Flora of North America species comparison

several (rarely 1), erect or ascending, sometimes procumbent, usually much-branched from base, slender, 1–5(–10) dm, densely or sparsely villous-tomentose with grayish white hairs.

1–several, ascending or decumbent, often branched distally, 3–10 dm, sericeous-tomentose with white hairs.

predominant on proximal 1/3 of plant, often basal, sessile;

blade linear to lanceolate or lance-elliptic, largest leaves 1.6–9(–13.5) × 0.2–0.9(–1.2) cm, base acuminate or attenuate, apex acute to acuminate, canescent or sericeous adaxially, sericeous-tomentose with white or gray hairs abaxially.

usually crowded at base, few on stems, sessile or short-petiolate;

blade lanceolate, proximal leaves 3–12 × 0.5–2.5 cm, base attenuate, apex acute or rarely obtuse, scaberulous or canescent adaxially, sericeous-tomentose with bright whitish hairs abaxially.

sparsely branched, flowers arranged in 3-ranked spiral;

bracteoles stramineous or blackish, glabrous.

dense, stout, flowers arranged in 3-ranked spiral;

bracteoles dark, glabrous.

2.4–3.8 mm;

perianth lobes oblong-linear, apex acute or acutish, pubescence grayish;

filament lobes stramineous or blackish, blunt.

(3.5–)4–5.5 mm;

perianth lobes narrowly oblong, apex obtuse, or acutish, pubescence dense, bright white;

filament lobes stramineous or darkened, blunt.

2.5–5 × 2.7–4 mm, apex slightly oblique, with irregularly and deeply cut (“spiny”) lateral wings, both surfaces of perianth with distinct spines or tubercles.

narrowly or broadly winged laterally, 2.5–5.5 × 3–4.5 mm, longer than broad, wing margins irregularly dentate, 1 or both surfaces of perianth with 1 or more basal tubercles or spines.

= 54.