Flora of North America species comparison

ascending or, rarely, erect, usually producing axillary shoots near base, (10–)15–30(–40) cm.

branched from base or near base, occasionally simple, slender, 5–50 cm.

blades ovate-elliptic, obovate-elliptic, or ovate-lanceolate, (2–)4–12(–15) × 1–5(–6) cm, subcoriaceous, base narrowly to broadly cuneate, margins entire, flat or slightly undulate, apex acute or acuminate.

ocrea deciduous or partially persistent;

blade spatulate, lanceolate, or ovate-lanceolate, 1–5(–8) × (0.5–)1–2.5 cm, base cuneate, rarely rounded, margins normally entire, flat, apex obtuse.

terminal and axillary, usually occupying distal 2/3 of stem/shoot, usually dense, or interrupted in proximal part, broadly paniculate.

terminal, simple, racemose, occupying most of stem, interrupted, linear.

articulated near middle, filiform or slightly thickened, (8–)10–16 mm, articulation distinct, slightly swollen.

usually distinctly heteromorphic (much thickened distally), 4–7(–10) mm;

others less than 4 mm.

5–15 in whorls;

inner tepals distinctly double-reticulately veined, orbiculate or reniform-orbiculate, 13–18(–20) × (20–)23–30 mm, base deeply emarginate or cordate, margins entire, apex rounded, obtuse, rarely subacute, with short, broadly triangular tip;

tubercles absent, occasionally very small.

2–3(–4) in lax clusters (reduced whorls);

inner tepals variable, often heteromorphic, triangular, narrowly triangular, ligulate, or ovate-oblong, (1.5–)2–4(–5) × (0.5–)1–3 mm (excluding teeth), base truncate, margins usually dentate, sometimes entire, apex obtuse or acute, usually not hooked, teeth 2–4(–8), at each side of margins, slender, straight or hooked, 0.3–1 mm;

tubercles absent, or 3, usually represented by minute swellings barely recognizable as tubercles.

brown or dark brown, 5–7 × 4–6 mm.

brown to dark brown, 1.3–2.3 × 0.7–1.4 mm.

= 40.

= 16.