Flora of North America species comparison

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

gradually ramified distally or shortly fusiform, rarely subnapiform.

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

nodes glabrous.

± prostrate or suberect, becoming reflexed in fruit, 1–6 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 or gradually tapered to long petiole, blade linear to linear-oblanceolate, ± flattened, 3–9 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.

2–4(–7)-flowered in racemose cymes or with flowers borne singly;

bracts 2, opposite, plus 1 subtending each successive flower if more than 1 flower, linear-oblong, linear-lanceolate, or lanceolate, (2–)4–10 mm, margins glandular-toothed, sometimes eglandular-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, 1.5–2 cm diam.;

sepals 2, suborbiculate, broadly ovate, or obovate, 2–6 mm, herbaceous at anthesis, margins usually glandular-toothed, sometimes eglandular-toothed or rarely ± entire, apex usually truncate, sometimes rounded, obtuse, subacute, or apiculate;

petals 5–9, white, pink, or magenta, sometimes green at base, narrowly oblong, elliptic, or oblanceolate, 4–10 mm;

stamens (4–)5–8;

stigmas 3–6;

pedicel 2–5(–10) mm.

dehiscence circumscissile near base, splitting from base toward apex.

4–5 mm.

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

15–24, 1–2 mm, shiny, smooth.

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

= ca. 66.