Flora of North America species comparison

erect, branched or unbranched, 30–300 cm.

decumbent, usually branched, 10–30 cm, becoming woody and buried in sand.

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.

(6–)8–9(–14.2) × (0.7–)1.5–2(–3.1) cm;

petiole 3–9 cm;

blade narrowly oblanceolate to oblanceolate, margins usually subentire or repand or remotely dentate, rarely serrate, apex acute.

long, wandlike, unbranched or branched.

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.

1–3 per stem opening per day near sunset, with sweet scent;

buds erect;

floral tube 42–60 mm;

sepals 22–28 mm;

petals white, fading rose pink to rose, 23–40 mm;

filaments 17–19 mm, anthers 13–16 mm;

style 60–72(–88) mm, stigma exserted beyond anthers at anthesis.

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

sessile.

somewhat curved and often somewhat twisted, lanceoloid-cylindrical, nearly cylindrical, (20–)30–47 × 7–8 mm, gradually tapering to apex, 6–8 mm, dehiscent nearly throughout their length, valve margins with a conspicuous, irregular, wavy ridge;

pedicel 1–5 mm.

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

numerous, in 2 distinct rows per locule, narrowly obovoid, 2.5–3 × 1.2–1.4 mm, embryo 7/8 of seed volume, surface finely reticulate;

seed collar with a broad membrane sealing cavity, margin entire.

= 14.

= 14.