Flora of North America species comparison

trigonous, 50–150 cm × 2–15 mm, glabrous (rarely sparsely scabridulous on angles proximal to bracts).

single or close together, trigonous, (10–)40–80(–120) cm × 1.2–2.5(–5) mm, glabrous.

inversely W-shaped, 40–100 cm × 5–15 mm.

2–5, pleated, (10–)20–50(–90) cm × 2–5(–10) mm.

spikes 1–4, cylindric, (2.5–)3.5–5 × 1.2–1.5 cm;

rays 8–10, (1–)15–35 cm; 2d order rays 1–3 cm;

bracts 8–12, ascending at 45–60°, (5–)20–80 cm × 3–15 mm; 2d order bracts 3–7 cm × 2–4 mm;

rachilla persistent, wings 0.3 mm wide, at achene maturation adaxial edge of wing detaching from rachilla, base remaining firmly attached.

spikes 1–4(–7), loose, broadly ovoid to ovoid-pyramidal, 25–35 × 25–35 mm;

rays (4–)5–6(–8), (1–)3–8(–16) cm, glabrous; 2d order rays (0–)1–5, 5–15(–50) mm;

bracts 4–7, ascending at 30–45°, pleated, (5–)20–40(–60) × (2–)3–8(–11) mm; 2d order bracts 1–4 per ray, 5–10(–30) × 0.5–1 mm, scabridulous;

rachilla persistent, wingless (or very narrowly winged, not clasping achene).

35–65, slightly compressed, linear, ± quadrangular, 5–8 × 0.8–1.1 mm;

floral scales deciduous, 12–16, appressed, marginally clear, laterally reddish along midrib, medially green, laterally 1–2-ribbed, medially strongly 5-ribbed, ovate, 1.6–1.8 × 1.1–1.3 mm, apex mucronulate.

(10–)20–35(–45), seemingly flattened proximally from spreading floral scales, becoming terete apically, linear, (10–)13–18(–25) × 1.2–1.5(–1.6) mm;

floral scales deciduous, (10–)12–20(–25), laterally light reddish brown to dark red, medially greenish, laterally ribless, medially 3–5-ribbed, oblong-ovate, 1.7–2(–2.4) × 0.9–1.2 mm, apex obtuse, barely reaching next scale, apex entire, emarginate, mucro at most 0.3 mm.

anthers 0.4–0.5 mm, connective blunt, at most 0.1 mm;

styles 0.8–1 mm;

stigmas 0.4 mm.

anthers 0.4–0.5 mm;

styles 0.3–0.6 mm;

stigmas 1–1.8(–2) mm.

brown or whitish, sessile, ellipsoid, slightly wider at base, 0.9 × 0.4 mm, surfaces finely puncticulate.

dark brown, narrowly oblong, (1.3–)1.4–1.6(–1.7) × (0.3–)0.4–0.5 mm, base cuneate to ± stipelike, apex acute, not apiculate, surfaces papillose.