1. Florets mostly (8-) 9-20 (-22) per head; inflorescence flat-topped or of flat-topped subunits; stem distinctly spotted with red-purple or continuously red-purple.

E. maculatum

1. Florets 3-7 per head; inflorescence ± dome-shaped (convex); stem greenish (except at nodes) in common species (purplish in the other).

2. Corollas 5 mm long or less; middle (if not all) internodes ca. (7-) 10-20 mm or more thick, hollow over half their diameter, ± reddish throughout or spotted with elongate red dashes; leaves mostly 6 or more per whorl.

E. fistulosum

2. Corollas 5-6 (-6.7) mm long at maturity; middle internodes less than 5 (-8) mm thick, with solid pith (or a very slender hollow), greenish; leaves 3-5 per whorl.

E. purpureum