Flora of North America species comparison

ascending to erect, 1–several from base, these unbranched to well-branched, 10–60 cm.

erect, branched or unbranched, 30–300 cm.

in a weakly developed basal rosette and cauline, 2–7 × 0.2–1.5 cm, axillary fascicles of reduced leaves often present;

blade oblanceolate to oblong, margins usually pinnatifid, sometimes proximal ones coarsely few-toothed.

in a basal rosette and cauline, basal 3–7 × 0.5–2 cm, sessile, blade oblong to oblong-lanceolate, base usually ± auriculate, margins entire;

cauline 3–8(–10) × 0.4–1.8 cm, blade lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, gradually smaller, becoming linear-subulate distally.

long, wandlike, unbranched or branched.

1–3 opening per day near sunset;

buds nodding, weakly quadrangular, without free tips;

floral tube 10–25 mm, mouth conspicuously pubescent, closed with straight, white hairs, 1–2 mm;

sepals 10–20 mm;

petals white, fading pink, ovate or shallowly obcordate, 10–15(–20) mm;

filaments 10–15 mm, anthers 4–7 mm;

style 17–42 mm, stigma exserted beyond anthers at anthesis.

4-merous, nearly actinomorphic, opening near sunrise;

floral tube 6–17 mm;

sepals 4–6 mm;

petals white, fading off-white or tinged pink, slightly unequal, rhombic, 4–6 mm, abruptly clawed;

filaments 5–8 mm, anthers 1.5–2 mm, pollen 85–100% fertile;

style 6–10, stigma exserted beyond anthers at anthesis.

ascending to erect, straight, fusiform, weakly 4-angled, 10–20 × 3–5 mm, dehiscent 1/2 their length;

sessile.

ovoid, 4-angled, somewhat flattened, 3–4 × 1.5–2.3 mm, valves with raised midrib and conspicuous lateral veins;

sessile.

in 2 rows per locule, ellipsoid to subglobose, 1.5–2 × 1.2–1.5 mm, surface regularly pitted, pits in longitudinal lines.

1, pale yellow, oblanceoloid, 2.4–2.6 × 1–1.5 mm.

= 14, 28.

= 14.