Flora of North America species comparison

basal and cauline;

petiole 0.5–3(–4) cm;

basal blade broadly elliptic to obovate, 0.5–2.5 × (0.3–)0.5–2 cm, thinly pubescent adaxially, more densely so to tomentose abaxially;

proximal cauline leaf soon deciduous, 1, blade similar to basal leaf blades only 1–2(–2.5) × 0.5–1.5 cm, mucronate to awn-tipped, awn mostly 2–4 mm;

distal cauline leaf blade persistent, 1 per node, sessile, blade linear to linear-lanceolate, 0.1–1.5 × 0.05–0.15 cm, becoming hard and thornlike with age.

basal;

petiole 1–3 cm;

blade spatulate to ovate, 0.5–2 × 0.3–1.2(–1.5) cm, thinly pubescent to densely tomentose at least abaxially.

with involucres in dense clusters in axils of bracts, these on short shoots and each subtended by cauline leaves;

bracts 2, subopposite to opposite, linear, 0.5–1(–1.2) cm × 1–2 mm, awns straight, 2–4 mm.

mostly flat-topped, open to rather densely branched, greenish to reddish;

bracts persistent, 2, usually leaflike at proximal nodes and similar to leaf blades, short-petiolate, oblong to ovate, 0.3–0.8 cm × 2–6 mm, becoming sessile, reduced and scalelike at distal nodes, linear, acicular, often acerose, 0.1–0.5 cm × 0.5–1 mm, awns straight, 0.5–1 mm.

1, greenish, urceolate, 3-ribbed, 2–3 mm, corrugate, pubescent, rarely villous near base in some;

teeth 3, unequal, with thickened anterior tooth toward base, 5–10 mm, sometimes expanding and becoming lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, others 0.5–1.2 mm;

awns straight.

in open clusters with 1 at node of dichotomies, reddish, cylindric, not ventricose, 2.5–3 mm, corrugate, without scarious or membranous margins, thinly pubescent with slender curly hairs;

teeth spreading, unequal, 0.4–1.2 mm with 3 longer ones more erect than 3 shorter and less-prominent ones;

awns uncinate, 0.3–0.6 mm.

1–2, included to slightly exserted;

perianth yellow, cylindric, 1.5–1.8 mm, densely pubescent abaxially;

tepals connate ca. 2/3 their length, monomorphic, oblong, rounded, entire apically;

stamens 9, slightly exserted;

filaments distinct, 0.5–1 mm, glabrous;

anthers yellowish, ovate, 0.2–0.3 mm.

exserted;

perianth white to rose or red, usually with white lobes, cylindric, 3–3.5 mm, pubescent;

tepals connate ca. 1/2 their length, monomorphic to slightly dimorphic, narrowly oblong to obovate, rounded apically, those of outer whorl usually slightly broader and longer than those of inner whorl;

stamens 9, mostly included;

filaments distinct, 2.5–3 mm, glabrous;

anthers pink to red, oblong, 0.4–0.5 mm.

brown, 3-gonous, (1.5–)1.8–2.2 mm.

brown, lenticular, 2.5–3 mm.

= 38, 40.

= 38.