Flora of North America species comparison

taproots, gradually ramified distally or fusiform to napiform, rarely globose and cormlike, fleshy.

gradually ramified distally.

procumbent to erect, 1–3 cm.

deciduous, prostrate to erect, scapelike, simple or branched;

nodes glabrous.

basal leaves withering at or soon after anthesis, sessile, blade linear to clavate, subterete or grooved adaxially, 0.5–5 cm, margins entire, apex obtuse to subacute;

cauline leaves absent.

basal or basal and cauline;

basal leaves evergreen or ephemeral, in basal rosettes or tufts (except in L. triphylla);

cauline leaves, if present, alternate, opposite, or whorled, ± sessile or gradually or abruptly narrowed basally into broad, clasping petiole;

blade fleshy, margins entire, toothed, or crisped, often hyaline near base.

with flowers borne singly;

bracts 4–7(–8), whorled, subulate to linear-lanceolate, 4–10 mm, margins entire, apex acuminate.

racemose, paniculate, or subumbellate cymes, pedunculate, or with flowers borne singly;

bracts persistent, 2(–9) at each flowering node, subequal, margins entire, toothed, or glandular-toothed, herbaceous or scarious.

pedicellate, disarticulate in fruit;

sepals (4–)6–9, broadly elliptic to ovate, 10–25 mm, scarious after anthesis, margins entire to somewhat erose, apex obtuse to rounded;

petals 10–19, usually rose to pink, sometimes lavender, sometimes with paler or white centers, or wholly white, elliptic, oblong, or narrowly oblanceolate, 15–35 mm;

stamens 20–50;

stigmas 4–9;

pedicel (1–)3–15(–30) mm.

pedicellate or sessile, persistent or disarticulate in fruit;

sepals persistent, 2(–9), equal or subequal when paired, margins entire, toothed, or glandular-toothed, herbaceous or scarious;

petals (4–)5–10(–19), twisting about and falling away with capsules after anthesis;

stamens 1–50, distinct to scarcely connate and/or adnate to petals basally;

ovules 1–50;

style branched;

stigmas 2–8.

5–6 mm.

dehiscence circumscissile near base, splitting from base toward apex.

6–25, 2–2.5 mm, shiny, minutely papillate.

1–50, brown or black, smooth or minutely sculpted, estrophiolate.

= 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.

= 26, 28.