Flora of North America species comparison

1–3, trigonous to roundly trigonous, (30–)40–65(–95) cm × (1–)2–3 mm.

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.

(1–)5–10, V-shaped, (10–)30–45(–70) cm × 3–7 mm.

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

heads loosely to densely globose-ovoid, (6–)10–12(–20) mm diam.;

rays 6–10(–12), 1–8(–12) cm; 2d order rays 1–4, 5–15(–23) mm;

bracts (5–)6–8(–10), ascending at 45–60(–75)°, V-shaped, (5–)15–40(–55) cm × (1–)3–7 mm.

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.

(1–)30–50(–65), greenish white, linear to broadly ellipsoid, flattened, 4–6.5 × 1.8–3.2 mm;

floral scales (10–)16–20(–26), laterally clear, pale green, off-white, or light brown, medially green or light brown, laterally weakly 1-ribbed, medially 2-ribbed, basally 2-keeled, oblong-lanceolate, (1.2–)1.4–1.6(–1.8) × (0.7–)0.8–1 mm, apex acute, mucronate, distally glabrous or scabridulous.

(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.

stamen 1;

anthers ellipsoid, 0.6–0.7 mm, connective apex acute, 0.1–0.2 mm;

styles 0.2–0.4 mm;

stigmas 0.4–0.6 mm.

anthers (0.3–)0.4–0.6 mm;

styles 0.4–0.6(–0.8) mm;

stigmas 1–1.4 mm.

brown, stipitate, ellipsoid to narrowly ellipsoid, broadly rounded or contracted basally, gradually tapered toward apex, 0.9–1.1 × 0.3–0.4 mm, stipe 0.1 mm, apex acute, surfaces finely reticulate.

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.