Flora of North America species comparison

erect, branched below and just above ground, branched also proximal to inflorescences, (40–)60–250 cm.

(when present) ascending, 1–several, usually densely leafy, 0–2 cm.

in a basal rosette and cauline, basal 3–13 × 0.6–2.5 cm, blade spatulate to oblanceolate, cauline (1–)2.5–12 × 0.1–1 cm, blade linear to narrowly oblanceolate, margins slightly to conspicuously sinuate-dentate.

primarily in a basal rosette, (3.4–)6–30(–36) × (0.5–)1.5–5(–7) cm, flexible, sometimes ± fleshy;

petiole (0.2–)2–7(–10) cm;

blade oblanceolate to linear, margins usually irregularly and coarsely pinnately lobed, rarely subentire, apex acute.

slender.

4-merous, zygomorphic, opening near sunset;

floral tube 3–9 mm;

sepals 6–12 mm;

petals white, fading dark pink to red, slightly unequal, elliptic-obovate, 7–11 mm;

stamens presented in lower 1/2 of flower, filaments 3–7 mm, anthers 2.5–5 mm, pollen 90–100% fertile;

style 9.5–19 mm, stigma exserted beyond anthers at anthesis.

1–4 opening per day near sunset;

buds with free tips (1–)2–10(–12) mm;

floral tube (24–)40–200(–265) mm;

sepals (8–)11–40(–42) mm;

petals bright yellow, sometimes paler (in smaller-flowered plants), fading pale orange, drying purple, (7–)10–45(–50) mm;

filaments (5–)8–23(–26) mm, anthers (2–)3–13(–16) mm;

style (40–)50–250(–290) mm, stigma exserted beyond or surrounded by ring of anthers.

lanceoloid to narrowly ovoid, narrowly 4-winged, 7–12 × 1.5–2.5 mm, tapered to a sterile stipe 2–5 mm.

leathery in age, surface usually conspicuously reticulate, usually narrowly ovoid or ellipsoid, sometimes ovoid or lanceoloid, winged, wings narrowly oblong, (2–)3–5(–6) mm wide, confined to distal 2/3 of capsule, (10–)20–35(–43) × 4–8 mm (excluding wings), gradually constricted to a short beak, dehiscent 1/4–1/2 their length, valve surface usually conspicuously reticulate;

sessile.

(2 or)3 or 4(or 5), light brown or reddish brown, 1.5–2.5 × 0.8–1.3 mm.

asymmetrically cuneiform, 1.8–2.2(–2.6) mm.2n = 14.

= 14.