Flora of North America species comparison

stoutly trigonous, thickened, 50–300 cm × 5–30 mm, basally indurate, glabrous.

trigonous, 20–55 cm × 1.2–11.8 mm, glabrous.

V-shaped, with cross ribs, 40–130 cm × 10–15 mm, margins and keel scabrid.

V-shaped, 12–30 cm × 2–3 mm.

spikes appressed-ascending, narrowly cylindric, (2–)3–45 mm × (4–)7–10 mm;

rays (5–)9–12, 2–22(–30) cm; 2d order rays distinctly flattened, 1–10 cm; 3d order rays flattened, 0.5–3 cm;

rachis 2.5–4 cm;

bracts (6–)9–10, ascending at 45–75°, V- or inversely W-shaped, (5–)15–90 cm × 0.5–20 mm;

rachilla persistent, wings 0.2–0.4 mm wide.

heads digitate, 12–20 mm diam.;

rays 7–12, 1–13 cm; 2d order rays 1–3 cm (sometimes absent);

bracts 3–5, longest ± erect, V-shaped, 5–12(–18) cm × 2–3 mm.

(4–)10–35, appressed-ascending, compressed, linear, 7–12(–15) × 0.6–1.2 mm;

floral scales deciduous, 6–20, marginally clear, laterally brown, medially green, laterally 2–3-ribbed, medially 1-ribbed, oblong-ovate, (3.2–) 3.8–4.3 × 1.2–1.7 mm, apex spreading, acute to obtuse, mucronulate.

(8–)20–30, linear-lanceoloid, compressed, 5–10(–14) × 1.4–1.7 mm;

floral scales (8–)16–26, laterally brown to reddish brown, medially green, laterally 1-ribbed, medially 3-ribbed, broadly elliptic, 2–2.5 × 1.2–1.6 mm, apex with slightly excurved cusp 0.2–0.3 mm.

anthers 0.7–0.9 mm, connective apex bright red, oblong, to 0.1 mm;

styles 0.8–1.3 mm;

stigmas 2–3.3 mm.

stamens 3;

anthers 1 mm, connective apex reddish, subulate, 0.1 mm;

styles 1–1.5 mm;

stigmas 1.5 mm.

brown, sessile, narrowly ellipsoid, 1.8–2.5 × 0.8–1.3 mm, apex ± acute, not apiculate, surfaces puncticulate.

white to light brown, sessile, ellipsoid, 0.7–0.8 × 0.25–0.35 mm, apex obtuse, apiculate, surfaces puncticulate.