Flora of North America species comparison

erect, not stiff, 15–90 cm.

aphyllopodic, without dead leaf remains at base, 20–90 cm.

sheaths pale brown abaxially, inner band thin, hyaline, sometimes slightly red tinged, concave at summit;

ligules slightly longer than wide;

blades pale green to gray-green flat, 10–20(–30) cm × (1.5–)2–4 mm, subequal to shorter than culms, not stiff.

blades 2–5 mm wide, margins revolute, scabrid at tip.

2–15 cm × 5–10 mm;

proximal bracts shorter than to exceeding spikes;

distal bracts usually scalelike.

proximal bracts 2–7 cm, shorter than inflorescences;

lateral spikes usually androgynous, (10–)25–50 × 3.5–6 mm, with 20–80 perigynia;

terminal spikes 20–50 × 2.5–5 mm.

4–8, gynecandrous, proximal ± remote, distal spikes approximate, sometimes flexuous, containing (5–)10–20(–30) perigynia suborbicular to oblong, 3–12 × 3–5 mm;

terminal spike staminate for less than 1/2 of length, often clavate due to more conspicuous staminate part.

appressed-ascending, gray-green, becoming yellowish brown, obscurely many-veined, elliptic-ovate, 1.8–3 × 1.2–1.7 mm, widest near middle, membranous;

beak abaxial suture inconspicuous, small marginal teeth.

2.5–3.5 × 1.2–2 mm, apex rounded;

beak 0.1–0.5 mm.

pale brown, oblong-obovate, 1.25–1.5 × 1–1.25 mm, dull to slightly glossy.

scales hyaline with green, 3-veined center when young, usually brownish tinged in age, broadly ovate, subequal to, not concealing perigynia, apex obtuse to acutish.

scales ovate, 2.4–4 × 1.3–1.8 mm, shorter and as wide as or slightly narrower than perigynia, apex obtuse to acute.

scales oblong-obovate, 3.7–4.5 × 1.2–2 mm, apex obtuse.

2.6–2.9 mm.

= 56.