Flora of North America species comparison

erect, green-brown, simple or branched from base, not wiry, 2–5(–8) cm, glabrous.

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

± uniformly distributed, dense, not articulated to ocreae, basal leaves ± persistent, distal leaves gradually reduced to bracts;

ocrea 2–4(–5) mm, glabrous, proximal part cylindric, distal part deeply lacerate, disintegrating into white, curled fibers;

petiole absent;

blade 3-veined, without pleats, linear-lanceolate, subulate, 5–13(–20) × 0.4–1 mm, margins revolute, smooth, apex spine-tipped.

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;

cymes in most axils, 1-flowered.

axillary;

cymes uniformly distributed, 3–6-flowered.

absent.

exserted from ocreae, 3–5 mm.

closed;

perianth 1.5–2(–2.5) mm;

tube 6–15% of perianth length;

tepals overlapping, usually reddish with white margins, petaloid, oblong, navicular, apex acute;

midveins unbranched;

stamens 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.

slightly exserted from perianth at maturity, dark brown, ovate, 1.2–1.6(–2) mm, faces subequal, shiny, smooth.

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.