Flora of North America species comparison

trigonous, (20–) 30–80 cm × 1–2.5 mm, glabrous or occasionally with scattered prickles on distal angles.

trigonous, 5–50 cm × 0.5–1.5 mm, glabrous.

9–11, flat to slightly V-shaped, 25–80 cm × 3.5–10 mm.

V-shaped, 12–30 cm × 1–6 mm.

spikes (1–)3–6, loosely cylindric or oblong with parallel sides, 1.5–4 cm × 10–17 mm;

rays 6–12, 2–25 cm, glabrous or rarely scabridulous proximal to spikes;

bracts 6–11, ascending at 45°, flat, (1–)10–20(–26) cm × 1–10 mm;

rachilla deciduous, wings persistent, 0.4–0.5 mm wide.

spikes ± globose to broadly ovoid, 8–20 mm wide;

rays 1–8 cm;

rachis 2–5 mm, glabrous;

bracts 3–8, weakly ascending, flat, 3–20 cm × 1–3.5 mm;

rachilla deciduous, wingless.

10–60, narrowly ellipsoid, quadrangular, 5–8 × 1.5–2 mm;

floral scales persistent, (2–)3–7, appressed, clear at maturity, laterally reddish to purplish brown, medially greenish, often erose at maturity, laterally 3–5-ribbed, medially 3-ribbed, ovate-elliptic, 2.5–3.2 × 1.8–2.1 mm, apex obtuse.

3–18, compressed, ovoid to oblong-lanceoloid, 4–15 × 2.6–3.4 mm;

floral scales deciduous, 3–18, laterally stramineous to reddish brown, laterally 3–4-ribbed, broadly ovate, 1.8–2.5 × 1.3–1.6 mm, apex with mucro 0.1–0.2 mm.

anthers 0.8–1 mm;

styles 0.3–0.5 mm;

stigmas 2–2.5 mm.

anthers 0.5–0.7 mm;

styles 0.4–0.6 mm;

stigmas 1–1.5 mm.

brown to reddish brown, sessile, oblong-ovoid to broadly ellipsoid, slightly dorsiventrally flattened, 1.8–2 × 0.7–0.8 mm, apex obtuse, apiculate, surfaces papillose to puncticulate.

dark brown, sessile, broadly ellipsoid, 1.5–2 × 1–1.5 mm, apex obtuse, apiculate, surface glabrous, puncticulate, or papillose.

= 168, 170, 172.