Flora of North America species comparison

trigonous, (10–) 30–50(–80) cm × (0.8–)1–2 mm, glabrous or occasionally minutely scabridulous on distal angles.

trigonous, 20–50(–85) cm × 1–2(–4) mm, glabrous.

3–7, M- or V-shaped, (10–)25–40(–55) cm × 2–5 mm, margins and midribs scabridulous or glabrous.

3–6(–10), 10–40(–55) cm × 1.5–4(–5) mm, V- to inversely W-shaped.

spikes 3–6(–12), grayish to golden brown, loosely cylindric, (6–)10–20(–24) cm × (5–)8–11 mm;

rays 0 or 1–3, to 4 cm;

rachis glabrous;

bracts (3–)4–6(–8), horizontal to strongly reflexed, inversely W-shaped, (3–) 10–20(–30) cm × 1–5 mm;

rachilla deciduous, wings persistent, 0.3–0.5 mm wide.

spike 1, densely oblong-ovoid often with small basal branches, 8–16 × 4–12(–16) mm;

rays 4–8(–11), 0.5–3.5(–8.5) cm;

bracts (3–)4–6(–10), ascending at (30–)45°, flat to broadly V-shaped, (4–)14–30(–55) cm × 1–5 mm, scabridulous along margins only;

rachilla deciduous, wings persistent, 0.2–0.3 mm wide.

(10–)25–60(–100), spaced 1–2(–3) mm apart, broadly ellipsoid to oblong, ± terete, 2.4–3.6 × 0.8–1.2 mm;

distal spikelet spreading or ascending;

floral scales persistent, 1–2(–4), appressed, laterally golden brown to dull grayish white, frequently streaked with red, medially greenish, laterally 3–4-ribbed, medially 3-ribbed, oblong, 2.6–3.3 × 1.8–2.4 mm, apex broadly rounded.

40–120, oblong-lanceoloid, subterete, 2.2–4(–4.5) × 0.8–1.6 mm;

distal spikelet spreading or ascending;

floral scales persistent, 2–5, appressed, brown to stramineous, or fuscous and lustrous, medially greenish and 1(–3)-ribbed, laterally greenish to yellowish white and 3–4-ribbed, oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 1.8–2.5 × 1–1.5 mm, subcoriacous.

anthers 0.6–0.8 mm;

styles 0.8–1.2(–1.4) mm;

stigmas 1.4–2 mm.

anthers 0.3–0.5 mm;

styles 0.5–0.8 mm;

stigmas 0.6–0.9 mm.

reddish brown to dark brown, stipitate, ellipsoid, (1.6–)1.8–2(–2.2) × (0.6–)0.7–0.9 mm, base cuneate to ± attenuate, apex ± acute to broadly rounded, surfaces finely papillose to essentially glabrous.

brown, oblong-ellipsoid, 1.2–1.7 × 0.5–0.6 mm, base cuneate, apex subacute, surfaces papillose.