Flora of North America species comparison

obtusely trigonous in cross section, (25–)35–125 cm, smooth.

to 90 cm × 2 mm, scabrous.

ligules 1.5–13(–18) mm, narrower to wider than long;

blades yellowish or light green, M-shaped to flat, widest leaves of vegetative shoots (3.5–)4–12 mm wide, smooth or sometimes papillose adaxially, especially distally.

sheath fronts spotted red-brown, veinless, plane, apex truncate to convex, membranous;

ligule rounded, to 1 mm, free limb to 0.2 mm;

blades to 75 cm × 6 mm, shorter than flowering stem.

(3–)15–50 cm;

bract sheaths prolonged, apex truncate to convex;

proximal (1–)2–4 spikes usually androgynous or, occasionally, pistillate, erect or the proximal spreading, ovoid to short cylindric.

loosely paniculate, 4–12 cm × 15–20 mm, with 10–20 branches proximal branches distinct; the proximal internode to 25 mm;

bracts scalelike, not conspicuous, the awn, when present, 15–50 mm.

spreading to somewhat reflexed, pale green, 20–26-veined, essentially uninflated, lanceolate, (8.3–) 10.5–13.5(–15) × 1.5–2.4 mm, 4–7 times as long as wide, apex tapered to bidentulate;

beak absent.

dark brown-black, 3–5-veined abaxially, 0–3-veined adaxially, body ovate to lanceolate, 3–4.5 × 1.5–2 mm, base rounded to cordate, conspicuous basal spongy tissue somewhat distending perigynium;

beak 1–1.5 mm.

2.3–3.4(–3.8) × 1.8–2.4 mm, 1.3–1.8 times as long as wide.

red-brown, ovate, 1.2–1.5 × 1–1.2 mm, glossy;

style base cylindric.

scales ovate to narrowly ovate, mostly 1/2–2/3 as long as perigynia, apex acute to acuminate-awned.

3–5 mm.

with prominent apiculus to 0.5 mm.

hyaline, red-brown or pale brown, margins colorless, broad, shining, apex acute or mucronate.