Flora of North America species comparison

1–2(–3).

erect, simple, glabrous.

ocrea brown, cylindric, 4–22(–27) mm, margins strongly oblique, glabrous;

petiole attached to sheath 6–20(–45) mm, unwinged distally, 5–110(–200) mm;

blade linear to lanceolate or oblong-ovate, 1–8(–10) × 0.5–1.7(–2.3) cm, base cuneate to rounded or cordate, often asymmetric, margins entire, usually revolute, not wavy, apex obtuse to acute, abaxial face pubescent with whitish or brownish hairs, glaucous, adaxial face glabrous, not glaucous;

cauline leaves 2–4, petiolate proximally, sessile distally, gradually reduced distally, blade linear-lanceolate to linear.

mostly basal, some cauline, alternate, petiolate or sessile;

ocrea persistent or disintegrating with age and deciduous entirely or distally, chartaceous;

blade linear or lanceolate to elliptic, oblong-ovate, or ovate, margins entire or obscurely and irregularly repand.

1, narrowly elongate-cylindric, (15–)20–90 × 4–10 mm, usually bearing pink to brown or purple pyriform bulblets proximally and sterile flowers distally;

peduncle 1–5 cm.

terminal, spikelike.

ascending or spreading, (1–)2–5 mm.

present.

1–2 per ocreate fascicle;

perianth greenish proximally, usually white or pink distally, rarely red;

tepals obovate, 2.1–4 mm, apex obtuse to acute;

stamens included or exserted, some or all often poorly developed;

anthers reddish to purple.

bisexual, 1–2 per ocreate fascicle, base not stipelike;

perianth nonaccrescent, white, greenish white, pink, or purplish pink, rarely red, campanulate, glabrous;

tepals 5, connate proximally ca. 1/5 their length, petaloid, monomorphic or slightly dimorphic, outer larger than inner;

stamens 5–8, sometimes poorly developed;

filaments distinct or connate basally, outer ones sometimes adnate to perianth tube, glabrous;

anthers yellow, pink, red, purple, or blackish, ovate to elliptic;

styles 3, erect or spreading, distinct or connate proximally;

stigmas 2–3, capitate.

rarely produced, dark brown, 2.2–3.3 × 0.9–1.5 mm, dull, granular.

included or exserted, brown to dark brown, unwinged, 3-gonous, glabrous.

embryo curved.

= 11, 12.

= 96, 120.