Flora of North America species comparison

erect, not stiff, 15–90 cm.

15–60 cm, usually scabrous distally.

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.

proximal sheaths with blades, brownish, 1.5–5 mm diam.;

ligules 0.4–3.6 mm, 0.4–1.2 times wider than long;

blades gray-green, flat, 7–15 cm × 2–5(–7) mm, folded near bases, margins often revolute, herbaceous.

2–15 cm × 5–10 mm;

proximal bracts shorter than to exceeding spikes;

distal bracts usually scalelike.

4–25 cm, 1–1.6 times as long as proximal bracts;

proximal bract 2.5–20 cm, sheath 0.5–4 cm, blade 2–16 cm;

pistillate spikes ovoid to cylindric, 6–37 × 3.5–8 mm;

lateral spikes erect or ascending on stiff peduncles.

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 to spreading, densely arranged, yellow-green to brown, 2.3–5 × 1.25–2.5 mm, minutely papillose;

beak minute, bent.

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

light to dark brown, 2.7–4 × 1.7–2.2(–2.5) 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 purple tinged or brown, apex awned or obtuse.

= 56.