Flora of North America species comparison

fusiform, somewhat thickened, often fascicled.

erect, subterete or slightly ridged, well branched distally, 45–100 cm, glabrous, with raisedlines decurrent from leaf axils.

subterete to angled, with raised lines or narrow wings decurrent from leaf axils, (30–)50–120 cm, well branched in distal 1/2, densely erect-hirsute to sometimes glabrous.

alternate;

stipules ovate to very broadly ovate, 0.2–0.5 ×0.1–0.3 mm, succulent;

stolons: petiole winged, 0.2–1 cm, blade orbiculate or elliptic to broadly elliptic, 0.5–2.7 × 0.6–1.2 cm, base attenuate, apex rounded to acute;

main stem: petiole winged, 0.1–0.5 cm, blade elliptic, oblanceolate, or narrowly oblanceolate to sublinear, 2–7.5 × 0.2–0.8(–1.4) cm, base narrowly cuneate, sometimes attenuate, margins entire with minute hydathodal glands, apex acute to narrowly acute, leaves on side branches much reduced;

bracts sublinear, moderately reduced.

stipules narrowly deltate, 0.05–0.15 × 0.05–0.1 mm;

sessile;

blade closely appressed to stem, lanceolate to ovate-oblong, 1.4–5.5 × 0.4–1.2 cm, base attenuate, margins entire, apex acute to rounded, surfaces glabrous or densely erect-hirsute;

bracts usually very reduced, sublinear.

open spikes, flowers solitary in distal leaf axils;

bracteoles attached in opposite pairs at or slightly distal to base of ovary, ovate-elliptic to very narrowly elliptic, 1.5–4.3 × 0.4–1.4 mm, often with a swollen base, margins minutely papillose, apex subacute.

leafy racemes, flowers solitary in leaf axils;

bracteoles attached in subopposite pairs just proximal to ovary base, lanceolate-linear, 2.5–7 × 0.5–1.5 mm, margins entire, apex acute, surfaces hirtellous.

sepals ascending, pale green, broadly ovate-deltate, 1.5–2.5 × 1.8–3.3 mm, margins minutely papillose, apex usually acute, rarely acuminate, surfaces glabrous;

petals 0;

filaments nearly translucent, 1–1.4 mm, base dilated, anthers 0.4–0.6(–0.8) × 0.5–0.6 mm;

pollen shed in tetrads;

ovary broadly obovoid or cup-shaped, 2.5–3.5 × 2.2–3.2 mm;

nectary disc elevated 0.4–0.6 mm on ovary apex, yellowish green, 1.8–2.6 mm diam., 4-lobed, glabrous;

style yellowish green, 0.5–0.7 mm, glabrous, stigma yellowish green, broadly capitate to subglobose, 0.3–0.5 × 0.7–1 mm, not exserted beyond anthers.

sepals narrowly ovate-deltate, (5.4–)6–12 × 2.2–4.5(–5) mm, margins entire, apex acute, surfaces hirtellous or, sometimes, glabrous;

petals cordate, 12–14 × 13–14 mm, base attenuate, apex emarginate;

filaments opaque white, awl-shaped, 2–5.5 mm, anthers 1.4–2.6 × 0.4–0.8 mm;

ovary subcuboid or globose, 3–4 × 3–4 mm;

nectary disc elevated, domed, 1–1.4 mm diam., prominently 4-lobed, ringed with stiff, spreading hairs or glabrous;

style 1.3–4.5(–5.5) mm, glabrous, stigma capitate to hemispherical, 0.9–1.5 × 0.9–2(–2.5) mm, often shallowly 4-lobed, as long as stamens, sometimes exserted beyond them.

obpyramidal, sharply 4-angled and 4-winged, wings 0.3–0.7mm wide, 3.5–5 × 2.5–4.5 mm, hard-walled, dehiscent by apical ring, pedicel 0.1–0.5 mm.

subcuboid to squarish globose, 4–6 × 4–5 mm, 4-angled, often also 4-winged, wings 0.3–1.1 mm wide, pedicel 3–10 mm.

light brown, narrowly oblong with constricted ends, 0.6–0.8 ×0.2–0.3 mm, surface cells nearly isodiametric.

light brown, oblong to reniform, 0.6–0.7 × 0.3–0.4 mm, surface cells elongate transversely to seed length.

= 32.

= 16.