Flora of North America species comparison

(3)10-50(80) cm, often highly branched above the base.

30-80 cm, loosely branched below;

internodes hollow.

cauline, glabrous;

sheaths shorter than the internodes, not disintegrating into threadlike fibers;

ligules 0.4-1 mm;

blades 2-14 cm long, 1-2.5 mm wide, flat to involute.

cauline, mostly glabrous;

sheaths shorter than the internodes, remaining intact at maturity;

ligules about 0.1 mm;

blades 5-15 cm long, 0.8-1.5 mm wide, usually flat, those of the innovations often sparsely pilose.

panicles, 5-15(20) cm long, 0.5-3 cm wide, often interrupted below;

nodes glabrous or with straight, less than 0.5 mm hairs;

primary branches 1-4 cm, erect to ascending, without axillary pulvini, with 3-8 spikelets.

narrowly racemose, 10-30 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, often nodding;

nodes glabrous;

lower pedicels appressed.

crowded.

usually 2(1-3) per node, 1 sessile or short-pedicellate and 1 long-pedicellate.

unequal, 1-veined, acuminate;

lower glumes 4-8 mm;

upper glumes 6-11 mm;

calluses 0.5-0.8 mm;

lemmas 6-9 mm, slightly keeled, midveins scabrous, junction with the awns not evident;

awns not disarticulating at maturity, flattened and straight to somewhat curved at the base, central rib flanked by equally wide pale wings;

central awns 7-15(20) mm;

lateral awns somewhat shorter, occasionally only 1-2 mm;

anthers 3, 0.3-0.7 mm.

6-9 mm, subequal, tan to purplish, 1-2-veined, acute to awn-tipped, awns 0.5-1.5 mm;

lower glumes frequently 2-keeled;

calluses 0.4-0.6 mm;

lemmas 5-6 mm, light tan to lead-colored, column not twisted, junction with the awns not conspicuous;

awns not disarticulating at maturity;

central awns 10-15 mm, about twice as thick as the lateral awns, reflexed from a semicircular bend;

lateral awns equal to or slightly shorter than the central awns, divaricate and slightly contorted at the base;

anthers 3, 2-3 mm, tan to brown.

4-5 mm, chestnut-colored.

= 22.

= unknown.