Flora of North America species comparison

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

trigonous, (30–)45–80 cm × (0.8–)1.2–2.2 mm, glabrous.

flat to V-shaped, becoming trigonous apically, 15–30 cm × 0.5–3.2 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 oblong-cylindric, densely spicate, ± truncate at base, (9–)12–22 × (4–)6–12 mm;

rays 2–4(–5), (1.5–)2.5–6 cm;

bracts 4–6, longest erect or nearly so, larger ones flat or V-shaped, smaller capillary, trigonous, 3–24 cm × 0.4–3.6 mm;

rachilla ± deciduous, wings 0.2–0.4 mm wide.

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.

(10–)20–60, oblong to linear-lanceoloid, compressed-quadrangular, 3–9 × 2–3.4 mm;

floral scales deciduous, 2–4(–8), spreading, medially green, laterally stramineous, dull whitish or pale reddish brown, often red-dotted laterally, (3–)7–9-ribbed, ovate-lanceolate, (2–)2.2–2.8(–3) × (1–)1.2–1.8 mm, apex acute, weakly 3-dentate, mucro 0.2–0.6 mm, with apical tuft of crystalline prickles.

anthers 0.3–0.4 mm;

styles 1 mm;

stigmas 1.3–1.6 mm.

anthers 0.4–0.9 mm;

styles 1–1.4 mm;

stigmas 1–1.6 mm.

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

brown, ± stipitate, broadly ellipsoid, 1.4–1.5(–1.6) × 0.8–0.9 mm, 0.1 × 0.1–0.2 mm, apex ± truncate, apiculate, surfaces papillose.