Flora of North America species comparison

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

opposite or whorled, rigid, angle of divergence about 30°.

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

internodes 2–5 cm.

pale green, becoming yellow with age, not viscid, usually smooth or very slightly scabrous, with numerous longitudinal grooves;

internodes 1–5 cm.

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

bases becoming gray and shredded with age;

apex acute.

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

bases membranous, brown, shredding and becoming gray with age, ± persistent;

apex obtuse.

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.

2–several at node, ellipsoid to obovoid, 4–8 mm, sessile;

bracts opposite, 4–8 pairs, light yellow, obovate, 2–3 × 2 mm, membranous, slightly connate at base;

bracteoles exceeding bracts;

sporangiophores 3–9 mm, 1/4–3/4 exserted, with 6–10 sessile to short-stalked (less than 1 mm) microsporangia.

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.

cones 2–several at node, obovoid to ellipsoid, 6–13 mm, sessile or on short peduncles;

bracts opposite, 4–7 pairs, elliptic, 3–7 × 2–4 mm, membranous with light brown to green, thickened center and base, slightly connate at base, margins entire.

buds conic, less than 4 mm.

buds conic, 1–3 mm, apex obtuse.