Flora of North America species comparison

erect, not stiff, 15–90 cm.

lateral, erect or ascending, usually overtopping vegetative shoots, 24–54 cm × 0.7–1 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 purple, 7–18 mm;

blades erect or ascending, evergreen, midrib and 2 lateral veins strongly developed, 14–42 cm × 8–32 mm, older leaves often shriveling or dead at tips.

2–15 cm × 5–10 mm;

proximal bracts shorter than to exceeding spikes;

distal bracts usually scalelike.

spikes 3–5 per culm, scattered;

peduncle of pistillate spikes erect or spreading, rarely drooping, exserted 0–18 mm;

bracts from middle and proximal portions of culms reduced, 0.8–2 cm × 2–3.5 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.

(4–)9–13(–15) per spike, overlapping, finely veined, elliptic, 3.7–4.9 × 1.6–2 mm;

beak constricted.

ascending from achene through entire orifice.

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

ovoid, 2.2–2.7 × 1.5–1.9 mm, sides flat to slightly concave at maturity, tightly fitting in perigynia.

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.

spikes the proximal basal, 8–30 × 4–7 mm.;

pistillate scales slightly keeled, 3.2–4.2 × 1.8–2.2 mm, midribs green, margins hyaline with purple outward, apex cuspidate to acuminate to acute.

spike 1, pedunculate, oblanceolate to linear, 8–20 × 2–3.5 mm.;

staminate scales 3–6 × 1.5–2 mm, midveins green or purple, margins dark purple, apex obtuse.

3.2–4.2 mm.

= 56.

= 50, 52.