Flora of North America species comparison

all in basal rosettes, living at anthesis, 10–25 cm;

petiole narrowly winged distally, 0.1–9 cm, shorter than blade;

blade oblong-spatulate, obovate, or elliptic, 4–16 × 1.5–6.5 cm, leathery, base gradually tapered, margins entire, apex rounded or retuse, often short-cuspidate, cusp less than 1 mm;

main lateral veins ascending, obscurely pinnate.

in basal rosettes and on inflorescence axes, leaves in rosettes dead before anthesis;

petiole 3–8 cm, ± equaling blade;

blade obovate to oblong, 3–8 × 1.5–3 cm, base tapered, margins ± entire, apex unknown, venation not seen;

leaves on inflorescence axes sessile, clasping stems, blade ± round, less than 3 cm.

axes not winged, 30–60(–100) cm × 2–3 mm, glabrous; nonflowering branchlets absent;

spikelets densely aggregated at tips of branchlets, internodes 0.5–3 mm; subtending bracts 1–5 mm, apex obtuse, surfaces and margins glabrous;

flowers 1–3 per spikelet.

axes not winged, sometimes angled, 40–80+ cm × 2–3 mm, glabrous; nonflowering branches present, especially in proximal part, slender;

spikelets densely aggregated at branch tips, internodes 1–2 mm; subtending bracts whitish, 1–2 mm, truncate, surfaces and margins glabrous;

flowers 1–2(–3) per spikelet.

calyx whitish distally, with reddish brown ribs, obconic to slightly funnelform, 3.5–5 mm, ribs usually densely pubescent;

tube ca. 3 mm;

lobes spreading at maturity, 0.5–1.5 × 1–1.5 mm;

petals blue to nearly white, not exceeding calyx.

calyx whitish distally, with reddish brown ribs, obconic, proximal 1/2 pilose between and on ribs (hairs 0.2–0.4 mm);

tube ± 1.5–2 mm;

lobes 0.5–0.7 × 0.5–0.7 mm;

petals blue to whitish, ca. 0.5 mm, exceeding tube.

2.5–3 mm.

1–2 mm.

= 18.