Flora of North America species comparison

sometimes spaced to 3 cm apart, (5–)12–25(–55) cm, smooth.

solitary or not, trigonous.

flat, 2–21 cm × 1.5–3.5 mm.

basal;

ligules absent;

blades flat or V-shaped in cross section.

spikes 1–3, 4–7 × 4 mm;

bracts 3–4, longest ± erect, others ascending to horizontal, flat, 1.5–18 cm × 1–3.3 mm.

terminal, rarely pseudolateral, spikes 1–4, sessile, densely ovoid or cylindric;

spikelets [15–]40–150 per spike, not readily distinguished by unaided eye;

involucral bracts 2–4, spreading or erect, leaflike.

(20–)40–60(–100), pale greenish or reddish brown, ovate, (2.2–)2.5–2.8(–3.2) × (0.6–)0.7–0.8(–1.2) mm;

floral scales laterally 2–3-veined, elliptic to ovate, 1.8–3 × (0.8–)1.1–1.6 mm, midvein not winged, apex mucronate;

stamens (1–)2;

anthers 0.8–1.1 mm;

style 0.6–1.2 mm;

stigmas 0.5–1.5 mm.

scales 2(–3), distichous;

proximal scale subtending bisexual flower;

distal scale empty or subtending 1–2 stamens, often abortive.

bisexual or staminate;

perianth absent;

stamens 1–3;

styles linear, 2-fid, base persistent.

brown, substipitate or stipitate, ellipsoid to oblong-ellipsoid, 1–1.2(–1.3) × 0.6–0.8 mm, stipe, if present, 0.1–0.2 mm, apex obtuse to subtruncate, apiculate, papillate.

biconvex, laterally compressed.