Flora of North America species comparison

erect, not stiff, 15–90 cm.

20–90 cm, pilose.

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.

ligules shorter than wide;

blades 1.5–4 mm wide, pilose on both surfaces.

2–15 cm × 5–10 mm;

proximal bracts shorter than to exceeding spikes;

distal bracts usually scalelike.

lateral spikes 8–18 × 3–5.5 mm, usually crowded;

terminal spike gynecandrous, at least 1/2 of flowers pistillate, 10–20(–25) 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.

ascending, weakly 9–18-veined, obovate-circular, ± trigonous in cross section, 2–3 × 1.1–1.6 mm, not papillose, glabrous;

beak absent.

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

1.6–2.1(–2.6) × 0.8–1.3 mm.

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, 1.8–2.5 × 0.7–1.3 mm, apex obtuse, sometimes mucronate, shorter than perigynia.

scales ovate to lanceolate, 2.1–5.2 mm, apex acuminate.

1.3–2.2 mm.

= 56.

= 52.