Flora of North America species comparison

to 90 cm × 2 mm, scabrous.

30–80 cm.

sheath fronts spotted red-brown, veinless, plane, apex truncate to convex, membranous;

ligule rounded, to 1 mm, free limb to 0.2 mm;

blades to 75 cm × 6 mm, shorter than flowering stem.

3.9–8.7 mm wide, glabrous.

loosely paniculate, 4–12 cm × 15–20 mm, with 10–20 branches proximal branches distinct; the proximal internode to 25 mm;

bracts scalelike, not conspicuous, the awn, when present, 15–50 mm.

(1–)2–4(–6), erect;

lateral spikes usually pistillate;

terminal spike gynecandrous; staminate portion 4–11 × 1–3.5 mm; pistillate portion oblong to elliptic, 10–43 × 10–16 mm.

dark brown-black, 3–5-veined abaxially, 0–3-veined adaxially, body ovate to lanceolate, 3–4.5 × 1.5–2 mm, base rounded to cordate, conspicuous basal spongy tissue somewhat distending perigynium;

beak 1–1.5 mm.

appressed-ascending, the proximal not reflexed, 5.5–7.8 × 2–3 mm, smooth;

beak 2.3–2.9 mm, often sparingly scabrous.

red-brown, ovate, 1.2–1.5 × 1–1.2 mm, glossy;

style base cylindric.

sides often concave, 2–2.6 × 1.4–1.7 mm, 1.2–1.9 times as long as wide;

style deciduous, straight.

hyaline, red-brown or pale brown, margins colorless, broad, shining, apex acute or mucronate.

with prominent apiculus to 0.5 mm.

scales 2.3–5.5 × 1.2–1.7 mm, apex acute, sharp or blunt, hidden by perigynia.

scales 4.2–5.8 × 1.4–2 mm, apex acute, sharp or blunt.