Flora of North America species comparison

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

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

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

V-shaped, 12–30 cm × 1–6 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 ± 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.

10–40(–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.

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.

stamens 1–2;

anthers 0.8–1.4 mm;

styles 0.8–1 mm;

stigmas 0.6–0.8 mm.

anthers 0.5–0.7 mm;

styles 0.4–0.6 mm;

stigmas 1–1.5 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.

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

= 168, 170, 172.