Flora of North America species comparison

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

erect, often flexuous in distal part, branched in distal 2/3, occasionally almost from base, 20–60(–70) 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 at maturity;

blade oblong to ovate-oblong, sometimes broadly lanceolate or panduriform, contracted near middle or proximally, 4–10(–15) × (2–)3–5 cm, less than 4 times as long as wide, base normally truncate or weakly cordate, occasionally rounded, margins entire, flat or undulate, rarely slightly crisped, apex obtuse or subacute.

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

terminal, occupying distal 2/3 of stem or more, usually lax and interrupted, broadly paniculate, branches usually divaricately spreading, forming angle of 60–90° with 1st-order stem.

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

articulated in proximal 1/3 or occasionally near middle, thickened, not filiform, 2–5(–6) mm, articulation distinctly swollen.

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.

10–20 in rather dense whorls;

inner tepals ovate-triangular, deltoid, or oblong-deltoid, 3–6 × 2–3 mm (excluding teeth), normally ca. 1.5 times as long as wide, base truncate, margins usually distinctly dentate, rarely subentire, apex obtuse to subacute, straight, teeth 2–5(–9), normally on margins at each side, narrowly triangular, 0.3–2.5 mm, longer or shorter than width of inner tepals;

tubercles (1–)3, equal or unequal, usually verrucose (warty).

brown or dark brown, 5–7 × 4–6 mm.

dark reddish brown to almost black, 2–2.8 × 1.3–2 mm.

= 40.

= 20.