Flora of North America species comparison

erect, branched at base and in inflorescence.

usually erect or spreading to ascending, sometimes decumbent or ascending from decumbent base, unbranched or branched at base, throughout, or only in inflorescence.

opposite near base or alternate throughout, appressed-ascending;

stipular glands present;

blade linear to linear-lanceolate, 8–20 × 0.5–2.1 mm, margins entire or with scattered minute marginal glands, not ciliate, apex acute; 1-nerved.

sometimes falling early, alternate or sometimes partially opposite or whorled;

stipular glands present or absent;

blade linear, linear-lanceolate, linear-oblanceolate, lanceolate, oblanceolate, elliptic, oblong, obovate, spatulate, or awl-shaped, margins glandular-toothed or entire, sometimes ciliate.

panicles, with ascending to spreading branches.

usually panicles, racemes, or cymes, rarely thyrses or corymbs.

0–3 mm.

articulated or not.

sepals persistent, lanceolate to ovate, 2.5–5 mm, margins of inner sepals narrowly scarious, conspicuously glandular-toothed, apex acute or acuminate;

petals lemon yellow, oblanceolate or narrowly obcordate, 7–11 mm;

stamens 2–8 mm;

anthers 0.5–1 mm;

staminodia present;

styles distinct, 3–6.5 mm;

stigmas capitate.

sepals persistent or deciduous, 5, connate at base, equal or unequal in size, margins scarious, entire, ciliate, or toothed, glandular or not;

petals 5, distinct or coherent at base, attached to filament cup at base, midway, or on or proximal to rim, blue, white, yellow, yellowish orange, orange, or salmon, rarely red or maroon, sometimes with darker bands near base, appendages absent or pouches formed on petal margins at base of claw;

stamens 5;

staminodes 0 or 5, as small deltate projections;

pistil 5-carpellate, ovary 5-locular, or 10-locular by intrusion of false septa;

styles 5, distinct or connate;

stigmas capitate, linear, or clavate, wider than styles.

capsules, usually 5-celled and dehiscing into 5 segments, sometimes each cell partially divided by incomplete or nearly complete false septum and dehiscing into 10 segments.

ovoid, 2–3 × 2–2.5 mm, apex sharp-pointed, dehiscing readily into 10, 1-seeded segments, segments falling freely, false septa incomplete, false and true septa margins ciliate.

1.2–1.9 × 0.7–1.1 mm.

10, lenticular.

= 13, [15, 18].

= 36.