Flora of North America species comparison

gray, fissured.

gray, slightly cracked and fissured.

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

alternate (rarely whorled), lax, angle of divergence about 55°.

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

internodes 1–6 cm.

gray-green, becoming green, then yellow-green with age, glaucous, with several moderately deep longitudinal grooves;

internodes 1–8 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, 1–3 mm, connate to 2/3–7/8 their length;

bases splitting at margins, persistent;

apex obtuse.

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.

1–2 at node, lanceoloid, 4–8 mm, sessile or on short to long, smooth peduncles;

bracts opposite, 6–12 pairs, light yellow to reddish, obovate, 2–4 × 2–3 mm, membranous, free or slightly connate at base;

bracteoles barely exceeding bracts;

sporangiophores 3–5 mm, exserted to 1/2 their length, with 4–6 long-stalked (1–2 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 1–2 at node, ovoid, 6–10 mm, on short to long, smooth peduncles;

bracts opposite, 3–6 pairs, 3–4 × 2–3 mm, ovate, connate to 1/8–7/8 their length, inner pairs becoming succulent and red when ripe.

buds conic, 1–3 mm, apex obtuse.

buds attenuate, 1–3 mm.

= 14, 28.