Flora of North America species comparison

2–12(–19) cm × 0.2–0.4 mm.

often spreading or declining, 3–30 cm × 0.5–1 mm.

distal leaf sheaths firm, distally tightly sheathing, apex acute.

apex of distal leaf sheath obtuse, tooth to 0.2(–0.5) mm.

ovoid to ellipsoid, 2–6(–8) × 1–2.5 mm, apex acute;

proximal scale with or without flower, not amplexicaulous;

floral scales to 100, 15–19 per mm of rachilla, often loosely appressed, dark red-brown to stramineous, ovate to elliptic, 0.6–1.3 × 0.3–0.7 mm, membranous, apex rounded to acute.

ellipsoid to ovoid, 3–10 × 2–4 mm, apex blunt to subacute;

floral scales 10–100+, 10 per mm of rachilla, colorless to pale brownish except for green midrib, 1.5–2 × 1 mm, midribs not keeled, apex rounded.

perianth bristles (0–)4–6, typically 4, colorless to whitish, vestigial to 1/2 as long as achene, smooth or spinuliferous;

styles 2-fid.

perianth bristles absent or 2–4, stramineous or whitish, shorter than to nearly 1/2 achene, very slender, without spinules;

stamens 2(–3);

anthers 0.3–0.5 mm;

styles 2-fid or some 3-fid.

black, obovoid, biconvex, 0.3–0.5 × 0.3–0.4 mm, apex often constricted proximal to tubercle, smooth at 40X.

0.75–1 × 0.6–0.8 mm.

stramineous to whitish, umbonate to subconic, 0.1–0.2 × 0.1–0.2 mm, apex acute.

deltoid, 0.2–0.3 × 0.35–0.45(–0.55) mm, 1/2–3/4as high as wide, 1/4–1/3 as high and 1/2–2/3(–4/5) as wide as achene.

= 20.