Flora of North America species comparison

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

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

(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.

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.

9-13.5 mm, with 4-6 florets.

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

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.

= unknown.

= unknown.