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).

triquetrous, bulbous, thickened, (20–)30–80(–90) cm × 0.7–1.2 mm, glabrous proximally, becoming trigonous strongly scabridulous on distal angles, clothed with persistent reddish fibers at base.

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

blades and bracts without cross ribs.

flat to V-shaped, 20–45 cm × 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.

spike 1, loosely ovoid to ovoid-ellipsoid, (1.5–)2.5–7 × (1–)1.5–3.5 cm;

rays (1–)2–4, to 6 cm; 2d order rays rarely present, to 2 cm; 3d order rays absent;

bracts (2–) 3, ± horizontal, 1–15(–21) cm × 0.4–3.5 mm;

rachilla deciduous, wings hyaline, 0.3–0.4 mm wide.

(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.

(3–)8–26, reddish to reddish brown, linear, compressed-quadrangular, 8–18 × (2.4–)2.8–4 mm;

floral scales deciduous, 6–16, laterally reddish, medially green, occasionally red-glandular, laterally strongly 3(–4)-ribbed, medially punctate, 1–3-ribbed, ovate-lanceolate, (2.6–)2.8–3.3 × (1.4–)1.6–1.8(–2) mm, apex weakly 3-dentate, mucronulate, with tuft of crystalline prickles, medially glabrous.

stamen 1;

anthers 0.5 mm;

styles 0.8–1.1 mm;

stigmas 0.5 mm.

anthers 0.8–1.1 mm;

styles 1–1.4 mm;

stigmas 1–1.4 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.

brownish, stipitate, ellipsoid, 1.6–2 × (0.7–)0.9–1 mm, base whitish, stipe to 0.1–0.2 mm, apex obtuse, slightly apiculate, surfaces papillose.