Flora of North America species comparison

cauline (marcescent, crowded), opposite (rarely alternate);

petiole absent;

blade oblong to ± broadly obovate, unlobed, 2–5 mm, leathery, margins entire, bristly-ciliate, with 1(–3) lime-secreting hydathodes (in pit, secretion obvious), apex obtuse, surfaces glabrous.

basal and cauline, (distal clasping);

petiole absent on distal leaves, otherwise ± flattened, 3–20(–35) mm;

blade linear or linear-oblanceolate to spatulate, unlobed, (5–)10–30 mm, thin to slightly fleshy, margins entire, eciliate or sparsely reddish brown-ciliate, (with apical nonsecreting hydathode), apex acuminate or acute, surfaces glabrous or sparsely reddish brown-villous.

solitary flowers, ebracteate, 1–5 cm, glabrate or sparsely purple-tipped stipitate-glandular.

2(–4)-flowered cymes, sometimes solitary flowers, (flowers initially nodding), 4–30(–35) cm, sparsely to ± densely reddish brown-villous;

bracts sessile.

sepals erect, ovate, margins stiffly ciliate or not, surfaces hairy, stipitate-glandular, or glabrous;

petals purple to pink, rarely white, often drying violet, not spotted, obovate to elliptic, (2–)5–12(–20) mm, longer than sepals;

ovary ± superior.

sepals ascending to spreading, reflexed in fruit, (sometimes purplish), triangular, margins reddish brown-ciliate, surfaces glabrous (rarely reddish brown-hairy);

petals yellow, often drying cream, often proximally orange-spotted, elliptic to oblong or obovate, 6–18 mm, 2+ times longer than sepals;

ovary superior.

± folliclelike.

= 16, 24, 32.