Flora of North America species comparison

50-100 cm, glabrous, somewhat glaucous;

nodes usually exposed.

35-80 (100) cm, usually densely scabrous or densely pubescent below the inflorescences.

closed for less than 1/3 their length, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, shredding into fibers;

ligules 0.5-1 mm;

blades 2-10 mm wide, flat, loosely conduplicate, or involute, abaxial surfaces smooth or scabrous, glabrous or puberulent, adaxial surfaces smooth or scabrous, veins 13-35, ribs obscure;

sclerenchyma in abaxial and adaxial strands;

girders formed at most major veins.

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

collars glabrous, smooth or scabrous;

ligules 0.5-1.5(2) mm;

blades 0.3-0.8 mm in diameter, conduplicate, abaxial surfaces scabrous or puberulent, adaxial surfaces scabrous to pubescent, veins 5-7, ribs (1)3-5(7), distinct;

abaxial sclerenchyma in 5-7 broad strands, rarely forming a complete band, forming pillars with some veins;

adaxial sclerenchyma not developed.

(8)10-30(40) cm, open, with 1-2 branches per node;

branches lax, spreading, spikelets borne towards the ends of branches.

(4)6-15(20) cm, loosely contracted or open, with 1-2 branches per node;

branches erect or spreading, lower branches with 2+ spikelets.

6-11 mm, sometimes glaucous, with (2)3-5 florets.

(6)8-16 mm, with (3)4-6(8) florets.

lanceolate, smooth or scabrous, acuminate;

lower glumes 4-7 mm;

upper glumes 5-7.5 mm;

lemmas 5-8 mm, chartaceous, lanceolate, glabrous, usually smooth, sometimes scabrous towards the apices, apices acute to acuminate, unawned, sometimes mucronate;

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

anthers 2-3 mm;

ovary apices densely pubescent.

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

lower glumes (3)3.3-5.5 mm;

upper glumes 4.5-6.6(7) mm;

lemmas 5.5-9 mm, glabrous, smooth or scabrous towards the apices, unawned or awned, awns 0.4-2(3) mm;

paleas slightly shorter than the lemmas, intercostal region scabrous or puberulent distally;

anthers (2)3-4(4.2) mm;

ovary apices densely pubescent.

= unknown.

= 42.