Flora of North America species comparison

to 100 cm × (0.8–)1–1.2 mm distally.

10–60 cm;

basal sheaths brown.

blades flat, tip trigonous, channeled in cross section, to 40 cm × 1.5–6(–8) mm;

distal leaf blade much longer than sheath.

bladeless sheaths 1–3 per culm, expanding distally, to 1 mm wide;

blades filiform, trigonous, not more than 1 cm.

blade-bearing involucral bracts 1–3, proximally blade, often sheath black, leaflike, longest 1–12 cm.

involucral bracts absent.

(1–)2–10, in subumbels, patent or pendent, ovoid, 10–20 mm in flower, 20–50 mm in fruit;

peduncles 5–60 mm, smooth or scabrous;

scales lanceolate or ovate, 5–10 mm, with prominent midrib fading proximal to tip, apex ± acute;

proximal scales without lateral ribs.

solitary, erect, globose-subglobose to ovoid-oblong, 10–20 mm in flower, to 50 mm in fruit;

scales lead-colored to greenish gray with white-hyaline margins to 1 mm wide; empty scales more than 10, ovate-lanceolate;

proximal scales reflexed or spreading at maturity, 5–10 mm.

perianth bristles 10 or more, white or pale yellow brown, 15–30 mm, smooth;

anthers 2–5 mm.

perianth bristles 10 or more, white, seldom reddish or brown, 10–18 mm, smooth;

anthers 1–3 mm.

black, oblanceoloid, 2–5 mm.

ovoid to obovoid, 1.9–3.5 mm, apex minutely apiculate.

= 58, 60.