Flora of North America species comparison

ascending to spreading, much-branched, usually filiform, frequently glandular-pubescent distally.

ascending or, more frequently, procumbent, rooting at nodes, giving rise to secondary tufts or rosettes, few- to many-branched, slender.

axillary fascicles rarely present;

basal frequently in tuft of ascending leaves, rosette rarely present, blade linear, 4–10 mm, succulent, apex apiculate, glabrous;

cauline leaves conspicuously connate basally, forming shallow, scarious cup, blade linear, fleshy, apex apiculate, glabrous or rarely pubescent;

proximal leaf blades 9–20 mm, becoming shorter distally, 4–7 mm.

axillary fascicles often present on procumbent stems;

basal frequently in primary rosettes in younger plants;

blade linear, 8–17 mm, herbaceous, apex apiculate to somewhat aristate, glabrous;

cauline not conspicuously connate basally, never forming an inflated cup, blade linear, 4–15 mm proximally, becoming shorter toward apex, 2.5–6 mm distally, sometimes slightly fleshy, apex apiculate to aristate, rarely with minute glandular cilia.

slender, distal portion densely glandular-pubescent, becoming less densely glandular-pubescent proximally, proximal 1/4 usually glabrous.

frequently recurved during capsule development, filiform, glabrous.

axillary, 5-merous;

calyx glandular-pubescent basally;

sepals elliptic to orbiculate, 2–2.5 mm, hyaline margins whitish, apex obtuse to rounded, glandular-pubescent, remaining appressed following capsule dehiscence;

petals ovate to orbiculate, 1–2 mm, shorter than sepals;

stamens 5 or 10.

axillary or terminal, 4-merous, occasionally 4- and 5-merous;

calyx base glabrous;

sepals elliptic to orbiculate, 1.5–(–2.5) mm, hyaline margins white, never purple tinged, apex obtuse to rounded, appressed during capsular development, divergent following dehiscence;

petals (1–)4(–5), orbiculate to elliptic, 0.8–1(–1.5) mm, shorter than or equaling sepals, or sometimes absent;

stamens 4 (8).

2.5–3 mm, exceeding sepals, dehiscing ca. 1/4 length.

(1.5–)2–2.5(–3) mm, slightly exceeding sepals, dehiscing to base.

dark brown, reniform to nearly globose, plump, abaxial groove absent, 0.4–0.5 mm, densely tuberculate or strongly pebbled (e North America).

brown, obliquely triangular with distinct abaxial groove, (0.3–)0.4(–0.5) mm, smooth to pebbled.

= 22.