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 0.5–1 cm;

blade oblanceolate to elliptic, 0.3–1 × 0.2–0.3 cm, thinly pubescent.

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.

with involucres in small clusters 0.5–1 cm across even at dichotomies, greenish or reddish;

bracts 2, petiolate or sessile, similar to proximal leaf blades, oblanceolate or narrowly elliptic to linear-lanceolate, 0.3–1 cm × 1–3 mm, awns absent.

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.

1, greenish or reddish, campanulate, 5–6-ribbed, 1.5–2.5 mm, corrugate, thinly pubescent;

teeth 5–6, unequal, 3 longer ones 1.5–3 mm, these alternating with 2 or 3 shorter ones 1–2 mm, anterior tooth not leaflike;

awns of prominent teeth uncinate and 1.5–3 mm, those of shorter teeth straight and 1–2 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.

1, included to slightly exserted;

perianth white to rose, cylindric, 1.5–1.8(–2) mm, densely pubescent abaxially;

tepals connate 2/3 their length, monomorphic, oblong, obtuse to truncate or minutely emarginate apically;

stamens (6) 9, slightly exserted;

filaments distinct, 0.8–1 mm, glabrous;

anthers reddish, ovate, 0.2–0.3 mm.

brown, 3-gonous, (1.5–)1.8–2.2 mm.

dark brown to black, 3-gonous, 2–2.5 mm.

= 38, 40.