Flora of North America species comparison

prostrate, decumbent, or erect, usually light brown, simple or branched, sometimes slightly woody at base;

main branches arising from proximal part of plant.

prostrate to decumbent, gray, branched, very brittle, occasionally rooting at nodes, glabrous, leaf scars ± knobby;

branches prostrate to spreading, glaucous.

ascending or spreading;

blade linear, usually subterete, sometimes flat, 10–50 × 0.8–1.7 mm, apex blunt to acute.

crowded at tips of vegetative stems;

petiole flat, ± 1 mm;

blade glaucous, ellipsoid to narrowly ellipsoid; 2–10 × 1–2 mm, apex rounded.

bisexual;

perianth actinomorphic to slightly irregular with segments subequal, 2–3.3 mm diam.;

perianth segments thin to abaxially rounded and occasionally distally hooded at maturity, without appendages, apex obtuse;

stigmas 2–3(–5).

bisexual or pistillate;

perianth 2–3 mm diam.;

perianth segments proximally connate;

ovary ± vase-shaped with necklike extension;

stigmas 2–3.

monomorphic, lenticular, 1–2.2 mm diam.;

seed coat reddish brown or black, reticulate.

horizontal or vertical, 0.8–1.2 mm;

seed coat black.

on main stem and lateral branches, not crowded into compound, distal spikes, 1–4-flowered;

proximal bracts resembling leaves, distal bracts gradually reduced, 3–12 mm, slightly wider at the base.

usually confined to distal stems and branches, forming ± densely crowded, ascending compound spikes, 1–5-flowered;

branches 1–1.5 mm diam., as thick as vegetative ones;

bracts glaucous, leaflike in shape, 1–5 mm.

= 36.