Herbs, perennial, rosetted, tufted, or matted, ?often resinously aromatic?, 0.3–10(–12) dm, sparsely to densely hairy, inconspicuously to conspicuously glandular; compactly to ± loosely rhizomatous. Stems 1–10+, decumbent to erect, rarely prostrate, ?green, reddish, or stramineous?. Leaves marcescent or winter-persistent, primarily basal, ?cauline 1–6(–10), gradually or abruptly reduced distally?, alternate, odd-pinnate; stipules persistent, basally adnate to petiole, linear to lanceolate or elliptic, margins entire or pinnately divided into linear to filiform segments; petiole present; blade oblanceolate-oblong to linear in outline, planar to cylindric, (1–)2–30(–40) cm, foliaceous, leaflets (3–)5–41, ?separate or congested and overlapping, terminal usually ± confluent with distalmost lateral ones?, elliptic-oblong to ovate or flabellate in outline, margins flat, shallowly toothed to deeply divided into oblanceolate lobes, sometimes nearly entire except for 3-toothed apex, rarely completely entire, venation palmate to pinnate. Inflorescences terminal, 3–200-flowered, open to congested cymes, flowers arranged individually, in corymbiform clusters, and/or in ± globose glomerules, these sometimes capitate; bracts present at proximal nodes, ± leafy, becoming reduced distally; bracteoles absent. Pedicels present, ?usually straight in fruit, sometimes reflexed or recurved?. Flowers 4–17 mm diam.; epicalyx bractlets 5; hypanthium ± cupulate with flattened bases, 1–5.5 mm, ?less than 1/2 to nearly as deep as wide?, interior often with band of hairs; sepals 5, spreading to strongly reflexed, usually lanceolate, sometimes ovate to triangular; petals 5, usually white, sometimes pink-to rose-veined or cream, usually narrowly oblanceolate-elliptic to obovate, sometimes linear to round, ?usually equal to or longer than sepals?; stamens 10, shorter than petals, ?filaments usually ± erect, ± flattened, forming tube, anther thecae dehiscing introrsely?; torus conic; carpels 2–200(–220), glabrous, styles subterminal; ovule 1. Fruits aggregated achenes, (1–)2–200(–220), obliquely ovoid to reniform, 0.8–3 mm, glabrous; hypanthium persistent; sepals persistent, erect; styles tardily deciduous, ?jointed, usually ± rough-thickened basally, otherwise mostly filiform?. x = 7.
Home