Flora of North America species comparison

40–120 cm × 0.6–1 mm, smooth or scabrous distally.

blades flat, trigonous in cross section distally, to 30 cm × 1.5–4 mm;

distal leaf blade much longer than sheath.

blade-bearing involucral bracts 2–5, sometimes brown-tinged proximally, leaflike, longest 4–12 cm.

2–10, usually in dense head, ovoid, 6–10 mm in flower, 10–20 mm in fruit;

peduncles 2–10(–20) mm, scabrid;

scales brown, often with green center, ovate-oblong, 4–5 mm, obscurely ribbed or with 3–5 equally prominent ribs, apex obtuse.

perianth bristles usually 10 or more, brown at least at base, rarely entirely white, 12–18 mm, smooth;

anthers 0.7–1.5 mm.

dark brown to black, narrowly obovoid or ellipsoid, 2.5–4 mm.