Flora of North America species comparison

erect, sparingly branched below inflorescence, robust, to 65 cm.

simple, branched in inflorescence, (10–)20–40(–70) cm.

basal few, usually withering by time of anthesis, blade spatulate;

cauline numerous, 2 per node, blade 1-veined, ovate-lanceolate to oblanceolate, 3–7 cm × 7–30 mm, margins entire, apex acute.

basal withering before flowering, blade lanceolate-spatulate, 2–5 cm;

cauline sessile to amplexicaulous, blade lanceolate to ovate or elliptic, 1–6 cm × 5–25 mm, apex acute.

many-flowered, open, bracteate;

primary branches racemose, elongate, with sessile or shortly pedunculate cymes of 1–6 flowers per node;

bracts narrowly lanceolate, 3–12 mm, hyaline-margined, apex acute.

cymose, bracteate;

cyme capitate or with flowers clustered at end of slender branches;

bracts lanceolate-acicular, 2–10 mm.

ascending, ± straight, 1–2 times calyx, broadening at calyx base.

0.1–0.5 cm.

calyx often obscurely ca. 20-veined, elliptic, abruptly contracted at base, opening constricted to 1/2 its diam., slightly inflated in flower, 7–10 × 3–4 mm, in fruit tightly enveloping capsule, ovoid, thin, enlarging to 9–13 × 5–7 mm, herbaceous, margins narrow, membranous, dentate with broadly triangular lobes to 1 mm, glabrous, veins obscure, usually purple tinged, without conspicuous, pale commissures, longitudinal, parallel, not obviously reticulate;

petals white, clawed, claw equaling calyx, limb deeply 2-fid into 2 spatulate lobes, to 5 mm, appendages ca. 0.5 mm;

stamens exserted, to 2 times length of calyx;

filaments usually dark purple;

stigmas 3, exserted, to 2 times length of calyx.

calyx usually purple tinged, 10-veined, elongate, clavate, lobed, constricted proximally into narrow tube, 13–17 × 2.5–4 mm, rather membranous;

lobes ovate-triangular, ca. 1 mm, apex obtuse;

petals pink (rarely white), unlobed, limb obovate, ca. 5 mm, base cuneate into claw 6–8 mm, auricles absent, appendages linear to lanceolate, 2–3 mm, apex acute;

stamens slightly longer than petal claws;

styles 3(–4), exserted.

ovoid, equaling calyx and sometimes splitting it, opening by 6 recurved, narrowly lanceolate teeth;

carpophore ca. 1 mm.

oblong, 7–10 mm, opening by 6 (or 8) spreading teeth;

carpophore 7–8 mm, glabrous.

grayish brown, plump, broadly reniform, 0.6–1 mm, with concentric rings of papillae;

papillae slightly longer than broad.

dark brown, reniform-rotund, less than 1 mm diam., rugose.

= 24.

= 24 (Europe).