Flora of North America species comparison

30–140 cm.

to 80 cm × 3–8 mm, scabrous.

sheaths adaxially conspicuously green-veined nearly to collar, narrow hyaline band or sharp Y-shaped region at collar, adaxially firm, sometimes papillose, summits U-shaped;

distal ligules 2.8–8 mm;

blades 3–7 per fertile culm, 11–50 cm × 2.5–6 mm.

sheath fronts not spotted, slightly thickened near hyaline margins, apex convex, membranous, rugose;

ligule retuse or rounded, to 3 mm, free limb to 0.2 mm;

blades 60 cm × 5 mm, shorter than flowering stem.

dense or open, pale green or brown, 2–6.5 cm × 7–20 mm;

proximal internode 3–13 mm; 2d internode 4–10 mm;

proximal bracts scalelike with bristle tips shorter than inflorescences.

spicate, 3–7 cm × 15–25 mm, with 10–15 branches, proximal branches not distinctly separate; the proximal internode to 10 mm;

bracts setaceous, usually only the proximal conspicuous.

3–11, distant, distinct, ellipsoid to ovoid, 6–20 × 4–9 mm, base rounded or short-acute, apex broadly acute to obtuse.

± spreading, light or golden brown, faintly 3–8-veined on each face, obovate, flat except over achene, 4–5.5 × 2.5–3.8 mm, 0.4–0.5 mm thick, margin flat, including wing 0.8–1.5 mm wide;

beak light brown at tip, flat, 0.85–2.2 mm, ciliate-serrulate, abaxial suture with light brown margin, distance from beak tip to achene 1.8–3 mm.

pale brown, body broadly ovate, 3.2–4 × 2–2.6 mm, base rounded or cordate, apex abruptly contracted to beak;

beak 1.3–1.5 mm, 1/3 length of perigynium.

oblong, 1.7–2 × 0.9–1.1 mm, 0.3–0.4 mm thick.

brown, ovate, 1.5–1.9 × 1.2–1.6 mm, dull.

scales white-hyaline or tan, with green midstripe extending to tip, lanceolate, 2.8–3.5(–3.8) mm, shorter or longer and much narrower than perigynia, apex firm, acuminate or awned to 0.8 mm.

hyaline, pale brown, becoming colorless with green midrib, awn usually not longer than the body.

= 74.