Flora of North America species comparison

all in basal rosettes, living at anthesis, 6–16 × 1.5–3 cm;

petiole to ca. 5 cm, shorter than blade;

blade oblanceolate, 6–12 cm × 1.5–36 mm, herbaceous to chartaceous, base tapered to a sinuate wing, margins pinnately lobed to 1–3 mm from midrib (lobes mostly 4–6 per side, broadest near apex), apex cuspidate, cusp 1–3 mm, soon falling;

main lateral veins pinnate.

all in basal rosettes, living at anthesis, 10–30 × 1–6 cm;

petiole often very narrowly winged, 0.1–12 cm, usually shorter than blade;

blade spatulate to oblanceolate or obovate, 7–20 × 1–6 cm, leathery, base gradually tapered and long-decurrent, margins entire to undulate, apex obtuse or rounded, sometimes retuse, rarely cuspidate, if so, cusp less than 0.5 mm;

main lateral veins strongly ascending, obscurely pinnate.

axes narrowly 3–5-winged, 20–40(–50) cm × 3–5 mm, hispid (hairs to 1.5 mm), wings to 3 mm wide, each with ± leaflike, linear, hispid appendage 2–8 × 0.2–0.5 cm usually at branch points; nonflowering branches absent, spikelets moderately to densely aggregated at branch tips;

internodes mostly 5–10 mm; subtending bracts 5–10 mm, narrowly acuminate or often awned at tips, surfaces and margins hispid;

flowers 1–3 per spikelet.

axes not winged, 15–60 cm × 2–5 mm, glabrous; nonflowering branches absent;

spikelets moderately to densely aggregated, internodes 1–2 mm; subtending bracts 3–6 mm, apex usually acute or apiculate, surfaces and margins glabrous;

flowers 1–2 per spikelet.

calyx blue to lavender distally, funnelform, glabrous or minutely hairy on tube, lobes not distinct, expanded portion spreading, 5–7 mm, erose;

petals pale yellow, exceeding calyx 2–4 mm.

calyx whitish distally, with brownish ribs, obconic, ribs glabrous or pilose;

tube 4–6 mm;

lobes erect at maturity, triangular, ca. 1 mm;

petals lavender to whitish, only slightly exceeding calyx.

ca. 5 mm.

not seen.

= 16, 18.

= 18.