Flora of North America species comparison

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

trigonous, 10–35(–40) cm × 0.7–3.4 mm, basally indurate, glabrous.

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

V-shaped to flanged V-shaped, 5–30 cm × 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), broadly ellipsoid, (12–)15–25(–30) × (12–)20–30(–50) mm, rays (3–)4–6(–7), 0.2–10 cm;, bracts (2–)3–5, horizontal to ascending at 45°, V-shaped to flanged V-shaped, 0.5–10 cm × 0.5–4 mm, rachilla persistent, wings 0.5–1 mm wide.

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.

(2–)3–7(–12), compressed, linear, 4–40 × 1.3–1.8 mm, floral scales persistent, 6–36(–42), spreading or appressed, purple to reddish brown, with narrow clear border and green midrib, 7–9-ribbed, ovate, (1.8–)2.6–3.4 × 2.2–3 mm, apex obtuse.

anthers 0.5–1 mm;

styles 1.5–2 mm;

stigmas 2 mm.

anthers 1–2.5 mm, styles 1.3–3.5 mm, stigmas (1.8–)2–3.3 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.

black, sessile, ellipsoid, abaxial face convex, adaxial face concave, 1.4–1.7(–1.9) × 0.8–1 mm, apex obtuse, surfaces puncticulate.