Flora of North America species comparison

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

trigonous, 15–60 cm × 1–3 mm, glabrous.

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

2–6, flat to V-shaped, 6–30(–40) cm × 2–4 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 broadly ellipsoid, 5–45 × 10–30(–45) mm;

rays (2–)5–9, (0.3–)3–10 cm;

rachis 4–17 mm;

bracts 5–6, horizontal to ascending, V-shaped, 1.5–30 cm × 0.5–4 mm;

rachilla persistent, wings hyaline, 0.4–0.5 mm wide.

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.

5–30, pale greenish white or stramineous, compressed, linear-lanceoloid, 7–35 × (1.2–)1.4–2 mm;

floral scales deciduous, 6–34, spreading or appressed, laterally greenish white, often reddish or brown speckled, medially green, laterally 3–5-ribbed, medially 3-ribbed, elliptic, (2.2–)3–4(–4.4) × (1.2–)1.8–2.2 mm, apex acute.

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

styles 0.8–1 mm;

stigmas 0.4 mm.

anthers 0.6 mm;

styles 0.6–1.2 mm;

stigmas 1–1.4(–1.7) mm.

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

reddish brown to dark brown, stipitate, narrowly ellipsoid, 1.4–2 × 0.6–0.9 mm, apex apiculate, surfaces puncticulate.