Flora of North America species comparison

basally cormlike, trigonous, (15–)30–100 cm × 0.5–3.5 mm, glabrous.

1–4, trigonous, (2–)20–50(–80) cm × (0.8–)1.5–2(–2.8) mm, basally glabrous or nearly so, apically hispidulous, on faces and angles distally, especially so immediately proximal to bracts.

flat to V-shaped, 10–65 cm × 3–9 mm, adaxial surface, margins minutely scabridulous.

2–5(–7), V-shaped, (5–)15–30(–45) cm × (1.5–)2.5–5(–8) mm.

spikes densely globose to globose-ovoid, 8–17 mm wide;

rays 3–12, 2–12 cm, scaberous adaxially especially distally;

rachis 4–8 mm;

bracts (3–)4–7, ascending at 30(–45)°, flat, 5–35 cm × 2–9 mm;

rachilla persistent, wings 0.5–0.7 mm wide.

spike 1 (occasionally 1–2 smaller sessile spikes at base), densely cylindric, (7–)11–20(–25) × (5–) 7–10(–12) mm;

rays 3–6(–10), (1–)3–6(–18) cm, rays and rachis hispidulous;

bracts 4–8(–10), ascending at 30–60°, V-shaped, (2–)10–25(–45) cm × (1–)3–6(–8) mm;

rachilla deciduous, wings persistent, 0.3–0.4 mm wide.

50–100, oblong-lanceoloid, ± terete-quadrangular, (3.5–)4–7 × 1–1.4 mm;

distal spikelet spreading or ascending;

floral scales persistent, 3–5, appressed, stramineous to brownish, 4-ribbed laterally, oblong-elliptic, 3.5–4.5 × 1–1.8 mm, membranous, apex entire or emarginate with mucro to 0.3 mm.

(20–)70–120(–140), oblong-ellipsoid to oblong-lanceoloid, ± terete to quadrangular, (2.2–)3.4–4.5(–5.6) × (0.8–)0.9–1.2(–1.3) mm;

distal spikelet spreading or ascending;

floral scales 1(–3), appressed, stramineous, red-spotted, strongly 3(–4)-ribbed on either side of green part, medially weakly 3-ribbed, ovate to elliptic ovate, (2.4–)2.8–3.3(–3.6) × 1.6–2 mm, apex acute, mucronulate from excurrent midrib.

anthers 0.4–0.8 mm;

styles 0.5–0.6 mm;

stigmas 1 mm.

anthers (0.3–)0.4–0.6 mm;

styles 0.4–0.6(–0.8) mm;

stigmas 1–1.4 mm.

brown, ± stipitate, oblong, (1.5–)1.8–2.3 × 0.5–0.6(–0.7) mm (1/2 length of floral scales), apex obtuse, surfaces puncticulate.

brown, stipitate, ellipsoid, (1.6–)1.8–2 × (0.7–) 0.8–0.9 mm, stipe 0.1–0.2 × 0.2 mm, apex ± truncate, apiculate, surfaces puncticulate to glabrous.