Flora of North America species comparison

to 2.1+ m, erect.

to 2.1+ m, bases laterally compressed;

internodes hollow;

nodes glabrous.

dark green;

sheaths longer than the internodes, glabrous, usually keeled;

ligules 3-11 mm, truncate to acuminate;

blades (2)4-8(10) mm wide, elongate, lax, with a conspicuous midrib and white, scabridulous to scabrous margins.

mostly basal, glabrous;

sheaths closed for at least 1/2 their length;

auricles absent;

ligules membranous;

blades flat to folded.

4-20 cm, typically pyramidal, lower branches spreading, upper branches appressed.

panicles;

primary branches 1-sided, naked proximally, with dense clusters of subsessile spikelets distally, at least some branches longer than 1 cm.

5-8 mm, subsessile.

oval to elliptic in outline, laterally compressed, with 2-6 florets;

rachillas glabrous, not prolonged beyond the distal floret;

disarticulation above the glumes and beneath the florets.

3-5 mm;

lemmas 4-8 mm, scabridulous;

paleas slightly shorter than the lemmas;

anthers 2-3.5 mm.

shorter than the florets, lanceolate, 1-3-veined, ciliate-keeled, awn-tipped;

calluses short, blunt;

lemmas 5-veined, scabrous to ciliate-keeled, tapering to a short awn;

paleas 2-keeled, tightly clasped by the lemmas, unawned, apices notched;

lodicules 2, glabrous, toothed;

anthers 3;

ovaries glabrous.

shorter than the lemmas, concealed at maturity, oblong to ellipsoid, falling free or adhering to the lemma and/or palea;

hila round, x = 7.

= 14, 21, 27-31, 42.