Flora of North America species comparison

2–6, trigonous, (10–)35–80 cm × 0.5–2(–4) mm, scabridulous with retrorse prickles (infrequently glabrous or rarely also with extrorse prickles).

roundly trigonous, (10–)20–30(–45) cm × 0.4–1.2 mm, distal 1/2 glabrous or infrequently scabridulous.

3–9, V-shaped, (12–)25–45(–65) cm × 2–10 mm;

blades and bracts without cross ribs.

2–6(–8), V-shaped or flat, 8–12(–16) cm × 1–2(–4) mm.

heads umbellate, 10–20(–30) mm diam.;

rays 4–12, 1–6 cm, minutely scabridulous with retrorse prickles; 2d order rays often present, 1–2(–3) cm; 3d order rays rarely present, 0.5–1.5 cm;

bracts 3–8, approximately horizontal to ascending at 30°, V-shaped to flat, 2–15(–34) cm × 1–4(–5) mm.

heads hemispheric, 7–12(–15) mm diam.;

rays 1–3(–5), 0.5–2 cm;

bracts 3–6, longest erect to ascending, flat to V-shaped, (1.5–)3–12(–25) cm × 1–2.5(–3.5) mm.

(6–)15–40(–65), greenish white, linear to linear-oblong, (3–)4–12(–15) × 1.5–2.5 mm;

floral scales 10–50(–65), laterally pale yellow, light brown, or reddish brown, 2-keeled, medially 3-ribbed, lanceolate, 1–1.5 × 0.8–0.9 mm, distinctly reticulate, often scabridulous near apex.

(15–)25–50(–75), ovoid, compressed, 4–7 × 2–3 mm;

floral scales 8–20(–35), laterally yellowish, yellowish green, or light reddish brown, medially light brown or greenish brown, 2-keeled, subtly 1-ribbed, ovate-lanceolate, 1–2 × 1–1.4 mm, apex acute, mucronate, straight to excurved, glabrous or sparsely scabridulous.

stamen 1;

anthers 0.5 mm;

styles 0.8–1.1 mm;

stigmas 0.5 mm.

stamen 1;

anthers 0.5 mm;

styles 0.8–1.1 mm;

stigmas 0.5 mm.

brown to reddish brown, slightly stipitate, narrowly ellipsoid, 0.7–0.9 × 0.2–0.4 mm, apex apiculate, surfaces papillate or obscurely reticulate to rugulose.

brown, stipitate, broadly ellipsoid, abruptly contracted to base, 0.8–1.1 × 0.3–0.4 mm, stipe 0.1 mm, apex acute, tapering to slender beak formed of persistent style base, surfaces papillose.