Flora of North America species comparison

strict, erect, sometimes reddish green, terete, 3.5–40 cm, simple or freely branched, subglabrous proximally to strigillose and glandular puberulent distally.

usually suberect, rarely matted, terete, 1.5–50 cm, often with sprawling, decumbent proximal branches, rarely simple, glabrous proximally or throughout, sometimes ± densely strigillose and/or villous distally.

alternate distally, not fasciculate, petiole 0–2 mm, blade subspatulate proximally to lanceolate, oblanceolate, or narrowly elliptical distally, not folded along midrib, 0.9–2.5 × 0.2–0.6 cm, shorter than internodes, base tapered, margins entire or scarcely denticulate, 1–4 teeth per side, lateral veins obscure, apex subacute or often blunt proximally, surfaces subglabrous or with scattered hairs along margins;

bracts much reduced, sometimes attached to pedicel.

crowded, subsessile, blade lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate or oblong, 0.8–3.5 × 0.2–0.6(–1) cm, longer than subtending internodes, base cuneate, margins evenly serrulate, 4–7 teeth per side, lateral veins obscure, 2–5 per side, apex acute, surfaces strigillose and ± villous, at least along veins and margins;

bracts not much reduced.

erect racemes or open panicles, relatively loose and uncrowded, branches thin, mixed strigillose and glandular puberulent.

erect spikes, congested, unbranched, densely strigillose and ± villous or subglabrous.

erect or, sometimes, nodding in bud;

buds broadly ovoid, 1.2–2.5 × 1–1.5 mm;

floral tube 1.1–1.5 × 1–1.4 mm, usually with ring of spreading hairs at mouth inside;

sepals 0.5–2.5 × 0.4–1.3 mm, apex acute, abaxial surface strigillose, sometimes mixed glandular puberulent;

petals white to pink, 2–5 × 1.5–3 mm, apical notch 0.2–1.9 mm;

filaments white, those of longer stamens 0.5–3 mm, those of shorter ones 0.3–2 mm;

anthers 0.6–1 × 0.5–0.8 mm;

ovary 4–9 mm, mixed strigillose and glandular puberulent;

style light pink, 1–3.5 mm, stigma subclavate to obscurely 4-lobed, 0.4–0.6 × 0.4–0.5 mm, surrounded by longer anthers.

erect, often hidden by subtending bracts, often cleistogamous;

buds 1.2–2 × 0.7–1.1 mm;

floral tube 0.3–1.1 × 0.2–0.8 mm, raised ciliate ring proximal to mouth inside;

sepals reddish green, 0.7–1.9 × 0.6–1.2 mm;

petals pale pink, fading purplish rose, 0.9–3.5 × 0.7–0.9 mm, apical notch 0.3–1.3 mm;

filaments light pink, those of longer stamens 0.5–1.5 mm, those of shorter ones 0.4–0.9 mm;

anthers pale yellow, 0.4–0.8 × 0.3–0.5 mm;

ovary 3–5 mm, usually densely villous;

style pale pink, 0.6–1.8 mm, stigma clavate, irregularly 4-lobed to subentire, 0.5–1 × 0.2–0.6 mm, surrounded by longer anthers.

9–28 mm, surfaces strigillose and glandular puberulent;

pedicel 3–10 mm.

cylindrical to subfusiform, ± terete, 4.5–8 mm, beak 0.8–1 mm, usually dehiscing on distal 1/3, sometimes tardily splitting to base, central axis prematurely disintegrating, villous;

subsessile.

obovoid, without constriction, 0.9–1.2 × 0.4–0.6 mm, low chalazal collar 0.1–0.2 mm wide, brown, surface reticulate;

coma easily detached, white, 2.5–3 mm.

7–14 per tightly packed row, irregularly angular-fusiform, 1–1.3 × 0.4–0.6 mm, chalazal collar absent, surface irregularly reticulate.

= 26.

= 30.