Flora of North America species comparison

profusely branched (erect or spreading and matlike); glaucous, scabrous.

sparsely or profusely branched (usually erect); glabrous, pubescent, or scabrous.

stipules finely divided into crinkled threads, 2 mm;

petiole 0.1–0.3 cm;

leaflet blade linear-obovate, 0.5–1.5 × 0.1–0.3 cm, fleshy, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute, mucronate, surfaces scabrous.

stipules (sometimes deciduous), 3–8-palmatifid, threadlike, or setaceous;

petiole without pulvinus (usually longer than leaflets);

leaflets (1 or) 3.

solitary flowers in axils of closely spaced leaves throughout;

bracts unifoliate, 8–10 mm.

terminal, racemes, corymbs, or flowers solitary in distal leaf axils (sometimes remaining compact in fruit);

bracts usually present (pedicels often anthocyanic).

reflexed in fruit, 1–2 mm.

sepals green, ovate, 0.8–1.2 × 0.3–0.7 mm, glabrous;

petals pale yellow, oblong, 1.5–2 × 0.5–1 mm, glabrous;

stamens yellow, 1.5–2.2 mm;

anthers 0.3–0.5 mm;

gynophore strongly reflexed, 0.5–3 mm in fruit;

ovary globose, 1–1.5 mm;

style 2–3(–5) mm.

actinomorphic;

sepals persistent, connate basally (ca. 1/4 of length) [distinct], equal (each often subtending a nectary);

petals equal;

stamens 6 (usually exserted, distinct, equal);

filaments inserted on a discoid or conical androgynophore, glabrous;

anthers (ellipsoid), coiling as pollen is released;

gynophore reflexed, spreading, or ascending in fruit.

capsules, dehiscent (as long as or shorter than wide), rhomboidal, globose, deltoid, or ovoid (valves laterally expanded, falling away from round, persistent septum).

globose or deltoid, 2–3 × 2–3.2 mm, glabrous, (valves triangular).

1–4, yellowish, globose, 1.3–1.7 mm, smooth.

1–16, globose or reniform, not arillate, (cleft fused between ends).

= 20.