Flora of North America species comparison

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

prostrate to ascending, brown, branched, gnarled, not wiry, 5–40 cm, glabrous.

± 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.

± uniformly distributed, articulated to ocreae, basal leaves caducous or persistent, distal leaves not reduced in size;

ocrea 3–5 mm, glabrous, proximal part cylindric, distal part membranous, deciduous with leaves;

petiole 0–0.5 mm;

blade 1-veined, without pleats, lanceolate to elliptic, 5–25 × 2–5 mm, coriaceous, margins revolute, smooth, apex acute.

axillary;

cymes in most axils, 1-flowered.

axillary;

cymes in distal axils, 2–6-flowered.

absent.

enclosed in or slightly exserted from ocreae, erect, 2–4 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.

open or semi-open;

perianth 5–9 mm;

tube 7–15% of perianth length, tepals partially overlapping, uniformly pink or white, petaloid, ovate to ovate-round, apex rounded;

midveins with numerous branched lateral veins;

stamens 8.

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

enclosed in or slightly exserted from perianth, brown, narrowly ovate, 3–4 mm, faces subequal, shiny, smooth.