Flora of North America species comparison

trigonous, 5–25 cm × 1–1.5 mm, glabrous.

trigonous, 50–150 cm × 2–15 mm, glabrous (rarely sparsely scabridulous on angles proximal to bracts).

inversely W-shaped, 40–100 cm × 5–15 mm.

spikes loosely ovoid, 15–25 mm wide;

rays 1–6, 2–7 cm;

bracts 2–5, 3–20 cm, ascending;

rachilla deciduous, winged.

spikes 1–4, cylindric, (2.5–)3.5–5 × 1.2–1.5 cm;

rays 8–10, (1–)15–35 cm; 2d order rays 1–3 cm;

bracts 8–12, ascending at 45–60°, (5–)20–80 cm × 3–15 mm; 2d order bracts 3–7 cm × 2–4 mm;

rachilla persistent, wings 0.3 mm wide, at achene maturation adaxial edge of wing detaching from rachilla, base remaining firmly attached.

5–30, linear, flattened, 6–22 × 1.5–2.2 mm;

floral scales ± deciduous, (4–)8–12, red, reddish purple, or reddish brown, medially green, elliptic, laterally 2–4-ribbed, 2.3–3.1 × 1.2–2 mm, apex acute to obtuse.

35–65, slightly compressed, linear, ± quadrangular, 5–8 × 0.8–1.1 mm;

floral scales deciduous, 12–16, appressed, marginally clear, laterally reddish along midrib, medially green, laterally 1–2-ribbed, medially strongly 5-ribbed, ovate, 1.6–1.8 × 1.1–1.3 mm, apex mucronulate.

anthers 0.3–0.4 mm;

styles 1 mm;

stigmas 1.3–1.6 mm.

anthers 0.4–0.5 mm, connective blunt, at most 0.1 mm;

styles 0.8–1 mm;

stigmas 0.4 mm.

brown to dark purplish brown, broadly ellipsoid, 1–1.3 × 0.6–0.9 mm, surfaces puncticulate.

brown or whitish, sessile, ellipsoid, slightly wider at base, 0.9 × 0.4 mm, surfaces finely puncticulate.