Flora of North America species comparison

commonly with nitrogen-fixing nodules.

spreading, terete, glabrous or pubescent, often gland-dotted.

blade commonly with peltate, multicellular, glandular trichomes.

blade aromatic when crushed (except M. inodora), oblanceolate, elliptic, obovate, or oblong-ovate, membranous or leathery, margins entire or serrate-denticulate, especially in distal 1/2, pubescent or glabrous, usually gland-dotted.

axillary catkins;

bracts present.

± erect, ellipsoid to short-cylindric or ovoid, appearing before or with leaves;

bracts ovate, glabrous or variously pubescent.

usually unisexual, occasionally bisexual, staminate and pistillate flowers usually on different plants, occasionally on same plants;

perianth absent.

unisexual, rarely bisexual, staminate and pistillate flowers usually on different plants, infrequently on same plants.

subtended by solitary bract;

stamens 2-14(-22), hypogynous or ± epigynous;

filaments filiform, distinct or basally connate;

anthers dorsifixed, 2-locular, extrorsely dehiscent by longitudinal slits.

stamens (2-)3-12(-22), shorter or longer than subtending bract;

filaments mostly distinct, often connate into branching staminal column, each branch terminated by anther;

rudimentary ovary occasionally present.

subtended by solitary bract, bracteoles present or absent, usually 2-4(-8);

pistils 1, 2-carpellate, 1-locular;

ovules 1, basal, erect;

styles, if present, short;

stigmas 2.

ovary subtended by 2-6 broadly ovate bracteoles, these sometimes persistent and accrescent, always shorter than fruit, sometimes completely absent;

styles short.

drupaceous or nutlike, smooth or often covered with warty protuberances, these commonly with waxy coating;

fruits sometimes enclosed by persistent, accrescent bracts and bracteoles.

globose or ovoid to lenticular, smooth or more commonly with warty protuberances, usually covered with waxy coating that dries white.

with little or no endosperm;

embryo straight, with 2 plano-convex cotyledons.

= 8.