Flora of North America species comparison

to 2.5 m, but as short as 20 cm in poor soils;

internodes not glaucous.

20-250 cm;

internodes green, sometimes glaucous;

branches mostly erect, straight.

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.

sheaths usually smooth;

ligules ciliate, cilia 0.2-0.9 mm;

blades green, smooth or pubescent.

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.

sheaths of inflorescence units (2)2.9-4.3(5.2) cm long, 1.5-3 mm wide;

peduncles (2)8-15(40) mm;

rames 1.3-3 cm, exerted.

of lower glumes usually smooth below midlength, scabrous distally;

anthers often retained within the spikelets.

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 vestigial or absent, sterile.

= 20.