Flora of North America species comparison

3-35 cm, usually decumbent, occasionally erect, rarely branching;

internodes glabrous.

smooth, deeply striate;

ligules 0.1-0.2 mm, of short hairs, sometimes with a few papillose-based hairs on either side;

blades 2-8 cm long, 0.5-1.5 mm wide, flat to involute, adaxial surfaces mostly glabrous, often pilose basally.

usually with only 1 branch (terminating the culm), or with 2-4 branches and subdigitate;

branches 10-25(40) mm, persistent, straight, arcuate, or circular, with 30-80 spikelets, axes terminating in a reduced spikelet;

disarticulation above the glumes.

pectinate, with 1 bisexual floret and 1-2 rudimentary florets.

glabrous, sometimes scabrous distally, acute or acuminate;

lower glumes 1.5-2.5 mm;

upper glumes 3.5-5 mm;

lowest lemmas 2.5-3.5 mm, pilose over the veins, 3-awned, awns stout and flattened, central awns 1-2 mm, flanked by 2 membranous lobes, lateral awns shorter than the central awns;

lowest paleas obovate, unawned;

rachilla segments subtending second florets with densely pubescent apices;

second florets reduced to an awn column with 3 awns of 5-6 mm;

third florets, if present, flabellate scales.

= 20.