Flora of North America species comparison

to 100 cm × 2 mm, scabrous.

phyllopodic, with dead leaf remains at base, 20–60 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.

blades 1.5–4 mm wide, margins sometimes revolute, scabrid at tip.

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.

proximal bracts 0.5-2 cm, shorter than inflorescences;

lateral spikes 12–20 × 6–8 mm, with (7–)10–25 perigynia;

terminal spikes 10–25 × 2.2–3 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.

3.2–4.2 × 1.5–2.6 mm, apex tapering to rounded;

beak absent.

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

pale brown, hyaline, awn to 3 mm.

scales ovate-circular, 3.5–4.5 × 2.1–3.8 mm, slightly shorter than and wider than perigynia, apex acute to acuminate, mucronate, or shortly awned less than 1.5 mm.

scales oblong-ovate, 3–4.7 × 1.2–2.4 mm, apex obtuse.

2–2.3 mm.

= 52.