Flora of North America species comparison

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

triquetrous, bulbous, thickened, (20–)30–80(–90) cm × 0.7–1.2 mm, glabrous proximally, becoming trigonous strongly scabridulous on distal angles, clothed with persistent reddish fibers at base.

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

flat to V-shaped, 20–45 cm × 2–4 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, loosely ovoid to ovoid-ellipsoid, (1.5–)2.5–7 × (1–)1.5–3.5 cm;

rays (1–)2–4, to 6 cm; 2d order rays rarely present, to 2 cm; 3d order rays absent;

bracts (2–) 3, ± horizontal, 1–15(–21) cm × 0.4–3.5 mm;

rachilla deciduous, wings hyaline, 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.

(3–)8–26, reddish to reddish brown, linear, compressed-quadrangular, 8–18 × (2.4–)2.8–4 mm;

floral scales deciduous, 6–16, laterally reddish, medially green, occasionally red-glandular, laterally strongly 3(–4)-ribbed, medially punctate, 1–3-ribbed, ovate-lanceolate, (2.6–)2.8–3.3 × (1.4–)1.6–1.8(–2) mm, apex weakly 3-dentate, mucronulate, with tuft of crystalline prickles, medially glabrous.

anthers 0.4–0.8 mm;

styles 0.5–0.6 mm;

stigmas 1 mm.

anthers 0.8–1.1 mm;

styles 1–1.4 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.

brownish, stipitate, ellipsoid, 1.6–2 × (0.7–)0.9–1 mm, base whitish, stipe to 0.1–0.2 mm, apex obtuse, slightly apiculate, surfaces papillose.