Flora of North America species comparison

erect, slightly flattened.

round or flat.

basal 2–5, cauline 2–4;

auricles absent or, if present, 0.5–1.5 mm, apex acute;

blade flat, 5–15 cm × 2–3 mm.

mostly basal;

sheath margins fused or overlapping, often with 2 earlike extensions (auricles) at blade junction;

blade flat or round, glabrous or margins hairy.

glomerules, 1–6, each with 3–7 flowers, open to aggregate, 2–6 cm;

primary bract or distal leaves usually exceeding inflorescences.

of headlike clusters or single flowers variously arranged;

bracts subtending inflorescence 1 or more2, mostly leaflike;

bracts subtending inflorescence branches 1–2, reduced;

bracteoles subtending solitary flower 0–2, translucent, reduced.

tepals usually brown, ovate-oblong, 3–4 mm, margins scarious;

inner series slightly shorter, minutely papillate;

stamens 6, filaments 0.8–1.4 mm, anthers 0.8–1.4 mm;

style 1 mm.

usually bisexual, radially symmetric;

sepals and petals similar, persistent, green to brown or purplish black;

stamens usually 3 or 6;

anthers persistent, linear;

pistils 1;

ovaries superior, locules 1 or 3, placentas 1 and basal or 3 and axile or parietal;

stigmas generally longer than styles.

capsules, loculicidal.

3-locular, narrowly ovoid, 4–5 mm.

narrowly ovoid, 0.3 mm, not tailed.

3–many, often with white appendages on 1 or both ends.