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, erect, unbranched, 0.5–1 m, herbaceous;

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.

numerous, evenly distributed, larger distally;

petiole thin, equaling or longer than blade;

tendrils distal, few, short;

blade narrowly ovate, pubescent and not glaucous abaxially, base rounded to truncate, margins convex, apex acute to acuminate.

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.

3–10, axillary to leaves and bracts, 10–50-flowered, semiglobose;

proximalmost peduncle longer than distalmost.

perianth yellowish;

tepals 3–4 mm;

anthers much shorter than filaments;

ovule 1 per locule;

pedicel thin, 0.1–0.4 cm.

tepals 3.5–4.5 mm;

anthers usually shorter than filaments;

ovules (1–)2 per locule.

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

blue to black, globose.

= 26.