Flora of North America species comparison

erect, not stiff, 15–90 cm.

up to 12 cm, scabrous.

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 V-shaped in cross section when young, (0.5–) 1.2–2 mm wide, papillose, scabrous.

2–15 cm × 5–10 mm;

proximal bracts shorter than to exceeding spikes;

distal bracts usually scalelike.

proximal bracts usually with sheath 2.5–3 mm;

lateral spikes usually 1–2 distal, 2–3 basal, 3–7 × 4 mm;

terminal spike staminate or gynecandrous, 7–8 × 1.5–2 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.

15–27-veined, most veins on faces 0.1 mm wide or wider, about as wide as marginal veins, obovoid, 3–4 × (1.1–)1.4–1.9(–2.1) mm, glabrous proximally, hispidulous distally;

beak distinct, abruptly bent, 0.1–0.5 mm.

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

sessile, with 2 faces convex, 2–2.4 × (1.1–)1.4–1.9 mm, apex retuse.

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 3–5(–10)-veined, obovate, 3.5–4.2 × 1.3–2 mm, proximal ones longer than perigynia, apex subobtuse to acuminate and often mucronate.

scales 5-veined or more, 4–5 × 1.5–2.1 mm.

= 56.