Flora of North America species comparison

becoming stout, woody.

± filiform.

erect or ascending to prostrate, usually branched proximally;

main stem 0.8–3 mm diam. proximally.

erect to spreading or sprawling, usually much-branched proximally;

main stem 0.5–1 mm diam. proximally.

stipules conspicuous, dull white to tan, narrowly triangular, 4.5–11 mm, apex long-acuminate;

blade linear, (0.6–)1–5.5 cm, fleshy, apex apiculate to spine-tipped;

axillary leaves 1–2+ per cluster.

stipules usually inconspicuous, dull white to tan, broadly triangular, 1.5–4.5 mm, apex acute to short-acuminate;

blade ± linear, 1–4.2 cm, at least moderately fleshy, apex apiculate to spine-tipped;

axillary leaves absent or 1–2 per cluster.

erect, divergent, or reflexed in fruit.

often oriented to 1 side in fruit.

sepals connate 0.5–1.8 mm proximally, lobes often 3-veined, ovate to lanceolate, 4.5–7 mm, to 8 mm in fruit, margins 0.3–0.7 mm wide, apex blunt to rounded;

petals white or pink to rosy, elliptic to obovate, 0.9–1.3 times as long as sepals in flower;

stamens 9–10;

styles 0.6–3 mm.

sepals connate 0.3–0.6 mm proximally, lobes often 3-veined, ovate to elliptic-oblong, 2.2–3.5 mm, to 4.5 mm in fruit, margins 0.2–0.5 mm wide, apex acute to rounded;

petals white or pink to rosy, ovate to obovate, 0.8–1 times as long as sepals;

stamens 8–10;

styles 0.4–0.6 mm.

tan, 4.6–10 mm, 0.8–1.4 times as long as sepals.

greenish, 3(–4) mm, 1–1.2 times as long as sepals.

± red-brown, often with submarginal groove or depression, suborbiculate to pyriform, compressed, (0.6–)0.7–1.2 mm, smooth to faintly or prominently tuberculate or sculpturing of parallel, wavy lines or of low, rounded mounds, not papillate;

wing absent or white to reddish brown proximally, 0.1–0.3 mm wide, margins irregular.

light brown, with submarginal groove, broadly ovate, plump, 0.4–0.6 mm, somewhat shiny, smooth to minutely roughened, margins with peglike papillae (40x);

wing absent.

simple to 3-compound or flowers solitary and axillary.

simple to 6+-compound.

= 18? (Africa), 36 (Europe).