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.

erect, 0.5–3 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 soon after anthesis, sessile, blade linear to slightly clavate, terete, 0.8–2 cm, margins entire, apex 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.

with flowers borne singly;

bracts 2–4, proximal in 1 pair, ovate to lanceolate, 2–3 mm, margins entire, 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.

sessile to subsessile, disarticulate in fruit;

sepals 2, broadly obovate to broadly ovate, 7–8 mm, scarious at anthesis, margins entire, apex rounded or sometimes emarginate;

petals 5–8, pale rose-pink, oblanceolate to broadly obovate, 13–18 mm, apex obtuse;

stamens 1–15;

stigmas 4.

dehiscence circumscissile near base, splitting from base toward apex.

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

11–15, 2.8–3.5 mm.

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