Flora of North America species comparison

often branching from base, 2.5-8 dm, unarmed or sparingly prickly.

widely branching, to ca. 8 dm, prickly throughout.

blades: surfaces unarmed or sparingly prickly on veins;

proximal lobed 1/2 or more distance to midrib;

distal more shallowly lobed, mostly clasping.

blades: abaxial surface sparingly to copiously prickly on and sometimes between veins, adaxial surface less so;

proximal lobed 5/6 distance to midrib;

distal often clasping.

buds subglobose, body 10-15 × 9-13 mm, unarmed or sparingly prickly;

sepal horns terete, 5-10 mm, unarmed.

buds oblong, body 18-25 × 14-18 mm, prickly, longest prickles sometimes branched;

sepal horns angular in cross section or flattened, 8-12 mm, prickly, apical prickle indurate.

4-7 cm broad, subtended by 1-2 foliaceous bracts;

petals bright yellow or rarely pale lemon yellow;

stamens 30-50;

filaments yellow;

pistil 4-6-carpellate.

8-12 cm broad, closely subtended by 1-2 foliaceous bracts;

petals white;

stamens 150 or more;

filaments pale yellow;

pistil 5-6-carpellate.

oblong to broadly ellipsoid, 25-45 × 12-20 mm (including stigma and excluding prickles when present), unarmed or prickly, longest prickles 6-10 mm.

ovoid, 40-50 × 15-25 mm (including stigma and excluding prickles);

prickles herbaceous, erect or reflexed, often branched, very unequal, longest 15-35 mm.

1.6-2 mm.

2.5-3 mm.

= 28.

= 84.