Flora of North America species comparison

erect, usually profusely branched in distal 1/2, not wiry, 10–100(–200) cm.

erect to ascending, sparingly branched in distal 1/2, not wiry, 25–60 cm.

ocrea 6–12(–15) mm, proximal part cylindric, distal part silvery, soon disintegrating into persistent brown fibers;

petiole 2–4 mm;

blade variable, light yellowish green to bluish green, proximal often caducous, narrowly elliptic, lanceolate, or oblanceolate, rarely ovate, 8–70 × 4–18(–35) mm, margins flat, apex acute to acuminate or obtuse;

distal leaves, either overtopping or shorter than or equaling flowers.

ocrea 6–12 mm, proximal part cylindric, distal part soon disintegrating into brown fibers, later leaving almost no fibrous remains;

petiole 0–2 mm;

blade light green, linear-lanceolate to oblanceolate, 8–35 × 2–8 mm, margins flat, apex acute or obtuse;

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

distal leaves sharply reduced, not overtopping flowers (shorter than or equaling flowers).

axillary or axillary and terminal, spikelike;

cymes uniformly distributed or crowded toward tips of branches, 2–5-flowered.

axillary and terminal, spikelike;

cymes in distal nodes, 2–6-flowered.

enclosed in or exserted from ocreae, 1–6 mm.

exserted from ocreae, 2–4 mm.

closed;

perianth (2–)2.2–3.6(–4) mm;

tube 20–38% of perianth length;

tepals overlapping, greenish yellow with greenish yellow or yellow, rarely pink or white, margins, petaloid or sepaloid, not keeled, elliptic to oblong, cucullate;

midveins thickened or not;

stamens 3–6(–8).

semi-open;

perianth 2–3.5 mm;

tube 18–25% of perianth length;

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

midveins usually unbranched;

stamens 7–8.

enclosed in or exserted from perianth, dark brown, ovate, 3-gonous, 1.6–3.5 mm, faces subequal, concave, apex not beaked, edges straight, shiny or dull, usually smooth to roughened, sometimes uniformly or obscurely tubercled; late-season achenes common, 4–15 mm.

enclosed in perianth, brown, ovate, 3-gonous, (1.6–)1.8–2.6(–3) mm, faces subequal or unequal, apex not beaked, edges concave, shiny, smooth or roughened; late-season achenes common, 4–6 mm.