Flora of North America species comparison

erect;

twigs glabrous.

erect to decumbent, sprawling, creeping, trailing, prostrate, or procumbent.

persistent, alternate, (reduced in size proximal to inflorescence);

petiole present;

blade chartaceous [coriaceous], margins entire.

deciduous or persistent, usually alternate, sometimes opposite, whorled, or spirally arranged;

petiole usually present;

blade plane or acicular, abaxial groove present or absent.

terminal racemes or panicles, 2–5-flowered, sometimes flowers solitary;

perulae absent.

axillary or terminal, fascicles, racemes, panicles, capitula, cymes, umbels, corymbs, spikes, or solitary flowers;

perulae present or absent;

bracts much shorter than sepals (sometimes absent).

bisexual, radially symmetric;

sepals [5] 7, connate for 1/2 their lengths;

petals [5–]7, distinct, (covered with sticky exudate), corolla deciduous, rotate;

stamens [10] 14, included;

anthers without awns, dehiscent by terminal pores;

ovary [5–]7-locular;

style barely exserted;

stigma 7-lobed [capitate].

bisexual or unisexual, erect or pendulous, usually radially or bilaterally symmetric;

sepals (2-)4-5(-7);

petals absent or (2-)4-5(-7), connate or distinct, corolla deciduous or persistent, campanulate, salverform, rotate, saucer-shaped, funnelform, cylindric, or urceolate, (with pockets holding anthers until they open in some Kalmia), lobes shorter than tube;

intrastaminal nectary disc present;

stamens (2-)5-10;

anthers dehiscent by lateral pores or slits;

ovary (2-)5-10-locular;

placentation axile (parietal distally in Epigaea);

style straight or declinate (curved in Elliottia).

capsular, depressed-oblong, dehiscence septicidal.

capsular, dehiscence usually septicidal, sometimes loculicidal or septifragal, or drupaceous, (dry to fleshy), indehiscent.

ca. 100–300, ellipsoid [oblong], without wings, with very short tail;

testa long-celled reticulate.

2-300, distinct, obovoid, ovoid, or ellipsoid to oblong, linear, fusiform, or planoconvex, winged or not.