Flora of North America species comparison

spreading to erect, sometimes zigzagged, purplish, simple or branched, wiry, (5–)10–35 cm, papillose-scabridulous.

mostly ascending or erect, branched from base, not wiry, 20–80 cm.

evenly distributed or crowded at branch tips, articulated to ocreae, basal leaves persistent, distal leaves gradually reduced to bracts;

ocrea 3–4 mm, papillose-scabridulous, proximal part funnelform, distal part finely lacerate;

petiole 0.1–2 mm;

blade 1-veined, not pleated, linear to narrowly oblong-elliptic, 8–30 × 1–4(–7) mm, margins narrowly revolute, never touching along midrib, smooth, apex acute, mucronate, ± glaucous adaxially.

ocrea 7–9 mm, proximal part cylindic, distal part disintegrating into straight fibers;

petiole 0.2–1 mm;

blade green or bluish green, linear to lanceolate, 25–40 × 4–8 mm, margins flat, apex acute;

stem leaves 2–4 times as long as branch leaves;

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

axillary and terminal, spikelike, dense;

cymes mostly congested toward tips of branches, 2–3-flowered.

axillary and terminal, spikelike;

cymes aggregated at tips of stems and branches, 1–3-flowered.

enclosed in ocreae, erect to spreading, 2–3 mm.

enclosed in ocreae, 1.5–2 mm.

semi-open or closed;

perianth 1.8–2.4 mm;

tube 25–33% of perianth length;

tepals overlapping, greenish, white, or pink with pink margins, petaloid, oblong, cucullate, navicular in distal 1/4, apex rounded;

midveins unbranched;

stamens 8.

closed or semi-open;

perianth 2.2–3 mm;

tube 15–30% of perianth length;

tepals overlapping, green with white to pink margins, petaloid, not keeled, oblong, cucullate;

veins branched;

stamens 8.

enclosed in perianth, black, elliptic to ovate, 1.8–2.3 mm, faces subequal, shiny, smooth.

slightly exserted from perianth, light brown to dark brown, ovate, 3-gonous, 2–2.3(–2.8) mm, faces subequal, concave, apex not beaked, edges concave, dull, striate-tubercled; late-season achenes uncommon, 2.5–4 mm.