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).

not basally cormlike, trigonous, (15–)30–100 cm × 1–3 mm, glabrous.

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

blades and bracts without cross ribs.

V-shaped, 10–65 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.

spikes densely ovoid to cylindric, 8–17 mm wide;

rays 1–6, 2–10 cm, glabrous;

rachis 4–8 mm;

bracts 3–9, ± horizontal, flat, 4–20 cm × 2–4 mm;

rachilla persistent, wings deciduous, 0.2(–0.3) 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.

30–80, oblong-lanceoloid, ± terete-quadrangular, 4–7 × 1.5–2 mm;

distal spikelet spreading or ascending;

floral scales persistent, 4–6, appressed, stramineous, laterally 3-ribbed, oblong-elliptic, 1.9–2.6 × 1.1–1.5 mm.

stamen 1;

anthers 0.5 mm;

styles 0.8–1.1 mm;

stigmas 0.5 mm.

anthers 0.3–0.5 mm;

styles 0.5 mm;

stigmas 1–2 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, oblong-fusiform, 1.2–1.5 × 0.4–0.6 mm, apex ± acute, surfaces puncticulate.