Flora of North America species comparison

becoming stout, woody.

slender.

erect to ascending, often arcuately so, much-branched proximally;

main stem 0.4–1.3 mm diam. proximally.

erect to diffusely spreading, much-branched proximally and distally;

main stem 0.3–0.7 mm diam. proximally.

stipules ± conspicuous, dull white, broadly lance-acuminate, 3–8 mm, apex mucronate;

blade filiform to linear, 1–4.2 cm, somewhat fleshy, apex apiculate or spine-tipped;

axillary leaves 2–4 per cluster.

stipules inconspicuous, silvery to dull tan, broadly triangular, 1.5–2 mm, apex acuminate;

blade linear, 0.6–2.3 cm, somewhat fleshy, apex blunt to apiculate;

axillary leaf cluster usually absent.

spreading to reflexed in fruit.

erect to reflexed in fruit.

sepals connate 0.5–0.7 mm proximally, lobes 1- or 3-veined, lance-ovate to lanceolate, 2.5–4 mm, to 5 mm in fruit, margins 0.1–0.6 mm wide, apex acute to acuminate but often briefly rounded at tip;

petals white, ± elliptic, 0.7–0.8 times as long as sepal;

stamens 7–10;

styles 0.4–0.6 mm.

sepals connate 0.2–0.5 mm proximally, lobes 1-veined or not, lanceolate to ovate, 2.3–3.1 mm, enlarging little in fruit, margins 0.1–0.3 mm wide, apex obtuse to rounded;

petals white, elliptic to ovate, 0.7–0.8 times sepals;

stamens 4–7;

styles 0.4–0.6 mm.

greenish to tan, (4–)5–6.5 mm, 1.1–1.3 times as long as sepals.

greenish tan, 2.5–2.8 mm, 0.9–1.2 times sepals.

reddish brown to dark brown, often with submarginal groove, broadly ovate, plump, 0.4–0.5 mm, smooth, often sculptured with parallel, wavy lines, papillae often present;

wing often present, white, 0.1–0.2 mm wide, margins irregular.

black, often with silvery, not iridescent tinge, with submarginal groove, pyriform, somewhat compressed, 0.4–0.6 mm, shiny, sculpturing of low, elongate tubercles, not papillate (40x);

wing absent.

simple to 3-compound.

simple but commonly 4–8+-compound.

= 18 (Europe).