Flora of North America species comparison

usually 3–7 per caudex branch, arising from margin of rosette near ground surface, or arising laterally proximal to sterile shoots, 0.4–2.5 dm, glabrous or pubescent proximally, trichomes simple and short-stalked, 2-rayed, 0.1–0.4 mm, glabrous distally.

usually 1 per caudex branch, arising from center of rosette near ground surface, 1–2.5 dm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent proximally, trichomes short-stalked, 2–5-rayed (rarely, some simple), 0.4–0.6 mm, glabrous distally.

blade linear to linear-oblanceolate, 1–2.5 mm wide, margins usually entire, rarely denticulate, often ciliate, trichomes (simple), 0.3–0.7 mm, surfaces glabrous or sparsely pubescent, trichomes short-stalked, 2- or 3-rayed, 0.1–0.4 mm.

blade oblanceolate, 2.5–6 mm wide, margins entire, ciliate proximally, trichomes (simple), surfaces densely pubescent, trichomes short-stalked, 4–7-rayed, 0.3–0.5 mm.

3–12, not concealing stem;

blade auricles absent, surfaces of distalmost leaves usually glabrous, rarely sparsely pubescent.

3–12, often concealing stem proximally;

blade auricles 0.5–2 mm, surfaces of distalmost leaves usually glabrous, sometimes margins ciliate.

2–12-flowered, unbranched.

12–25-flowered, usually unbranched.

ascending-divaricate at anthesis;

sepals glabrous or pubescent;

petals white to pale lavender, 4–5 × 1.5–2 mm, glabrous;

pollen ellipsoid.

ascending at anthesis;

sepals pubescent;

petals purple, 5–6 × 1.5–2 mm, glabrous;

pollen spheroid.

divaricate-ascending to horizontal, slightly to strongly recurved, 3–8 mm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, trichomes (isolated), simple.

ascending to divaricate-descending, straight, 2–6 mm, glabrous.

pendent, not appressed to rachis, not or, rarely, weakly secund, straight, edges parallel, 1.5–3.5 cm × 1.2–2 mm;

valves glabrous;

ovules 28–44 per ovary;

style 0.1–0.4 mm.

ascending to divaricate-ascending, not appressed to rachis, not secund, straight, edges parallel, 2–3.7 cm × 2–2.8 mm;

valves glabrous;

ovules 56–80 per ovary;

style 0.1–0.3 mm.

uniseriate, 0.9–1.2 × 0.6–1 mm;

wing often continuous, 0.07–0.1 mm wide.

uniseriate, 1–1.5 × 0.8–1 mm;

wing distal or continuous, 0.05–0.1 mm wide.