Flora of North America species comparison

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

20–90 cm × 0.9–1.2 mm distally.

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

distal leaf blade much longer than sheath.

blades flat, trigonous in cross section distally, to 30 cm × 2–6 mm;

distal leaf blade much longer than sheath.

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

blade-bearing involucral bracts 2–4, sometimes brown-tinged proximally, leaflike, to 7 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.

3–30, in subumbels, lax, oblong-ovoid, 6–10 mm in flower, 15–30 mm in fruit;

peduncles (2–)10–60 mm, scabrous;

scales dark green to gray, pale proximally, darker distally, ovate to lanceolate, 4–6 mm, margins scarious 0–0.1 mm wide, to 12 weak lateral ribs, midrib prominent, enlarged distally, reaching tip, sometimes excurrent, apex acute.

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

anthers 0.7–1.5 mm.

perianth bristles 10 or more, white to pale brown, 15–25 mm, smooth;

anthers 0.8–2 mm.

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

dark brown, narrowly obovoid, 2.5–3.5 mm.