Flora of North America species comparison

unbranched or branched primarily distally, 25–70 cm.

ascending or decumbent, usually branched from near base, sometimes new rosettes forming at branch apex when buried in drifting sand, 10–60 cm.

in a basal rosette and cauline, basal 6–12 × 0.7–2 cm, cauline 2–10 ×0.5–3 cm;

subsessile;

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

bracts shorter than capsule they subtend, 0.5–1.7 cm.

in a basal rosette and cauline, rosette sometimes weakly developed or absent, at least during flowering, 1–13 × 0.5–2 cm;

petiole 0–2(–4.5) cm;

blade oblong to oblanceolate or spatulate, sometimes rhombic-ovate, margins entire or weakly to conspicuously dentate or pinnatifid.

open, lax, usually unbranched, mature buds usually overtopping spike apex.

1–few per spike opening per day near sunset;

buds erect, with free tips erect, 1–3 mm;

floral tube nearly straight, 20–40 mm;

sepals 15–25 mm;

petals yellow, broadly elliptic to rhombic-ovate, 20–30 mm;

filaments 17–22 mm, anthers 4–7 mm, pollen 85–100% fertile;

style 50–65 mm, stigma usually exserted beyond anthers at anthesis.

1–several opening per day near sunset;

buds nodding, weakly quadrangular, with free tips 0–0.8 mm;

floral tube 20–40 mm;

sepals 15–30 mm, not spotted;

petals white, fading pink to deep pink, broadly obcordate, 15–35(–40) mm;

filaments 10–17 mm, anthers 5–10 mm;

style 30–60 mm, stigma exserted beyond anthers at anthesis.

narrowly lanceoloid, 15–33 × 2–3 mm.

spreading to ascending, woody in age, often curved upward, cylindrical, obtusely 4-angled, tapering slightly from base to apex, 20–80 × 2–3.5 mm;

sessile.

dark brown, ellipsoid, 1–1.4 ×0.4–0.6 mm.

numerous, in 1 row per locule, olive-brown or yellowish brown to black, sometimes with minute purple dots, obovoid, 1–2.5 mm.

= 14.