Flora of North America species comparison

(10)30-50(70) cm, glabrous, smooth.

15-65 cm, glabrous, smooth.

closed for about 1/2 their length, glabrous, smooth or scabrous distally, persistent;

collars glabrous;

ligules shorter than 0.3 mm;

blades 0.3-0.7(1.2) mm in diameter, conduplicate, abaxial surfaces smooth or scabrous, adaxial surfaces scabrous, veins 5-7(9), ribs 1-3, indistinct;

abaxial sclerenchyma usually a continuous band;

adaxial sclerenchyma absent.

closed for less than 1/2 their length, lower sheaths glabrous or retrorsely hirsute, persistent, upper sheaths glabrous;

collars glabrous;

ligules (0.2)0.3-0.5(1) mm;

blades all alike, 0.4-0.8 mm in diameter, conduplicate, abaxial surfaces sparsely scabrous, adaxial surfaces scabrous to pubescent, veins 5-7, ribs (1)3-5;

abaxial sclerenchyma in (3)5-7 narrow to broad strands, usually wider than the adjacent veins;

adaxial sclerenchyma absent.

(2)5-10(12) cm, contracted, with 1-2(3) branches per node;

branches usually erect, sometimes spreading at anthesis, lower branches with 2+ spikelets.

5-15 cm, loosely contracted, with 1-2(3) branches per node;

branches erect, lower branches with 2+ spikelets.

4-6(7.3) mm, with 3-6(8) florets.

(6)7-9(11) mm, with (2)4-6 florets.

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

lower glumes 1-2(3) mm;

upper glumes (2.2)2.6-4(4.6) mm;

lemmas (2.6)3-4(5) mm, ovate-lanceolate, mostly smooth, sometimes scabrous or hispid near the apices, awns 0.5-2 mm, terminal, sometimes absent;

paleas about equal to the lemmas, intercostal region puberulent distally;

anthers (1.4)2-2.6 mm;

ovary apices glabrous.

exceeded by the upper florets, lanceolate, scabrous distally;

lower glumes 2.5-4 mm;

upper glumes (2.8)3-5 mm;

lemmas (3.8)4-6 mm, glabrous, smooth or scabrous distally, awns 1-2.5 mm;

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

anthers 2.2-3.5 mm;

ovary apices sparsely pubescent.

= 14, 28.

= 28.