Flora of North America species comparison

20–50 cm, smooth, glabrous.

to 100 cm × 2 mm, scabrous.

blades V-shaped in cross section when young, 1.5–2.8 mm wide, usually involute, proximally puberulent.

sheath fronts spotted red-brown or pale brown, apex truncate or short-convex, membranous or hyaline, rugose;

ligule retuse or rounded, to 2 mm, free limb to 0.2 mm;

blades 120 cm × 5 mm, longer than flowering stem.

proximal bracts sheathless or sheath not more than 2(–5) mm;

lateral spikes 10–20 × 5–9 mm, all in distal 1/2 of stem;

terminal spike 10–32 × 1.5–3 mm.

spicate, (3–)7–10 cm × 15 mm, with 10–15 branches, the proximal branches distinctly separate; the proximal internode to 25 mm;

bracts setaceous, those subtending at least the proximal lateral branches conspicuous.

20–30-veined, subsessile, ovoid to obovoid, 4–6 × 1.9–2.4 mm, pilose, hairs not more than 0.2 mm;

beak distinct or obscure, to 0.5 mm.

green to pale brown, veinless on both faces or 3-veined abaxially, body ovate or elliptic, 2–3.2 × 1.3–1.8 mm, base obtuse;

beak 0.8–1.2 mm, 1/3–1/2 length of perigynium.

sessile, 3–3.5 × 1.9–2 mm, almost filling bodies of perigynia.

red-brown, ovate, 1.2–1.4 × 1 mm, glossy.

scales 3–5-veined, ovate, 2.8–5 × 1.6–2.2 mm, proximal ones shorter than perigynia, apex acute.

scales 3-veined, 4.5–5.5 × 1.6–2.2 mm.

pale brown, hyaline, awn to 3 mm.

= 52.