Flora of North America species comparison

1-3 m, often glaucous.

40-210 cm;

internodes glaucous or not;

branches erect to ascending, usually straight, sometimes arching.

glabrous or pilose;

ligules 0.4-2.5 mm;

blades 5-50 cm long, (2)5-10 mm wide, usually pilose adaxially, at least near the collar.

usually smooth, rarely somewhat scabrous;

ligules 0.2-1 mm, ciliate, cilia 0.2-1.3 mm;

blades 11-52 cm long, 1.7-6.5 mm wide, smooth and glabrous or sparsely to densely pubescent with spreading hairs.

usually only terminal;

peduncles with 2-6(10) rames;

rames 5-11 cm, exserted at maturity, usually purplish, sometimes yellowish;

internodes sparsely to densely pubescent, hairs 2.2-4.2 mm, usually white, rarely yellowish.

6-195 per culm; subtending sheaths (2.1)3.1-4.6(6.7) cm long, (1.7)3-3.8(5.6) mm wide;

peduncles usually (1)4-6(30) mm, with 2-7 rames;

rames (0.5)1.7-2.8(4.4) cm, sometimes exerted at maturity, pubescence sparse basally and increasing in density distally within each internode.

spikelets 5-11 mm, scabrous;

awns 8-25 mm;

anthers 3, 2.5-4.5 mm.

spikelets (2.6)3.5-3.8(4.7) mm;

callus hairs 1-3 mm;

keels of lower glume usually smooth below midlength, scabrous distally;

awns 6-21 mm;

anthers 1(3), 0.6-1.5 mm, yellow or purple.

spikelets 3.5-12 mm, usually well-developed and staminate.

spikelets vestigial to absent.

= 20, 40, 60 (usually), 70, 80.

= 20.