Flora of North America species comparison

trigonous, (20–)60–70(–100) cm × 2.4–6.9 mm, scabrid on angles.

trigonous to roundly trigonous, (0.5–)5–25(–105) cm × 1–2.5(–7.5) mm, glabrous.

4–12, flat to V-shaped, with readily visible cross ribs especially on abaxial surface, 20–50 cm × 3–14 mm.

flat to inversely W-shaped, 5–25(–90) cm × 2–5(–11) mm.

heads digitate to hemispheric, 1–3.5 cm diam.;

rays 6–12, 1–9(–14) cm; 2d order rays often present, (0.5–)1–3 cm; 3d order rays occasionally present, 5–12 mm;

bracts 4–8, horizontal to ascending at 30°, with prominent cross ribs,V-shaped, (1.5–)3–50(–75) cm × 0.5–13 mm; 2d order bracts 3–10 × 1–2 mm.

spikes 1–3(–6), rather densely cylindric-ovoid, (4–)10–30(–45) × (6–)10–16(–23) mm;

rays 2–6(–12), 1–8(–28) cm;

bracts (3–)5–7(–11), horizontal to ascending at 30°, inversely W-shaped, (3–)10–20(–70) cm × 1–3(–12) mm;

rachilla persistent, at maturity becoming laterally free, remaining firmly attached proximally, wings 0.3(–0.4) mm wide.

10–40(–50), oblong to linear-lanceoloid, 5–18 × 2–3.2 mm;

floral scales 10–40, pale grayish brown, or greenish, proximally greenish or brownish, oblanceolate, 2-keeled, weakly to distinctly 1-ribbed, proximal half 2-ribbed, (1.3–)1.5–2(–2.4) × 0.9–1.4 mm, apex acute (sometimes mucronulate), apically glabrous, occasionally scabridulous.

(20–)40–80, linear, quadrangular, 3–8(–11) × 1–1.5 mm;

floral scales deciduous, 6–16(–30), appressed, laterally light brown with reddish speckles, medially greenish, laterally ribless, medially 3-ribbed, oblong-ovate to obovate, quadrangular to subterete, 1.3–1.5 × 0.8–1.2 mm, apex obtuse, mucronulate.

stamens 1–2;

anthers 0.8–1.4 mm;

styles 0.8–1 mm;

stigmas 0.6–0.8 mm.

anthers 0.2–0.3 mm, connectives 0.1 mm;

styles 0.7–0.8 mm;

stigmas 0.4 mm.

brown, slightly to distinctly stipitate, ellipsoid (2.7–4.1 times as long as wide), (0.9–)1.2–1.5 × 0.3–0.4 mm, apical beak 0.1–0.5 mm, surfaces glabrous.

light grayish to brown, sessile, ovoid, (0.4–)0.7–1 × 0.4–0.6 mm, apex rounded, apiculate, surfaces glabrous.