Flora of North America species comparison

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

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

to 100 cm × (0.8–)1–1.2 mm distally.

blades channeled or strongly involute, 3–12 cm;

distal leaves usually bladeless with black-tipped sheath.

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

distal leaf blade much longer than sheath.

involucre absent.

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

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.

(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, bright white, sometimes red-tinged, 15–30 mm, smooth;

anthers 0.5–1.5 mm.

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

anthers 2–5 mm.

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

black, oblanceoloid, 2–5 mm.

= 58.