Flora of North America species comparison

spreading to decumbent or procumbent, much-branched, stout, rarely filiform, distal portion glandular-pubescent.

ascending or decumbent, frequently purple tinged, few- to many-branched, filiform.

axillary fascicles absent;

basal rosette or tuft of ascending leaves usually present;

basal blades linear, 10–30 mm, succulent, apex apiculate, glabrous;

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

proximal blades 6–15(–20) mm, distal blades rarely subulate, (2.5–)3.5–7(–9) mm.

axillary fascicles absent;

basal rosette quickly deciduous;

proximal cauline leaves connate basally, not appearing inflated, blade frequently purple tinged, linear, 4–23 mm, not fleshy, base never ciliate, margins conspicuously hyaline basally, apex apiculate, glabrous, distal blades becoming subulate and shorter toward apex, 1–5 mm, apex apiculate, glabrous.

slender to stout, glabrous or glandular-pubescent distally.

filiform, glabrous or glandular-pubescent.

axillary, 5-merous;

calyx bases glabrous or glandular-pubescent;

sepals ovate to orbiculate, (2–)2.5–3.5 mm, hyaline margins whitish, occasionally purple tinged on margins or apex, apex obtuse to rounded, glabrous or glandular-pubescent, remaining appressed following capsule dehiscence;

petals elliptic to nearly orbiculate, (1.5–)2–2.5(–3) mm, shorter than sepals;

stamens 10.

terminal or often axillary, 5-merous, rarely 4-merous and then apetalous;

calyx base glabrous or glandular-pubescent, often sparsely so;

sepals ovate to orbiculate, (1–)1.5–2(–3) mm, hyaline margins conspicuous, margins or apex frequently purple, apex acute to rounded, glabrous or glandular-pubescent at calyx base, remaining appressed to capsule;

petals elliptic, (1–)1.5–2(–2.3) mm, slightly longer than sepals at anthesis, equaling or shorter than sepals during capsule development;

stamens 5 or 10, occasionally 8.

(3–)3.5–4.5 mm, exceeding sepals, dehiscing ca. 1/4 length.

2–3(–3.5) mm, longer than sepals, dehiscing to 1/2 capsule length or less.

reddish brown, reniform with abaxial groove absent, plump, 0.5 mm, smooth or slightly pebbled.

light tan to light brown, obliquely triangular with abaxial groove, (0.2–)0.3–1.4 mm, smooth or pebbled to strongly tuberculate, protrusions sometimes borne on delicate ridges, ridges forming reticulate pattern (50–80x).