Flora of North America species comparison

terete or nearly so, 20–70 cm, smooth.

solitary or few together, 5–35(–70) cm, usually not more than 1 mm diam. basally;

basal sheaths persistent, brown or reddish, septate-nodulose.

bladeless sheaths 1–3, evenly distributed on culm, distal to middle, not inflated distally, filiform, channeled, 0.4–1.2 mm wide.

blades channeled or strongly involute, 3–12 cm;

distal leaves usually bladeless with black-tipped sheath.

involucral bracts absent.

involucre absent.

solitary, erect, globose, 10–20 mm in flower, 20–35 mm in fruit;

proximal empty scales usually 7 or more, ascending, blackish, ovate-lanceolate, 5–10 mm, thin, margins broad, ribless, midrib not reaching tip.

solitary, erect, broadly obovoid to subglobose in fruit, 8–12(–40) mm;

scales gray to blackish green;

proximal empty scales not more than 7, ovate, 4–10 mm, midrib not reaching tip;

distal scales narrower, more attenuate, margins hyaline, not more than 1 mm wide.

perianth bristles usually more than 8, creamy white to pale brown, 10–20 mm;

anthers 0.5–2 mm.

perianth bristles 10 or more, bright white, sometimes red-tinged, 15–30 mm, smooth;

anthers 0.5–1.5 mm.

oblanceoloid, (1.8–)2–2.3(–2.7) × 0.5–1.2 mm;

apex minutely apiculate, 0.1 mm.

narrowly oblong, 0.4–2.5 mm, apex with subulate beak.

= 58.

= 58.