Flora of North America species comparison

trigonous, 20–50(–85) cm × 1–2(–4) mm, glabrous.

trigonous to terete, (25–)40–60(–90) cm, glabrous.

3–6(–10), 10–40(–55) cm × 1.5–4(–5) mm, V- to inversely W-shaped.

flat or V-shaped, (10–)25–50 cm × 5–8(–12) mm.

spike 1, densely oblong-ovoid often with small basal branches, 8–16 × 4–12(–16) mm;

rays 4–8(–11), 0.5–3.5(–8.5) cm;

bracts (3–)4–6(–10), ascending at (30–)45°, flat to broadly V-shaped, (4–)14–30(–55) cm × 1–5 mm, scabridulous along margins only;

rachilla deciduous, wings persistent, 0.2–0.3 mm wide.

heads globose, (10–)20–40 mm diam.;

rays (0–)3–10, 2.5–5(–12) cm; 2d order rays usually absent (when present, 0.5–1.5 cm);

bracts 4–8, horizontal to ascending at 15–30°, flat (or V-shaped), 3–30(–50) cm × 1.5–8(–12) mm.

40–120, oblong-lanceoloid, subterete, 2.2–4(–4.5) × 0.8–1.6 mm;

distal spikelet spreading or ascending;

floral scales persistent, 2–5, appressed, brown to stramineous, or fuscous and lustrous, medially greenish and 1(–3)-ribbed, laterally greenish to yellowish white and 3–4-ribbed, oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 1.8–2.5 × 1–1.5 mm, subcoriacous.

(20–)30–50(–70), oblong, compressed, 5–20 × 2.2–3 mm;

floral scales (12–)20–30(–50), off-white to golden brown, basally 2-keeled, laterally ribless, ovate-deltate, 2–2.3 × 1–1.4 mm (declined 30–40º from rachilla).

anthers 0.3–0.5 mm;

styles 0.5–0.8 mm;

stigmas 0.6–0.9 mm.

stamen 1;

anthers 1–1.2 mm;

styles 1–1.2 mm;

stigmas 0.5 mm.

brown, oblong-ellipsoid, 1.2–1.7 × 0.5–0.6 mm, base cuneate, apex subacute, surfaces papillose.

black or dark brown, stipitate, broadly ellipsoid, 1.2–1.4 × 0.5–0.6 mm, stipe to 0.1 mm, apex apiculate, beak 0.2–0.3 mm, surfaces puncticulate.