Flora of North America species comparison

developing from the midculm nodes and above, occasionally also at the lower nodes, several to many branches per node, branchlets of the lower branches not thornlike.

forming at the basal and upper nodes, central branches slightly dominant, branchlets of the lower branches recurved, hardened and thornlike.

leaves: sheaths glabrous to sparsely hispidulous;

ligules 0.5-1.5 mm, glabrous, truncate, entire;

auricles 0.5-1.5 mm, falcate, hardened, persistent;

fimbriae few, 0.5-1.5 mm, spreading;

blades 6-30 cm long, 1-4 cm wide, glabrous, abruptly acuminate.

leaves: sheaths glabrous;

ligules short, entire;

auricles small;

fimbriae few, erect;

blades 6-22 cm long, 1-3 cm wide, glabrous.

initially spicate, becoming dense globular clusters.

leaves promptly deciduous, with dense, appressed, brown pubescence, lower sheaths broader than long, apices broader than the base of the blades;

auricles well developed, to 5 cm long and 1.5 cm wide, equal, ovoid to falcate-spreading, dark;

fimbriae to 15 mm, dense, wavy, light;

blades 4-5 cm long, 5-6 cm wide, appressed to the culm, usually persistent, triangular, abaxial surfaces glabrous, adaxial surfaces densely dark pubescent towards the base, basal margins ciliate or with stiff hairs;

ligules about 3 mm, shortly ciliate.

leaves dark green, initially sparsely hairy, sometimes more densely hairy on the margins and auricles, hairs dark brown, deciduous;

auricles subequal, wrinkled, wide;

fimbriae absent;

ligules to 2 mm, ciliate;

blades erect or reflexed, merging into the auricles, adaxial surfaces densely brown-velvety.

12-35 mm, with 5-10 florets, always strongly grooved along the center, appearing 2-cleft.

10-30 mm, with 3-7 florets.

7-8 mm, glabrous;

anthers to 5 mm.

= 64.

= 70-72.