Flora of North America species comparison

25–80 cm, glabrescent.

erect, not stiff, 15–90 cm.

sheaths pilose;

ligules as long as or shorter than wide;

blades 1.5–4 mm wide, glabrescent or pilose abaxially and/or proximally.

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.

lateral spikes usually approximate, 7–18 × 3.5–5 mm;

terminal spike gynecandrous, at least 1/2 of flowers pistillate, 12–25 mm.

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.

spreading, 7–14-veined, obovate-circular, nearly circular in cross section, 2.1–3 × 1.1–2 mm, not papillose, glabrous or sparsely pilose;

beak absent.

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.

1.6–2.2 × 1–1.4 mm.

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

scales ovate, 1.5–2.4(–3) × 0.7–1.5 mm, shorter than perigynia, apex acute to acuminate.

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 oblong-ovate, 2.4–5.1 mm, apex acuminate.

1.4–2.5 mm.

= 48.

= 56.