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.

spreading to suberect, 1.5–2 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 narrowly oblanceolate, somewhat flattened, 1–2 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.

racemose cymes, 2–3-flowered, sometimes with flowers borne singly;

bracts 5, proximalmost 3 in whorl, distalmost 2 opposite, subtending 2d (and 3d) flowers, oblong to oblong-obovate, 3–5 mm, apex obtuse.

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, disarticulate in fruit;

sepals 3–4, white to pinkish, 8–12 mm, scarious at anthesis, margins entire, apex obtuse;

petals 7–9, white to pinkish, oblanceloate, 8–12 mm;

stamens 7–9;

stigmas 4–6;

pedicel 3–9 mm.

dehiscence circumscissile near base, splitting from base toward apex.

7–10 mm.

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

5–10, 1.5–2.5 mm, smooth.

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