Flora of North America species comparison

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

trigonous, basally tuberous thickened, 15–40 cm × 1–2.5 mm, glabrous.

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

flat to V-shaped, 10–30 cm × 1–2 mm.

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).

spike 1, densely oblong to ellipsoid, 8–36 × 8–20 mm;

rays 4–12, 10–20 cm;

bracts 3–6, horizontal to ascending at 30°, V-shaped, 3–15 cm × (3–)4–5.8 mm;

rachilla deciduous, wings 0.5–0.7 mm wide.

(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.

(5–)20–35(–60), linear to oblong, quadrangular; 4–12(–21) × 0.7–1.2 mm, base narrowed to 0.4–1 mm;

floral scales persistent, 1–3(–5), appressed, laterally whitish to reddish brown, stramineous with reddish spots, medially green, laterally 3–6-ribbed (midrib distinctly scabrid at 30X), narrowly oblong to ovate, 2.6–4.8 × 1.6–2 mm;

apex rounded to ± acute, entire, with mucro 0.3–0.5 mm;

sterile terminal scale involute, 0.4–0.6 mm wide, uncinate;

distal floral scales with cusp 0.6–1.9.

anthers 0.4–0.5 mm;

styles 0.3–0.6 mm;

stigmas 1–1.8(–2) mm.

anthers 0.5–1.3 mm;

styles 0.4–0.5 mm;

stigmas 0.5–0.9 mm.

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.

light brown to reddish brown, sessile to slightly stipitate, narrowly ellipsoid, 1.8–2.4 × 0.6–0.8 mm, apex slightly apiculate, surfaces puncticulate.