Flora of North America species comparison

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

(10)20-41 cm, smooth, glabrous throughout or pubescent near the inflorescence, bases often geniculate.

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 about 3/4 their length, often splitting with age, coarsely ribbed, shredding into fibers, bases reddish brown, scarious;

collars glabrous;

ligules 0.1-0.4(0.6) mm;

blades 0.3-0.8(1) mm in diameter, conduplicate, green or glaucous, abaxial surfaces glabrous, smooth or scabrous, adaxial surfaces scabrous or puberulent;

abaxial sclerenchyma in 5-7(9) small strands;

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.

(3)5-12 cm, usually paniculate, sometimes racemose or sub-racemose, compact or open, with 1-2 branches per node;

branches stiff or somewhat lax, lower branches with 1-3 spikelets.

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

pseudoviviparous, varying in length with the stage of vegetative proliferation, the glumes and often 1 or 2 adjacent florets more or less normally developed or only slightly elongated, glabrous or pubescent, the distal florets vegetative.

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.

more or less normally developed, ovate to lanceolate;

lower glumes (2.5)3-3.5(5.5);

upper glumes 3.5-4.5(6.5);

lowest lemma in each spikelet usually normally developed, acute, unawned, usually without reproductive structures or the structures abortive;

subsequent lemmas modified into leafy bracts;

paleas usually absent, shorter than the lemmas if present, intercostal region puberulent distally;

anthers usually aborted, when present 1.5-2.3(3) mm;

ovaries rarely present, apices glabrous.

= 14, 28.

= 49, 50, 63.