Flora of North America species comparison

erect, unbranched or branched distally, 0.4–11 dm.

usually erect or ascending, rarely subdecumbent, unbranched or branched distally, (sometimes inflated).

basal and cauline;

petiolate, subsessile, or sessile;

basal rosulate or not, petiolate, blade margins entire, dentate, sinuate, lobed, or pinnatifid;

cauline petiolate, subsessile, or sessile, blade (base sometimes sagittate or amplexicaul, rarely subauriculate), margins entire, dentate, or lobed.

rosulate;

petiole 0.5–3 cm;

blade obovate to broadly oblanceolate, 1–7 cm × 5–37 mm, margins coarsely dentate.

(median) sessile;

blade oblong to broadly ovate or obovate, 2–8 cm × 10–40 mm (smaller distally, base amplexicaul), margins coarsely dentate or entire.

(lax), without a terminal cluster of sterile flowers.

(corymbose, sometimes with a terminal cluster of sterile flowers from grouping of dark purple flower buds, rarely proximalmost flowers bracteate), elongated in fruit.

sepals erect, (dark maroon-purple or ochroleucous to yellowish), ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 4–9.2 × 2–4 mm (equal);

petals (abaxial pair) usually stramineous to yellowish green, rarely pale purple, (adaxial pair) purple, (slightly longer), 10–18 mm, blade 4–10 × 0.5–1.5mm, crisped, claw narrowly oblong-oblanceolate, 6–10 × 1–3 mm;

filaments in 3 unequal pairs, abaxial pair 3–7 mm, lateral pair 1–5 mm, adaxial pair 4.5–9 mm;

anthers oblong, unequal, 1–3.5 mm (adaxial pair smaller).

sepals usually erect or ascending, rarely spreading, oblong or ovate to lanceolate, (usually forming urceolate calyx, sometimes keeled), lateral pair saccate or not basally;

petals yellow, brown, purple, lavender, white, yellowish green, or, rarely, pinkish, linear to oblanceolate, (often channeled and crisped, rarely neither, equal or abaxial (lower) pair slightly shorter than adaxial (upper) pair, longer than sepals), claw often well-differentiated from blade (sometimes longer and wider than blade, entire);

stamens tetradynamous or 3 unequal pairs (rarely subequal);

filaments not dilated basally, (usually distinct, sometimes adaxial or both median pairs connate);

anthers oblong, (equal or adaxial pair smaller, apex obtuse or apiculate);

nectar glands usually confluent, subtending bases of stamens.

divaricate to ascending, 2.5–19 mm.

erect, ascending to divaricate, or reflexed, slender or stout.

divaricate to ascending (often distinctly curved), terete or slightly latiseptate, 4.5–14(–16.7) cm × 1–1.5 mm;

valves each with obscure midvein;

ovules 40–92 per ovary;

style 0–0.4 mm;

stigma subentire.

sessile, linear, usually smooth, rarely torulose, usually terete, latiseptate, or angustiseptate, rarely 4-angled;

valves each with distinct or obscure midvein, glabrous or sparsely pubescent;

replum rounded;

septum complete, (veinless);

ovules 14–60[–210] per ovary;

style obsolete or distinct;

stigma capitate or not, entire, subentire, or 2-lobed (lobes opposite valves or replum).

1.4–2.2 × 0.9–1.2 mm.

uniseriate, usually flattened (plump in C. californicus), usually not winged, rarely margined, oblong, ovoid, or, rarely, subglobose;

seed coat not mucilaginous when wetted;

cotyledons incumbent or obliquely so, (entire or, rarely, 3-fid).

= 14.

= 28.