Flora of North America species comparison

tufted or widely spaced, erect to leaning, culm tips hispid-hirsute, internodes glabrous proximal to inflorescence.

sheaths at culm base or apex sometimes hairy, sheaths at or toward midculm usually glabrous;

principal blades linear or lance-linear, flat, 5–20 cm, hispid-ciliate, abaxially hispid, pilose, or glabrous, adaxially glabrous to pilose.

of spikelets in clusters 1–3(–5).

ovoid, lance-ovoid, or cylindric, 8–15(–20) mm, apex acute;

fertile scales obovate or oblong, 2–3.5 mm;

cusp spreading-excurved, 2/3 or more length of scale;

evident ribs 5–7, central 3 convergent to cusp.

florets 2–3 mm;

perianth bristles reaching base of perianth blades or beyond, retrorsely barbellate (sometimes with narrow blades);

perianth blades with long claw, ovate, rounded or retuse, rarely acute, apically or subapically bristled, bristle erect or incurved, short to elongate, retrorsely scabridulous;

anthers 1–3, 0.5–1.2 mm.

stipe and beak nearly as long as fruit;

body angles pale, faces deep glossy brown, red-brown, or yellow, 1 mm;

beak tip narrow, usually papillose.