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.

procumbent to suberect, 10–50(–60) 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 evergreen, sessile or abruptly or gradually narrowing to broad petiole, blade narrowly obovate to spatulate, flattened, (2–)2.5–8(–14) cm, margins finely toothed to coarsely triangular-toothed, apex truncate, emarginate, retuse, or rounded;

cauline leaves absent, or alternate or in suprabasal rosettes, similar to but smaller than basal leaves and intergrading with bracts, 3–12 mm.

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.

loosely paniculate cymes, 30–100-flowered;

bracts several, alternate or opposite proximally, 2 at each flowering node distally, ovate, obovate, or elliptic, 1–4 mm, margins glandular-toothed, apex acute.

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.

pedicellate, not disarticulate in fruit;

sepals 2, suborbiculate to broadly elliptic, 2–3 mm, herbaceous at anthesis, margins glandular-toothed, rarely eglandular, apex rounded to truncate;

petals 5–7, white to pale pink, veins darker pink, elliptic, elliptic-ovate to elliptic-obovate, 5–9 mm;

stamens 5–6;

stigmas 3;

pedicel 0.3–8 mm.

dehiscence circumscissile near base, splitting from base toward apex.

3 mm.

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

1–3, 1.2–1.5 mm, shiny, ± smooth.

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

= 28.