observations taken during the 2014 growing season in east lansing mich the following description of stevia plant u2018 12 05 144 u2019 contains references to color names taken from the royal horticultural society colour chart r h s 2001 edition botanical descriptions follow the manual of cultivated plants bailey 1949 stevia plant u2018 12 05 144 u2019 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and as such the characteristics may vary in detail depending on weather conditions day length soil type and location shape u2014 upright to semi upright habit u2014 herbaceous perennial branching habit u2014 freely branching basal nodes number of nodes on main stem u2014 19 height u2014 290 1 mm width u2014 189 3 mm number of stems arising from base u2014 1 0 main stem length u2014 290 1 mm main stem diameter at midpoint u2014 4 7 number of branches arising from lower half of stem u2014 4 0 branch angle from main stem u2014 36 u00b0 main stem color u2014 green 141b shape u2014 simple arrangement on stem u2014 generally opposite margin u2014 serrated dorsal color u2014 green 137a ventral color u2014 green 137c venation color u2014 green 137c leaf angle from main stem u2014 81 u00b0 width u2014 9 7 mm length including petiole u2014 40 1 thickness u2014 lt 1 mm length of petiole u2014 3 2 mm petiole color u2014 green 138b type u2014 paniculate corymbose floret shape u2014 tubular stigma u2014 exserted inflorescence diameter u2014 5 1 mm depth of inflorescence u2014 7 5 mm number of florets per inflorescence u2014 4 8 length of peduncle u2014 13 5 mm number of sepals per floret u2014 0 number of.