Flora of North America species comparison

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

basally cormlike, obtusely trigonous to subterete, 25–100 cm × 2–4 mm, densely minutely scabridulous.

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

inversely W-shaped, 20–70 cm × 4–7 mm, adaxial surface densely hirtellous.

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.

spikes turbinate, 10–12 × 6–9 mm, ± as long as wide;

rays 6–12, 1–30 cm (longest bract equaling or shorter than longest ray), harshly scabrid;

bracts 3–10, horizontal to ascending at 30°, inversely W-shaped, 6–27 cm × 3–6 mm;

rachilla persistent, wings hyaline, 0.5 mm wide, covering 1/2 of mature achene.

(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.

30–60, proximal spikelets reflexed nearly parallel to ray, distal ones spreading, linear, ± terete, 6–8 × 1–1.4 mm;

floral scales persistent, 1(–2), appressed, stramineous, often suffused with reddish purple, laterally 4–6-ribbed, ovate-lanceolate, 4–4.5 × 1.4–1.6 mm, apex straight, excurved mucronate or cuspidate;

terminal scale spinose.

anthers (0.4–)0.6–1 mm;

styles 0.4–1.6 mm;

stigmas 1–1.5 mm.

anthers 0.5–1 mm;

styles 1.5–2 mm;

stigmas 2 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.

dark brown, narrowly oblong, (2.4–)2.7–2.9(–3.2) × 0.7–0.8 mm, base cuneate, apex obtuse, apiculate, surfaces puncticulate.