Flora of North America species comparison

short -branched, forming distinct, often large clumps.

erect, terete, 1–2.5 mm diam. at top of sheaths.

round or flat.

several.

blade absent.

mostly basal;

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

blade flat or round, glabrous or margins hairy.

lateral, compound dichasia, many flowered;

primary bract erect, terete, extending well beyond dichasium.

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 tan or darker, usually with greenish midstripe, lanceolate, 1.9–3.5 mm;

inner slightly shorter;

stamens 3, filaments 0.5–0.8 mm, anthers 0.5–0.8 mm;

style 0.2 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.

greenish tan or darker, 3-locular, broadly ellipsoid to oblate, 1.5–3.2 mm.

amber, (0.3–)0.4–0.5 mm.

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

= 40, 42.