Flora of North America species comparison

17-100 cm, erect.

8-100 cm, erect or decumbent at the base, sometimes rooting at the lower nodes, with (2)3-6(8) nodes.

mostly cauline or somewhat basally concentrated;

sheaths smooth;

ligules 2.3-7 mm, dorsal surfaces scabrous, apices acute, usually lacerate;

blades 6-20 cm long, 2-5 mm wide, flat.

mostly cauline;

sheaths smooth or slightly scabrous;

ligules (1)1.7-8(11.2) mm, dorsal surfaces scabrous, apices truncate to obtuse, lacerate to erose;

blades 4-15 cm long, 2-7 mm wide, flat.

7-22 cm long, 1.5-5.5(7) cm wide, lanceolate to narrowly ovate, more or less open to dense, lowest node with 2-15 branches;

branches scabridulous, ascending to more or less appressed, mostly branching at or above midlength, some branching near the base, lower branches 1-5 cm;

pedicels 0.5-6 mm.

(3)5-30 cm long, 0.5-4 cm wide, contracted, spikelike, oblong, or lanceolate, usually dense, rarely more open, sometimes interrupted near the base, bases usually exserted, rarely enclosed by the upper sheaths at maturity, lowest node with 1-5 branches;

branches scabrous, ascending to appressed, spikelet-bearing to or near the base, usually hidden by the spikelets, spikelets crowded, lower branches 1-2(4) cm;

pedicels 0.2-4.3 mm.

lanceolate, yellow-green, often tinged with purple.

lanceolate to narrowly ovate, greenish to purplish.

equal to subequal, 2.5-4 mm, 1-veined, scabrous to scabridulous on the midvein, at least distally, sometimes also sparsely scabridulous over the back, acute to acuminate;

callus hairs (0.8)1-2 mm, abundant, conspicuous;

lemmas 2-3 mm, smooth, translucent to opaque, 5-veined, veins prominent at least distally, apices acute, entire or erose, sometimes toothed, teeth to about 0.2 mm, unawned;

paleas absent, or to 0.2 mm and thin;

anthers 3,1.5-2.3 mm.

subequal to equal, 1.5-3.5 mm, scabrous on the midvein and sometimes on the back, 1(3)-veined, acute, elongate-acuminate, with an awnlike tip to 1 mm;

callus hairs to 0.3 mm, sparse to abundant;

lemmas 1.2-2.2 mm, smooth, translucent to opaque, 5-veined, veins prominent distally or obscure throughout, apices acute, entire or toothed, teeth no more than 0.12 mm, unawned or awned from above midlength, awns to 3.5 mm, straight or geniculate;

paleas absent or to 0.5 mm;

anthers 3, 0.3-0.6 mm.

1.5-2 mm.

0.9-1.2 mm;

endosperm solid or soft.

= 42.

= 28, 42, 56.