Flora of North America species comparison

(20–)30–100 cm, 2.5–8 mm wide basally, 0.7–1.6 mm wide distally.

aphyllopodic, without dead leaf remains at base, 20–90 cm.

sheaths usually loose, proximally green-and-white-striped, not white spotted, with conspicuous transverse veins on back, fronts hyaline, sometimes transversely rugose and red dotted, thin, white or hyaline and fragile at mouth;

ligules 2–7 mm, shorter to longer than wide;

widest leaf blades (3–)4–8 mm wide.

blades 2–5 mm wide, margins revolute, scabrid at tip.

with 5–15 spikes, 1–5 cm × 8–15 mm, occasionally compound, then somewhat larger;

proximal bracts to 3 cm;

spikes with 5–15 ascending to spreading perigynia;

proximal internodes shorter than to 1.5 times as long as proximal spikes.

proximal bracts 2–7 cm, shorter than inflorescences;

lateral spikes usually androgynous, (10–)25–50 × 3.5–6 mm, with 20–80 perigynia;

terminal spikes 20–50 × 2.5–5 mm.

pale green to pale brown, veinless or 3–7(–12)-veined abaxially, rarely veined adaxially, 3.5–5.5 × 2–3 mm, body somewhat spongy, base thickened, margins serrulate distally;

beak 0.6–1.6 mm, apical teeth 0.3–1 mm.

2.5–3.5 × 1.2–2 mm, apex rounded;

beak 0.1–0.5 mm.

circular to elliptic- circular, 1.8–2.1 × 1.6–2 mm.

scales hyaline or brown with green, 1–3-veined center, ovate, 2.6–4.4 × 1.3–2.4 mm, body shorter to slightly longer than perigynium, apex acuminate to short-awned.

scales ovate, 2.4–4 × 1.3–1.8 mm, shorter and as wide as or slightly narrower than perigynia, apex obtuse to acute.

1.5–3 mm.

2.6–2.9 mm.

scales oblong-obovate, 3.7–4.5 × 1.2–2 mm, apex obtuse.