Flora of North America species comparison

erect, unbranched or few-branched at base (all flowering).

ascending or erect, usually unbranched.

divergent;

blade linear to linear-lanceolate, 10–40 × 1.5–5 mm.

blade linear or linear-lanceolate, 5–20 × 1–3 mm.

open panicles.

much-branched panicles.

erect in fruit, to 20–25 mm.

spreading, 5–25 mm.

homostylous;

sepals ovate, 6–9 mm, margins of inner sepals minutely ciliate, outer ciliate, apex acuminate;

petals usually blue, rarely white, obovate, 10–15 mm;

stamens 5–7 mm;

anthers 1–1.5 mm;

staminodia present;

styles distinct or connate at base, 3–6 mm;

stigmas linear or clavate.

heterostylous;

inner sepals ovate-lanceolate or ovate, 4.5–5.5 mm, margins glabrous, apex obtuse, outer ones lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 3.5–4.5 mm, narrower than inner ones, margins glabrous, apex acute or acuminate;

petals blue, obovate or obovate-lanceolate, 10–25 mm;

stamens 5 mm, anthers 2 mm (long-styled morph) or stamens 6.5 mm, anthers 1.8 mm (short-styled morph);

styles distinct, 8 mm (long-styled morph) or 2.5 mm (short-styled morph);

stigmas capitate.

ovoid to subglobose, 6–10 × 5–10 mm, apex rounded, dehiscing incompletely, segments falling freely, margins ciliate or not.

subglobose, 5–7 mm diam., apex acute to obtuse, segments persistent on plant, margins ciliate or not.

4–6 × 2.5–3 mm.

3–4.2 × 1.7–2 mm.

= 30.

= 18.