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.

ascending or spreading;

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

sessile, fleshy, cross sections of fresh leaves ± uniformly green when seen at 10x magnification.

glomes, each glome in axis of one leaflike bract;

bracteoles subtending glomes without marginal hairs.

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 sometimes unisexual;

perianth irregular or zygomorphic, sometimes appearing ± actinomorphic, globose to wider than long;

perianth segments connate proximally (sometimes forming fleshy disk), succulent or thin, abaxially flat or rounded, sometimes distally hooded, and/or with abaxial appendages (transverse proximal wings, keels, and/or distal horns), apex obtuse to acute;

ovary ovoid, transversely ellipsoid, or pyriform;

stigmas 2–5, inserted on attenuated apex of ovary, linear, smooth or papillate.

monomorphic, lenticular, 1–2.2 mm diam.;

seed coat reddish brown or black, reticulate.

horizontal, strongly dimorphic in some species and individuals;

lenticular with seed coat black, blackish brown, or blackish red, shiny, and easily removable from pericarp;

or flat to discoid and coiled with seed coat brown, dull, and not easily removed from pericarp.

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.

= 36.