Flora of North America species comparison

straight or arcuate, 2–85 cm.

to 30(–60) cm.

of flowering stems shorter than to exceeding culms, to 20 cm × 0.8–5.4 mm;

ligules on distal cauline leaves usually obsolete (except in 414.b Carex viridula subsp. brachyrrhyncha).

blades 2–4 mm wide.

peduncles of terminal staminate spikes 0–28 mm;

bracts to 18 cm × 0.6–3.4 mm;

inner band of sheaths concave or truncate.

2–6(–8) cm;

proximal internode 10–40 mm;

peduncle of proximal spikes exserted to 4 cm;

proximal bracts with blade 5–22 mm, sheath cylindric, 5–28 mm, mouth usually tinged with dark purple, 0.9–1.4 mm wide Spikes 2–5;

lateral spikes usually pistillate, inclined or pendent, 8–19 × 4–7 mm;

terminal spike staminate or gynecandrous, erect or inclined, 6–15 × 2–5 mm.

proximal pistillate spikes 1–8, contiguous or proximal distant, sessile or short-pedunculate, globose to short-cylindric, 4–17.5 × 3–11 mm;

terminal staminate spike sessile or pedunculate, 5–25 × 1–3.6 mm.

spreading, yellow to dark olive, 1.8–4.2 × 0.8–2 mm, apex gradually or abruptly narrowed;

beak straight or reflexed less than 20°, 0.3–2.1 mm, scabrous or smooth.

ascending, pale brown proximally, black distally, indistinctly veined, ovate, 3–4.8(–5.5) × 0.9–1.6 mm, papillose at least on margins;

beak distinct, 0.3–0.5 mm.

1–1.8 × 0.7–1.4 mm.

ellipsoid, 1.4–1.6 × 0.7–0.9 mm.

pistillate scales pale brown to reddish brown, 1.4–3.2 × 0.8–1.7 mm, margins pale, narrow, hyaline; staminate scales reddish brown, lanceolate to ovate, 2.3–5.2 × 0.7–2 mm, margins narrowly pale hyaline, apex obtuse to acuminate.

0.9–3.1 mm.

1.9–2.6 mm.

scales black with pale midvein, ovate or oblong-ovate, 3–4.8 × 0.9–1.6 mm, margins narrow and scarious, apex acute to obtuse, papillose at least on midvein.

scales black with pale midvein, oblong-obovate, 3–5 × 1.2–1.8 mm, margins scarious, apex acute or obtuse.