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, 5–25(–40) cm;

petiole often narrowly winged distally, 0.1–20 cm, usually shorter than blade;

blade usually elliptic, spatulate, or obovate to oblanceolate (rarely linear), 5–15(–30) × 0.5–5(–7.5) cm, leathery, base gradually tapered, margins usually entire, sometimes undulate, apex rounded or acute to retuse, cuspidate, cusp 1–3 mm, soon falling;

main lateral veins 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, 10–60(–95) cm × 1–5 mm, glabrous; nonflowering branchlets absent;

spikelets loosely to moderately densely aggregated along branches, internodes 0.5–10 mm; subtending bracts 2–6 mm, obtuse, surfaces and margins glabrous;

flowers solitary or 2–3(–5) 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, obconic, 4–6.5(–7.5) mm;

tube 2.5–5 mm, glabrous or densely pilose along ribs;

lobes erect, to ca. 2 × 1 mm;

petals lavender (rarely white), slightly exceeding calyx.

ca. 5 mm.

3–5.5 mm.

= 16, 18.

= 36.