Flora of North America species comparison

fascicled, spreading, branching throughout, 1–4.5 dm.

solitary, erect, branching near apex, 4–12 dm.

alternate;

stipules linear, to 1 mm;

petiole absent;

blade usually obovate-spatulate, rarely narrowly elliptic, 1–-4 × 0.5–1.5 cm, base cuneate, margins coarsely spinulose-dentate, teeth without prominent blackened tips, not incurved, apex rounded to obtuse;

midrib prominent, secondary veins obscure.

alternate;

stipules linear, 1.5–2 mm;

petiole 0.1–0.5(–1) cm;

blade linear, lanceolate, or narrowly elliptic, 3.5–10 × (0.2–)0.5–2.5 cm, base acute to narrowly obtuse, margins minutely crenulate, teeth without prominent blackened tips, not incurved, apex acute to acuminate;

midvein prominent, secondary veins ± obscure.

pedunculate, 2.5–-5 cm;

staminate flowers ± widely spaced, 1 per node;

pistillate flowers 3–4, widely spaced;

bracts ovate, 1 mm, apex mucronate, glands patelliform, ± sessile, 0.7 mm diam.

sessile, 3–5 cm;

staminate cymules ± crowded, 5–15-flowered;

pistillate flowers 1–2(–4), crowded;

bracts narrowly ovate to oblong, 2 mm, apex acute, glands crateriform, short-stalked, 1–1.2 mm diam.

calyx 1 mm.

calyx 1–1.3 mm.

sepals fugacious, 3, minute;

styles connate only at base, 1.5 mm.

sepals persistent, 3, well developed, ± orbiculate;

styles connate 3/4 length, to 4 mm.

ovoid-pyriform, 4 × 5 mm, deeply 3-lobed;

lobes of gynobase to 1 mm;

columella persistent.

globose, 4–5 × 6–7 mm, shallowly 3-lobed;

lobes of gynobase 3–3.5 mm;

columella absent or only short basal part persistent.

gray to black, ellipsoid, 2.5 × 2 mm, smooth;

caruncle minute.

gray, globose, 4.5 × 4 mm, rugulose;

caruncle minute.