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).

± terete to roundly trigonous, 3–25(–60) cm × 0.3–2 mm, glabrous.

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

blades and bracts without cross ribs.

1–3, V-shaped, 1–8(–15) cm × 1–2 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, 7–14 × 8–20 mm;

rays (0–)1–4, to 2(–3) cm;

bracts 2–4, horizontal to ascending at 30(–45)°, V-shaped to flat, 1–8(–18) cm × 0.5–1.5(–2) 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.

3–5(–14), oblong to linear-lanceoloid, 8–18 × 2–2.6(–3) mm;

floral scales (6–)10–26(–32), laterally clear to light brown, sometimes with purplish margins, medially light brown, 2-keeled, laterally ribless, medially 2–3-ribbed, oblong to ovate, 1.9–2.2(–2.7) × 1.8–2.3 mm, apex obtuse.

stamen 1;

anthers 0.5 mm;

styles 0.8–1.1 mm;

stigmas 0.5 mm.

stamens 3;

anthers ellipsoid, 0.3–0.6 mm, connective not prolonged;

styles 0.6–1 mm;

stigmas 1–1.5 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, obovoid to ovoid, 1–1.4 × 0.6–0.8 mm, apex truncate, apiculate, surfaces minutely punctate.