Flora of North America species comparison

to 100 cm × 2 mm, scabrous.

erect, stiff, 20–50 cm.

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.

sheaths pale brown abaxially, inner band hyaline, conspicuously red tinged, concave at summit;

ligules as long as broad;

blades pale to bluish green or gray-green, flat, 10–25 cm × 2–3 mm, shorter than culms, thin.

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.

2–4(–6) cm × 5–10 mm;

proximal bracts prolonged, subequal to spikes, distal bracts scalelike.

5–8, gynecandrous, proximal 2 or 3 spikes 1 cm or less apart, distal approximate, containing 10–20 perigynia, oblong, 5–14 × 3–5 mm;

terminal spikes staminate for less than 1/2 length, scarcely clavate.

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.

appressed-ascending, pale brown or brown, several-veined, elliptic-obovate, 1.5–2 × 1 mm, widest near middle, membranous;

beak short, entire.

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

yellow-brown, elliptic, 1–1.25 × 0.8 mm, dull to slightly glossy.

pale brown, hyaline, awn to 3 mm.

scales brown with pale green center and narrow hyaline margins, broadly ovate, much shorter than perigynia, apex obtuse.

= 52.

= 60 (Chukotka Peninsula).