Flora of North America species comparison

erect, green, 5–22 cm, appressed-hairy;

nodes 4–7, internodes only slightly longer distally;

branches at distal 1–3 nodes, ca. as long as distal internodes.

at basal node nonchlorophyllous, opposite, scalelike, caducous, at remaining nodes chlorophyllous, opposite, well developed, persistent;

distalmost leaves similar in size to those at 2 more proximal nodes;

petiole 0–7.5 mm;

blade ovate or oval, 1.3–4 × 0.7–2.8 cm, apex broadly acute or obtuse, abaxial surface pale green, moderately appressed-hairy, adaxial surface bluish green, appressed-hairy;

secondary veins 3 per side, all arising from near base, occasionally distalmost vein bifurcating in basal 1/5.

5–17-flowered;

peduncle 8–20 mm;

primary branches 0–0.4 mm;

bracts white, often red- or purple-tinged, ± equal, ovate, 8–12 × 4–7.5 mm, apex slightly acute.

0.7–1.5 mm, moderately appressed-hairy proximally, densely at base of hypanthium.

hypanthium deep purple, 1–2 mm, very sparsely appressed-hairy;

sepals deep purple, 0.2–0.5 mm, apex acute, thick, densely hairy on margins, densely glandular;

petals purple, 1.2–1.5 mm, apical awn 0.5 mm;

nectary purple or black.

3–8 per infructescence, red, globose, 5–8 mm;

stone usually globose, 2.1–3.4 mm diam., longitudinally grooved, apex rounded.

= 22.