Flora of North America species comparison

35-80(100) cm, smooth, glabrous throughout;

nodes usually not exposed.

40-70(100) cm, smooth, glabrous throughout;

nodes usually not exposed.

closed for less than 1/2 their length, usually glabrous, sometimes pubescent, strongly reined, persistent or slowly shredding into fibers;

collars glabrous;

ligules (0.2)0.3-0.8(1) mm;

blades 0.5-1.3 mm in diameter when conduplicate, to 2.5 mm wide when flat, persistent, abaxial surfaces glabrous and smooth, adaxial surfaces scabrous or pubescent, veins 5-9(12), ribs 5-9, blades of the lower cauline leaves usually reduced to stiff horny points, blades of the upper cauline leaves longer and more flexuous;

abaxial sclerenchyma in strands about as wide as the adjacent veins;

adaxial sclerenchyma developed;

pillars and girders often present.

closed for less than 1/2 their length, glabrous or scabrous, persistent or slowly shredding into fibers;

collars glabrous;

ligules (0.2)0.3-0.5 mm;

blades 1.5-3 mm in diameter, loosely conduplicate to flat, persistent, abaxial surfaces glabrous and smooth, adaxial surfaces scabrous or pubescent on the ribs, veins 7-13, ribs 7-10(13), blades of the lower and upper cauline leaves similar in length and stiffness;

abaxial sclerenchyma in strands opposite and about as wide as the major veins;

adaxial sclerenchyma often present opposite the major veins;

pillars or girders often developed.

(4)8-15 cm, open or somewhat contracted, with 1-2 branches per node;

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

8-12(15) cm, loosely contracted, with 1-2 branches per node;

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

9-15 mm, with (2)3-6(7) florets.

8-15(18) mm, with (3)4-6(10) florets.

exceeded by the upper florets, ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, glabrous, smooth or scabridulous distally;

lower glumes (2.4)2.8-5 mm, distinctly shorter than the adjacent lemmas;

upper glumes 4.5-7(8.5) mm;

lemmas (4.8)6-8.5 mm, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, glabrous, smooth or slightly scabrous, apices acute, unawned or awned, awns 0.2-1.5(2) mm;

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

anthers (2)2.5-4(5) mm;

ovary apices densely pubescent.

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

lower glumes (2)3.5-5.5 mm;

upper glumes (4)5.5-7(8) mm;

calluses wider than long, glabrous, sometimes slightly scabrous;

lemmas (5.5)8-10(11) mm, lanceolate, scabrous or puberulent at least distally, attenuate, sometimes minutely bidentate, awns 1-3(3.5) mm, terminal or subterminal, straight, occasionally absent;

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

anthers (3)3.7-5.7 mm;

ovary apices sparsely or densely pubescent.

= 28.

= unknown.