Flora of North America species comparison

solitary or few together, somewhat trigonous, (20–)30–70(–80) cm, stout, to 1.5(–4) mm diam. basally;

basal sheaths persistent, brown to purplish brown, septate-nodulose.

to 100 cm × (0.8–)1–1.2 mm distally.

blades filiform, trigonous-channeled, (2–)3–10 cm × 1–2 mm;

distal 1–2 leaf sheaths bladeless, inflated.

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

distal leaf blade much longer than sheath.

involucral bracts absent.

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

solitary, erect, globose in fruit, 1.5–2(–4) cm;

scales blackish to purplish brown;

proximal empty scales not more than 7, obovate or trigonous-obovate, 4–20 mm, margins white or paler, as wide as dark portion, apex blunt;

distal scales obovate to ovate-lanceolate, margins hyaline, 1 mm wide or wider.

(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.

perianth bristles 10 or more, red-brown to white, 20–40 mm, smooth;

anthers (0.6–)1.5–3 mm.

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

anthers 2–5 mm.

oblong-obovoid, 2–2.7 mm, as wide as long, apex apiculate (0.3–0.5 mm).

black, oblanceoloid, 2–5 mm.

= 58.