Flora of North America species comparison

trigonous to roundly trigonous, (0.5–)5–25(–105) cm × 1–2.5(–7.5) mm, glabrous.

solitary or not, trigonous or round, glabrous or scabridulous with extrorse or antrorse (rarely retrorse) prickles.

flat to inversely W-shaped, 5–25(–90) cm × 2–5(–11) mm.

usually basal;

ligules absent;

blades keeled abaxially, flat, V-, or inversely W-shaped in cross section.

spikes 1–3(–6), rather densely cylindric-ovoid, (4–)10–30(–45) × (6–)10–16(–23) mm;

rays 2–6(–12), 1–8(–28) cm;

bracts (3–)5–7(–11), horizontal to ascending at 30°, inversely W-shaped, (3–)10–20(–70) cm × 1–3(–12) mm;

rachilla persistent, at maturity becoming laterally free, remaining firmly attached proximally, wings 0.3(–0.4) mm wide.

terminal, rarely pseudolateral, 1st order subumbellate to capitate, 2d order with spicate or digitately arranged spikelets, rarely a solitary spikelet;

spikelets 1–150; 1st order rays unequal (rarely equal) in length, produced singly from the axils of inflorescence bracts;

involucral bracts 1–22, spirally arranged at culm apex, spreading to erect, leaflike.

(20–)40–80, linear, quadrangular, 3–8(–11) × 1–1.5 mm;

floral scales deciduous, 6–16(–30), appressed, laterally light brown with reddish speckles, medially greenish, laterally ribless, medially 3-ribbed, oblong-ovate to obovate, quadrangular to subterete, 1.3–1.5 × 0.8–1.2 mm, apex obtuse, mucronulate.

scales to 76, distichous, each subtending flower, cylindric to compressed, borne spicately or digitately at ends of rays (occasionally proliferous).

anthers 0.2–0.3 mm, connectives 0.1 mm;

styles 0.7–0.8 mm;

stigmas 0.4 mm.

bisexual [rarely unisexual], in axils of distichous floral scales, bases often decurrent onto rachilla as ± hyaline wings;

perianth absent;

stamens 1–3;

styles linear, 2–3-fid, base deciduous or persistent;

stigmas 2–3.

light grayish to brown, sessile, ovoid, (0.4–)0.7–1 × 0.4–0.6 mm, apex rounded, apiculate, surfaces glabrous.

biconvex, flattened, or trigonous.