Flora of North America species comparison

(20–)30–100 cm, 1.5–3.5 mm wide basally, 0.7–1.2 mm wide distally.

10–85 cm, 1.8–2.2 mm wide basally, 0.5–0.9 mm wide distally;

basal scales and sheaths usually red or purple tinged.

sheaths usually loose, proximal green-and-white-striped and green-and-white-mottled, with conspicous transverse veins on back, fronts white to hyaline, sometimes red dotted and transversely rugose, yellow or brown and thickened at mouth;

ligules 1–4.5 mm, shorter than to as long as wide;

widest leaf blades 3.5–5 mm wide.

sheaths tight, green, fronts hyaline;

ligules (3.5–)4–8 mm, longer than wide;

widest leaf blades 2–4 mm wide, often papillose adaxially.

with 5–10 spikes, (1.5–)2–5 cm × 8–13 mm;

proximal internodes shorter than to as long as proximal spikes;

proximal bracts to 3 cm;

spikes with 5–15 ascending to spreading perigynia.

with 3–8 spikes, 1–4 cm × 6–10 mm;

proximal internodes as long as or slightly longer than proximal spikes;

proximal bracts to 2 cm;

spikes with 5–10 spreading to ascending perigynia.

pale green to pale brown, veinless or weakly 2–5-veined abaxially, 3.4–4.6 × 1.9–2.8 mm, body somewhat spongy, thickened at base, margins serrulate distally;

beak 0.7–1.4 mm, apical teeth 0.3–1 mm.

greenish brown finally becoming black and glossy, veinless or to 7-veined abaxially, 4–5.5 × 2.2–2.4 mm, base of body somewhat spongy, thickened, margins serrulate distally;

beak 1.5–2 mm, apical teeth 0.3–0.6 mm.

circular to elliptic-circular, 1.8–2.1 × 1.6–1.8 mm.

suborbiculate, 2–2.3 × 2 mm.

scales hyaline or pale brown with green, 1–3-veined center, ovate, 2.2–3.5 × 1.2–1.8 mm, body 2/3 as long to almost length of perigynia, apex acuminate to short-awned.

scales brown with green 1–3-veined center, lanceolate to ovate, 3.2–4.5 × 1.7–2.2 mm, body slightly shorter and slightly narrower than perigynium, apex acuminate to short-awned.

1.5–2.5 mm.

1.5–2.5 mm.

= 58.