Flora of North America species comparison

short -branched, forming distinct, often large clumps.

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

first ascending, soon arcuate-stoloniferous and creeping or floating, or growing submersed along bottom, each node with cluster of basal leaves and fibrous roots, eventually each emergent terrestrial node with floriferous culm.

several.

blade absent.

basal;

auricles 0.5–1 mm, apex acutish, membranous or thicker;

blade spreading, flat, 2–10(–15) cm × 1–3 mm.

lateral, compound dichasia, many flowered;

primary bract erect, terete, extending well beyond dichasium.

glomerules, (1–)2–10, each with 3–12 flowers, open;

primary bract usually shorter than inflorescence.

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.

tepals green, margins scarious;

inner series narrowly lanceolate, 5–9 mm, apex usually recurved;

outer series obviously shorter, apex usually erect;

stamens 3, filaments 1.5–3 mm, anthers 0.5–0.8 mm;

style 0.5 mm.

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

tan, 3-locular, narrowly ellipsoid, 3.5–5.5 × 0.8–1.2 mm.

amber, (0.3–)0.4–0.5 mm.

brown, ovoid, 0.3–0.4 mm, not tailed.

= 40, 42.