Flora of North America species comparison

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

(1–)10–30(–60) together, roundly trigonous proximally, trigonous distally, (0.5–)3–6(–12) cm × (0.2–)0.4–0.8 mm, glabrous.

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

V-shaped, (1–)3–5(–10) cm × (0.5–)1–2 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.

spikes loosely ovoid, 8–15(–25) mm wide;

rachis 1–3 mm;

rays (1–)2–4(–6), (0.5–)1–3(–6) cm; 2d order rays absent;

bracts (1–)2–4(–5), ascending at 30–45°, V-shaped, (1–)2.5–6(–11) cm × 0.5–1.8 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.

(2–)4–6(–10), linear-lanceoloid, strongly flattened, (5–)8–12(–18) × 1.2–1.5 (1.8) mm;

floral scales (5–)10–16(–32), laterally clear, stramineous or light reddish brown, medially green, laterally ribless, medially 3(–5)-ribbed, ovate, (1.2–)1.3–1.6(–2) × 1–1.2(–1.4) mm, apex obtuse, mucronate to minutely mucronulate.

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 0.1–0.2 mm;

styles 0.1–0.3(–0.4) mm;

stigmas 0.3–0.4 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.

light to dark brown, glossy or iridescent, stipitate, oblong-obovoid, 0.9–1.1 × 0.4–0.5 mm, stipe 0.1 mm, apex truncate, apiculate, surfaces punctate.