Flora of North America species comparison

erect, gray-green, much-branched, woody-succulent, glabrous; short shoots absent;

latex watery, colorless in younger branches, cloudy-whitish in older shoots.

spreading, yellow to yellow-brown [gray], much-branched, woody-succulent, glabrous; short shoots common;

latex watery, yellow in young shoots, red in older shoots.

persistent, ± evenly distributed on long shoots;

stipules caducous, narrowly lanceolate, 5 mm, undivided;

petiole 9–19 cm, not stipitate-glandular;

blade round in outline, 9–15 × 9–15 cm, usually shallowly 3–5-lobed, rarely unlobed, base cordate, margins entire or glandular (young leaves), apex acuminate, membranous, surfaces glabrous;

venation palmate.

deciduous, usually fascicled on short shoots;

stipules absent;

petiole 0(–0.2) cm, not stipitate-glandular;

blade obovate-spatulate, 0.7–1.9 × 0.3–0.9 cm, unlobed (shallowly 3-lobed on active shoots), base attenuate, margins entire, apex usually rounded, sometimes emarginate, coriaceous, surfaces glabrous;

venation pinnate (palmate if lobed).

bisexual, terminal and subterminal, cymes;

peduncle 5–10 cm;

bracts 3–10 mm, margins entire, glabrous.

on short shoots, cymes or flowers solitary;

peduncle 0.4–0.6 cm;

bracts 0.4–1 mm, margins entire, glabrous.

1–3 mm.

1–4(–6.5) mm.

sepals distinct, ovate-elliptic, 4–6 × 2–3 mm, margins entire, apex acute, surfaces glabrous;

corolla greenish yellow, campanulate, petals distinct or connate 1/4 length, 6–8 × 2–3.5 mm, glabrous abaxially, tomentose adaxially;

stamens 10, ± in 2 whorls (5 + 5);

filaments of both whorl connate to top or nearly so, outer whorl 3–4.5 mm, inner whorl 3–5 mm.

sepals connate basally, ovate-lanceolate, 2.5–4 × 0.6–1 mm, margins entire, apex acute, surfaces glabrous;

corolla white, tubular-urceolate, petals connate most of length, 4–6 × 1.3–2 mm, surfaces glabrous;

stamens 10 in 2 whorls (5 + 5);

filaments of both whorls connate almost to top, outer whorl 1–2.5 mm, inner series 2.5–4 mm.

resembling staminate, but sepals connate to 1/2 length, 5–7.5 × 2–5 mm;

petals 4–5 × 2–2.5(–3) mm;

staminodes infrequent;

carpels 3;

styles connate most of length, 0.5–1.5 mm.

resembling staminate, but sepals distinct, 1.5–3 × 0.5–1 mm;

petals 4–4.5 × 1–1.5 mm;

carpel 1;

styles 0.5–1 mm.

ellipsoidal, 2.6–3 × 2.2–2.8 cm, drupaceous.

spheric, 0.9–1.1 × 0.9–1.1 cm, tardily dehiscent.

black or black mottled with white spots, ellipsoidal, 18–20 × 11–13 mm;

caruncle rudimentary.

solid dark to golden brown, spheric, 10 × 10 mm;

caruncle absent.

= 22 (Puerto Rico).

= 44 (Mexico).