Flora of North America species comparison

fleshy, stout, tufted.

at nodes.

cespitose, usually erect to ascending (rarely decumbent, rooting at nodes).

decumbent to scandent.

leaf sheath auriculate at apex;

blade sessile or petiolate, linear to lanceolate (rarely lanceolate-ovate), 5–15 × 0.3–4 cm, apex acuminate (rarely acute).

blade lanceolate to lanceolate-elliptic or lanceolate-oblong, 2.5–10.5 × 0.7–2.4 cm, margins scabrous, apex acute to acuminate, glabrous.

distal cyme vestigial, included;

spathes solitary or clustered, green, pedunculate, not at all to strongly falcate, 1–2.5(–4) × 0.7–1.5(–2.5) cm, margins longly connate, glabrous except along connate edge, apex acute to acuminate, sometimes purple, usually variously pubescent;

peduncles 0.5–1(–2) cm.

distal cyme vestigial, included (rarely 1-flowered and exserted);

spathes solitary, bright green, paler basally, without contrasting veins, pedunculate, not at all to slightly falcate, 1.2–3(–3.7) × 0.5–1 cm, margins distinct, usually ciliate, apex acuminate, glabrous or very sparsely pilose;

peduncles 0.6–2.3 cm.

bisexual and staminate, 1.5–4 cm wide;

proximal petal minute, white, distal petals blue (rarely lavender or white);

staminodes 3, staminodes and medial stamen entirely yellow;

antherodes cruciform.

bisexual;

petals all blue, proximal petal white medially, smaller;

medial stamen with white connective;

staminodes 3;

antherodes yellow, often with central maroon spot, cruciform.

3-locular, 2-valved (very rarely 3-valved), 3.5–4.5 × 3–5 mm;

abaxial locule warty, indehiscent (very rarely smooth and dehiscent);

adaxial locules smooth, dehiscent.

3-locular, 2-valved, (5–)6–8 mm.

3, brown, with soft, whitish tissue at both ends or in a band, 2.4–3.5 × 2.3–2.8 mm, nearly smooth.

5, dark brown, 2.4–4.3(–4.6) × (1.6–)2–2.3 mm, smooth to faintly alveolate, mealy.

= 60.

= ca. 86.