Flora of North America species comparison

1–3 mm diam., with swollen nodes.

1–many, occasionally becoming decumbent.

erect, terete, 3–5 mm diam., smooth.

0–2.

0.

basal and cauline;

auricles rudimentary or absent;

blade flat, 3–13 cm × 0.3–1.1 mm.

basal 1–3, cauline 2–5, auricles 1–4 mm, apex rounded, scarious;

blade strawberry-colored, green, or pink, terete, 13–30 cm × 1–5 mm.

loose and diffuse or less often compact, usually at least ½1/2 total height of plant;

primary bract shorter than inflorescence.

terminal clusters of 1–23 heads or single heads, 2–5.5 cm, branches spreading;

primary bract erect to ascending;

heads 25–100-flowered, globose, 10–15 mm diam.

bracteoles 2;

tepals greenish, lanceolate, 3.8–7(–8.5) mm;

inner series slightly shorter, apex sometimes obtuse;

stamens 3–6, filaments (0.7–)1–1.8 mm, anthers 0.3–0.8 mm;

style 0.1–0.2 mm.

tepals green to straw-colored, occasionally reddish, lanceolate-subulate;

outer tepals (3.7–)4–6 mm, apex acuminate;

inner tepals (3–) 3.4–4.6 mm, apex acuminate;

stamens 6, anthers 1/2 filament length.

tan to reddish brown, 3-locular, ellipsoid to narrowly so, slightly truncate, 2.7–4 × 1–1.5 mm, sometimes exceeding inner tepals but usually not outer series.

equaling perianth or slightly exserted, straw-colored or chestnut brown, 1-locular, lance-subulate, 4.3–5.7 mm, apex tapering to subulate tip, valves separating at dehiscence, fertile throughout or only proximal to middle.

yellowish, widely ellipsoid to ovoid, 0.26–0.49, not tailed.

oblong to ellipsoid, 0.4–0.5 mm, not tailed;

body clear yellow-brown.

= 27–37, 58–81, 108–115.

= 40.