Flora of North America species comparison

1–6(–25), trigonous to roundly trigonous, (0.5–)2–5(–9) cm × 0.2–0.4–(0.6) mm, glabrous.

trigonous, 40–70(–100) cm × 2–3 mm, scabrid or hirtellate, either immediately proximal to apex or over distal 1/2 of culm.

1–6, V-shaped, 1–6 cm × 0.3–1 mm.

flat, 30–80 cm × 4–10 mm, scabrid on margins, ribs on abaxial surface.

heads digitate, loosely ovoid, 3–18 × 3–26 mm;

rays (0–)1–6(–8), 2.5–20(–30) mm;

bracts 2–3(–5), horizontal to ascending at 45(–60)°, V-shaped, 2–60 × 0.3–1.2 mm.

spikes ovoid, 12–20 × 13–18 mm;

rays 3–6, 4–10(–16) cm, glabrous;

bracts 3–5, ± horizontal to reflexed, 3–12(–36) cm × 0.4–3(–5) mm, scabrid like leaves;

rachilla deciduous, essentially wingless or wings inconspicuous, hyaline, 0.1(–0.2) mm wide.

(3–)10–20(–30), greenish to reddish brown, narrowly ellipsoid to oblong, 3–11 × (0.8–)1.2–1.5 mm;

floral scales (3–)6–20(–28), laterally greenish to reddish brown, glossy, medially greenish to light reddish brown, strongly recurved, laterally ribless, medially strongly 3-ribbed, oblong-ovate, (0.8–)1–1.3 × 0.8–1(–1.2) mm, apex emarginate, cusp 0.6–1.2 mm.

25–50(–80), oblong, quadrangular-compressed, 5–10 × 2.5–3.5 mm;

floral scales deciduous, 4–10(–14), marginally clear, laterally brownish to clear distally, or light brown or reddish brown, blunt, laterally 3(–4)-ribbed, ovate-lanceolate, 2.5–3 × (1.2–)1.4–2 mm, often erose apically, apex acute to obtuse, entire or emarginate.

stamens 2 or 3;

anthers oblong-ovoid, 0.1(–0.2) mm;

styles (0.2–)0.4–0.6 mm;

stigmas 0.3–0.5 mm.

anthers 0.4–0.6 mm;

styles 0.8–1.2 mm;

stigmas 2 mm.

brown, oblong-obovoid, (0.5–)0.6 × (0.3–)0.4 mm, base cuneate, apex blunt, surfaces coarsely papillose.

brown to reddish brown, ± stipitate, ellipsoid, 1.2 × 0.5–0.6 mm, apex obtuse, scarcely to distinctly apiculate, surfaces puncticulate.