Flora of North America species comparison

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

60-100 (150) cm, erect, glabrous;

nodes usually exposed.

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 less than 1/3 their length, glabrous or scabrous, shredding into fibers;

ligules 0.3-1.5 mm;

blades 3-6(10) mm wide, flat, lax, margins scabrous, abaxial and adaxial surfaces glabrous, adaxial surfaces sometimes scabrous, veins 13-25, ribs obscure;

abaxial sclerenchyma in narrow strands;

adaxial sclerenchyma developed;

girders or pillars formed at the major veins.

(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.

10-20(40) cm, open or somewhat contracted, with 1-2(3) branches per node;

branches lax, more or less spreading, spikelets borne towards the ends of the branches.

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

7-12 mm, with (2)3-5 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.

lanceolate, scabrous at least on the midvein, acute to acuminate;

lower glumes (1.5) 2.5-4(4.5) mm;

upper glumes (3)4-6.5 mm;

calluses wider than long, glabrous, smooth or slightly scabrous;

lemmas (5)6-8(9) mm, lanceolate, scabrous or puberulent, acuminate, unawned or awned, awns to 2 mm;

paleas about as long as or shorter than the lemmas, intercostal region puberulent distally;

anthers 1.6-2.5 mm;

ovary apices pubescent.

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

= unknown.