Flora of North America species comparison

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

trigonous, basally tuberous-thickened, (5–)15–40(–80) cm × 1–2.5 mm, glabrous.

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

flat to V-shaped, (5–)10–30(–60) cm × (0.5–)1–3(–4) 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.

spike 1, loosely to densely ovoid to cylindric, 8–36 × 8–20 mm;

rays 3–6(–9), (5–)10–32 cm;

bracts 3–6, horizontal to ascending at 30°, V-shaped, (1–)3–15(–30) cm × 0.5–4.5 mm;

rachilla deciduous, wings 0.5–0.7 mm wide.

(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.

(5–)20–35(–65), linear to oblong (without narrowed basal portion), quadrangular; (2.2–)4–10(–18) × 0.7–1.1 mm;

floral scales persistent, 1–5, appressed, pale greenish white laterally, stramineous with reddish dots, or deep red, greenish or light brown medially, 3–6-ribbed laterally, narrowly ovate to oblong-elliptic, 2.6–3.9 × 1.6–2 mm, apex rounded to ± acute, entire, mucronulate;

distal scale with glabrous midrib and mucro 0.1–0.3(–0.5) mm;

sterile terminal scale of spikelet only 0.4–0.6 mm wide, involute, frequently uncinate.

anthers (0.4–)0.6–1 mm;

styles 0.4–1.6 mm;

stigmas 1–1.5 mm.

anthers (0.3–)0.4–0.6 mm;

styles 0.4–0.5 mm;

stigmas 0.5–0.9 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.

light brown to reddish brown, sessile or slightly stipitate, ellipsoid, (1.8–)2–2.4 × 0.6–0.8(–0.9) mm, apex slightly apiculate, surfaces puncticulate.