Flora of North America species comparison

trigonous, 30–150 cm × 1–5(–8) mm.

trigonous, (30–)60–130 cm × 1–4(–9) mm, densely papillose, otherwise glabrous.

bladeless.

with cross ribs prominent, V-shaped, 30–100 cm × 5–13(–20) mm, margins, keel incisive with brownish prickles, papillose throughout, margins and midribs harshly scabrid.

heads digitate, 15–30(–36) mm diam.;

rays (14–)20–22, (2–)5–12(–20) cm; 2d order rays 0.3–3(–4) cm; 3d order rays sometimes present, 0.3–2.5 cm;

bracts (4–)18–22, ± horizontal, flat, 15–27 cm × (1.5–)8–12 mm.

spikes 3–7, densely oblong-cylindric to ± globose, 10–28(–35) × 8–12(–15) mm;

rays 5–12, 1–16 cm, densely papillose;

bracts 5–12, ascending at 30–75°, flat to V-shaped, 4–50(–90) cm × 1–15 mm;

rachilla deciduous, wings persistent, (0.2–)0.3–0.5(–0.6) mm.

8–20, ovoid to linear-lanceoloid, compressed, 5–25 × 1.5–2 mm;

floral scales 8–28, laterally whitish or light brown, ± hyaline, medially light brown, laterally ribless, medially 3-ribbed, 2-keeled in proximal 30–60%, deltate-ovate, 1.6–2.4 × (1–)1.2–1.5(–1.7) mm, apex acute.

20–80, oblong-ellipsoid, ± terete, slightly compressed, 3–7 × 1–2(–2.7) mm;

distal spikelets spreading or ascending;

floral scales (2–)4–7, appressed, clear to brownish, reddish streaked, medially green, 9–11-ribbed, ovate, (2–)2.5–3.3 × 1.2–2.3 mm, apex acute, mucronate.

stamens 3;

anthers 0.7–1 mm;

styles 0.5–1 mm;

stigmas 0.6–1 mm.

anthers 0.6–0.8 mm, styles 0.5–1 mm;

stigmas 1–2.3 mm.

brown, sessile or stipitate, broadly ellipsoid, 0.6–0.8 × 0.4–0.6 mm, stipe if present to 0.1 mm, apex obtuse, apiculate, surfaces puncticulate.

brown, slightly stipitate, obovoid to broadly ellipsoid, (1.2–)1.5–1.6(–1.7) × 0.6–0.8 mm, apex apiculate, surfaces puncticulate.