Flora of North America species comparison

roundly trigonous, 200–350 cm × 15–50 mm, glabrous.

trigonous, 20–55 cm × 1.2–11.8 mm, glabrous.

bladeless.

V-shaped, 12–30 cm × 2–3 mm.

spikes loosely cylindric, 15–40 × 8–16 mm;

rays 5–8, ascending to erect, stiff,20–30 cm; 2d order rays 5–15 cm;

bracts 10–12, ascending at 30–60°, flat, (8–) 20–45 cm × 4–12 mm; 2d order bracts (5–)15–25 cm × 1.5–5 mm;

rachilla persistent, separating laterally, remaining firmly attached basally, wings 0.3–0.4 mm wide.

heads digitate, 12–20 mm diam.;

rays 7–12, 1–13 cm; 2d order rays 1–3 cm (sometimes absent);

bracts 3–5, longest ± erect, V-shaped, 5–12(–18) cm × 2–3 mm.

(15–)50–80, slightly compressed, linear, ± quadrangular, 5–12 × 0.6–1.4 mm;

floral scales 8–20, appressed, reddish beside 5-ribbed green medial part, white to hyaline near margins, ovate, 1.8–2.2 × 1.2–1.5 mm, apex acute to obtuse.

(8–)20–30, linear-lanceoloid, compressed, 5–10(–14) × 1.4–1.7 mm;

floral scales (8–)16–26, laterally brown to reddish brown, medially green, laterally 1-ribbed, medially 3-ribbed, broadly elliptic, 2–2.5 × 1.2–1.6 mm, apex with slightly excurved cusp 0.2–0.3 mm.

anthers 0.7–1 mm (connective prolonged beyond anther as red subulate appendage 0.2–0.5 mm, its apex sometimes setose);

styles 0.2–0.5 mm;

stigmas (0.8–)1.2–1.8 mm.

stamens 3;

anthers 1 mm, connective apex reddish, subulate, 0.1 mm;

styles 1–1.5 mm;

stigmas 1.5 mm.

pale brown, sessile, oblong, 0.9–1 × 0.4–0.5 mm, apex scarcely apiculate, surfaces puncticulate.

white to light brown, sessile, ellipsoid, 0.7–0.8 × 0.25–0.35 mm, apex obtuse, apiculate, surfaces puncticulate.