Flora of North America species comparison

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

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

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

flat, 10–35 cm × 3–10 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.

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.

(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.

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.

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.

anthers 0.4 mm;

styles 0.6 mm;

stigmas 1 mm.

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

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