Flora of North America species comparison

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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 0.3–0.5 mm;

styles 0.5–0.8 mm;

stigmas 0.6–0.9 mm.

anthers 0.5–1 mm;

styles 1.5–2 mm;

stigmas 2 mm.

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

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