Flora of North America species comparison

(when present), usually ascending or decumbent, unbranched or branched from near base, 0–40 cm.

unbranched or branched mainly in distal part, 25–70 cm.

1.7–26(–36) × (0.3–)0.5–4.5(–6.5) cm;

petiole (0.2–)1.7–11(–14) cm;

blade usually oblanceolate to rhombic or spatulate, rarely elliptic, obovate, lanceolate, or linear-oblanceolate, margins irregularly sinuate-dentate, serrate, pinnatifid, lobed, or subentire, apex usually acute to rounded, rarely acuminate.

in a basal rosette and cauline, basal 7–15 × 1–2.5 cm, cauline 3–13 ×0.4–2.3 cm;

blade narrowly oblanceolate to oblanceolate, gradually narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate or elliptic distally, margins deeply lobed to remotely dentate or subentire;

bracts longer than capsule they subtend, 1–3 cm.

dense, often with several lateral branches, mature buds usually overtopping spike apex.

1–4(–6) per stem opening per day near sunset, with moderate to strong sweet scent with a rubbery background scent;

buds usually erect, rarely recurved (during early development);

floral tube (20–)40–140(–165) mm;

sepals (15–)18–45(–54) mm;

petals white, fading rose or rose pink to dark or deep rose purple, or pink to pale or light rose, or lavender, obovate or obcordate, (16–)20–50(–60) mm;

filaments (6–)10–30(–35) mm, anthers (6–)9–17(–20) mm;

style (45–)60–180(–185) mm, stigma exserted beyond anthers at anthesis.

2–several per spike opening per day near sunset;

buds erect, with free tips erect or spreading, 1–6 mm;

floral tube nearly straight, 25–47 mm;

sepals 15–30 mm;

petals yellow, broadly elliptic to nearly rhombic, 18–35 mm;

filaments 15–30 mm, anthers 3–8 mm, pollen 85–100% fertile;

style 45–75 mm, stigma usually exserted beyond anthers at anthesis.

straight, curved, falcate, or sigmoid, usually cylindrical to lanceoloid or ellipsoid, sometimes ovoid, usually obtusely 4-angled, (10–)13–50(–68) × 4–9 mm, tapering to a sterile beak 6–8 mm, valve margins with rows of distinct tubercles to sinuate or nearly smooth ridges, dehiscent 1/3–7/8 their length;

pedicel (0–)1–40(–55) mm.

lanceoloid, 13–25 × 2.5–4 mm.

numerous in 1 or 2 rows per locule, usually obovoid, oblong, or triangular, rarely suborbicular, 2.1–3.9 × 1–2.6 mm, embryo 1/5–2/3 of seed volume, surface papillose, reticulate or rarely irregularly roughened;

seed collar sealed by a thin membrane, this flat or depressed into raphial cavity, when depressed often splitting, becoming separated from seed collar.

brown, often flecked with darker spots, ellipsoid to broadly ellipsoid, 1.1–1.8 × 0.4–0.8 mm.

= 14, 28.