Flora of North America species comparison

ascending to erect, (13–)20–40(–51) cm, stellate-tomentose.

cauline and, sometimes, basal basal mat-forming;

petiole 1–3 mm;

blade obovate, 10–22 × 3–5 mm;

cauline: petiole 1–4 mm;

blade oblanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, 10–38(–48) × 2–5.5(–7.8) mm, margins revolute;

surfaces stellate-tomentose abaxially, stellate-pubescent adaxially, without simple hairs;

lateral veins obscure abaxially.

alternate, opposite, or whorled, usually estipulate, sometimes stipulate (Tuberaria), stipules caducous, petiolate or sessile;

blade 1- or 3- [5-]veined from base, not lobed, sometimes scalelike, margins entire [crenate, serrate], sometimes revolute and/or undulate.

axillary and terminal, solitary flowers or glomerules; chasmogamous flowers solitary, at tips of branches, overtopping cleistogamous, cleistogamous 2–7 per glomerule, flowering 1–3 months later than chasmogamous.

usually corymbose, cymose, paniculate, racemose, thyrsiform, or umbellate, seldom solitary flowers.

10–22 mm;

bracts 3–7 × 0.5–1 mm.

present or absent;

bracts present or absent.

chasmogamous or cleistogamous;

sepals persistent or tardily falling, 3–5;

petals usually caducous [marcescent], usually 3–5, sometimes 0 in cleistogamous flowers, imbricate, distinct, crumpled in bud, green, dark red, pink, purple, red, white, or yellow;

stamens (3–)5–150+;

filaments distinct or basally connate;

ovaries superior, 2-, 3-, 5-, or 6–12-carpellate;

placentation parietal;

styles 0 or 1;

stigmas 1 or 3;

ovules orthotropous [anatropous], bitegmic, crassinucellate.

capsular, dehiscence loculicidal [septifragal].

(1–)3–800+ per capsule, often with thin outer integument.

flowers: outer sepals linear, 1.2–2.5 × 0.2 mm, inner sepals 2.5–4.3 × 1.3–2 mm, apex acute;

petals obovate, 4–6 × 3.5–5 mm;

capsules 2–3 × 1.4–1.8 mm, glabrous.

flowers: outer sepals linear, 0.5–1 × 0.2 mm, inner sepals ovate, 1.5–1.8 × 1–1.5 mm, apex acute;

capsules 1.3–1.7 × 1–1.3 mm, glabrous.