Flora of North America species comparison

1.5–3 times as wide as thick, 20–100 cm × 0.35–2 mm, firm to hard, wiry, with to 8 subacute ribs, rarely nearly smooth;

some culms arching or decumbent and rooting at tips.

20–35 cm × 0.3–1 mm.

distal leaf sheaths not splitting abaxially, proximally dark red to brown, apex usually reddish.

apex of distal leaf sheath subacute to narrowly acute, tooth to 0.3(–1.1) mm.

ovoid, 5–17 × 2.5–5 mm, apex acute;

spikelets on stolons rudimentary, non-flowering, proliferous when rooting;

proximal scale empty, amplexicaulous, ovate, 2–4 mm;

subproximal scale with flower;

floral scales 20–40, 2–3 per mm of rachilla, stramineous to medium brown, midrib region paler, ovate, 3.5–6 × 2–3 mm, membranous to cartilaginous, apex entire, rounded to subacute.

narrowly lanceoloid, 3–12 × (1–)2–2.5(–4) mm, apex acute;

floral scales 25–100, 10–12 per mm of rachilla, orangebrown to stramineous, ovate, 1.5–2 × 1 mm, midribs mostly keeled, apex acute or narrowly rounded in proximal part of spikelet.

perianth bristles brown, equaling achene or tubercle, densely spinulose;

anthers brown, 2–2.4 mm.

perianth bristles 6–7, brown, stout, the longest equaling or exceeding tubercle;

stamens 2–3;

anthers brown, 0.3 mm;

styles 2-fid.

often very variable within one plant, ovoid to obovoid or obpyriform, 1.5–2.5 × 1–1.2 mm, beak to 1 × 0.6 mm.

0.9–1.1 × 0.6–0.8 mm.

when present pale to dark brown, pyramidal, to 0.5 × 0.3 mm.

deltoid, 0.25–0.5 × 0.5–0.7 mm, 1/2–2/3 as high as wide, 1/4–1/2 as high and 2/3–4/5 as wide as achene.

= 10.