Flora of North America species comparison

leafless, or with 1–3 leaves towards base, 10–80 cm, variously glandular-hairy or only glandular below inflorescence, glands uniformly 4–6 times longer than wide.

leafless, or with 1–3 leaves towards base, 20–70 cm, coarsely glandular-pubescent below inflorescence.

blades to 50 cm × 8 mm.

blades to 35 cm × 6 mm.

forming globose or cylindric-ovoid, spikelike heads, 3–45-flowered, sometimes interrupted or open, 1–8 cm, glandular-pubescent;

bracts subtending pedicel in cluster;

bracteoles shallowly and symmetrically 3-lobed to cleft from proximal 1/3 to base, lobes rounded to acute, often markedly unequal.

racemose, 15–80-flowered, usually open, 3–22 cm;

bracts subtending pedicel in cluster;

bracteoles shallowly 3-lobed or cleft from proximal 1/3 to base, lobes acute or rounded, usually glandular.

usually borne in clusters of 3, proximal sometimes remote;

perianth white or yellowish;

tepals 3–7 mm, inner series somewhat longer and narrower;

stamens 3–6 mm;

ovary ellipsoid, tapering gradually to style base;

styles distinct, 0.6–3 mm;

pedicel 1–12 mm.

borne in clusters of (2–)3(–7), proximal sometimes remote;

perianth white, drying orange;

tepals 2.5–5 mm, inner series narrower, longer;

stamens 2.5–4.5 mm;

ovary ellipsoid to cylindrical, usually tapering abruptly to style base, forming rounded shoulder;

styles connate basally into column 1/4–2/3 their length, 1–1.8 mm;

pedicel 2–12 mm.

ovoid to broadly ellipsoid, 4–9 mm, clearly longer than tepals and not enclosed by them, chartaceous, easily ruptured.

ovoid to subglobose, 3–5 mm, ± equaling or slightly longer than tepals and ± enclosed by them, hard.

reddish brown, ca. 1 mm;

appendages 1 or 2 with one at each end, rarely absent;

coat white, inflated, reticulate.

reddish brown, ca. 1 mm;

appendages 1 or 2 with one at one end ca. 1/2 to equaling seed, one at opposite end often much shorter;

coat absent.