Flora of North America species comparison

trigonous, compressed, 15–75 cm × 0.5–3 mm, glabrous.

trigonous, 10–50 cm × 1–3 mm.

1–3, 5–30 cm × 1–2 mm.

flat to V-shaped, 10–40 cm × 2–5 mm.

spikes 1(–2), ovoid, 5–23 × 9–21 mm;

rays 2–3(–4), 0–15 mm;

if rays absent, head single, compact, sessile, (12–)15–20 mm diam.;

bracts 2–3, horizontal to vertical, 2–14 cm × 0.5–3.5 mm.

heads digitate, 10–40 mm diam.;

rays 5–12, 1–12 cm; 2d order rays 1–3 cm;

bracts 3–5, horizontal, flat to V-shaped, 1–15 cm × 1–2 mm.

1–6, oblong-lanceoloid, 5–26 × 2–3 mm;

floral scales 12–54, closely imbricate, laterally yellowish brown, medially pale brown, occasionally greenish, laterally 1-ribbed, medially 3-ribbed, distinctly 2-keeled basally, ovate, 1.8–2.6 × 1.4–1.7 mm, apex obtuse.

(1–)2–4(–6), oblong to linear, compressed, 5–25 × 2.8–3.6 mm;

floral scales 20–60, stramineous or reddish green, laterally weakly 3-ribbed, ovate-elliptic, 2.5–3 × 1–1.8 mm.

stamens 2;

anthers 0.4–0.5 mm, connectives not prolonged;

styles 0.3–1 mm;

stigmas 0.6–0.8(–1) mm.

stamens 3;

anthers 1–1.3 mm;

styles 0.6 mm;

stigmas 1.5 mm.

brown, network of ridges forming isodiametric or square cells, stipitate, obovoid to ellipsoid, 1.1–1.3 × (0.5–)0.6 mm, apex acute to broadly rounded, surfaces minutely punctate or finely papillose.

reddish brown, sessile, ovoid, 0.7–0.8 × 0.4–0.5 mm, apex obtuse, apiculate or not, surfaces glabrous.