Flora of North America species comparison

1–15, trigonous, 7–30 cm × 1.2–2.5 mm, soft (flattened in pressing), glabrous.

trigonous to roundly trigonous, (0.5–)5–25(–105) cm × 1–2.5(–7.5) mm, glabrous.

2–7, flat, (2–)7–22 cm × 2.2–4 mm.

flat to inversely W-shaped, 5–25(–90) cm × 2–5(–11) mm.

heads dense, 7–17 mm diam.; when rays short, heads sessile or nearly so, then densely irregularly lobate, 12–35 mm diam.;

rays 1–5, 2–32 mm;

bracts 2–4, longest bract erect or nearly so, appearing as continuation of culm, other bracts horizontal to ascending, 1–22 cm × 0.5–3.5 mm, margins and keel minutely scabridulous.

spikes 1–3(–6), rather densely cylindric-ovoid, (4–)10–30(–45) × (6–)10–16(–23) mm;

rays 2–6(–12), 1–8(–28) cm;

bracts (3–)5–7(–11), horizontal to ascending at 30°, inversely W-shaped, (3–)10–20(–70) cm × 1–3(–12) mm;

rachilla persistent, at maturity becoming laterally free, remaining firmly attached proximally, wings 0.3(–0.4) mm wide.

30–120, greenish brown to purplish brown, oblong-ellipsoid, compressed, (2–)3–5(–6) × 0.8–1.2 mm;

floral scales (6–)12–20(–30), laterally clear margins, stramineous to deep purple, medially greenish, stramineous, or purplish, laterally ribless, medially 3-ribbed, obovate to orbiculate, 0.6–0.8 × 0.6–0.8 mm, apex mucronulate.

(20–)40–80, linear, quadrangular, 3–8(–11) × 1–1.5 mm;

floral scales deciduous, 6–16(–30), appressed, laterally light brown with reddish speckles, medially greenish, laterally ribless, medially 3-ribbed, oblong-ovate to obovate, quadrangular to subterete, 1.3–1.5 × 0.8–1.2 mm, apex obtuse, mucronulate.

stamens 1 or 2;

anthers ovoid-ellipsoid, 0.1 mm, connective not prolonged;

styles 0.1 mm;

stigmas 0.1–0.3 mm.

anthers 0.2–0.3 mm, connectives 0.1 mm;

styles 0.7–0.8 mm;

stigmas 0.4 mm.

light brown, obovoid-ellipsoid, 0.6–0.8 × 0.3–0.4 mm (as long as subtending scale), base cuneate, apex obtuse, apiculate, surfaces finely reticulate, papillose.

light grayish to brown, sessile, ovoid, (0.4–)0.7–1 × 0.4–0.6 mm, apex rounded, apiculate, surfaces glabrous.