Flora of North America species comparison

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

basally swollen and cormlike, trigonous, (1–)20–40(–90) cm × 1–6 mm, glabrous or few prickles subapically.

bladeless.

flat, (10–)20–40 cm × 1–4(–8) mm, margins and midribs glabrous or scabridulous.

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.

spikes 1–4, loosely ovoid to oblong-cylindric; (6–)10–28(–50) × 10–40 mm;

rays sometimes absent, usually (1–)3–6(–8), 0.5–7(–25) cm;

if absent, inflorescence a congested head; 2d order rays sometimes present, 1–4(–9) cm;

rachis 8–18(–25) mm;

bracts (3–)5–7(–10), ascending at 30–45°, cross ribs sometimes conspicuous, (1–)10–30(–45) cm × (1–)2–4(–12) mm;

rachilla ± deciduous, wings 0.4–0.5 mm wide.

(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.

(5–)12–50, linear-lanceoloid, compressed, 5–30 × 0.6–0.9 mm;

floral scales ± deciduous, 3–11, appressed, medially green, laterally stramineous to pale brown, 3–4-ribbed laterally, (1–)3-ribbed medially, oblong-obovate, 3.2–4.5(–6) × 1–1.8 mm, apex ± acute, overlapping lower 1/4–1/2 of next scale.

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.

anthers 0.3–0.5 mm;

styles 1–2 mm;

stigmas 3–4 mm.

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

purplish brown, ± stipitate, narrowly oblong, (1.5–)1.8–2.4 × 0.5–0.6 mm, apex apiculate, acute, surfaces puncticulate.