Flora of North America species comparison

linear-attenuate, 2–6(–9) cm, apex filiform-terete.

scape sheaths slightly longer or slightly shorter than leaves, loose;

scapes linear, 0.5–1 mm wide, 4–5-ribbed;

mature heads dull gray or lead-colored, rarely straw-colored, hemispheric to subglobose, 3–4 mm wide, mostly nearly glabrous;

receptacle glabrous;

outer involucral bracts usually not reflexed, not obscured by braceteoles and perianth, straw-colored, greenish, or light gray to gray, dull, ovate to suborbiculate or obovate, 2 mm, margins often erose or lacerate, apex blunt, glabrous;

inner bracts, receptacular bracteoles grayish, cuneate to narrowly obovate, 2 mm, margins often erose or lacerate, apex obtuse, glabrous or with a few white hairs abaxially at apex.

sepals 2, gray, linear to oblong or oblanceolate, 2 mm, apex obtuse, glabrous or with a few white hairs abaxially at apex;

androphore club-shaped;

petals 2, triangular, minute, white-hairy;

stamens 4;

anthers black.

sepals 2, gray, oblong or oblanceolate, 2 mm, scarious, apex obtuse, abaxially hairy apically;

petals 2, yellow-white, spatulate, 2 mm, apex obtuse, glabrous or with a few white, club-shaped hairs apically, adaxially;

pistil 2-carpellate.

red-brown, ovoid to broadly ellipsoid, 0.5(–7) mm, with delicate reticulum of horizontally oriented alveolae.