Flora of North America species comparison

5–35 cm.

rounded-trigonous.

basal sheaths dull, base of blade usually persistent;

blades ± channeled, 2–20 cm × 0.2–1.5(–2) mm.

basal and cauline;

basal leaf sheaths persistent;

ligules present;

blades involute to filiform.

usually compound, (8–) 10–35 × (2–)3–8 mm;

bracts brown, margins hyaline, ovate to oblong-ovate;

proximal spikelets 1-flowered and pistillate or 2-flowered and androgynous;

terminal and distal spikelets 1-flowered, staminate.

terminal, spicate or paniculate, simple or compound;

spikelets mostly 10–30;

proximal bracts subtending spikes leaflike or scalelike;

bracts subtending spikelets scalelike.

terminal and distal spikelets usually 1-flowered, staminate;

proximal spikelets 1-flowered and pistillate, or 2–4-flowered and bisexual with 1 pistillate flower proximally and 1–3 staminate flowers distally, all enclosed by scalelike bract open to one side (perigynium), perigynium sometimes enclosing additional sterile scales.

unisexual;

perianth absent;

stamens 3;

styles linear, usually 3-fid, base persistent.

brown, 2.5–3.2 mm, margins free to base, smooth.

2–3 mm.

usually trigonous, included in perygynium.

brown, ovate, 2–3 mm, margins hyaline, midvein distinct almost to tip, apex obtuse to subacute.

1–2 mm.

= 70–75.