Flora of North America species comparison

wand-like, at least 50 cm.

sometimes solitary, scapose, stiff or flaccid, terete, compressed, or 3–5-angled, coarse or fine.

nearly distichous, spreading to ascending, 1/2 length of culms, sheath margins ciliolate at junction with blade, backs smooth to pubescent;

ligule present, usually complete;

blades linear, 2–5 mm wide, flat to involute, margins scabridulous, surfaces mostly glabrous.

basal, distichous or polystichous;

sheaths open apically, shorter than blade, with broad scarious margins;

ligule absent at junction with blade or, if present, of erect short hairs, transverse, continuous or interrupted;

blades flat or variously folded, terete, or sulcate, not prominently keeled on abaxial surface, the widest not more than 2 mm wide.

anthelae compound, dense or diffuse, mostly longer than broad;

scapes wandlike, broadly linear, distally usually compressed, marginal ribs scabrid distally;

longest primary involucral bract exceeding or shorter than anthela.

simple or compound anthelae, rarely capitate;

spikelets 1–80+, rarely single;

involucral bracts 2–5, spreading or rarely erect, scalelike or leaflike.

pale brown or red-brown, broadly ovoid, ellipsoid, or lanceoloid, 5–15 mm;

fertile scales ovate, 3–4 mm, apex rounded, often puberulent distally, midrib excurrent as scabrid mucro or short cusp.

mainly ovoid to lanceoloid or cylindric, sometimes compressed;

scales 8–100+, spirally arranged, each subtending flower or proximal 1–2 empty.

stamens 3;

styles 2-fid, flat, fimbriolate.

bisexual;

perianth absent;

stamens 1–3;

styles flattened or subterete, 2–3-fid, base enlarged, deciduous.

pale to deep brown, lenticular-obovoid, 1 mm, finely but definitely cancellate with 14–15 horizontally oriented lattices per side.

biconvex or trigonous, reticulate-honeycombed.

= 20, 30, 60.