Flora of North America species comparison

30–80 cm.

to 90 cm × 2 mm, scabrous.

3–5.7 mm wide, glabrous.

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.

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.

1–2(–3), erect;

lateral spikes, if present, usually pistillate;

terminal spike gynecandrous; staminate portion 5–18 × 1–3.5 mm; pistillate portion ovate or oblong, 11–35 × 12–20 mm.

widely radiating, the proximal reflexed, 5.8–9.7 × 1.9–3.3 mm, smooth;

beak 2.1–3.8 mm, usually smooth.

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.

sides often flat, 2.3–3 × 1.1–1.4 mm, 1.9–2.5 times as long as wide;

style persistent, sinuous.

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

style base cylindric.

scales 3–4.5 × 0.5–1.1 mm, apex sharply acute or with short, scabrous awn, hidden by perigynia.

scales 3.5–7.1 × 1–2 mm, apex acute, sharp or blunt.

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

with prominent apiculus to 0.5 mm.

= 56.