Flora of North America species comparison

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

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

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

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

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 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.

(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.

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.

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 0.5–1 mm;

styles 1.5–2 mm;

stigmas 2 mm.

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

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