Flora of North America species comparison

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

trigonous, 25–90 cm × 2 mm, hispidulous or glabrous on angles distally.

flat, 10–35 cm × 3–10 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(–6), loosely oblong-ovoid, 2–3 × 1–2 cm;

rays 3–10, 1–16 cm; 2d order rays to 3 cm;

rachis hispidulous, prickles slender, 0.1–0.2 mm;

bracts 3–5, ± ascending, flat, 5–35 cm × 0.5–5(–7) mm;

rachilla persistent, wingless.

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.

15–40, linear-lanceoloid, compressed, 6–12 × 1.5–2 mm;

floral scales deciduous, 8–16, light brown with clear border, laterally 2–3-ribbed, ovate, 1.8–2 × 1.2–1.6 mm;

apex entire, emarginate, or mucronulate, mucro at most 0.3 mm.

anthers 0.3–0.4 mm;

styles 1 mm;

stigmas 1.3–1.6 mm.

anthers 0.4 mm;

styles 0.6 mm;

stigmas 1 mm.

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

brown, sessile, broadly ellipsoid, 1–1.2 × 0.5 mm, apex obtuse, apiculate, surfaces puncticulate.