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, 1.5–14 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 after anthesis, gradually tapered to broad petiole, blade oblanceolate, spatulate, or obovate, flattened, 2.5–8.5 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.

subumbellate cymes, 1–3-branched, 3–11-flowered;

bracts several, usually an opposite pair proximally, plus 2 at each flowering node distally, ovate to elliptical, 1.8–3 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, broadly ovate, 3.5–7 mm, herbaceous at anthesis, margins glandular-toothed, apex rounded to truncate;

petals 7–10, magenta or carmine with whitish bases, veins darker, oblanceolate or obovate, 8–10 mm;

stamens 10–13;

stigmas 3–4;

pedicel 8–25 mm.

dehiscence circumscissile near base, splitting from base toward apex.

5–7 mm.

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

20, 1.5–2 mm, shiny, smooth.

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