Flora of North America species comparison

densely tufted, lateral, ascending or lax to decumbent, distinctly winged, 10–62 cm × 2–2.4 mm;

basal sheath light brown to brown, the proximal frequently wine-red or purple, small, triangular.

densely tufted, ascending, lax or, occasionally, decumbent, 13–78 cm × 0.8–1 mm.

sheaths 2–15 mm;

blades ascending, midrib well developed, 2 lateral veins conspicuous, slightly more so than other veins, flat, thin, 10–35 cm × 10–38 mm, widest leaf 13–38(–62) mm wide, blades of overwintering leaves smooth.

basal sheaths purple or purple tinged;

sheaths 2–42 mm;

blades ascending or lax, erect, green or yellow-green, midrib developed adaxially, 2 lateral veins abaxially, 19–38 cm × 1–5 mm, blades of overwintering leaves smooth.

1.4–2.6 cm × 3.9–2.2(–3.2) mm;

bract blades of distal lateral spikes lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, wider than spikes, concealing them, widest bract blade of distalmost lateral spike (2.9–)3.2–8.3 mm wide.

0.5–11.2 cm × 0.5–4 mm, angles of bract sheath denticulate;

bract blade of distal lateral spikes linear, narrower than spikes, not concealing them;

widest bract blade of distalmost lateral spike 0.5–3.4 mm wide.

peduncles of proximal spikes to 5.8 cm; of terminal spike absent.

peduncles proximal pistillate spikes to 11 cm, distal spike sessile; staminate spike 0.5–10.6 cm.

4(–5) per culm;

lateral spikes 6–36 × 3–4.2 mm;

terminal spike erect, linear, 4–18 × 1.2–1.6 mm, often hidden by distal 2 pistillate spikes and distal bract blade, frequently exceeded by distal 2 pistillate bracts.

(3–)4(–5) per culm;

lateral spikes 5–27 × 3–4 mm;

internode between proximal scales in proximal spike 1.1–3.2(–4.8) mm;

terminal spike linear, 11–21 × 1–2.2 mm.

3–20 per spike, strongly to loosely overlapping, erect or ascending, obovate, 3–4.2 × 1.8–2.1 mm;

beak abruptly bent, 0.3–0.6 mm.

4–12 per spike, closely overlapping, aggregated, ascending, conspicuously (22–)25–32-veined, elliptic-obovate, 2.8–3 × 1.5–1.8 mm, 1.8–2.7 times long as wide;

beak abruptly bent, 0.2–0.8 mm.

ovoid, 2.5–3.8 × 1.6–1.8 mm.

obovoid, 2.6–2.8 × 1.3–1.6 mm.

scales oblong, 2.8–3.2 × 1.4–2 mm, apex obtuse or truncate, awnless (sometimes mucronate).

scales 2.8–3 × 1–1.2 mm, apex acute to aristate, awn to 1 mm.

scales oblong ovate, 2.8–3.2 × 1.4–2 mm, margins hyaline, apex obtuse.

scales 3.5–4 × 1.2–1.5 mm, margins hyaline, purple-brown or brownish purple tinged, apex acute.

2–2.2 mm.

2.6–3 mm.

= 44.

= 33, 38, 40.