UW Burke Herbarium species comparison

Sheaths closed below, but open over half their length;

ligules about 1 mm. long, rounded to truncate;

blades 1-3.5 mm. broad, usually folded, the tip prow-like.

Sheaths closed about half their length;

ligules 1-3 mm. long, acute, jagged, glabrous;

blades of the fertile stems 1-3.5 mm. broad, flat;

blades of the sterile stems 0.5-1 mm. broad, involute, often 1-2 dm. long; all blades with prow-like tips.

Inflorescence a pyramidal panicle 3-8 cm. long, the branches spreading and somewhat rigid;

spikelets 3- to 6-flowered, 4-6 mm. long;

glumes unequal, the first 1-nerved, about 2 mm. long, the second 3-nerved, much the broader;

florets rather distant, the rachilla visible;

lemmas about 3.5 mm. long, 5-nerved, the margins purplish and papery, usually pubescent along the keel and marginal nerves;

paleas slightly shorter than the lemmas, 2-keeled.

Inflorescence a compact, ovoid panicle 2-6 cm. long, greenish or purplish;

spikelets 3- to 5-flowered, 5-8 mm. long;

flowers usually pistillate, the anthers vestigial or wanting, but occasionally the plants staminate- or perfect-flowered;

glumes subequal, 3-nerved, 3.5-5 mm. long, shorter than the first floret;

lemmas keeled, 5-nerved, 4.5-6 mm. long, pubescent;

paleas slightly shorter than the lemmas, 2-keeled.