Flora of North America species comparison

15–40 cm.

erect, unbranched scapelike.

basal in rosettes;

petiole 1–12 cm;

blade (of larger leaves) ovate-orbiculate to elliptic-ovate, 15–60 × 7–50 mm, base cuneate, rounded, or weakly cordate, apex rounded;

cauline usually on middle to distal 1/2 of stem, rarely absent.

basal in rosettes or 1–2 per node on rhizomes (P. caroliniana) and cauline (0–)1[–8], alternate;

stipules absent;

petiole present in basal leaves, usually absent in cauline leaf;

blade margins entire;

venation palmate.

terminal, flowers solitary.

sepals reflexed in fruit, elliptic or oblong-lanceolate to ovate, 4–7 mm, margins sometimes scarious, to 0.1 mm wide, usually entire, rarely minutely denticulate distally, apex rounded;

petals 5–7-veined, oblanceolate to obovate or elliptic, 8–15 × 3.3–9.8 mm, length 2 times sepals, base cuneate, margins fimbriate proximally;

stamens 6–9 mm;

anthers 1.5–2.2 mm;

staminodes scalelike proximally, distally divided into 5–15 gland-tipped filaments, 3.5–6 mm, shorter than stamens, apical glands globose, 0.2–0.4 mm;

ovary green.

bisexual, radially symmetric or ± asymmetric;

perianth and androecium hypogynous or perigynous;

hypanthium absent or completely adnate to ovary;

sepals 5, connate proximally;

petals 5, white [yellowish] with distinct yellowish or greenish or gray-brown veins, 3–22 mm, usually longer than sepals;

nectary absent;

stamens 5;

staminodes 5, opposite petals, usually deeply divided, sometimes undivided, gland-tipped or glandular at apex [without glands];

pistil [3–]4[–5]-carpellate;

ovary superior to 1/2 inferior, 1-locular, placentation parietal;

style absent or essentially so;

stigmas [3–]4[–5];

ovules 100–2000+.

capsules, 1-locular, [3–]4[–5]-valved, ellipsoid to globose, apex not beaked.

10 mm.

100–2000+ per fruit, oblong, winged;

aril absent.

= 9.