Flora of North America species comparison

spaced along rhizome, erect, slender, wandlike, subterete, nodes swollen.

mostly sheath;

principal blades cusplike, thickened, rarely over 4 mm.

strictly terminal;

spikelets 1 or 2–5, sessile in clusters, exceeding short-linear subtending bract.

ovoid to lance-ovoid, 7–10(–15) mm, apex blunt;

fertile scales ovate to obovate, 2.5–3.5 mm, ciliate;

mucro erect, 1/2 or less length of scale;

median ribs mostly 5.

perianth bristles equaling or slightly longer than perianth stipes, retrorsely barbellate;

perianth blades ovate, as long as claws, 2–2.5 mm, base thinner, 3-ribbed, apex compressed-conic, apiculate;

anthers linear-oblong, 2 mm.

body angles pale, wirelike, faces lustrous red-brown or chestnut brown, 1 mm;

beak narrow, linear, distally papillate or scabridulous.

= 46.