Flora of North America species comparison

gray, fissured.

red-brown, cracked and irregularly fissured.

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

alternate or whorled, becoming rigid, angle of divergence about 25°.

pale green, becoming yellow with age, not viscid, glaucous, with numerous longitudinal grooves;

internodes 1–6 cm.

bright green, becoming yellow-green with age, not viscid, ridges between longitudinal grooves papillate, slightly scabrous;

internodes 2–5 cm.

opposite (rarely in whorls of 3), 2–4(–8) mm, connate to 1/2–3/4 their length;

bases thickened, brown, completely deciduous;

apex obtuse.

opposite, 2–5 mm, connate to 1/2–3/4 their length;

bases thickened, brown, persistent, becoming hard, enlarged, and black;

apex acute.

1–several at node, ellipsoid, 4–8 mm, sessile or on short peduncles with 2 pairs of basal bracts;

bracts opposite, 5–9 pairs, yellow to light brown, obovate, 3–4 × 2–3 mm, membranous;

bracteoles slightly exceeding bracts;

sporangiophores 3–5 mm, exserted to 1/4–1/2 their length, with 6–9 sessile to short-stalked (less than 1 mm) microsporangia.

2–several at node, obovoid, 4–6 mm, on very short, scaly peduncles (rarely sessile);

bracts opposite, 5–9 pairs, light yellow, ovate, 2–4 × 2–3 mm, membranous, slightly connate at base;

bracteoles slightly exceeding bracts;

sporangiophores 2–4 mm, 1/4 exserted, with 5–7 sessile to short-stalked (less than 1 mm) microsporangia.

cones 1–several at node, nearly globose, 5–11 mm, on long peduncles, with 1–2 pairs of basal bracts;

bracts opposite, 3–5 pairs, nearly circular, 4–8 × 3–6 mm, herbaceous, with light brown to yellow-green center, occasionally pinkish tinged, margins entire.

cones 2–several at node, obovoid to nearly globose, 7–15 mm, on smooth peduncles, 5–25 mm, with 1 pair of basal and 1 pair of nearly terminal bracts, at least in early cones;

bracts opposite, 3–4 pairs, ovate to circular, 5–8 × 5–12 mm, inner pairs becoming fleshy (at least centrally) and orange at maturity.

buds conic, 1–3 mm, apex obtuse.

buds conic, 1–3 mm.

= 14, 28.