Flora of North America species comparison

20–110 cm.

to 90 cm × 2 mm, scabrous.

sheath adaxially white-hyaline, summits usually U-shaped, occasionally prolonged to 3 mm beyond collar;

distal ligules (1–)2–3(–6) mm;

blades (2–)3–7 per fertile culm, 10–50 cm × 2–5 mm.

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.

usually dense, light to dark brown and green, (0.8–)1.1–2.6 cm × 9.5–17.5 mm;

proximal internode 0.5–3(–4) mm; 2d internode 0.5–2(–3) mm;

proximal bracts scalelike or rarely leaflike, occasionally bristlelike, shorter than inflorescences.

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.

4–10(–14), densely aggregated, individually indistinct, usually broadly ovoid, 5–9(–11) × 4.3–7 mm, base and apex rounded or sometimes acute.

ascending to spreading, green or straw colored to brown when mature, conspicuously (0–)3–8(–11)-veined abaxially, conspicuously 0–8-veined adaxially, veins usually not reaching top of achene, ovate to broadly ovate, flat except over achene or ± plano-convex because of air within, (2.8–)3.4–4.5(–5.2) × 1.1–2.4 mm, 0.3–0.5 mm thick, margin flat, including wing 0.2–0.5 mm wide, ciliate-serrulate at least on distal body, without metallic sheen, dull to slightly shiny;

beak tip gold or red-brown to dark brown, cylindric, unwinged, at least 1 mm, ± entire for 0.2–0.6(–0.9) mm, abaxial suture inconspicuous or with white margin, distance from beak tip to achene 1.5–2.5(–2.8) mm.

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.

ovate to obovate, 1.1–1.6 × 0.7–1.2 mm, 0.3–0.5 mm thick.

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

style base cylindric.

scales brown, often red, purple, or coppery tinged, with pale or green midstripe, ovate, 2.4–3.5 mm, shorter than and narrower or as wide as perigynia, white margin 0–0.1 mm wide, apex acute.

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

with prominent apiculus to 0.5 mm.

= 80, 90.