Flora of North America species comparison

prostrate to ascending or erect, usually diffusely branched, sharply 4-angled, (5–)25–50 cm, glabrous to finely papillate, rarely pubescent.

sessile;

blade linear-lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, rarely elliptic-lanceolate, 1–6 cm × 2–8 mm, base cuneate, margins eciliate or scabrid, sometimes ciliate towards base, apex acute.

with flowers solitary, terminal and axillary, or terminal, often copious, very lax, leafy cymes;

bracts foliaceous, lanceolate, reduced distally to ca. 2 mm, ± scarious.

erect or patent, usually reflexed at maturity, 10–40 mm, glabrous.

3–5 mm;

sepals 5, 1–3-veined, lanceolate to ovate, 2–5 mm, margins scarious, apex acute, glabrous;

petals 5, rarely absent, white or translucent, 1–3 mm, usually shorter than sepals;

stamens 5;

styles 3, erect to spreading, 0.9–2 mm.

greenish brown or straw colored, ovoid, 3–7 mm, more than 1–1.5 times as long as broad, exceeding sepals, apex acute, opening by 3 valves;

carpophore very short or absent.

10–20, brown, obovate, 0.7–0.9 mm on longest axis, smooth or slightly rugose.

= 52.