Flora of North America species comparison

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

20-50(60) cm, erect, glabrous, smooth.

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 about 1/2 their length, usually glabrous, sometimes pubescent distally, persistent;

collars glabrous;

ligules 0.1-0.5 mm;

blades (0.3) 0.5-0.8(1.2) mm in diameter, conduplicate, veins 5-7, ribs (1)3-5, abaxial surfaces glabrous or pubescent, not pilose, adaxial surfaces smooth or scabrous;

abaxial sclerenchyma in 3 broad strands, sometimes with additional narrow strands between the midrib and margins;

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.

(3)5-10 cm, panicles, contracted, with 1-2 branches per node;

branches erect or somewhat spreading, at least at anthesis, lower branches with 2+ spikelets.

9-13.5 mm, with 4-6 florets.

(4.8)5.5-6.5(8.5) mm, with 3-5(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, mostly smooth or sometimes scabrous on the upper midvein;

lower glumes 2-3 mm;

upper glumes (2.3)2.5-4(4.3) mm;

lemmas (3.2)3.5-4.5(5.3) mm, ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, smooth throughout or scabrous distally, awns (0.5)1-2 mm, terminal;

paleas as long as the lemmas, intercostal region puberulent distally;

anthers 2.2-2.6 mm;

ovary apices glabrous.

= unknown.

= 14.