Flora of North America species comparison

with or without spines.

blade 2-foliolate, often with minute apiculation between leaflets;

leaflets 1.2-4 × 0.6-2.5 cm at anthesis, maturing to 6-13 × 3-7 cm, lobes rounded to acute.

alternate, opposite, or fascicled, simple, 2-3-foliolate, or 1-3-pinnately or 2-3(-4)-ternately compound;

stipules present or absent;

venation pinnate or palmate.

9-33 cm, frequently taller than petioles at anthesis.

terminal or axillary, racemes, cymes, umbels (or umbel-like), spikes, or panicles, or flowers solitary or in pairs, flowers pedicellate or sessile.

sepals elliptic to obovate, 7-15 × 4-6 mm;

petals white, elliptic to obovate, 11-22 × 9-12 mm;

stamens 6-12 mm;

filaments 2-3 mm;

anthers 4-9 × 1-1.5 mm;

ovaries 6-11 × 3-7 mm.

bisexual, inconspicuous or showy, radially symmetric; stipitate glands absent (except in Vancouveria);

sepaloid bracteoles 0-9;

perianth sometimes absent (Achlys), more frequently present, 2- or 3-merous, or sepals and petals intergrading (Nandis);

sepals 6, distinct, often petaloid and colored, not spurred;

petals 6-9, distinct, plane or hooded;

nectary present;

stamens 6;

anthers dehiscing by valves or longitudinal slits;

ovary superior, apparently 1-carpellate;

placentation marginal or appearing basal;

style present or absent, sometimes persistent in fruit as beak.

18-38 × 8-17 mm, leathery, opening transversely, apical quarter resembling lid, becoming reflexed.

follicles, berries, or utricles.

oblong, 4-7 × 2 mm;

aril laciniate, attached at adaxial side of hilum.

1-50, sometimes arillate;

endosperm abundant;

embryo large or small;

mature seeds elevated on elongating stalk in Caulophyllum.

= 12.