Flora of North America species comparison

1–many, weakly decumbent to ascending or erect, unbranched to moderately branched, (10–)25–80 cm.

ascending to erect, stout, unbranched or with lateral stems from basal rosette, densely leafy, 15–30 cm.

1–9 × (0.1–)0.3–1 cm, sometimes fascicles of small leaves to 2 cm present in non-flowering axils;

petiole 0–0.6 cm;

blade linear to narrowly lanceolate or oblanceolate, often folded lengthwise, usually not much reduced distally, proximalmost leaves sometimes spatulate, base attenuate, margins subentire or serrulate or spinulose-serrate, apex acute.

10–14(–14.5) × 1.5–2.3(–3) cm;

petiole 4.3–6.6 cm;

blade narrowly oblanceolate, margins irregularly and coarsely dentate, apex acute.

opening at sunrise;

buds with free tips 0–4 mm;

floral tube 5–20 mm;

sepals 4–12 mm, midribs keeled;

petals yellow, fading orangish to purplish, 6–25 mm; antisepalous filaments 2–8 mm, antipetalous filaments 1–4 mm, anthers 2–7 mm, pollen 90–100% fertile;

style 9–30 mm, stigma sometimes blue-black, discoid to quadrangular, exserted beyond anthers.

usually 5–10 per stem opening per day near sunset, with heavy, sweet scent;

buds erect;

floral tube 31–60 mm;

sepals 17–26 mm;

petals white, fading pale pink, 20–26 mm;

filaments 11–16 mm, anthers 8–11 mm;

style 65–96 mm, stigma exserted beyond anthers at anthesis.

10–35 × 1–2 mm, hard, dehiscent 1/2 their length, often tardily dehiscent throughout their length.

straight, lanceoloid, obtusely 4-angled, (21–)25–30(–35) × (5–)6–8 mm, tapering to a sterile beak 6–8 mm, dehiscent 1/2–2/3 their length, valve margins with 5–8 conspicuous, irregular tubercles, sometimes 2 or more coalesced into a sinuate ridge, also with conspicuous medial ridge throughout;

pedicel 0.5–1 mm.

obovoid, 1–1.8 mm, sharply angled, apex truncate.

numerous, usually in 2 distinct rows per locule, sometimes rows partially overlapping, narrowly obovoid, 2.1–2.3 × 1–1.3 mm, embryo slightly less than 1/2 seed volume, surface appearing finely striate but papillose under magnification;

seed collar with membrane intact at maturity, membrane rarely splitting and separating from collar, margin entire.

= 14.