Flora of North America species comparison

solitary or several from base, erect or ascending, branched in distal 2/3 (in inflorescence), 10–40(–45) cm.

blade obovate-oblong, ovate-lanceolate, oblong-lanceolate, or lanceolate; 2–6(–10) × 0.5–2 cm, base hastate (with spreading lobes), auriculate, or occasionally without evident lobes, margins entire, flat, apex obtuse or subacute.

blades in most species sagittate at base, with lobes directed downward, sometimes hastate, cuneate, or rarely almost cordate.

terminal, occupying distal 2/3 of stem, usually lax and interrupted, narrowly paniculate.

articulated in proximal part, filiform, 1.5–2.5(–3) mm, articulation indistinct or slightly swollen.

with articulation near middle or in proximal part.

3–6(–8) in whorls;

inner tepals orbiculate or broadly ovate, 2.5–3.2 × 2.7–3.2 mm, base broadly cordate or rounded, apex obtuse or subacute;

tubercles absent or some inner tepals with slightly swollen central veins.

normally unisexual, staminate and pistillate on different plants;

outer tepals normally reflexed towards pedicel, or sometimes spreading;

inner tepals distinctly enlarged, normally longer than (2.5–)3 mm, always distinctly wider and longer than achene, margins entire;

tubercles absent or small and indistinct, recurved, developed only at base of inner tepals.

brown or dark brown, 0.9–1.2 × 0.6–0.8 mm.

= 8 (pistillate plants), 9 (staminate plants), 10 (both sexes).