Flora of North America species comparison

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

50-120 cm, glabrous.

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, shredding into fibers;

Iigules (0.2)0.5-1.5 mm;

blades 2-8 mm wide, flat or loosely convolute, smooth or scabrous, veins 9-35, ribs obscure;

abaxial sclerenchyma in narrow strands;

adaxial sclerenchyma developed;

girders or pillars usually associated with the major veins.

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

branches lax, ascending to spreading, spikelets clustered towards the ends of the branches, closely imbricate.

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

4-7(7.5) mm, elliptic to obovate, with 3-5(8) 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.

lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, scabrous at least on the veins;

lower glumes (2.5)3-4(5) mm, usually almost as long as the adjacent lemmas;

upper glumes (3.5)4-5(5.5) mm;

lemmas 4-5(5.2) mm, stiffly chartaceous, ovate to obovate, glabrous, somewhat acute, unawned;

paleas as long as or slightly shorter than the lemmas, intercostal region smooth or scabrous distally;

anthers (0.7)1-2(2.5) mm;

ovary apices pubescent.

= 14, 28.

= unknown.