Flora of North America species comparison

erect or decumbent, branched mostly from base, not wiry, 15–100 cm.

prostrate, much-branched from base, not wiry, 10–40 cm, papillose-scabridulous.

ocrea 4–8 mm, proximal part cylindric, distal part soon disintegrating into curly or straight fibers;

petiole 0–1.5 mm;

blade bluish green, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, 15–50 × 2–8 mm, margins flat, apex acute;

stem leaves 2.1–4 times as long as branch leaves;

distal leaves abruptly reduced and not overtopping flowers (shorter than or equaling flowers).

ocrea 1-veined, 2.5–3 mm, proximal part cylindric, distal part laciniate;

petiole 0–1 mm;

blade bluish green, narrowly elliptic or oblanceolate, 5–16 × 1–4 mm, margins flat, apex obtuse or acute, papillose-scabridulous;

stem leaves 1–1.5(–2) times longer than adjacent branch leaves, distal leaves overtopping flowers.

axillary and terminal, spikelike;

cymes aggregated at tips of stems and branches, 4–6-flowered, bracts inconspicuous.

axillary;

cymes uniformly distributed, 3–6-flowered.

enclosed in ocreae, 1–2 mm.

exserted from ocreae, 3–5 mm.

closed;

perianth 1.8–2.4 mm;

tube 10–22% of perianth length;

tepals overlapping, green or white, usually with pink, rarely red or white, margins, petaloid, not keeled, oblong to obovate, cucullate;

midveins usually unbranched;

stamens 7–8.

closed;

perianth 1–1.5 mm;

tube 12–27% of perianth length;

tepals overlapping, green with white or pink margins, petaloid, not keeled, elliptic, cucullate;

midveins unbranched, thickened;

stamens 5.

enclosed in perianth, brown, ovate, 3-gonous, 1.3–2.3 mm, faces subequal, slightly concave, apex not beaked, with concave edges, shiny, smooth; late-season achenes unknown.

enclosed in perianth, black-brown, broadly ovate, 2–3-gonous, 1.5–2 mm, faces subequal, apex not beaked, edges concave, shiny, smooth; late-season achenes common, 2–4 mm.

= 20.