Flora of North America species comparison

long- creeping.

widely creeping, sparingly branched, 1.5–2 mm diam., nodes closely set.

erect, 1–3 mm diam.

terete, 1 mm diam.

several.

several.

blade usually absent (present in var. mexicanus).

blade absent.

lateral, 3–many-flowered, loose to congested;

primary bract barely exceeding to many times longer than inflorescence.

3–10(–12)-flowered, loosely congested, 1–2 cm;

primary bract terete, nearly equaling to much longer than culm.

variously pedicellate;

bracteoles membranous;

tepals chestnut brown or paler, lanceolate, (2.5–)3.3–5.5(–6) mm, margins clear;

inner series loosely subtending capsule at maturity; usually slightly shorter, margins scarious to clear, apex acutish to obtuse;

stamens 6, filaments 0.2–1.1 mm, anthers 0.9–2.2 mm;

style 0.9–1.5 mm.

pedicellate;

bracteoles broadly ovate, tepals light brown or green, lanceolate, 2.5–4.2 mm;

inner series loosely subtending capsule at maturity, slightly shorter, margins scarious;

stamens 6, filaments 0.5–0.9 mm, anthers 0.5–0.7 mm;

style 0.2 mm.

3-locular or infrequently pseudo-3-locular, oblate to narrowly ovoid, 3.5–4(–4.5) mm, equal to or exceeding perianth.

tan, 3-locular, nearly globose, 2.5–3 × 1.8–2.1 mm, shorter than perianth.

dark amber, oblate to ellipsoid, 0.6–0.8 mm.

amber, 0.5–0.6 mm, not tailed.

= 40, 70, 80, 84.