Flora of North America species comparison

basally cormlike, obtusely trigonous to subterete, 25–100 cm × 2–4 mm, densely minutely scabridulous.

trigonous, (2–)4–30 cm × 0.4–2 mm, glabrous.

inversely W-shaped, 20–70 cm × 4–7 mm, adaxial surface densely hirtellous.

1–5, (blades often absent, base of culm with 1 reddish sheath bearing minute blade tooth 1–2 mm), (3–)10–18 cm × (0.5–)1.5–2(–2.6) mm.

spikes turbinate, 10–12 × 6–9 mm, ± as long as wide;

rays 6–12, 1–30 cm (longest bract equaling or shorter than longest ray), harshly scabrid;

bracts 3–10, horizontal to ascending at 30°, inversely W-shaped, 6–27 cm × 3–6 mm;

rachilla persistent, wings hyaline, 0.5 mm wide, covering 1/2 of mature achene.

spikes 1–3, ovoid or ± digitate, 10–30 × 8–26 mm;

rays 1–4(–6), 0.5–3(–9) cm;

bracts 2–3, approximately horizontal, 1–12 cm × 0.5–2.5 mm.

30–60, proximal spikelets reflexed nearly parallel to ray, distal ones spreading, linear, ± terete, 6–8 × 1–1.4 mm;

floral scales persistent, 1(–2), appressed, stramineous, often suffused with reddish purple, laterally 4–6-ribbed, ovate-lanceolate, 4–4.5 × 1.4–1.6 mm, apex straight, excurved mucronate or cuspidate;

terminal scale spinose.

1–6, compressed, oblong-lanceoloid, 5–15 × (2–)2.3–2.8 mm;

floral scales (4–)8–24, closely imbricate, laterally yellow to yellowish brown, margins light brown to clear, medially green, laterally ribless, medially 2–3-ribbed, 2-keeled basally, ovate, (1.5–)1.8–2.2 × 1.8 mm, apex obtuse.

anthers 0.5–1 mm;

styles 1.5–2 mm;

stigmas 2 mm.

stamens 3;

anthers 0.4 mm, connectives not prolonged;

styles 0.5–1 mm;

stigmas 0.5–0.8 mm.

dark brown, narrowly oblong, (2.4–)2.7–2.9(–3.2) × 0.7–0.8 mm, base cuneate, apex obtuse, apiculate, surfaces puncticulate.

jet black to reddish brown, slightly stipitate, obovoid, 1–1.2 × 0.8 mm, apex apiculate, surface with network of rectangular longitudinally elongate cells and transverse undulations.