Flora of North America species comparison

(10–)20–90 cm × 0.5–0.8(–1.5) mm, scabrous distally.

20–60 cm × 0.5–0.8 mm, distally smooth.

blades trigonous-channeled in cross section, to 45 cm × 1–1.5(–3) mm;

distal leaf blade 3–25 cm × 1–1.5 mm, longer than its (1–)2.5–9 cm sheath.

blades trigonous-channeled in cross section, to 30 cm × 1–2 mm;

distal leaf blade 1–4 cm × 1–1.5 mm, shorter than its 3.5–5.5 cm sheath.

blade-bearing involucral bracts solitary, similar to distal leaf, blade sometimes brown proximally, 0.8–6 cm.

blade-bearing involucral bracts solitary, similar to distal leaf, blade usually gray or black proximally, 0.6–2 cm.

(1–)2–7, in subumbels, ovoid, 7–10 mm in flower, 20–30 mm in fruit;

peduncles 5–20(–60) mm, scabrous;

scales green to red-brown to almost black, sometimes with green center, ovate-elliptic, 3–4.5 mm, scarious, margins narrow, to 0.2 mm, midrib prominent, fading distally or proximal scale with 2–4 thinner or equally prominent lateral ribs, apex obtuse.

(1–)2–5, in subumbels, narrowly ovoid, 7–10 mm in flower, 15–25 mm in fruit;

peduncles 5–30 mm, scabrous;

scales black or dark gray with black tip, broadly ovate, 3–4 mm, scarious, margins absent or to 0.1 mm wide, 5–9-ribbed, midrib prominent, usually dilated distally, reaching tip, apex obtuse-subacute.

perianth bristles 10 or more, cream, 10–20 mm, smooth;

anthers 1–2 mm.

perianth bristles 10 or more, white, 10–15 mm, smooth;

anthers 1–2.5 mm.

narrowly obovoid, 2.5–3 mm.

narrowly obovoid, 1.5–3 mm.