Flora of North America species comparison

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

trigonous to roundly trigonous, (0.5–)5–25(–105) cm × 1–2.5(–7.5) mm, glabrous.

flat, 10–35 cm × 3–10 mm.

flat to inversely W-shaped, 5–25(–90) cm × 2–5(–11) mm.

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.

spikes 1–3(–6), rather densely cylindric-ovoid, (4–)10–30(–45) × (6–)10–16(–23) mm;

rays 2–6(–12), 1–8(–28) cm;

bracts (3–)5–7(–11), horizontal to ascending at 30°, inversely W-shaped, (3–)10–20(–70) cm × 1–3(–12) mm;

rachilla persistent, at maturity becoming laterally free, remaining firmly attached proximally, wings 0.3(–0.4) mm wide.

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.

(20–)40–80, linear, quadrangular, 3–8(–11) × 1–1.5 mm;

floral scales deciduous, 6–16(–30), appressed, laterally light brown with reddish speckles, medially greenish, laterally ribless, medially 3-ribbed, oblong-ovate to obovate, quadrangular to subterete, 1.3–1.5 × 0.8–1.2 mm, apex obtuse, mucronulate.

anthers 0.4 mm;

styles 0.6 mm;

stigmas 1 mm.

anthers 0.2–0.3 mm, connectives 0.1 mm;

styles 0.7–0.8 mm;

stigmas 0.4 mm.

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

light grayish to brown, sessile, ovoid, (0.4–)0.7–1 × 0.4–0.6 mm, apex rounded, apiculate, surfaces glabrous.