2/3 as long as tepals.

mostly terminal, erect spikes to panicles, usually thick and uninterrupted, with few axillary clusters in basal part of plant.

terminal, compact pyramidal panicles and axillary glomerules, erect or reflexed, green, leafless at least distally.

tepals 5, equal or subequal, 1.5–2(–3) mm, apex acute or almost obtuse;

inner tepal apex acuminate or mucronulate;

stamens 3–5.

intermixed with pistillate or at tips of inflorescences;

tepals 5;

stamens 5.

tepals with dark midribs not excurrent, spatulate to fan-shaped, 1.7–2.2 mm, apex obtuse, with terminal mucro;

style branches spreading;

stigmas 2(–3).

tepals 5, narrowly oblanceolate, not clawed, equal, 1.5–2 mm, apex obtuse or subacute;

style branches erect;

stigmas 3.

dark reddish brown to nearly black, (0.8–)1–1.2 mm diam., shiny.

black, lenticular, 1–1.2 mm diam., semiglossy.

light brown to brown, obovoid to subglobose, 1.5–2 mm, shorter than tepals, walls thin, smooth or indistinctly rugose.

compressed, subglobose, 1.7–2 mm, ± equaling or slightly exceeding tepals, muricate, indehiscent.