Flora of North America species comparison

trigonous or ± terete, (3–)20–45(–70) cm × (0.8–) 1.2–2 mm, glabrous.

trigonous, (7–)20–70(–85) cm × (0.5–)1–1.8(–2.6) mm, glabrous or sparsely to densely scabridulous on surfaces or on angles immediately proximal to inflorescence in distal 3–6 cm.

(2–) 6–10(–16), flat to V-shaped, (2–) 10–30(–60) cm × 1–4 mm.

2–3, flat to V-shaped, (12–)20–40(–55) cm × (2–)3–5(–7) mm.

spike 1, loosely ovoid to densely turbinate, 12–40 × 10–25 mm;

rachis 3–10 mm;

rays 1–8(–12), 0.5–3(–6) cm; 2d order rays absent;

if rays absent, inflorescence single dense cluster of spikelets, 12–40 mm diam.;

bracts (3–)4–6(–7), horizontal to ascending at 45°, flanged V-shaped, (2–)5–15(–23) cm × 1–4 mm.

spikes (1–)3–4(–6), largest erect, others at base of central spike, erect spike sessile, loosely to densely cylindric to ovoid-cylindric, (12–)18–30 × (6–)12–20 mm, remaining spikes 1/2 as large;

rays absent;

bracts (2–)3–6(–10), ± horizontal to reflexed parallel to culm, (2–)6–16(–25) cm × (1.5–)2–4(–7) mm;

rachilla ± deciduous, wingless.

(5–)15–30(–40), spreading to appressed-ascending, linear-lanceoloid to linear, compressed, 8–18(–40) × (1–)1.3–1.6(–2) mm;

floral scales (8–)12–25(–66), laterally stramineous to light brown, medially green, laterally ribless, medially 3–5-ribbed, oblong, (1.5–)1.8–2.4 × (1–)1.2–1.4 mm, apex acute to ± acute, mucronate.

(8–)15–30, spreading to ascending-appressed, oblong-lanceoloid, quadrangular, slightly compressed, 5–8(–10) × (2–)2.4–3.4(–4.2) mm;

floral scales (2–)4–6(–8), yellowish, reddish, or greenish brown, medially greenish, straight to excurved, laterally (2–)3–4(–5)-ribbed, medially (1–)3–(–5)-ribbed, ovate-orbiculate, 2.4–2.8(–3.4) × 2.4–2.8(–3.4) mm, apex obtuse, mucronate to cuspidate, stout, (0.1–)0.3–0.6 mm, medially glabrous.

stamens 2;

anthers (0.4–)0.5–0.8 mm, connective not prolonged;

styles 0.6–1(–1.4) mm;

stigmas (1–)1.4–2 mm.

anthers 0.4–0.8 mm;

styles 0.7–1.3 mm;

stigmas 0.7–1.2 mm.

light to dark brown, oblong, (0.8–)0.9–1.1(–1.2) × 0.4–0.5(–0.6) mm, base cuneate to ± stipelike, apex truncate, apiculate, surfaces punctate to minutely punctate with raised cells.

finely reticulate, brown to reddish brown, ± stipelike, obovoid, 1.6–1.9 × 1.1–1.4(–1.6) mm, base attenuate to cuneate, 0.1–0.2 × 0.2 mm, apex obtuse, apiculate, surfaces glabrous.