Flora of North America species comparison

(25)40-80(110) cm, glabrous, smooth.

10-37 cm, erect, glabrous, smooth.

closed for much less than 1/2 their length, glabrous, somewhat persistent or slowly shredding into fibers;

collars glabrous;

ligules 0.1-0.4 mm, usually longer at the sides;

blades all alike, 0.3-0.7 mm in diameter, conduplicate, abaxial surfaces smooth or scabridulous, veins (3)5, ribs 1-5;

abaxial sclerenchyma in 5-7 narrow strands, about as wide as the adjacent veins;

adaxial sclerenchyma absent.

closed for about 1/2 their length, glabrous, persistent;

collars glabrous;

ligules 0.2-0.5 mm;

blades 0.4-0.7(1) mm in diameter, conduplicate, veins 5-7, ribs 1-5, abaxial surfaces smooth, adaxial surfaces scabrous or puberulent;

abaxial sclerenchyma in 5-7 strands, at least twice as wide as high, often some strands confluent;

adaxial sclerenchyma absent.

(5)10-20 cm, open, with 1-2 branches per node;

branches 1-15 cm, lax, widely spreading to reflexed, lower branches usually reflexed at maturity, with 2+ spikelets.

(1.5)2-5 cm, contracted, with 1-2 branches per node;

branches erect, lower branches with 2+ spikelets.

6-12 mm, with 3-6(7) florets.

4-5.6(6) mm, with 3-4(5) florets.

exceeded by the upper florets, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, glabrous and smooth or slightly scabrous;

lower glumes 2-5 mm;

upper glumes 3-6 mm;

lemmas (4)4.5-6.5(8) mm, ovate-lanceolate to attenuate, glabrous or finely puberulent, awns 3-12 mm, usually longer than the lemma bodies;

paleas slightly shorter than the lemmas, intercostal region scabrous or puberulent distally;

anthers (1)1.5-2(3) mm;

ovary apices densely pubescent.

exceeded by the upper florets, ovate-lanceolate, mostly glabrous and smooth, sometimes scabrous distally;

lower glumes 1.5-2 mm, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate;

upper glumes (2)2.2-2.7 mm, ovate;

lemmas (2.5)3-3.5(4) mm, ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, usually scabrous distally, sometimes smooth, usually awned, occasionally unawned, awns 0.7-2.1 mm, terminal;

paleas about as long as the lemmas, intercostal region smooth or scabrous distally;

anthers 0.8-1.3 mm;

ovary apices glabrous.

leaf sheaths tight or somewhat loose;

flag leaf blades 1-5 cm.

= 28 [other numbers have been reported for this species, but are probably based on misidentifications].

= 42.