Flora of North America species comparison

roundly trigonous to terete, 30–80 cm × 1–1.6 mm, glabrous.

trigonous, (30–)45–80 cm × (0.8–)1.2–2.2 mm, glabrous.

1–6, 10–40 cm, glabrous or essentially so.

flat to V-shaped, becoming trigonous apically, 15–30 cm × 0.5–3.2 mm.

heads ovoid to pyramidal, 9–15 mm diam.;

rays 0 or 3–6, 0.5–4 cm, glabrous;

bracts 3–4, longest erect, appearing as continuation of culm, others horizontal to ascending, 4–17 cm × 1.5–4 mm.

spikes oblong-cylindric, densely spicate, ± truncate at base, (9–)12–22 × (4–)6–12 mm;

rays 2–4(–5), (1.5–)2.5–6 cm;

bracts 4–6, longest erect or nearly so, larger ones flat or V-shaped, smaller capillary, trigonous, 3–24 cm × 0.4–3.6 mm;

rachilla ± deciduous, wings 0.2–0.4 mm wide.

25–60, reddish with contrasting yellowish or greenish edges, oblong-lanceoloid, strongly compressed, 5–6(–15) × 1.5–2.5 mm;

floral scales 10–22, laterally reddish, medially yellowish green, 2-keeled, laterally strongly 1-ribbed on each side, proximally grooved, ovate-elliptic, 1.4–2.2 × 0.8–1.5 mm, apex acute, apically scabridulous (sometimes glabrous).

(10–)20–60, oblong to linear-lanceoloid, compressed-quadrangular, 3–9 × 2–3.4 mm;

floral scales deciduous, 2–4(–8), spreading, medially green, laterally stramineous, dull whitish or pale reddish brown, often red-dotted laterally, (3–)7–9-ribbed, ovate-lanceolate, (2–)2.2–2.8(–3) × (1–)1.2–1.8 mm, apex acute, weakly 3-dentate, mucro 0.2–0.6 mm, with apical tuft of crystalline prickles.

stamen 1;

anthers 0.6–1 mm;

styles 0.3–0.5 mm;

stigmas 0.3–0.6 mm.

anthers 0.4–0.9 mm;

styles 1–1.4 mm;

stigmas 1–1.6 mm.

reddish brown, stipitate, ovoid-ellipsoid, 0.8–0.9 × 0.3–0.4 mm, stipe 0.1–0.2 mm, apex acute to acuminate, surfaces reticulate or subtly rugulose.

brown, ± stipitate, broadly ellipsoid, 1.4–1.5(–1.6) × 0.8–0.9 mm, 0.1 × 0.1–0.2 mm, apex ± truncate, apiculate, surfaces papillose.