Flora of North America species comparison

herbaceous, rhizomelike.

ascending to erect, (9–)20–60 cm, glabrous or ± scabrous, especially distally.

ascending, 4–9 cm, puberulent to glandular-pubescent, sometimes glabrate proximally, not glaucous.

basal and cauline, glabrous, sometimes scabrous;

basal and proximal cauline (14–)30–95 × 4–15(–24) mm, blade oblanceolate to elliptic, base tapered, apex obtuse to acute or mucronate;

cauline (2 or)3–6(or 7) pairs, sessile, 18–60(–85) × (4–)8–28 mm, blade ovate to lanceolate, base tapered to cordate-clasping, apex acute to acuminate.

cauline, leathery, glabrous, glaucous;

cauline 1 or 2, sessile or short-petiolate, 7–28(–32) × 3–12 mm, blade obovate to oblanceolate or elliptic, base tapered, with a white band 0.2 mm wide, apex rounded to obtuse or acute.

continuous or interrupted, cylindric, 6–25(–30) cm, axis glabrous, rarely scabrous or glutinous, verticillasters (5–)7–15, cymes (2–)4–8(–12)-flowered;

proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, 14–60 × 9–30 mm, margins entire, apex obtuse to acuminate or caudate;

peduncles and pedicels glabrous or scabrous, sometimes also glutinous, peduncles to 4 mm.

continuous, ± secund, 1–7 cm, axis puberulent to glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 2–6, cymes 1- or 2(or 3)-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts obovate to oblanceolate, 14–32 × 8–14 mm;

peduncles and pedicels puberulent to glandular-pubescent.

calyx lobes lanceolate, (3.2–)4.5–10 × 1.2–3.2(–3.8) mm, margins entire or erose, herbaceous or narrowly scarious, glabrous or scabrous proximally and, sometimes, along margins, sometimes also glutinous;

corolla blue to violet or purple, with reddish purple nectar guides, tubular-funnelform, 11–20 mm, glabrous externally, glabrous internally, tube 5–9 mm, throat gradually inflated, 4–6 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens included or longer pair reaching orifice to slightly exserted, pollen sacs opposite, navicular, 0.7–1.3(–1.5) mm, sutures papillate;

staminode 6–12 mm, reaching orifice, 0.6–1 mm diam., tip recurved, distal 1.5–3.5 mm densely pilose, hairs golden yellow, to 0.6 mm, hairs on proximal part of staminode mostly along margins;

style 8–15 mm.

calyx lobes lanceolate, 5.5–7 × 1.5–2.2 mm, glabrous;

corolla white to lavender, without nectar guides, funnelform to weakly ventricose, (14–)17–20 mm, glabrous externally, glabrous internally, tube 6–7 mm, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, 6–8 mm diam., slightly 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs divergent, navicular, 0.9–1.4 mm, dehiscing incompletely, proximal 1/5–1/4 indehiscent, connective not splitting, sides sparsely hispid, hairs white, to 0.4 mm, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm;

staminode 9–10 mm, included or slightly exserted, 0.5–0.6 mm diam., tip straight, 7–9 mm sparsely pilose, hairs yellow, to 1 mm;

style 9–11 mm.

7–13 × 4–7 mm.

3.5–7.5 × 2.5–5 mm.