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, 50–100 cm × 5–8 mm, glabrous.

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

blades and bracts without cross ribs.

3–6, V-shaped, 20–50 cm × 5–8(–10) 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 not appearing lateral, rays 5–8, 2–7(–12) cm;

bracts 3–4, ± horizontal to ascending at 45°, V-shaped, 5–25 cm × 1.5–8 mm;

spikes 1–4, ovoid, 2–4 × 2–3 cm;

rachis 1–2.7 cm, smooth or hispidulous;

rachilla persistent, wingless or with hyaline wings scarcely 0.1 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.

7–14, flattened, lanceoloid, 10–20 × 2–2.5 mm;

floral scales 10–30, laterally dark brown to reddish brown, medially greenish, laterally 5–9-ribbed, ovate-deltate;

anthers 3, 0.5 mm;

styles 0.5 mm;

stigmas 1.2–1.6 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, sessile, ellipsoid, 1.4–1.6 × 1.4–1.5 mm, apex obtuse, apiculate.