Flora of North America species comparison

weak, often arching, basally culmlike, weakly 4(–5)-angled, 10–30 cm × 0.2–0.4 mm, glabrous.

trigonous, 15–48 cm × 0.4–1 mm, glabrous.

1–4, 3–25 cm × 1–1.5 mm.

flat, 10–30 cm × 0.5–2 mm.

rays absent, often proliferous;

bracts 2–4, longest erect, looking like continuation of culm, V-shaped, 3–6 cm × 1–3 mm.

spikes rather densely ovoid, 1–3.5 cm;

rays 0 (sometimes 1–4), 1–6 cm;

rachis 1–4 mm;

bracts 3–4, horizontal to slightly reflexed, flat, 6–25 cm;

rachilla ± deciduous, wingless.

1–3(–6), narrowly ellipsoid, weakly compressed, 5–10 × 2 mm;

floral scales 8–16, laterally whitish or dull stramineous, medially green, weakly 3–4-ribbed, broadly ovate, 2.5 × 2 mm, apex acute to mucronate, mucro slightly excurved, 0.2–0.3 mm.

25–60, compressed, oblong-lanceoloid, 5–12 × 2.2–3.5 mm;

floral scales deciduous, 5–15, yellowish to yellowish brown, laterally 4–5-ribbed, oblong-ovate, 2.6–3.6 × 1.4–2 mm, margins loosely spreading or clasping achene.

stamens 3;

styles 0.8 mm;

stigmas 1–1.3 mm.

anthers 0.8–1 mm;

styles 1 mm;

stigmas 1.5–2.5 mm.

brown, stipitate, obovoid, abaxial angle more prominent than adaxial ones, 0.7 × 0.7 mm, apex emarginate, surfaces glabrous.

dark grayish brown, sessile, narrowly oblong, 1.8–2.2 × 0.5–0.8 mm, apex obtuse, apiculate, surfaces puncticulate.