Flora of North America species comparison

roundly trigonous, 3–25(–30) cm × 0.3–1.4 mm, glabrous.

1–4, trigonous, (2–)20–50(–80) cm × (0.8–)1.5–2(–2.8) mm, basally glabrous or nearly so, apically hispidulous, on faces and angles distally, especially so immediately proximal to bracts.

1–3, V-shaped, 1–8 cm × 1–2 mm.

2–5(–7), V-shaped, (5–)15–30(–45) cm × (1.5–)2.5–5(–8) mm.

spike 1, loosely ovoid, compressed, 7–14 × 9–14 mm;

rays 1–4, to 2(–3) cm;

bracts 2–3, horizontal to ascending at 30(–45)°, V-shaped to flat, 1–12 cm × 0.5–1.5 mm.

spike 1 (occasionally 1–2 smaller sessile spikes at base), densely cylindric, (7–)11–20(–25) × (5–) 7–10(–12) mm;

rays 3–6(–10), (1–)3–6(–18) cm, rays and rachis hispidulous;

bracts 4–8(–10), ascending at 30–60°, V-shaped, (2–)10–25(–45) cm × (1–)3–6(–8) mm;

rachilla deciduous, wings persistent, 0.3–0.4 mm wide.

3–5(–8), flattened, oblong to oblong-lanceoloid, 8–18 × 2–2.6(–3) mm;

floral scales (6–)10–26(–32), closely imbricate, laterally light to dark brown, medially light brown, laterally ribless, medially 2–3-ribbed, 2-keeled, oblong to ovate, 1.9–2.7 × 1.8–2.3 mm, apex obtuse.

(20–)70–120(–140), oblong-ellipsoid to oblong-lanceoloid, ± terete to quadrangular, (2.2–)3.4–4.5(–5.6) × (0.8–)0.9–1.2(–1.3) mm;

distal spikelet spreading or ascending;

floral scales 1(–3), appressed, stramineous, red-spotted, strongly 3(–4)-ribbed on either side of green part, medially weakly 3-ribbed, ovate to elliptic ovate, (2.4–)2.8–3.3(–3.6) × 1.6–2 mm, apex acute, mucronulate from excurrent midrib.

stamens 2–3;

anthers 0.4–0.5 mm, connective not prolonged;

styles 0.6–1 mm;

stigmas 1–1.5 mm.

anthers (0.3–)0.4–0.6 mm;

styles 0.4–0.6(–0.8) mm;

stigmas 1–1.4 mm.

black, network of ridges forming isodiametric or square cells, sessile, obovoid to ovoid, 1–1.3(–1.5) × (0.6–)0.8 mm, apex apiculate, surfaces minutely punctate.

brown, stipitate, ellipsoid, (1.6–)1.8–2 × (0.7–) 0.8–0.9 mm, stipe 0.1–0.2 × 0.2 mm, apex ± truncate, apiculate, surfaces puncticulate to glabrous.