Flora of North America species comparison

erect, not stiff, 15–90 cm.

densely tufted, slightly winged, 9.2–56 cm × 0.8–1.1 mm.

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.

basal sheaths brown or light brown;

sheaths 1–40 mm;

blades erect, ascending, or lax, dark green, midrib well developed abaxially, margins serrulate distally, 6.2–17 × 2.8–32 cm, blades of overwintering leaves smooth Inflorescences: peduncles of lateral spikes absent; of terminal spike 1.3–7.3(–15) mm.

2–4, blade 1.2–21 cm × 2.6–11 mm, widest bract blade per plant 5.3–11 mm wide;

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

2–15 cm × 5–10 mm;

proximal bracts shorter than to exceeding spikes;

distal bracts usually scalelike.

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.

4–5 per culm, lateral spikes 5.3–18(–23) × 3.7–4.6 mm, distal 2–3 spikes overlapping and concealed by bracts;

terminal spike linear, 5.8–13(–18) × 0.9–2.1 mm wide, proximal to or overtoppped by distal 2 bracts, usually exceeded by or, sometimes, subequal to distalmost lateral spike.

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.

3–8(–14) per spike, spirally overlapping, aggregated, 29–34-veined, ovate or oblong, faces flat or slightly convex, 2.7–4.2(–5) × 1.3–1.7(–1.8) mm, base abruptly contracted to 0.1–0.2 mm stipe;

beak excurved 30–45° from long axis of perigynium, 0.2–0.6(–1) mm wide.

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

1.9–2.5(–2.9) × 1.2–1.6(–1.7).

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 1.1–4.2 × 1.4–1.8 mm;

body ovate, 1.1–2.2, margins usually whitish, apex acute and awnless or awned, awn 0–2.2 mm.

scales 1.9–3.8 × 0.8–1.5 mm, apex obtuse or acute, awnless.

1.8–2.3 mm.

= 56.