Flora of North America species comparison

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

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

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

V-shaped, 12–30 cm × 2–3 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 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.

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.

(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.

stamens 3;

anthers 0.3–0.5 mm;

styles 0.4–0.9 mm;

stigmas 0.5–0.8(–1.3) mm.

stamens 3;

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

styles 1–1.5 mm;

stigmas 1.5 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.

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