Flora of North America species comparison

at proximal nodes.

diffusely branched.

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

basal or cauline, alternate;

sheaths closed;

blade simple, often succulent, margins entire, venation parallel.

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 or terminal and axillary [sometimes all axillary], sometimes becoming leaf-opposed, cymose (cymes scorpioid), thyrsiform or variously reduced, sometimes umbel-like, sometimes enclosed in spathaceous bracts.

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 or bisexual and staminate on same plants, rarely bisexual and pistillate on same plants [bisexual and unisexual (staminate and pistillate), all on same plants], bilaterally or radially symmetric;

sepals 3, sepaloid [occasionally petaloid], distinct or occasionally connate, usually subequal;

petals 3, deliquescent, petaloid, distinct or connate, equal or unequal;

stamens 6, all fertile or some staminodial or absent (rarely all stamens absent);

anthers with longitudinal [rarely poricidal] dehiscence;

ovary superior, 2–3-locular;

ovules 1-seriate [2-seriate];

style 1, simple, usually slender;

stigma 1, simple [rarely slightly 3-lobed], enlarged or not.

loculicidal capsules [rarely indehiscent or berries].

2-locular, 2-valved, 4.5–8 mm.

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

1–several [rarely many] per locule;

hilum dotlike or linear; lidlike embryotega covering embryo.