Flora of North America species comparison

erect, branches 1–several from base, unbranched proximal to inflorescence.

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

proximal 4–10 pairs opposite, distal alternate, erect to spreading;

stipular glands absent;

blade of proximal leaves spatulate, central and distal elliptic, oblanceolate, or obovate, 15–25 × 3–7 mm, margins entire, not ciliate, apex acute to apiculate.

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.

corymbs.

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

1–10 mm.

articulated or not.

sepals persistent, lanceolate-ovate, inner shorter, broader, thinner than outer, outer sepals 2–4 mm, margins not scarious, inner sepals usually with a few small, sessile glands along margin distal to middle, rarely eglandular, outer ones entire, apex acute to acuminate;

petals yellow, obovate (sometimes notched at apex), 3–5.5 mm;

stamens 1.2–3 mm;

anthers 0.5–1 mm;

staminodia absent;

styles distinct, 1–2 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.

globose, carpels flattened or ± concave abaxially, 1.3–1.8 × 2–2.5 mm, apex depressed, dehiscing freely into 10, 1-seeded segments, segments falling freely, false septa nearly complete, proximal margins usually sparsely and inconspicuously few-ciliate.

1–1.5 × 0.6–0.9 mm.

10, lenticular.

= 13, [15, 18].

= 36.