Flora of North America species comparison

(35)50-90 (100) cm, erect, glabrous, smooth.

18-40(60) cm, mostly scabrous or puberulent below the inflorescence.

closed for less than 1/2 their length, glabrous, hirsute, or scabrous, persistent;

collars glabrous;

ligules 0.1-0.5 mm;

blades 0.5-1(1.2) mm in diameter, conduplicate, abaxial surfaces glabrous or puberulent, adaxial surfaces sometimes scabrous, glabrous or pubescent, veins (5)7-9, ribs 5-9, well defined;

abaxial sclerenchyma in 5-7 wide strands, sometimes confluent into a single band;

adaxial sclerenchyma absent.

closed for less than 1/3 their length, smooth or scabrous, glabrous or finely puberulent, persistent;

collars glabrous;

ligules 0.1-0.4 mm;

blades 0.2-0.4(0.6) mm in diameter, conduplicate, abaxial surfaces smooth, adaxial surfaces scabrous, veins 5(7), ribs 1, distinct;

abaxial sclerenchyma forming a continuous or almost continuous band;

adaxial sclerenchyma absent.

(7)8-20(25) cm, loosely to densely contracted, with 1-2 branches per node;

branches erect to slightly spreading, lower branches with 2+ spikelets.

1-6(14) cm, usually contracted, with 1-2 branches per node;

branches usually erect, lower branches with 2+ spikelets.

9-13.5 mm, with 4-6 florets.

3-6(6.5) mm, with 2-6(8) florets.

exceeded by the upper florets, ovate-lanceolate, smooth or scabrous distally;

lower glumes (2)2.5-5 mm;

upper glumes 4-6.2 mm;

lemmas 5-7(8.2) mm, scabrous near the apices, awns (2)3-5 mm, terminal, usually more than 1/2 as long as the lemma bodies;

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

anthers (2.6)2.8-3.6(4) mm;

ovary apices glabrous.

exceeded by the upper florets, ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, glabrous;

lower glumes 1-2.5 mm;

upper glumes (1.7)2-3(3.9) mm;

lemmas 2.3-4(4.4) mm, obtuse to acute, mostly smooth and glabrous, sometimes scabrous or pubescent distally, unawned, sometimes mucronate, mucros to 0.4 mm;

paleas about as long as the lemmas, intercostal region smooth or scabrous distally;

anthers (1)1.5-2.2 mm;

ovary apices glabrous.

= unknown.

= 14 (28).