Flora of North America species comparison

erect, not stiff, 15–90 cm.

20–80 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.

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

summits U-shaped;

distal ligules 2–4 mm;

blades 3–5 per fertile culm, 14–25 cm × 1–3 mm.

2–15 cm × 5–10 mm;

proximal bracts shorter than to exceeding spikes;

distal bracts usually scalelike.

usually nodding, ± open, yellow-brown or reddish brown, 2.5–6 cm × 5–16 mm;

proximal internode (2–)5–16 mm; 2d internode 5–17 mm;

proximal bracts bristlelike.

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.

3–9, distant, distinct, ellipsoid, 6–15 × 4–8 mm, base acute, apex obtuse;

lateral spikes with staminate portion 2 mm or less at base.

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.

spreading, reddish brown, conspicuously 5-veined or more on each face, lance-ovate to weakly obovate, flat except over achene, 3.8–5.6 × 1.9–2.8 mm, 0.4–0.5 mm thick, base rounded, margin flat, including wing 0.4–0.7 mm wide;

beak ascending, reddish brown at tip, flat, 1/2 length of body, ciliate-serrulate, abaxial suture with brown or reddish brown-hyaline margin, distance from beak tip to achene 2–3 mm.

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

elliptic, 1.5–1.8 × 0.9–1.1 mm, 0.3–0.4 mm thick.

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 reddish brown, often with green or pale midstripe, lanceolate, 3.5–4.9 mm, shorter and much narrower than perigynia, margin reddish brown, apex firm, acuminate or awned.

= 56.

= 74.