Flora of North America species comparison

trigonous, (10–)30–80(–140) cm × (0.4–)1–3(–5) mm, glabrous.

terete, 40–60(–90)cm, glabrous.

V-shaped or flanged V-shaped, (5–)15–70(–90) cm × (2–)4–10(–13) mm, glabrous.

flat, 35–70 cm × 4–9(–12) mm.

spikes 1(–5), rather densely ovoid or oblong-cylindric, (10–)25–45(–62) × 7–22 mm, 11–21 spikelets per 5 mm of rachis;

rays (3–)5–10(–17), (1–)5–12(–24) cm;

bracts (2–)4–8, ascending at 30–45°, V- or inversely W-shaped, (2–)8–40(–65) cm × (1–)2–8 mm;

rachilla deciduous, wings 0.4–0.5 mm wide.

heads hemispheric, 10–20 mm diam.;

rays 5–9(–14), 3.5–10 cm; 2d order rays 0.5–2 cm;

bracts 5–10, ± horizontal, flat, 12–40(–50) cm × 2–7 mm.

(10–)50–150, oblong to linear, quadrangular, (3–)4–8(–18) × (0.8–)1–1.2(–1.6) mm;

distal spikelet spreading or ascending;

floral scales (1–) 3–8, pale greenish white to golden brown, deep brown, or reddish brown, medially usually green, weakly to strongly 3(–4)-ribbed laterally, 1–3-ribbed medially, ovate to elliptic, (2–)2.6–3.2(–4) × 1.2–2 mm, apex obtuse.

(25–)35–50(–60), ovoid, compressed, (3.5–)5–12(–14) × 2.5–3.5(–4) mm;

floral scales 10–32, golden brown to brown, 2-keeled, laterally ribless, narrowly lanceolate, 2–2.2(–3) × 0.8–1.4 mm.

anthers (0.4–)0.6–1 mm;

styles 0.4–1.6 mm;

stigmas 1–1.5 mm.

stamen 1;

anthers 1 mm;

styles 1 mm;

stigmas 0.5 mm.

brown or reddish brown, sessile or nearly so, ellipsoid, 1.4–1.8(–2) × 0.6–0.8(–1) mm, apex acute to obtuse, slightly apiculate, surfaces puncticulate.

brown, stipitate, narrowly ellipsoid, 1.5–2 × 0.2–0.4 mm, base swollen, spongy, stipe 0.2 × 0.2–0.3 mm, apex acute, beak slender, 0.2 mm, surfaces puncticulate.