Flora of North America species comparison

trigonous, (2–)25–60(–100) cm × 1–4 mm, soft (flattened in drying), glabrous.

trigonous, 5–50 cm × 0.4–2 mm, glabrous.

usually reduced to sheaths, occasionally with blades, flat to V-shaped, (3–)10–30 cm × (1–)2.5–5 mm.

flat, 10–30 cm × 1–3 mm.

heads loosely digitate;

rays (5–)10–12(–15), 1–15(–20) cm; 2d order rays usually present, (1–)6–12(–25) mm; 3d order rays sometimes present, 1–6 mm;

bracts 2(–3), horizontal to ascending at 30–60°, longer (3–)6–18 cm × 2–4 mm, shorter (0.5–)2.5–6.5 cm × 1–2(–3) mm.

heads loosely globose, 10–22 mm diam.;

rays 0–6, 1–7 cm;

bracts 3–6, horizontal to slightly ascending, flat, 3–26 cm × 1–3 mm.

1–15, linear-lanceoloid, ± compressed-quadrangular, 3–18 × 1–1.6 mm;

floral scales 10–20(–40), laterally reddish to greenish brown, dull, often clear-edged, medially greenish, laterally 1-ribbed, medially 1-ribbed, oblong to obovate, 1–1.5(–1.9) × 0.8–1 mm, apex mucronate, glabrous except for cluster of crystalline prickles at apex.

6–20, linear-lanceoloid, compressed, 7–30 × 2–3 mm;

floral scales 8–28, stramineous to light reddish brown, laterally ribless, ovate, 2.7–3.6 × 1.6–1.8 mm.

stamens 3;

anthers 0.3–0.5 mm;

styles 0.4–0.9 mm;

stigmas 0.5–0.8(–1.3) mm.

stamens 2;

anthers 0.5 mm, connective apex reddish, subulate, 0.1–0.2 mm;

styles 1.9–2.1 mm;

stigmas 1–1.3 mm.

white or reddish brown, stipitate, globose to obovoid or ellipsoid, 0.5–0.6(–0.7) × 0.3–0.4(–0.5) mm, base nearly cuneate, stipe 0.1 × 0.1–0.2 mm, apex obtuse to acute, apiculate or entire, surfaces granular to papillose.

brown, oblong, 1.2–1.6 × 0.6–0.9 mm, base cuneate to ± stipelike, apex obtuse, apiculate, surfaces minutely punctate.