Flora of North America species comparison

fusiform, somewhat thickened, often fascicled.

erect, ascending, decumbent, or prostrate, slightly ridged, well branched, 10–60(–75) cm, glabrous, with raised lines 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 or proximal pairs opposite;

stipules narrowly ovate-deltate, 0.1–0.3 × 0.1–0.2 mm, succulent;

petiole winged, 0.2–1 cm, blade spatulate or oblanceolate to very narrowly oblanceolate or sublinear, 0.6–1.5(–2) × (0.1–)0.3–0.7(–1.1) cm, base attenuate, margins subentire with hydathodal glands, apex acute or mucronate;

bracts not much 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, leafy spikes or racemes, flowers solitary in leaf axils;

bracteoles attached in opposite pairs near base of ovary, lanceolate-elliptic, 0.9–1.5(–2.5) × 0.4–0.9 mm, swollen at base, apex acuminate.

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, creamy white near base adaxially, ovate-deltate, 1.2–1.8 × 1–2 mm, margins entire, apex narrowly acute or acuminate, surfaces glabrous;

petals 0 or very rare;

filaments nearly translucent, 0.5–0.8 mm, anthers 0.2–0.4 × 0.3–0.4 mm;

pollen shed singly;

ovary obconic, subterete or scarcely 4-angled, 1.2–1.8 × 1.2–2 mm;

nectary disc elevated 0.3–0.4 mm on ovary apex, green, 0.9–1.3 mm diam., distinctly 4-lobed, glabrous;

style pale green, 0.4–0.6 mm, stigma pale yellow, subglobose, 0.2–0.3 × 0.2–0.3 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.

obconic, obscurely 4-angled, 1.5–2.5 × 1.5–3 mm, hard-walled, dehiscent by loculicidal slits, pedicel 0–0.4 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 or brown, ellipsoid, 0.5–0.6 × 0.3–0.4 mm, surface cells transversely elongate, glabrous, occasionally covered by minute waxy hairs.

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

= 48.

= 16.