Flora of North America species comparison

alternate or whorled, semiflexible to rigid, angle of divergence about 45°.

alternate or whorled, rigid, angle of divergence about 45°.

yellow-green, becoming yellow, then yellow-brown with age, glaucous, with numerous very fine longitudinal grooves;

internodes 3–10 cm.

blue-green, becoming gray with age, glaucous, with numerous very fine longitudinal grooves;

internodes 2–5 cm.

in whorls of 3, 2–6 mm, connate to 1/2–3/4 their length;

bases at first membranous, then becoming thickened, completely deciduous;

apex acute.

in whorls of 3, 2–5 mm, connate to 2/3 their length;

bases becoming gray and shredded with age;

apex acute.

1–several at node, ovoid, 6–8 mm, on short, scaly peduncles;

bracts in 8–12 whorls of 3, light orange-yellow, ovate, 2–3 × 2–3 mm, membranous, slightly united at base;

bracteoles equaling or slightly exceeding bracts;

sporangiophores 3–5 mm, exserted to 1/3 their length, with 3–7 sessile to short-stalked microsporangia.

1–4 at node, ovoid, 6–8 mm, sessile;

bracts in 6–9 whorls of 3, cream to pale yellow, ovate, slightly clawed, 2–4 × 2–4 mm, membranous;

bracteoles slightly exceeding bracts;

sporangiophores 2–4 mm, exserted to 1/2 their length, with 5–8 sessile to short-stalked microsporangia.

cones 1–several at node, ovoid, 8–10 mm, on very short, scaly peduncles;

bracts in 4–6 whorls of 3, circular, 5–7 × 5–10 mm, papery, with orange- to green-yellow center and base, slightly clawed, margins entire.

cones 1–several at node, ovoid, 9–15 mm, sessile;

bracts in 5 or 6 whorls of 3, obovate, 6–9 × 6–10 mm, papery, translucent with orange-yellow to greenish yellow center and base, base clawed, margins minutely dentate, undulate.

buds conic, 2–3 mm, apex acute.

buds conic, less than 4 mm.