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).

trigonous, (5–)20–60 cm × (0.2–)0.6–2.4 mm, glabrous.

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

blades and bracts without cross ribs.

(1–)3–4, V-shaped, 15–40 cm × 3–6 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.

spikes 2–5(–8), oblong to ovoid, 2–10 cm × 3–12 mm;

rays 4–8, to 11 cm;

bracts (4–)5(–7), ascending at 45°, V-shaped, (1.5–)8–30(–50) cm × 1–6 mm;

rachilla persistent, wingless (successive floral scales 1.1–1.5 mm apart).

(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.

10–30, spreading, compressed, linear, 4–20 × 1.5–2.1 mm;

floral scales deciduous, (2–)6–26, laterally brown to golden brown, edges clear, medially green, 5-ribbed, outermost ribs more noticeable than others, obovate to nearly orbiculate, 1.3–1.8 × 1.2–1.8 mm, margins emarginate, apex mucronulate, mucro 0.2–0.25 mm.

stamen 1;

anthers 0.5 mm;

styles 0.8–1.1 mm;

stigmas 0.5 mm.

stamens 2(–3);

anthers (0.2–)0.3–0.4 mm, tips of connectives reddish, less than 0.1 mm;

styles less than 0.1 mm;

stigmas 0.2–0.4(–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, slightly stipitate, obovoid, 1.2–1.4(–1.5) × 0.5–0.7 mm, apex apiculate, surfaces puncticulate.