Flora of North America species comparison

erect, without persistent leaf bases, pubescent;

caudex stems absent;

aerial flowering stems erect, slender to stout, solid, not disarticulating in ringlike segments proximally, arising directly from the root.

persistent or marcescent, in basal rosettes or fasciculate and scattered along stems, 1 per node;

blade usually tomentose.

terminal, cymose, compact to open;

branches dichotomous, round, smooth, tomentose to floccose;

bracts 3, connate basally, scalelike.

absent or erect, slender.

1 per node, not appressed to inflorescence branches, turbinate to campanulate;

teeth 5–6, erect, apex acute.

not attenuate at base, without stipelike base;

perianth white to cream, rose, or reddish brown, glabrous abaxially, densely pubescent and minutely glandular adaxially;

tepals connate proximally 1/4–1/3 their length, dimorphic;

stamens included or slightly exserted;

filaments pilose proximally.

brown, not winged, 3-gonous, glabrous.

embryo curved.