Flora of North America species comparison

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

45-80 cm, erect or the bases decumbent, scabrous near the inflorescence.

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 1/3 their length, glabrous or finely scabrous;

collars glabrous;

ligules 3-5(8) mm;

blades 1-3 mm wide when flat, 0.6-1.2 mm in diameter when conduplicate, persistent, abaxial surfaces glabrous, smooth to sparsely scabrous, adaxial surfaces scabrous, veins (5)7-9, ribs 5-9;

abaxial sclerenchyma in strands opposite the veins, rarely a discontinuous band;

adaxial sclerenchyma sometimes present;

girders sometimes present at the major veins;

pillars usually present if the girders not developed.

(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.

6-10(16) cm, contracted or loosely open, with 1-2(3) branches per node;

branches erect or spreading, lower branches sometimes reflexed, spikelets borne towards the ends of the branches.

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

6-8.5 mm, with 2-3(4) 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.

scabrous, acute;

lower glumes 3-4(5.5) mm;

upper glumes 3.5-5.5(6.5) mm;

lemmas 4-6.5 mm, ovate-lanceolate, glabrous, smooth or sparsely scabrous towards the apices, unawned;

paleas as long as to slightly longer than the lemmas, intercostal region puberulent distally;

anthers 1.5-2.6 mm;

ovary apices pubescent.

= 14, 28.

= unknown.