Flora of North America species comparison

wand-like, at least 50 cm.

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.

distichous, shorter or longer than culms;

sheaths keeled, entire or distally ciliate;

ligule of short hairs complete;

blades narrowly linear, 1–3 mm wide, flat, margin scabrid-ciliate.

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.

anthelae compound, mostly diffuse, mostly turbinate, as broad as long, ascending-branching;

scapes filiform to linear, distally variously compressed, sometimes alate, 0.5–1.5(–2) mm wide, edges scabrid;

primary involucral bract usually 1, blade exceeding or exceeded by anthela.

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.

red-brown or brown, mostly narrowly lanceoloid to narrowly ellipsoid, 3–7 mm;

fertile scales lanceolate, keeled, 1.5–2 mm, narrowly acute, glabrous, midrib excurrent as mucro.

stamens 3;

styles 2-fid, flat, fimbriolate.

stamens (1–)2;

styles 3-fid, slender, with 3angled base, glabrous.

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

pale brown, trigonous-obovoid, 0.5–0.7 mm, apiculate and 3-ribbed, smooth to variably warty.

= 20, 30, 60.

= 10.