Flora of North America species comparison

prostrate to erect, dichotomously branched, 3–20 cm, retrorsely to spreading- pubescent throughout.

prostrate, sprawling-spreading, much-branched, 10–35 cm, short-pubescent.

stipules ovate-lanceolate, 0.5–7 mm, apex acuminate, entire;

blade elliptic to oblong or ovate, or basal ones spatulate, 2–18 × 1–6 mm, herbaceous to leathery, apex mucronate to short-spine-tipped, moderately antrorsely pubescent.

stipules ovate, 3–7.5 mm, apex acuminate, entire;

blade oblanceolate to spatulate, 5–18 × 1.5–3.5 mm, leathery, apex obtuse to very short-cuspidate, densely appressed-pubescent.

diffuse, flowers solitary (paired) in axils of leafy bracts.

5-merous, broadly ovoid, with enlarged hypanthium and calyx tapering distally, 2–2.3 mm, glabrous to strigose;

sepals brownish to yellowish, veins absent, subulate to lanceolate, 1–1.7 mm, leathery to rigid, margins whitish, 0.03–0.1 mm wide, papery, apex terminated by awn, hood obscure, small flange, awn straight to slightly divergent, yellow, 0.3–0.4 mm, scabrous to antrorsely strigose, spinose;

staminodes narrowly triangular, 0.2–0.3 mm;

style 1, cleft in distal 1/8, 0.7–0.9 mm.

5-merous, ± extended-urceolate, with enlarged hypanthium and calyx constricted proximally, flaring distally, 1.8–2 mm, pubescent with short, hooked hairs proximally;

sepals red-brown, often finely striped or mottled, veins absent, spatulate-obovate to suboblong, 0.8–1.3 mm, leathery to rigid, margins white, 0.1–0.2 mm wide, papery, apex terminated by awn, broadly rounded, awn divergent, 0.3–0.4 mm, broadly conic in proximal 1/3–1/2 with white, scabrous spine;

staminodes filiform, 0.5–0.6 mm;

style 1, 0.7–0.8 mm, cleft in distal 1/5.

ellipsoid to subglobose, 0.5–0.8 mm, essentially smooth, glabrous.

globose, 0.8–1 mm, smooth, glabrous.

terminal and subterminal, occasionally axillary, 3–7-flowered, congested, clusters 3–8 mm wide.