Flora of North America species comparison

20-250 cm;

internodes green, sometimes glaucous;

branches mostly erect, straight.

1-3 m, often glaucous.

usually scabrous, sometimes smooth;

ligules 0.6-2.2 mm, sometimes ciliate, cilia to 0.9 mm;

blades 13-109 cm long, 2.9-9.5 mm wide, glabrous or sparsely to densely pubescent, hairs usually spreading, rarely appressed.

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.

10-600 per culm; subtending sheaths (2.0)2.9-4.4(6.5) cm long, (1.5)2.3-3.4(4.4) mm wide;

peduncles (1)6-14(60) mm, with 2(4) rames;

rames (1)1.7-2.5(3.5) cm, exserted or not at maturity, pubescence sparse basally and increasing in density distally within each internode.

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.

spikelets 3-5 mm;

callus hairs 1-2.5 mm;

keels of lower glumes sometimes scabrous below midlength, usually scabrous distally;

awns 6-19 mm;

anthers 1(3), 0.5-1.5 mm, yellow, red, or purple.

spikelets 5-11 mm, scabrous;

awns 8-25 mm;

anthers 3, 2.5-4.5 mm.

spikelets vestigial or absent, sterile.

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

= 20.

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