Flora of North America species comparison

perennial, prostrate to clambering, branching, slender, to 1 m, ± woody, densely woolly-pubescent, usually prickly (especially at base).

annual, climbing, branching, to 2.5 m, herbaceous, glabrous;

prickles absent.

mostly evergreen, ± evenly disposed;

petiole 0.05–0.25 cm, often longer on sterile shoots;

blade gray-green, drying to ashy gray-green, obovate to ovate-lanceolate, with 3 prominent veins, 6–10.5 × 5–8 cm, glabrous adaxially, densely puberulent abaxially, base cordate to deeply notched, margins entire, apex bluntly pointed.

petiole thin, 1–6 cm;

tendrils numerous, long, functional;

blade oblong-ovate, ovate, or round, 4.5–12 × 3–9 cm, glabrous abaxially, base cordate to truncate, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute;

proximal cauline leaves narrower and smaller.

1–7, axillary to leaves, 5–16-flowered, loose, spherical;

peduncle 0.2–0.8 cm, shorter than to 1.5 as long as petiole of subtending leaf.

many, axillary to leaves, 20–100+-flowered, globose;

peduncle to 30 cm, progressively shorter distally.

perianth yellowish;

tepals 3–4 mm;

anthers much shorter than filaments;

ovule 1 per locule;

pedicel thin, 0.1–0.4 cm.

perianth greenish, carrion-scented;

tepals 3.5–4.5 mm;

anthers much shorter than filaments;

ovules (1–)2 per locule;

pedicel 0.5–2 cm.

red, ovoid, 5–8 mm, with acute beaks, not glaucous.

blue, subglobose, ca. 10 mm diam., glaucous.

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= 26.