1 Staminate flowers 1 at each node of the inflorescence; caruncle of the seed minute; [s. and c. TX, barely in our area]

1 Staminate flowers in 3-15-flowered cymules at each node of the inflorescence; caruncle of the seed either minute, or white, broadly crescent-shaped, and > 1 mm wide; [collectively fairly widespread in our area].

  2 Stems woody, solitary at base, from a taproot; (aerial) stems freely sympodially branched in the upper half to third of the plant, the whole plant appearing candelabra-like with age; the aerial branch system perennially developing by extension growth; leaves linear to lanceolate or narrowly elliptic, widest at middle or towards the base, clustered toward the branch tips; caruncle of the seed (typically) minute, exposing an inverted U-shaped hilar scar; [of pineland ponds and other aquatic habitats where the soil is inundated for at least four months of the year]

  2 Stems herbaceous, several from the crown of a woody rhizome; aerial stems not or little (sympodially) branched; aerial branches persisting for only a single growing season; leaves linear, elliptic, oblanceolate, or narrowly obovate, widest near the midpoint or towards the apex, stems appearing evenly leafy; caruncle of the seed white, broadly crescent-shaped, > 1 mm wide, largely concealing the hilar scar; [mostly of dry habitats, or mesic to wet pinelands that are only sporadically inundated].

    3 Leaf teeth with prominently blackened tips; leaf blades of mid to upper stem 3-6 (-10) mm wide; [rocky calcareous soils in OK and TX]

    3 Leaf teeth with tips not strongly contrasted in color from that of the mature leaf blade; leaf blades of mid to upper stem 2-30 mm wide; [widespread in our area].

      4 Leaf blades > 9 mm wide at widest point, L/W ratio (1.3-) 2.5-5.7 (-8.1), frequently broadest towards the tip; median bract subtending the pistillate cymule typically elliptic and the apex not clearly differentiated in shape; [widespread in our region, from se. VA to s. FL, westwards to OK, and TX]

      4 Leaf blades < 9 mm wide at widest point (typically 3.4-6.2 mm wide), L/W ratio (7-) 8.2-15.6 (-22), typically broadest near the middle; median bract subtending the pistillate cymule with a caudate-acuminate apex; [endemic in c. & s. FL]