Flora of North America species comparison

branched, with 1 or 2 nodes, 0.8–1.9 mm wide, usually glabrous, margins entire, similar in color and texture to stem body;

first internode 11–36 cm, longer than leaves;

distalmost node with 2–3 branches.

simple, 0.9–2.1 mm wide, glabrous, margins usually entire, usually not hyaline, similar in color and texture to stem body.

blades usually glabrous, bases occasionally becoming fibrous, but not persistent in tufts.

blades glabrous, bases becoming fibrous, persisting in tufts.

borne singly;

spathes green or occasionally with purplish tinge on margins, obviously wider than supporting branch, glabrous or slightly scabrous, keels entire;

outer 12–16.1 mm, 1.4 mm shorter to 1.5 mm longer than inner, tapering evenly towards apex, margins basally connate 3–5.2 mm;

inner with keel evenly curved or straight, hyaline margins 0.2–0.6 mm wide, apex broadly rounded to truncate, usually erose, ending 0–0.5 mm proximal to green apex or, occasionally, exceeding it by up to 0.5 mm.

borne singly;

spathes often purplish brown, glabrous, keels entire;

outer 15–33 mm, 6.2–13 mm longer than inner, basally connate 1–2.7 mm, tapering evenly towards apex;

inner with keel gibbous basally, hyaline margins 0.5–0.6 mm wide, apex rounded or truncate, somewhat erose, usually extending beyond green apex as 2 lobes.

tepals light blue or bluish violet to purple or occasionally white, bases yellow;

outer tepals 6.3–11 mm, apex emarginate to truncate, aristate;

filaments connate ± entirely, stipitate-glandular basally;

ovary blackish, in contrast with much lighter foliage.

tepals blue to bluish violet, bases yellow;

outer tepals 7.8–13 mm, apex rounded to slightly emarginate, aristate;

filaments connate ± entirely, slightly stipitate-glandular basally;

ovary similar in color to foliage.

dark brown to black or purplish black, ± globose to obovoid, 2–4.1 mm;

pedicel ascending to erect.

dark reddish brown, ± globose, 2.7–4.3 mm;

pedicel spreading to ascending.

globose to obconic, lacking obvious depression, 0.5–1.2 mm, rugulose or occasionally granular.

globose to obconic, lacking obvious depression, 0.5–1.1 mm, rugulose.

= 16, 32.

= 32.