Flora of North America species comparison

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

gradually ramified distally.

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

nodes glabrous.

semiprostrate to suberect, 3–8 cm.

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.

basal leaves withering at or immediately following anthesis, ± sessile or tapered to broad petiole, blade oblanceolate, ± flattened, 3–8 cm, margins entire, apex acute to obtuse;

cauline leaves absent.

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.

flowers borne singly on peduncles;

bracts 2, ovate to broadly lanceolate, 5–7 mm, margins entire, apex acute to acuminate.

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.

sessile, not disarticulate in fruit;

sepals 2, decussate with bracts, ovate, 4–9 mm, herbaceous, margins entire, not glandular, apex acute;

petals 5–9, white, sometimes with pink veins, or pinkish, obovate, 12–26 mm;

stamens 9–15;

stigmas 5–8.

dehiscence circumscissile near base, splitting from base toward apex.

6–9 mm.

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

40–50, 1.5 mm, shiny.

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

= 20.