Flora of North America species comparison

at proximal nodes.

thin or tuberous.

diffusely branched.

blade narrowly lanceolate to ovate-elliptic, 5–12 × 1–4 cm, apex acute to acuminate.

2-ranked or spirally arranged, not glaucous;

blade sessile or petiolate.

distal cyme usually vestigial, included, sometimes 1-flowered, exserted;

spathes solitary, green, paler or whitish basally with contrasting, dark green veins, pedunculate, usually not falcate, 1.5–3(–3.5) × 0.8–1.3(–1.8) cm, margins distinct, scabrous, not ciliate, apex acute to acuminate, glabrous to puberulent;

peduncles 0.8–3.5(–5) cm.

terminal, leaf-opposed;

cymes 1–2, enclosed in spathes, proximal cyme several-flowered, distal cyme vestigial or with 1–several staminate flowers;

spathes often filled with mucilaginous liquid, margins distinct or basally connate;

bracteoles usually absent.

bisexual (rarely staminate);

proximal petal paler or white, very reduced, distal petals blue to bluish purple;

staminodes 3;

antherodes yellow sometimes with central maroon spot, cruciform.

bisexual and staminate, bilaterally symmetric;

pedicels well developed;

sepals distinct or proximal 2 connate, unequal;

petals distinct, proximal petal often different color than distal 2, smaller or subequal, distal 2 blue (occasionally lilac, lavender, yellow, peach, apricot, or white), clawed;

stamens (5–)6, proximal 3 fertile, medial different in form, size from others, distal (2–)3 staminodial;

filaments glabrous;

antherodes commonly 4–6-lobed;

ovary 2–3-locular, ovules 1–2 per locule, 1-seriate.

2-locular, 2-valved, 4.5–8 mm.

2–3-valved, 2–3-locular.

4, brown, (2–)2.5–4.2 × 2.2–3 mm, rugose pitted-reticulate.

1–2 per locule;

hilum linear;

embryotega lateral.

= 11–15.